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Gary Wichard Suspended; Teague Egan’s Certification Revoked; What Now?

Late last Friday, the NFL Players Association released an official announcement that Gary Wichard is hereby suspended from acting as an NFLPA Contract Advisor for nine months and that Teague Egan‘s NFLPA Certification was revoked.

Wichard was suspended for having impermissible communication with UNC’s Marvin Austin prior to Austin being eligible for the NFL Draft.  Wichard waived his right to appeal the suspension.  Egan’s certification was revoked for “violating numerous provisions of the NFLPA’s Agent Regulations when he provided an improper benefit under NCAA rules by giving University of Southern California player Dillon Baxter a ride in his company’s golf cart, resulting in Baxter being suspended for USC’s game against Oregon State in November…He also is alleged to have placed misleading information on his agency’s website about his relationship with a Southern California attorney.”

Many NFLPA certified Contract Advisors had called for the revocation of Teague Egan’s certification since his name started popping up in connection with football players at the University of Southern California.  People were upset that the NFLPA granted certification to someone who had not only lacked a post-graduate degree, but had not yet even finished his undergraduate education.  Egan, who calls himself a student-agent, was the focus of an interview on Sports Agent Blog.  Egan wrapped up my interview with the following line, “It’s not the grades you make, it’s the hands you shake.”  Since publishing the interview, most people have been talking about this embarrassing Campus Cribs video featuring Egan.

Whereas Egan has never signed his name on a Uniform Player’s Contract, Gary Wichard runs a successful football company named Pro Tect Management.  The company has been around for 30 years and represents Jason Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Terrell Suggs, Keith Bulluck, Antonio Cromartie, Elvis Dumervil, Darren Sproles, Arrelious Benn, Jimmy Clausen, Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, C.J. Spiller…the list goes on.

After the media reported on Wichard’s close ties with former UNC associate head coach John Blake, and Marvin Austin, the defensive tackle that Blake used to coach, was subpoenaed by investigators from the office of North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Wichard’s phone was ringing with people asking questions about his recruiting of UNC athletes.

On July 17, 2010, Wichard said the following to the News and Observer,

“I’ve never talked to him [Marvin Austin] about representing him. I’ve never gone down there, and I never will.”

Yet, Wichard has no intention to appeal the nine month suspension for impermissible communication.  I guess the fact that there is proof that Austin has stayed at a hotel in California under his own name along with Wichard’s company name, Pro Tect Management, does not help his cause.

While no one other than Egan and his immediate family is complaining about the revocation of his certification, there are quite a few agents who are very displeased with the NFLPA’s action taken against Wichard.  They think it was way too light; a slap on the wrist.  I, for one, am not surprised at all with the NFLPA’s disciplinary action.

As I wrote on October 4, 2010, I am more interested in the State of North Carolina’s reaction than the NFLPA’s response.  The NFLPA’s suspension does not really do anything other than give rival agents ammo against Wichard when recruiting potential new clients.  Wichard will continue to earn money on clients represented by Pro Tect, and will likely continue to be involved in his client’s lives.  His name will not appear on any new Uniform Player’s Contracts, but Pro Tect has another employee by the name of Jason Chinn, who will probably take over representation duties for all Pro Tect clients.  You know that C.J. Spiller is not going anywhere.  High profile agent David Dunn of Athletes First received an 18 month suspension from the NFLPA in the past.  A few years later, he just happens to run one of the most powerful football agencies in the country.

Word on the street is that North Carolina’s Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall, has been “missing in action” as of late.  She was not very involved with the NFLPA as it decided the proper discipline of Wichard.  Is she busy conducting her own investigation, or is it case closed on Wichard?

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 “Gary Wichard Suspended; Teague Egan’s Certification Revoked; What Now?”

Solid post – I am still puzzled about being certified by any of the big pro leagues. I have had friends and students ask about the “requirements” and I am even puzzled by them. I have the option to study for and take the CPA, which is one of the possible requirements for “professional experience,” along with a law degree, etc…I imagine they may reform this either during the CBA negotiations or sometime down the road…actually looking forward to it because its certainly not a right and most definitely a privilege

Thoughts?

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