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Friday Wrap-Up Headline

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (1/3/2014)

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date January 3, 2014

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports — Bill O’Brien will become head coach of the Houston Texans, thanks in part to his new agent Neil Cornrich. Photo Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

And so a new year begins. This website has now eclipsed 8 years of existence and is as strong as ever as it begins to pump out content in 2014. NFL Draft signings keep pouring in, and we thank all agents who have steadily been informing Sports Agent Blog of the players who have executed Standard Representation Agreements. I will be heading to the Orange Bowl tonight to cover some sports business-related topics and then hope to sit in front of the TV and catch some solid NFL Playoffs action (unfortunately my Miami Dolphins will not be found). This week on FORBES: (1) Nike In Clear Control Of NBA Sneaker Wars With Over 270 Players Endorsing Brand; (2) Miami Dolphins Lose On Field But Win With New Qualcomm Location-Driven Partnership; (3) The Biggest Sports Rivalry In 2014: Television Vs. Stadium; and (4) College Branded Sunglasses Company Counts Alabama And Oklahoma As Licensors. And as always, the weekly wrap-up:

Football

Also reps Bill Belichick, Bob Stoops, Bo Pelini… [Penn State Football: Neil Cornrich, The Agent Behind The Bill]
He’s apparently the only agent that has played and scouted in the NFL [NFL sports agent and contract advisor Marc Lillibridge talks about how to make it to the top].
Good advice for those football players thinking about leaving school [Agent’s Take: Inside the decision to turn pro early].
No one will respect his move to drop the hyphen [Bridgewater may be headed to Jay-Z].
Jack Bechta on mistakes made representing the wrong players [Scouts and Agents].
The coveted trademark will not be registered to Manziel just yet [‘Johnny Football’ application delayed].
Good luck Jigga Man [Jay Z Wants The Internet To Stop Talking About Geno Smith’s Hog].

Golf

Now the focus shifts to Rory’s case against his former agents [Court sides with Nike against Oakley in McIlroy rift].

Tags Geno Smith, Jack Bechta, Jay-z, Johnny Manziel, Marc Lillibridge, Neil Cornrich, nike, Oakley, Rory McIlroy, Teddy Bridgewater

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.