Drew Rosenhaus reportedly offered cash to advisor (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Drew Rosenhaus reportedly offered cash to advisor

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

We told you last week that superagent Drew Rosenhaus was facing a challenge from within his organization. We also told you that many folks around the NFL expected that his problems were just beginning.

Another major issue arrived Monday in the form of a report by Jason Cole and Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.

David Wells, Dez Bryant's longtime advisor, told Yahoo! Sports that Rosenhaus offered Wells a cash payment and a trip to Miami in an effort to sign Bryant in 2009 and '10. There are two especially damning text messages Wells kept that appear to violate NFL Players Association rules.

"Also will have 10K for you to give to your community center," Rosenhaus allegedly texted in one message.

"Dnt (sic) mean to put pressure but we want this bad ! Were ready to put u on a private jet and get this done.. Miami's callllinnnnnggggg!!!"read another.

The ploy did not work at the time. Bryant signed with agent Eugene Parker, but wound up dumping Parker for Rosenhaus in December 2011. Wells alleges that Rosenhaus started advancing Bryant large sums of money after taking him on as a client. Bryant then fired Rosenhaus on August 3, at which point Rosenhaus contacted Wells looking for money.

"Drew called me and said, 'We don't want this to get out in the media and we don't want this to get ugly, but Dez owes us some money,' " Wells said. "I said, 'OK, but why are you calling me now? Because you got fired? You didn't call me before you gave (the money) to him?' ... If you knew this kid was on financial restraints, why would you feed the fire?"

Rosenhaus Sports allegedly has financial problems, according to an arbitration filing from suspended vice president Danny Martoe. These two news items from Yahoo! Sports in successive order shines a harsh light into some ugly aspects of Rosenhaus' business. (And the agent industry as a whole.)

As we said last week, it is fair to wonder about the motivation of those attempting to take Rosenhaus down. There are a lot of agents inside football that would love it if the Rosenhaus empire crumbled. It is also fair to wonder how Rosenhaus will respond to this latest allegation, and whether the NFLPA will step in.

Rosenhaus responded with a "no comment" on eleven different occasions in a conversation with Yahoo! Sports regarding his relationship with Bryant.

It certainly doesn't look good. Rosenhaus' integrity is under attack from multiple fronts.

 

[Banger]

wow, I'm shocked (not). Such a dirty business.

 

[shadyridr]

Rosenhaus' integrity

lol

 

[RUSF18]

Shouldn't the NCAA have some involvement in this too?

 

[wadegarrett]

Rosenhaus' integrity

lol

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

It seems crazy that a guy as big as Rosenhaus would do something as dumb as this.

 

[Sweet Love]

It seems crazy that a guy as big as Rosenhaus would do something as dumb as this.

That's what I am thinking...this guy has 2-3 "Dezs" every year. It shouldn't be that difficult of a business. People gag at the Jerry McGuire thing, but really that is how these guys should operate. Take on 10-15 clients, limit your overhead, get the deal done, hire a "security guy" to do the hand holding/watching, and walk away with good money. It's not rocket science...

 

[Shane Falco]

Rosenhaus' integrity

lol

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Next question.

 

[GroveDiesel]

It seems crazy that a guy as big as Rosenhaus would do something as dumb as this.

How do you think he got so big?There have been rumors for years that Rosenhaus was contacting clients while theu were still with other agents. And with the number of big name players that suddenly dumped their agents and switched to him, it seems very possible. The only respect I have for the guy is that rookies he represents always get signed and get into camp on time. And as much as I don't care for Rosenhaus, Eugene Parker is worse on every level. Parker is everything that's wrong with agents. He's a horrible negotiator. The only way he knows to get a deal done is to tell his client to hold out. Pathetic.

 

[Faust]

NFLPA reportedly investigating Drew Rosenhaus

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

The stories keep getting worse for agent Drew Rosenhaus. Rand Getlin and Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports report that the NFL Players Association is investigating Rosenhaus' relationship with Jeff Rubin, a former financial adviser.

Rubin persuaded a great deal of players, many of Rosenhaus' clients, to invest in an Alabama bingo casino that went bankrupt. Ruben was arrested for the matter and is out on bail.

This 4,000 word-plus bomb was dropped on Rosenhaus in the aftermath of a report that Rosenhaus offered cash to Dez Bryant's advisor in an attempt to retain Bryant's services. A former Rosenhaus employee seeking money also has alleged in separate court filings that Rosenhaus' financial situation has been precarious.

This investigation concerns if Rosenhaus' business relationship with Rubin was improperly close. Players lost up to $43.6 million in Rubin's casino downfall. Multiple sources, including Terrell Owens, told Yahoo! Sports that Rosenhaus actively recruited players with Rubin. That goes against NFLPA policy.

"Let me say this on the record, I had no reason to believe that Jeff Rubin was doing anything illegal or irresponsible or unethical," Drew Rosenhaus said. "We never had any inkling that he was ever dishonest. We never had a player come to us until this casino fell apart."

Owens says he was steered to Rubin.

"We recommend you use Jeff," Owens remembers Rosenhaus saying. "He handles our clients, we trust him."

T.O. believes Rosenhaus was a part of the problem.

"With what I know now, Drew definitely needs to share in the responsibility. ... Other players may not want to speak up out of loyalty to Drew but at the end of the day he bears some of the responsibility (for our losses) based on the referrals he was giving to [Rubin] and Pro Sports Financial.

"For someone to work as hard for their money as we do, to have it taken away by people we trust, who we find out later had other motives, it's a sick feeling."

Rosenhaus was "adamant" that he doesn't endorse financial advisers to players. A number of Yahoo's sources -- they had 39 in all -- said the opposite. Rubin and Rosenhaus shared at least 26 clients. Eighteen invested in the failed casino that was raided by authorities.

An unnamed college player also alleged that Rosenhaus used Rubin in presentations.

"It's all about getting ahead and staying ahead for Drew... (he) definitely had to know what was going on," the player said. "Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. It was, 'Do what you've got to do to get the kid signed,' and Drew will do whatever it takes to sign players."

It's an exhaustive, compelling piece of reporting that is worth checking out. There are a lot of issues involved that could present long-term problems with Rosenhaus, but it's an open-ended question as to if those issues will stick. (Much to the chagrin of some agents who want to see Rosenhaus fall.)

Rosenhaus maintains his innocence.

"I guess the point I would make to you is ... there are people who have to pay for this, and there are people who should be punished for it," Rosenhaus said. "There are people who should be accountable, but Jason (Rosenhaus) and I are innocent victims, just like our clients."