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A Couple Of Guys Turned The Concept Of “Athlete Advocates” Into A Company

A couple of days ago, Jeffrey Dobin, Esq., co-founder of Athlete Advocates, wrote a thorough op-ed titled, The NFL Scouting Combine Marks The Start Of Football.  Today, I am going to tell you a little bit about his company.

If the name “Athlete Advocates” sounds familiar, there is a good reason why.  In April 2010, I declared that I was no longer a sports agent, but instead, an athlete advocate.  I wrote,

I no longer want to be associated with those who offer empty promises to players in order to find their name on an agency contract.  I don’t want athletes to think they can use me to pay for their training as if I am some sort of lending institution (how exactly did agents become the people who finance training anyway…where is that in the definition?).  And I definitely do not want to be grouped with any ‘sports agents’ who will violate the law or act unethically to gain a buck, or 100,000 bucks.

Dobin and his partner, Ryan Scarpa, borrowed my idea (with my blessing) and created a company with the name “Athlete Advocates.”  In very little time, Dobin and Scarpa have signed a player to an NFL roster (Matt Hansen – 2 year deal (futures/reserve contract) with the Atlanta Falcons) and have a handful of players they are representing who hope to either be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft or picked up by teams soon thereafter.  The rest of this post will focus on the 2012 Class of players that have signed with Athlete Advocates.

Tim Franken – Western Illinois – DB

  • 6 feet, 200 pounds
  • Expected to play Strong Safety at NFL level
  • 147 career tackles in 39 career games played, 5 int’s
  • 4-year Starter
  • Team Captain ’11
  • Team Red Miller Award Winner ’11
  • Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team ’08
  • NFl Draft Scout has him ranked 43rd for free safeties
  • Will be participating in Fordham’s pro day

John Morookian – Toledo – OT

  • 6’5” & 305 pounds
  • 4 year starter at offensive tackle
  • Started every game but his first
  • Expected to play tackle or guard at NFL level
  • Participating in Toledo Pro Day

Aaron Weaver – Syracuse via Hofstra – Wide Receiver

  • 6’2” 220 pounds
  • Played for Hofstra University from 2007-2009
  • Transferred because football program was cut
  • After transferring to Syracuse, he was leading team in yards and TDs through 2 games before knee injury during 2010 senior season
  • He is fully recovered and will be participating in Syracuse’s pro day on March 8

Nick Provo – TE – Syracuse

  • 6’4” 245 pounds
  • Invited to Scouting Combine
  • Ranked 12th best TE by NFL Draft Scout
  • Second on SU’s receptions by tight end record list
  • 2011 Mackey Award Semifinalist
  • 2011: 51 receptions, 537 yards, 7TDs
  • Career: 92 receptions, 1,027 yards 9 TDs
  • Syracuse pro day March 8

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.

2 replies on “A Couple Of Guys Turned The Concept Of “Athlete Advocates” Into A Company”

How does a group like Athlete Advocates compete in recruiting clients without providing training, which is seemingly industry standard now?

Aaron Weaver:  I personally know this outstanding young man’s family.  He has a great attitude as well as mental toughness; And, from what I’ve seen in some of the footage, he would excel at the next level if given the opportunity.

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