Apr
24

Bill Henkel Is Looking For Some Positive Endorsements

By | Endorsements, NFL Players, Sports Agents, Sports Law

3 Comments

Marketing agent Bill Henkel could be seeing some jail time.

What do Adrian Peterson, Steve Smith, Derrick Johnson, and Lorenzo Booker all have in common?  They all have Bill Henkel as their current marketing agent.  In January of this year, IMG filed a temporary restraining order against Henkel after accusing him of trying to steal clients away to boost his new agency (Henkel used to work for IMG).  He left IMG in November of 2006 [IMG accuses ex-employee of stealing clients].  His new agency is called 10 Sports Marketing.

The charge of stealing clients may be the least of Henkel’s worries, however.  He is now facing felony charges for commercial bribery and theft [FBC Marketing Agent Charges].  And it all stems back to LaDainian Tomlinson.  The same LaDainian Tomlinson who backed IMG on their claim of Henkel stealing clients.  Now it appears that Henkel was banking more than his standard commission on a sports memorabilia deal that he secured for Tomlinson while working for IMG.  Henkel was kicked anywhere between $1,000-$25,000 for having Tomlinson do a particular endorsement…Tomlinson and IMG had no clue.

What will Adrian Peterson and Lorenzo Booker do?  Nothing like some drama right before the NFL Draft.

Related posts:

  1. Agent Spotlight: Bill Henkel
  2. Making Par With Endorsements
  3. Can Olympic/Student Athletes Obtain Endorsements?
  • Chris

    In the SBJ yesterday it was reported that he tried to get a $75k kickback and had already been paid $18k.

    What’s funny is Henkel seems fairly confident that none of his current clients will leave him, but if the shoe was on the other foot and the player was charged with two felonies and was looking down the barrel of an NFL suspension would Henkel be by his side?

    If Peterson and Booker stick with Henkel there is something fishy going on, he’s likely got something on them blackmail wise. I don’t know how a player can feel comfortable with a marketing agent that essentially stole $75k from a player.

  • Tucker Finley

    It is unfortunate when things like this happen, both for the player and the agent, as it brings a negative aspect to the game, its players, and its players representatives. I must admit that it is very interesting, however.

  • Steve Robinson

    This is the Kind of Crap that Gives Rising Agents a Bad Name , and Who knows what the Agent has on these guys! why they are being so loyal? go figure.

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