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NFL Minicamp Begins Without Standard Injury Protection Language For Rookies

Yesterday, former Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill signed his rookie contract with the New York Jets. The Jets drafted Hill (who is represented by Jared Fox, Alan Herman, and Lester Archambeau at SportStars) with their second round pick (#43 overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. Hill signed a 4-year, $5 million deal and joined former South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (represented by Maximum Sports), who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round (#45 overall) as players to sign deals quickly after being drafted.

While Hill and Jeffery are signed to the teams that drafted them, the vast majority of players drafted remain unsigned. Yet, rookie minicamp begins for a few teams today. The Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins are beginning to work with their rookies. Are those rookies protected in case they suffer an injury?

The NFLPA sent an email out to all Contract Advisors earlier this week, which stated that the NFL and NFLPA have not been able to agree on injury protection language for unsigned NFL draftees who are to be participating in minicamp or a team’s Rookie Football Development program. The email informs Contract Advisors that it is necessary to discuss such injury protection language with their respective rookie clients’ teams.

In the past, the NFL and NFLPA have typically come to an agreement, which allowed for rookies to sign a standardized injury protection agreement. At times, players and their agents have negotiated with individual teams for more enhanced protections. This year, it appears that there is no starting point for such negotiations, something that many would consider an important part of any guide to work accidents which could happen in this environment.

Hopefully NFLPA Certified Contract Advisors took the email seriously and have taken the steps necessary to protect their clients in case they unfortunately fall victim to the injury bug.

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.

One reply on “NFL Minicamp Begins Without Standard Injury Protection Language For Rookies”

Really sad to see yet another example of the current NFLPA Reps NOT doing a very good job representing NFL Players. (@NFLVR on twitter)

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