The 2013 NFL Draft ended only four days ago, yet one player drafted has already decided to part ways with his agent. Yesterday, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, selected by the New York Jets at the beginning of the second round, has officially terminated his Standard Representation Agreement with his agents at Select Sports Group. Smith must now wait five days (from the date that he terminated the SRA) before he can sign with a new agent. The five day waiting period is a rule instituted by the NFL Players Association.
Smith went on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday and claimed that the firing of his agents had nothing to do with his NFL Draft experience; however, based on the timing of his decision, many find his statement hard to believe. His agents had set him up at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a training facility that is highly respected in the industry. Further, Select Sports Group is no boutique agency. Other than Smith, Select Sports Group represented a total of seven clients picked in the Draft. Smith likely believed he deserved to be a first round pick and the first quarterback off the board. He may be blaming his agents for “only” being a high second round pick.
Let the speculation begin. Which agent/agency will earn the opportunity to represent Smith, a player with the opportunity to quickly become the starting quarterback in the United States’ darling media market? Some suggest that Smith will sign with Melvin Bratton. Bratton, an agent at Vantage Management Group, also represents tight end Travis Kelce from Cincinnati, who was the first pick of the third round, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs. The agent also happens to be Smith’s cousin.
There is also the possibility that Smith signs with Creative Artists Agency. The football agency led by agents Tom Condon, Ben Dogra and Jimmy Sexton not only represent a plethora of NFL players, but also college and professional coaches, including Rex Ryan (Smith’s head coach with the Jets). Further, CAA recently partnered with Jay-Z’s new Roc Nation Sports, which already has ties to the New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. That Geno Smith is a hot new quarterback in New York may be appealing to Jay-Z and the Roc Nation brand may concurrently be enticing to Smith.
Then again, maybe David Canter has put himself in the best position to become Geno’s second agent.
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