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NFLPA Resumes Its Regulation Of Agents

The NFL Players Association will soon resume its regulation of agents who represent football players in contractual negotiations with teams. The NFLPA Board of Player Representatives recently passed a resolution to adopt and implement an agent regulation system that will have identical language as the system in place prior to the NFLPA’s decertification back in March 2011.

Individuals who were certified NFLPA Contract Advisors in good standing as of the NFLPA’s decertification are now granted Interim Certification. Such certification temporarily allows those individuals to represent NFL players in contract negotiations. Those advisors must apply for full certification (which includes membership and background check fees) by October 1, 2011.

Individuals who were not NFLPA Certified Contract Advisors prior to the NFLPA’s decertification and who wish to become certified may submit an application for full certification in January 2012. The NFLPA did not accept any new Contract Advisors in 2011, but will revert back to its old policy of accepting applications strictly in the month of January. New applicants must have an undergraduate degree and a post graduate degree or have at least 6 years of relevant, full time negotiating experience.

Disputes between players and their agents based on representation agreements signed between March 11, 2011 and September 9, 2011 may be submitted for NFLPA arbitration if both the player and agent agree in writing to do so. Thus, the court system may also be available for disputes similar to the Complaint filed by Carl Carey, Jr. against Robert Quinn.

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.

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