01-18-2012, 09:23 AM
My first thought was also that the first contract is potentially a no-brainer with the new CBA (which actually begs the question of why use an agent at all, and I think that many players in other sports have done their own first contracts.) But aside from the salary and bonus, are there other contingencies that need to be layered into the contract? Restrictions on use of Luck's image in promoting the team? Training camp requirements? Parking space guarantees? I don't know what they might be, not being an agent, but I'm sure there are a lot more issues that get layered into a contract that an expert agent will know how to manage.
Then there's the Elway/Eli Manning contingency of what do you do if you get drafted by a team you absolutely don't want to play for? I don't think Luck is the kind of guy to hold a team hostage, but there might be good reasons that he absolutely wouldn't want to play for the Colts or Rams, or whoever. What role does an agent who knows all the players at the table and can leverage his influence to make sure Luck lands in the right situation?
It just seems like there's more down side than up side to being the only NFL player that your agent has, let alone the entire agency.
Then there's the Elway/Eli Manning contingency of what do you do if you get drafted by a team you absolutely don't want to play for? I don't think Luck is the kind of guy to hold a team hostage, but there might be good reasons that he absolutely wouldn't want to play for the Colts or Rams, or whoever. What role does an agent who knows all the players at the table and can leverage his influence to make sure Luck lands in the right situation?
It just seems like there's more down side than up side to being the only NFL player that your agent has, let alone the entire agency.