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The NFLPA Shows Its Muscle Against Marlon Sullivan

Two days ago, the NFLPA announced that Marlon Sullivan will have his license suspended for six months.  Additionally, Sullivan will have to pay a $10,000 fine.  The penalty is based on Sullivan’s supervision of a runner who provided money to a former student-athlete.  Sullivan also did not sign a disclosure form, which the NFLPA requires to be submitted when an agent pays a recruiter fee to a runner who is charged with recruiting new clients.

As far as I can tell, prior to the suspension and fine, Sullivan did not have any active clients under his name.  In fact, Sullivan became certified in 2009. Is this some kind of record regarding fastest to get disciplined since becoming a Contract Advisor?

Prior to becoming certified, Sullivan was a Web Developer / QA at Sports West Football for 3 years and 9 months.  The man in charge at the agency is Angelo Wright, who has represented Ted Washington, Sam Adams, Pat Williams, Alex Molden, Sean Dawkins and many more football players.  Was Sullivan a Contract Advisor for Wright?  If so, is Wright also responsible for the runner’s acts?

The story gets a little more interesting, though.  Angelo Wright was suspended by the NFLPA for incorrectly advising one of his clients.  After Wright appealed his suspension by the NFLPA, he was ultimately fined $25,000 and suspended from being a Contract Advisor for 6 months starting July 10, 2009 (it was originally a 1 year suspension).  This is actually when Sullivan started working as an agent.  Wright continued to own his company.  Did he also continue to oversee operations?

The NFLPA is seriously investigating these matters now, especially in light of recent media attention to the subject.  Sullivan is likely the first of quite a few agents who will receive discipline for their own actions or the actions of those under their supervision.

NFLPA Contract Advisors do not need to even have knowledge or approve of the actions of those under their supervision in order to be held responsible under the NFLPA’s Regulations.  If Sullivan was under the supervision of Wright and the runner was working on behalf of Sullivan and/or Wright, should Wright be concerned as well?

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.