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MLB Players NFL Players NFL Teams Nightmare Clients of the Week

Nightmare Clients for the Week of July 23rd-July 30th

Coming to you a couple of days late, but still here for your enjoyment. Here are your nightmare clients of the previous week.

1. The Cincinnati Bengal organization
Instead of naming every Cincinnati Bengal that had been arrested or suspended before the 2006 season has even started, I am just going to go ahead and say that if you represent a Bengal, you better watch your reputation. Unless of course, you are Carson Palmer’s agent (#5 on The Fortunate 50). Anyway, there should be no shock by any sports fan that this past week, another Cincinnati Bengal found himself in trouble and his name in the paper. Odell Thurman has been suspended for 4 games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policies [Suspended Thurman to miss Bengals’ first 4 games]. The Bengals have only had 4 other players arrested recently. If you represent a Bengal, now is the time to beg your client to not take any illegal substances or do anything to get arrested. America is watching.

2. Albert Belle

You're never safe from the stare of Albert BelleWho knew that stalking is considered a felony? Now you do, and so does former Cleveland Indian slugger, Albert Belle. He recently pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend and will be sentenced right before he turns the ripe age of 40. The cherry on top is that Albert Belle used a GPS device to track his girl [Albert Belle pleads guilty to stalking ex-girlfriend]. Technology is a bitch.

[tags]cincinnati bengals, bengals, albert belle, stalking, baseball, football, mlb, nfl[/tags]

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.