Ideas for dealing with agents

[BayBuck]

The first thing we do, let's kill all the agents.

 

[woofermazing]

The high profile sports just need to be policed better. I do think that student athletes are being taken advantage of by the business side of college football (ESPN & co. mainly, most colleges are barely making ends meet), but it's not like they get nothing out of it.

The main argument for a stipend is that the players don't have time to get a part-time job. I don't see how that outweighs getting room, board, and tuition paid for while your on campus. That's not all that is available either. OSU has a $500 dollar clothing scholarship that any student-athlete can apply for yearly, not just scholarship players. Josh Luch's makes it sound like he was just helping the kids make ends meet until they were getting an NFL paycheck. BS unless they want to live large.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Year round "open season" on any agent that comes within 1 mile of a football player before his college elgibility is up.

You know that this would be extremely effective in SEC country.

 

[Esoteria]

I disagree, the NCAA provides the NFL with it's own developmental league at no charge. Think about the value of these players coming into the league that's created by NCAA football (check out how many jerseys are sold of players that haven't even played a down in the nfl yet). There is a reason these players are getting huge deals right out of school, they are already huge names and they bring excitement for teams even if the team has done poorly the previous year. I am SURE that the NFL wouldn't want any part of trying to run an expensive farm system which would basically have little or no chance of making money. Because of this the NFL should be interested in regulating agents and making sure not to upset it's perfect little "minor league" partner.

You gonna do the same for high schools? A lot of these kids are huge names while playing in high school. High school, by your definition, is a farm system for college football.

"Think about the value of these players coming into the league that's created by high school football (check out how many jerseys are sold (without player names) that haven't even played a down in the NCAA yet). There is a reason these players are getting free education right out of high school, they are already huge names and they bring excitement for teams even if the team has done poorly the previous year. I am SURE that the NCAA wouldn't want any part of trying to run an expensive farm system which would basically have little or no chance of making money. Because of this the NCAA should be interested in regulating recruiters and making sure not to upset it's perfect little "minor league" partner."

 

[Jaxbuck]

How big of an effect is the next CBA in the NFL going to have on the agent issue? From what I've seen it seems like a done deal that rookie contracts are going to be capped and their value reduced substantially. Are agents going to keep throwing all that money at college players that don't create a significant return for several years after they get drafted? Currently, projecting first and second round picks is fairly easy and there is a high return in a short amount of time. Soon, the return might not be as high and agents might have to hold on to their meal tickets a lot longer before seeing the payout.

Exactly.

You have to disincentivise either the player or the agent. A rookie cap is a step in that direction.

As long as there is more perceived benefit than cost to performing the illegal act, the act will continue.

 

[DallasHusker]

So it seems to me that a possible solution could be to go ahead and legitimize the process by allowing the schools to bring in the agents for a formal "meet and greet". Instead of the runners and back alley dealings, bring the whole process out into the light of day using a legitimate, formalized process. Kinda of like a "job fair" that would be ok in other lines of work. Make it part of the academic process for athletes. The agents get what they want, the opportunity to meet future clients. The schools can have some control over who is approaching their athletes. Coaches can be in a position to advise their players. If particular agents break the rules, they can be blackballed by the school, or across all participating schools. The agents who break rules face real consequences by losing the ability to meet the kids in this formal process, which in turn puts them at a severe competitive disadvantage in luring clients compared to the agents who follow the rules.

To me it seems that if their were "legal" ways of having contact with agents while still maintaining amateur status and eligibility, a lot of this could be controlled above board. And preparing these athletes for future employment in their field of endeavor (pro football in this case) seems like something schools should be doing anyway.

Just my thoughts...

Good thoughts. I like your ideas, makes a lot of sense.

1. Hire a guy to overlook all the players on the team. His job would be to just make sure they arent talking to agents.

2. If the agent is caught, He will be suspended for 1 year.

3. If the player takes money, he cant be picked in the first or second round. Which means he wont make that much money.

the biggest problem with the agents/violations is that there is no risk for the agent. these agents know the rules and they blatantly go against them. they risk these players getting suspended and don't get any discipline themselves. if an agent gets caught, he shouldn't be aloud to sign new clients for a year: that's there only warning shot. if he does it again, he's done for good. it's that simple. they won't learn if you just keep giving them slaps on the wrists.

