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Former Miami WR Aldarius Johnson Is Already On To The Next One

Aldarius Johnson was the exception.  A former University of Miami Hurricane eligible to be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft who had not signed with Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenhaus is currently representing five former Hurricanes who may be taken in the 2012 NFL Draft).  Johnson signed a Standard Representation Agreement (SRA) with Carlos Rodriguez of Majestic Agents & Consultants (MAC), which I reported on December 1, 2012.  Five days after reporting the signing, Johnson officially terminated the SRA with Rodriguez.  As of right now, I do not have any information stating that Johnson has signed with Rosenhaus; however, there are rumblings in South Florida that Rosenhaus Sports Representation will be Johnson’s final destination.  If so, Rosenhaus’ Hurricane count will go up to six.

Carlos Rodriguez was very surprised by Johnson’s act to terminate the SRA.  In fact, Rodriguez found out about the termination through the NFL Players Association; Johnson did not tell Rodriguez directly.  Even worse, Rodriguez was with Johnson this past Saturday (December 10, 2011), four days after Johnson sent in the termination letter to the NFLPA, and did not mention anything about the pending termination.  Rodriguez places at least partial blame for the split on communication issues.  It does not seem surprising, considering that his former client did not even communicate the fact that he was leaving Rodriguez for another agent.

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.