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Inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl May Have An Eligibility Issue

When I heard that the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game was taking a 1-year hiatus due to “stadium construction,” I wondered what college football all-star game would take the place of Texas vs. Nation Game as the next best opportunity for players not invited to the Senior Bowl or the Shrine Game.  Last year, the Texas vs. Nation Game had the extra benefit of an association with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), and was actually called The NFLPA Game.

A variety of new college football all-star games have sprouted up since the announcement that there will be no Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game.  A few days ago, the NFLPA declared that it would have its own game called the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.  The NFLPA has partnered with IMG Worldwide on the event.  The game will be played at the Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA on January 21, 2012 and is expected draw a lot of players from the Southern California region.

The press release for the event states that the game “will showcase the top draft eligible collegiate football players from across the country.”  Some agents have contacted me expressing concern with that language.  They believe that opening up the game to all draft eligible players, including Juniors who declare for the NFL Draft, will prevent NFL teams from sending their scouts to the game.  One NFL team Personnel Director has said that teams received a letter earlier in the year informing them that they are not permitted to attend games that include underclassmen.

On the surface, it appears that as long as the game does not allow draft eligible Juniors who have not yet declared for the NFL Draft to perform, then NFL teams should be willing to send their scouts.  An issue is if the game allows all eligible players whether they have declared or not.  James Guidry of the NFLPA has informed me that those who have declared are eligible to play in the game.  However, does it matter?  Are Juniors who declare for the NFL Draft no longer considered underclassmen?  My argument is that they are still underclassmen until they sign with an agent and/or the deadline to pull their name out of the NFL Draft has passed.  Thus, if the NFLPA is accepting non-represented Juniors into its game, whether they declared for the NFL Draft or not, that decision could effectively prevent NFL teams from sending their scouts to the game.  And what NFL Draft prospects want to perform in an extra game if no decision makers will be there?

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.