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Ed Reed Signs With Athletes First Before End Of Tampering Window

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) has signed with Athletes First after going a while without representation.
Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) has signed with Athletes First after going a while without representation.
Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) has signed with Athletes First after going a while without representation.

Less than a year ago, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was called a terrible sports agent.  The joke was that he had been representing himself and making statements, especially on Twitter, which failed to cast a positive light on him and his situation in Baltimore.  However, the rumor, even a year ago, was that he was searching around for the right agent.

According to NFL Network reporter Albert Breer, Reed has finally made a selection.  He has chosen David Dunn of Irvine, California-based Athletes First.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/311243647326773249″]

Why Reed waited so long to make a decision is anybody’s guess.  For instance, if NFL teams heeded the league’s notice that, “If a player is self-represented, clubs are prohibited from discussions with the player during the negotiating period” (referencing the brief “tampering window,” which ends at 4 p.m. EST today), then Reed could not do himself any favors over the past few days.  That said, many agents believe the tampering window failed to provide much value.  Further, now that Reed has an agent, that agent can speak to teams in advance of the expiration of the window.

For what it is worth, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk says a Ed Reed may be headed to the San Francisco 49ers.

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.