The new company will be called SportsTrust Advisors.  It will have offices in Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.  Here are just a few names that SportsTrust will represent: Matt Cain, Lane Kiffin, Rex Ryan, Nick Saban, Philip Rivers, Jason Witten, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Urlacher, and DeMarcus Ware.  There will be more than 100 football players and over 40 coaches all represented by this new company.  Has Rosenhaus, CAA Football, and Todd France met its match?  And is there any company that rivals its status as being the preeminent coaches agency?

With so many football players and coaches managed by the same company, how can all potential conflicts of interest be avoided?  One thing to consider is the National Basketball Players Association’s rule against representing professional players and coaches.  What if the NFL Players Association decides to adopt a similar rule?  If it is limited to preventing an individual agent from representing a professional player and a coach, then SportsTrust Advisors would probably be able to get around the restriction based on its sheer number of employees who could interchange names on representation agreements.  However, if the restriction prevented any one company from representing both classes of professionals, it could sure make this merger rather questionable in the future.

Another issue to consider is how Morgan Keegan will factor into this merger.  Morgan Keegan Financials Inc. purchased Athletic Resource Management, Inc. in 1995.  ARM became financially connected to Morgan Keegan, and Morgan Keegan became a recommended place for ARM clients.   Morgan Keegan has been, and continues to be, sued by its clients for funds that were supposed to be long term safe retirement funds, when in reality, they were placed in very high risk security funds.  This affected many of ARM’s clients.  Amongst those affected by these actions are Donte Stallworth, Gibril Wilson, Horace Grant, Jerome Woods and many more.  Woods and his wife Dana received $950,000 in a case against Morgan Keegan for losing nearly all of Woods’ money he placed with Morgan Keegan for retirement.   Horace Grant received a $1.45 million judgment.

In the meantime, the merger joins two of the larger names in the industry, Jimmy Sexton and Pay Dye, Jr., and their immense client lists.  Good luck to the gentlemen involved.

Athletic Resource Management and ProFiles Sports Plans to Merge Operations from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Basketball

• My MUST READ for the week [NBA Labor Negotiations Breakdown].
• I really liked that I saw out of this kid in the NCAA Tournament [BYU basketball: By not hiring agent, guard remains eligible for return to Cougars.].

Football

• Brian Urlacher sure has nice things to say about him [Franklin-based sports agent Bill Johnson enjoys all phases of profession].

Baseball

• Strong interest in preventing an “international draft” [Dominican Prospects Protest Reform].
• It is becoming quite popular for teams to sign young pitchers to long deals [Data On Locking Up Young Pitchers].
• The guys who will finally be making their agents some real money [First Time Arbitration-Eligibles].

Soccer

• The CEO of Athlete Resource Management (ARM) [Rote Jr. elected to US Soccer Hall of Fame].

Sports Business

• Conglomerate discussion may soon have a newcomer in Lagardère [Saddlebrook may partner with French firm Lagardère].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (4/23/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Humorous, strong brand identification, and probably paid a good endorsement fee.  I love it from every angle.

An Endorsement With Swagger from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Baseball

• The Nationals had no problem signing its top draft picks last year, but this year, no such luck thus far [Top Five Picks, Team at Odds Over Bonuses].
• Goodbye to a man who opened up a new market for agents recruiting foreign clients [Nomo's impact hit Majors like a 'tornado'].
• We’ve discussed buscones before.  Here is one tied to our boy, Michael Inoa [Ties between Dominican prospects and bookie raise concerns for MLB].
• I am still not convinced that Gus is guilty [Despite smuggling conviction, agent has no regrets].

Basketball

• The Vegas Summer League has experienced tremendous growth [Summer League on firm ground].
• Is there a higher valued position player than a superstar point guard right now? [Report: Jazz, Williams agree to four-year, $70M extension].
• adidas better get ready to send me a pair [Bulls' Rose gets shoe deal].

Football

• The other Long has signed, meaning that the top 4 picks are with their respective teams for the start of training camp [Rams first-round pick Long agrees to six-year deal].
• Jason Taylor to the Redskins…Jeremy Shockey to the Saints.  Two of my favorite players no longer playing for my favorite teams.
• Brian Urlacher has the potential to make $43.5 million between now and when he turns 35-years-old [Sources: Urlacher to get raise with revised contract].
• The Chargers are showing a lot of faith in someone who is injury prone [Chargers DE Castillo gets $43M in 5-year extension].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

In some cases I don’t blame players for complaining about their contracts, because teams can cut them at any time. With football being such a physical sport, players know they need to make the money as soon as possible, for one injury can end their career. I understand players like Urlacher complaining, especially when he is the heart and soul of the defense and his current contract is now outdated compared to others at the linebacker position.

But what I can’t stand is when guys like Jeff Garcia or Lito Sheppard complain. While Garcia is a very talented quarterback and deserves the respect he is demanding, he is also an old quarterback. Garcia isn’t getting younger and it seems only natural that the Bucs are looking towards the future without the aging QB. Why threaten to retire? If you sign a contract, you should be ready to play through the contract. At this point Garcia must know the business of football. Not every player deserves extensions before his current deal expires.

The Lito Sheppard situation really confuses me; he signed a 5 yr $25 million that runs through 2011 and yet he’s complaining. Since his contract was signed in 2005, he has only played in 34 games. He has proven he just can’t stay on the field, and he is no longer one of the elite corners in the league. He may think his contract is now outdated compared to the recent deals signed by Nate Clements, Asante Samuel, Marcus Trufant and Terrance Newman. Unfortunately for Lito, he just hasn’t earned himself a new lucrative contract.

I understand griping about contracts is part of the business because of the lack of guarantees, but I would like to see a time when players play through the contracts they are given.

What’s The Deal? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The MLB Steroids Situation Doesn’t Seem That Bad Anymore from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules