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One Way Trip From (Chris) Houston To (Todd) France

chris houston

Is Eugene Parker so busy fielding questions from the media and having discussions with the 49ers front office, that he is not paying enough attention to his veteran clients?  49ers faithful are getting crabby with the agent, and it looks like SportsAgentBlog.com readers are not to thrilled with the Crabtree holdout, either.  Whether or not the Crabtree time commitment has had an effect on Parker’s representation of his other clients, I would place a bet on the fact that other agents are using it against him.

Yesterday, Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reported on Twitter that Atlanta Falcons CB, Chris Houston, dropped Parker for Todd France of FAAM.  I also have to think that something about Todd France being around Houston (France is based in Atlanta) had a lot to do with the switch.  Houston probably saw France and his employees around the Flowery Branch, GA facility quite a few times before deciding to change agencies.

Drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2007 NFL Draft, Houston has been a solid contributor, racking up tackles along with his two interceptions last year.  He recently missed some time with a hamstring injury, but as long as he is healthy, I expect a big year out of him.  Todd France is hoping that my expectations are right on.

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.