In light of the NCAA’s investigations into USC, the other USC (the one in South Carolina), Florida, Alabama and now Georgia, there’s sure to be much discussion as to the role of agents in college athletics.
Football is the cash cow for universities, but only a handful of athletic departments break even or better yet make a profit; yet NFL coffers are overflowing. So let’s be realistic about the current situation with college football: it’s nothing more than an unpaid minor league system. Yes, there’s value in an education but the majority of 18-23 year-old kids aren’t there for the education, they’re chasing a dream to play professional football.
If agents are pimps, is Saban a whore?
Sadly — and this really hurts me to agree with this man — I must agree with Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who at the SEC media days likened greedy agents to nothing more than ‘pimps’. If that’s true then former Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell must be the worst man-whore ever, but that’s another story.
Saban goes on to suggest agents who violate the rules should be stripped of their license for a year. Really….a whole year Nick? Wow, well as we say where I’m from “that’ll learn ‘em”.
That’s line of thinking would leave one to believe Lindsay Lohan’s 14-day junket in jail is going to prevent her from drinking and driving in the future. There’s too much reward and not enough risk with a one-year penalty.
Opportunity, Incentive and Pressure
In grad school I studied financial fraud, where we were taught three things must be present to commit fraud: opportunity, pressure and incentive. In order to reduce or eliminate fraud you must shut off the opportunity, relieve the pressure and reduce or eliminate the incentive to commit fraud.
I’m in agreement with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive who’s calling for a new ‘national strategy’ for dealing with agents. Slive hinted at the possibility of allowing athletes to have agents as a possible solution. As crazy as it sounds, I believe the only real solution will ultimately include bringing agents into the system so they can be regulated.
My Agent Solution
- Universities would be required to employ agents within the athletic department.
- The NFL and the NFLPA agree that only assigned agents from the universities are allowed to negotiate on a player’s behalf.
- Finally — and probably the most controversial aspect — first and second year player’s salaries should be predetermined based on draft order. After the second year of service in the NFL, players are free to change agents, sign new contracts, etc…
Opportunity, pressure and incentive, gone. The pimps can get back to some real work.
But one last question remains: If agents are pimps then does that make money-grubbing Nick Saban a whore? Me thinks so.
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