Yep, right now there's no downside for the agents, only for the impressionable young kids and their college programs. Put some serious downside risk in it for the agents, that would go a LONG ways.

 

[BB73]

Exactly.

You have to disincentivise either the player or the agent. A rookie cap is a step in that direction.

As long as there is more perceived benefit than cost to performing the illegal act, the act will continue.

I agree with the idea that actions need to disincentivise the act of players taking money/benefirts from agents/runners. Rather than chase agents and players, why not try to minimize the players' desire to take money that's against NCAA rules?

I've thought for years that the NCAA should provide the top level players with loans while they're in college, with amounts based on their future estimated draft value, and insurance policies tied in to guarantee the loans in the event something happens to the player to make him undraftable. And the NCAA can be the entity managing the loans, under their own limitations, rather than a bank or another outside entity.

NFL Draft evaluators are constantly rating players. The NCAA can afford to have a handful of them submit draft grades for the top 100 players in each class. PLayers getting high grades (a specified number each year). would then be allowed to take NCAA loans, with a ceiling of something between $1000 and $5000 per month, depending on the draft grade. The loan could also require that the player complete a session on managing money, avoiding agents, etc.

That would allow somebody like Andrew Luck, who's either about 8 months or 20 months away from a contract worth tens of millions of dollars, to have a couple thousand dollars a month now, without having to take it from an agent and potentially ruin his college career.

I think giving them reasonable amounts helps in a number of ways:

- they can upgrade their lifestyle without taking money from an agent
- they have a period of time to transition to having some money before becoming hugely rich, so it could help them learn how to handle money
- it lets the star players get rewarded without risking their eligibility
- the NCAA could spend more time assisting players in the transition to a career as a professinoal athlete, rather than just investigating them for violations
- it could significantly reduce the contact that players have with low-level agents/runners, who try to lure players with a few hundred dollars every month. It should be much easier for players who are getting loans to say no to guys hoping to get their hooks into them for a little cash
- agents/runners would still be going after guys that don't get the loans, but that should only be for guys that aren't going to get huge contracts, so based on potential returns, they shouldn't be willing to offer much.
- a small number of players may actually decide to stay in college longer, since they could have a little more money while they're there

Possible negatives:

- there could be more resentment of the star players getting cash, which could affect team morale
- there's some cost for the NCAA to do this, but the potential reduction in the costs of enforcement might offset the expenses needed to run this loan program

 

[Jaxbuck]

I agree with the idea that actions need to disincentivise the act of players taking money/benefirts from agents/runners. Rather than chase agents and players, why not try to minimize the players' desire to take money that's against NCAA rules?

I have thought about it from stopping the "demand" side (players) if you will but I just can't make it work in my head. First, the loan idea would work in theory but where does the NCAA get the money from? Cutting some enforcement jobs isn't going to come anywhere near the bankroll needed for what were talking about here.That leads to the next logical step, make the NFL pay for its heretofore free minor league system. I don't think anyone wants to go down that road.

I just think from a practicality point of view you have to target the agents. Here's one strategy I'll borrow from Julius Caesar; divide and conquer. Make the NFL offer a massive bounty that rewards them for ratting each other out. Make that your main carrot/stick and then work on some of the finer details keeping in mind they will stop when the cost outweighs the benefit.

 

[BB73]

I think the costs would only be administrative, the loan money can come from a bank that would partner with the NCAA. The NCAA would manage the loans, but the bank would supply the money.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

First, the loan idea would work in theory but where does the NCAA get the money from?

How about television revenue for NCAA tournament and other televised sports?

 

[Jaxbuck]

I think the costs would only be administrative, the loan money can come from a bank that would partner with the NCAA. The NCAA would manage the loans, but the bank would supply the money.

How about television revenue for NCAA tournament and other televised sports?

Good points. I just didn't think any bank would want to get involved with it because getting paid back is going to be a bitch. Unless the NCAA is kissing the note (and has the means to make good) you are going to be talking about very large, very unsecured loans to 20 something year old kids with no credit history and only one possible way to pay you back. Banks aren't going to be lining up for the privilege of taking on that risk I don't think.

 

[JBaney45]

You gonna do the same for high schools? A lot of these kids are huge names while playing in high school. High school, by your definition, is a farm system for college football.

"Think about the value of these players coming into the league that's created by high school football (check out how many jerseys are sold (without player names) that haven't even played a down in the NCAA yet). There is a reason these players are getting free education right out of high school, they are already huge names and they bring excitement for teams even if the team has done poorly the previous year. I am SURE that the NCAA wouldn't want any part of trying to run an expensive farm system which would basically have little or no chance of making money. Because of this the NCAA should be interested in regulating recruiters and making sure not to upset it's perfect little "minor league" partner."

The NCAA has rules in regards to recruiting and punishes programs found to be in violation of those rules. If you're talking about agents getting to high school players, that would be handled on the professional end as well. Basically the NFL just needs to enforce rules, if you contact or attempt to contact a player before an allotted date in their senior year or before they declare for the nfl draft (whichever comes first) then you get your agent certification suspended/revoked depending on the severity of the offense.

 

[Esoteria]

The NCAA has rules in regards to recruiting and punishes programs found to be in violation of those rules. If you're talking about agents getting to high school players, that would be handled on the professional end as well. Basically the NFL just needs to enforce rules, if you contact or attempt to contact a player before an allotted date in their senior year or before they declare for the nfl draft (whichever comes first) then you get your agent certification suspended/revoked depending on the severity of the offense.

Most states have laws which prevent this behavior from occurring. That's more than some rules that the NCAA enforces regarding high school kids.

If the laws aren't being enforced, contact that state's AG since it is their fault this is becoming pervasive.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Financial penalties for players possible

Players who lose their college eligibility for receiving improper benefits from agents could face financial penalties upon entering the NFL draft under a proposal being considered by a panel of college and pro football officials seeking solutions to the problem.
The NCAA noted the possibility of "potential post-NCAA financial penalties" in a news release Monday announcing the collaborative discussions between professional and college football leaders, player agents, state law enforcement officials and NCAA executives.
The possibility of suspensions during a player's NFL rookie year -- as long as six to eight games -- is also being discussed, according to two sources involved in the collaborative discussions including representatives of the NFL, the NFLPA, the NCAA and the American Football Coaches Association.
This means that if a college player's eligibility has ended under NCAA penalty, a player such as former Oklahoma State and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant or former North Carolina defensive lineman Marvin Austin could be subject to penalties that extend well beyond the loss of college eligibility.
Austin is one of several high-profile college football stars who lost eligibility for this season for accepting improper benefits from player agents. Bryant lost most of his senior season in 2009 for failing to fully disclose his interaction with former NFL player Deion Sanders.
Financial penalties collected from players who lose their eligibility could conceivably go to charity, one source said.
As the NCAA continues to spearhead collaborative efforts to tackle the issue of improper agent activity, the names of more than 20 people who are part of the group working on the problem were revealed Monday.

The NCAA said the group met last week and is making progress in identifying potential solutions and opportunities for greater collaboration between the NCAA, the NFL and its union, and state government officials.
Chicago-based sports agent Rick Smith, a member of the NCAA panel, said Monday that while discussions are preliminary, new rules could be in place within three to five months. Such rules would likely be enforced primarily by the NFL and the players' union.
"Something is going to happen," Smith said, "and it's going to happen quickly."
The group, which is expected to meet again next month, includes conference commissioners Mike Slive of the SEC and Jim Delany of the Big Ten; AFCA executive director Grant Teaff, prominent sports agent Jimmy Sexton; NFL team presidents Bill Polian of the Indianapolis Colts and Rich McKay of the Atlanta Falcons; NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson; and Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism.

Entire article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5725836&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

 

[Saw31]

Interesting.