Andrew Brandt has sat on both sides of the table in a NFL player contract negotiation; both as a player agent and as legal counsel of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Brandt also has an interesting distinction of being the agent of Ricky Williams, dropped in favor of rapper Master P, who guided Williams to one of the worst contracts in NFL history. Brandt discusses the nuances of NFL player representation, how it varies from other sports in terms of contract terms and length. Brandt talks about how his passion for sports law brought him to Villanova, to direct the Study of Sports Law in the Jeffrey Moorad Center. Twitter: @AndrewBrandt
Sean Stellato has dealt with the adversities of sport both on and off of the field, beginning with his 1994 high school football team, the Salem Witches, which made it to the state super bowl, despite the obstacles in front of them. Stellato has written a book on that experience, called No Backing Down and shares insight into what exactly made that team so special. Stellato also shares his background as an NFL sports agent, and his time as a professional player in the Arena Football League. Twitter: @SeanStellato
Returning to the podcast for a second stint (Ep. 390), Bryan Bedford discusses his transition to opening his own sports marketing and player consulting firm in Oklahoma City. Bedford talks about utilizing his coaching past at TCU to help high school parents and students understand the college recruiting process, as well as walk through a college athletic football office's viewpoint. Bedford sees himself as a conduit to having families make better decisions, which eliminate some of the wasteful spending based on a lack of knowledge about the process. Twitter: @BedfordAgency
In the modern sports era, even college coaches need the benefits of representation. Garry Rosenfield of Coaches, Inc., shares his wisdom on how coaching has created its own subculture of career development and planning through contracts and agent agreements. Rosenfield discusses the Rooney Rule, as well as how diversity in coaching staffs can increase, as well as the gender bias issues in women's basketball. Rosenfield talks about communication with athletic directors, who may not be comfortable with agents when hiring coaches, as well as some of the methods that coaches can use in order to financially protect themselves long-term in any situation. Twitter: @GarryCl
For basketball athletes who sign contracts overseas, the process can be tough, especially when the foreign team decides to stop paying a legally-binding contract. Charles Bennett is CEO of the PlayersAssociation.org, which represents basketball professionals in the overseas arbitration system in order to receive restitution. This is a long, winding road of informative legal action through email, contracts and foreign teams that decide not to pay, as Bennett tries to get to the bottom of what players were promised, as well as what they received. Twitter: @
Personal athlete brand is a huge market, especially with social media, and that’s where Gil Pagovich performs some of his best skills, using his passion for sports marketing and communications to design the right message for his clients. Pagovich, who spent seven years as an instructor at NYU teaching a class called “The Sports Agent” and discusses creating, nurturing and selling an athlete’s brand to the biggest US and Canadian companies.
Located in Indiana, Juan Garcia shares some of the misconceptions that not only the public, but even the players have about agents. This is an eye-opening account as to what players expect from their representatives, especially when it comes to the player’s personal matters. Garcia talks about the collective bargaining agreement, the NBADL and whether being located in Indiana instead of Chicago, New York or Los Angeles is a hindrance to his agency’s growth. Twitter: @JuanAmg40
Darryl Wolski has worked with just about every type of league in hockey, including the KHL and NHL. Wolski talks about the differences of the leagues, what players can expect in the KHL overseas as well as the NHL. Wolski then talks about why certain minor leagues may have more value to players than just dollar signs, and then discusses advising for 15-and-under Bantam Draft prospects in terms of junior hockey and college recruiting.
With Sentinel Sports, Jonathan Watson is in the relationship business. He discusses the current landscape of client representation, as well as how teams vet athletes in a changing world of media. According to Watson, the information game is everything. Watson also talks about his time entertaining U.S. Military Troops aboard in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany as a C1 Director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation in 2007.
The world of sports agents gets demystified by attorney Travis Leach, who talks about not only the representation end but also the financial side of the business. Leach discusses how financial planning, especially with NFL retirees, is crucial, and why agents need to put a lot of good people around their client. Leach also talks about CTE & concussions, a subject he is very passionate about. Twitter: @Travis_Leach