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Headline NFL Players Sports Agents

Why Not Let Andre Smith Speak For Himself?

andre smith24 hours later, and I have figured out who wants to be Andre Smith’s agent.  The only problem, is that I have no clue who he wants to be the person in charge of his contractual negotiations.

Yesterday, I reported that Andre Smith dropped his third agent (Rick Smith of Priority Sports) and rumor had it that he was planning on re-signing one-time agent of Smith’s, Alvin Keels.  By the afternoon, the world was once again turned on its head.

Rick Smith was proclaiming that Andre Smith decided not to fire Priority Sports and that the Smiths were still tight.  Meanwhile, at around 2 p.m. EST, Alvin Keels was using his new Twitter toy.  He wrote, “How about this Andre Smith story? I’m in a heated battle right now to win his business back. We are in the bottom of the 9th. Root me on!”  According to Rick Smith, the game was postponed, because Andre is not leaving.

Hopefully, Jim Trotter, the guy who originally broke the story of Andre Smith dropping Priority Sports and later informed everyone that Smith would be re-signing the company, is less confused than I am.  Once we figure something out, I am sure Andre will shake things up again…he would not be my favorite 332 lb. person without those crazy antics of his.  For the meantime, until Andre Smith officially informs the NFLPA that he is rescinding his termination of Priority Sports, the 5-day waiting period before Smith can hire a new agent will run.  If by Friday Andre Smith has not yet re-signed Rick Smith and Priority, Andre will be able to sign with Alvin Keels or any other NFLPA agent that he likes on that particular day.

If I were partaking in some NFL football betting, I’d say that Andre has a lot of people talking in his ears right now.  In fact, I don’t think he’s close to making up his mind on who to select.  One day it could be Keels, the next, Rick Smith.  The fact that I have no idea how this will turn out is exactly why I stay away from sports betting.

All I know is that Eddie DeBartolo must be laughing his ass off watching everything that has gone down since Smith originally moved on to Keels.

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.