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On To The Next One: Craig Robertson

Cleveland Browns linebacker Craig Robertson (53) sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) as Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Billy Winn (90) closes in during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns linebacker Craig Robertson (53) sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) as Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Billy Winn (90) closes in during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns linebacker Craig Robertson sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the first game of the 2013 NFL regular season. Photo Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Former North Texas and current Cleveland Brows linebacker Craig Robertson has changed agencies.  Robertson was formerly represented by Vincent Calo of THE GAME Sports Management & Media, LLC.  He is now represented by Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler of Sportstars, Inc.

Robertson was one of five NFL clients listed on THE GAME Sports Management & Media’s website.  Others are John Hughes, Ben Garland, Kenny Stafford and James Nelson.  The best of the pack was likely Robertson, who put together an impressive preseason and was praised by Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton roughly a month ago.  “I think I classified him as the old Ronnie Lott, in the old days meaning the big strong safety,” said Horton in reference to Robertson.  “He would be a strong safety in the old days.  Now he is an inside ‘backer that can run as a three-down player.  It’s just a space game now.  It’s basketball.  It spreads you out and creates space matchups.  He is gifted, very sharp memory, very smart and he understands football and has the ability to change direction.”

That gifted, smart linebacker is now a Sportstars client.  In a comment to Sports Agent Blog, Perzley said he thinks Robertson may be one of the best young cover middle-linebackers in the NFL.

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.