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Agent Of New Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Tharold Simon Had Extra Busy NFL Draft

Louisiana State Tigers cornerback Tharold Simon (24) looks on during the second half at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium. LSU defeated Arkansas 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
Louisiana State Tigers cornerback Tharold Simon (24) looks on during the second half at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium. LSU defeated Arkansas 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
Louisiana State Tigers cornerback Tharold Simon (24) had a run in with the law. Photo Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports

From Thursday through Saturday, every NFLPA certified Contract Advisor was busy fielding calls, texts and emails from employees of the 32 NFL teams, in addition to their clientele and those concerned with when and where the players would be selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.  However, football agent Peter Schaffer had additional matters of concern.  One of his clients, LSU cornerback Tharold Simon, was arrested on the first night of the Draft on charges of public intimidation, resisting an officer, and a supposed unnecessary noise violation.

Schaffer’s immediate response was to threaten legal action against the Eunice, Louisiana police who arrested his client.  “I have obtained a written statement from almost 20 witnesses,” Schaffer said to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, “all of whom corroborated Tharold’s version of the incident, in which he did absolutely nothing wrong and nothing illegal. I’m 100 percent confident that there will be no charges filed and Tharold will be completely exonerated. I’m looking into the filing of a civil lawsuit against the officer and the Eunice Police Department. Tharold is an outstanding young man, and it’s appalling to me that an officer would act this way, particularly at this time.”

Simon’s name was called in the fifth round of the Draft, when the Seattle Seahawks used the #138 overall pick on the cornerback.  He was projected by NFLDraftScout.com to be a 4-5 round pick, so it does not seem that his arrest in close proximity to the Draft had any negative ramifications for his Draft stock.  Thus, the civil lawsuit may not be necessary; however, I always find it refreshing when agents stick out their necks for their clients.  Knowing Schaffer, he likely would have backed up his threat if the event had caused damage to his client’s positioning in the Draft.

Schaffer also represents former South Carolina wide receiver, Ace Sanders, selected in Round 4 (#101 overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2013 NFL Draft.  For more information about the 2013 NFL Draft, please see our 2013 Player/Agent database.

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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