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Peter Schaffer Behind New Sports Agency Authentic Athletix

NFL agent Peter Schaffer was recently the subject of a Rick Reilly article on ESPN.com.  In that article, Reilly provided a detailed account of Schaffer’s day after the NFL Lockout had ended.  From his home in Denver, Colorado, Schaffer conversed with many of his clients, who include Adam “Pacman” Jones, Derrick Mason, Russell Okung, Gerald Hayes, Phil Taylor, Tanard Jackson, and Jordan Babineaux.

The 48-year old Schaffer had been partners with C. Lamont Smith at All Pro Sports & Entertainment (APSE) for many years.  Together, the two of them recruited many very talented football players.  If you head over to APSE’s “Team” page, you will see that Schaffer’s name is no longer listed.  However, take a trip through the internet Wayback Machine back to November 15, 2010, and there Schaffer is, listed as Principal of APSE.

I am not aware as to what kind of role (if any) Schaffer still has with APSE, but what I do know is that he recently started a new agency called Authentic Athletix (AA).  AA’s website lists clients in 4 categories: baseball, football, golf, and hockey.  Interestingly, many football clients listed on AA’s website are still listed as clients on APSE’s website.  I assume that this issue will be resolved, unless of course, there is some sort of partnership between APSE and AA’s new entity.

I have attempted to reach out to Lamont Smith and Peter Schaffer to ask about Authentic Athletix, Schaffer’s role with APSE (if one still exists), and other questions regarding the AA and APSE, but have not yet received any response.  Perhaps Schaffer will respond after his next long run.

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.