Dez Bryant Drops CAA But Keeps Roc Nation

Per a Tweet by Liz Mullen and other sources, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has left CAA Sports and agent Tom Condon. He is expected to be represented by Roc Nation and NFL agent Kim Miale.

Bryant hired Roc Nation to represent him in 2014 after firing agent Eugene Parker. This came at a time when Bryant’s rookie deal, a five-year $11.8 million deal, expired at the end of the 2014-15 NFL season. In signing with hip hop mogul Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, Bryant had hopes of becoming “an icon.” A Jordan brand endorser, he said that he felt a personal connection with Jay-Z and believed he could help him extend his marketing reach. He said that marketing was his primary motivation in joining Roc Nation, not NFL contract negotiations.

Prominent NFL agent, Tom Condon of CAA Sports, was the point person for Bryant’s NFL contract and subsequent negotiations. He had previously worked out a similar partnership with Roc Nation for New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and then-Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (now a free agent). CAA and Roc Nation had a partnership for CAA to represent athletes in sports that Roc Nation was not licensed in. However, in February of 2015 the partnership ended amicably after two years with Roc Nation president, Juan Perez, stating “We have had a great relationship with CAA in this short time of two years and are grateful. We are ready to stand on our own. We built Roc Nation Sports into a home for  hard-working, dedicated world-class athletes.”

The deal worked out well for all parties involved after Bryant and the Cowboys agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with $45 million guaranteed last summer. The first $32 million was guaranteed upon signing the deal, with the remaining $13 million guaranteed on March 15, 2016 (first day of the 2016 league year).

In dropping Condon and CAA Sports, Roc Nation’s Kim Miale will become the sole representative for Dez Bryant both on and off the field.