WR Emmanuel Sanders signs with Denver - Executives cry foul

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Executives crying foul over Emmanuel Sanders deal

By Ian Rapoport NFL.com
NFL Media Insider
Published: March 16, 2014 at 12:05 a.m. Updated: March 16, 2014 at 12:19 a.m. 8 Likes | 2 Comments
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Emmanuel Sanders is expected to sign with the Broncos tomorrow, but the process that led him there left the other teams involved fuming and crying foul. One team official claimed Sanders' agent broke "every rule in negotiations."

Agent Steve Weinberg, on behalf of the receiver, accepted a deal with the Chiefs in principle, according to one team source. Weinberg then engaged in negotiations with the Tampa Bay Bucs, according to another source involved in the process.

While shopping the Chiefs offer to the Bucs, Weinberg never explained that he had already accepted the terms of Kansas City's offer. Later in the night, Sanders' agent had agreed to terms with the Broncos, which is where he is currently headed. Sanders and Weinberg also rankled the 49ers by agreeing to visit, then blowing it off.

"This was one of the worst situations in modern football negotiations," one executive involved said. "Totally wrong. This needs to be stopped."

Reached at his home late Saturday, Weinberg declined to comment on the record when informed of the allegations.

The Dallas-based agent was recently reinstated by the NFL Players Association, which had barred and decertified him in 2003 because it had reportedly found he diverted assets to an offshore account during a dispute with a partner and collecting a fee from a client prematurely. Weinberg later filed suit against the NFLPA and its top officials, alleging they illegally took away his certification for eight years, along with past, present and future income of clients.

Weinberg has two clients currently on NFL teams, not including Sanders. He had 42 before he was barred.

While Weinberg broke no laws in accepting a deal, the entire situation infuriated those he dealt with. It is commonly accepted in the league that once two sides agree to a deal -- in writing or in handshake form -- that's the end of the story. Instead, by Weinberg shopping the Chiefs deal and then not informing the Bucs that a deal had been reached showed another side of the business. It is unclear if the Broncos were aware of the previous actions.

"When a man gives you his words and pulls out," one executive said, "then gives another team your word and pulls out, then gives another team his word ... Not proper."


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Denver is giving former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders a 3-year, $15M contract. Team announced agreement.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

So if a lawyer did something unethical that wasn't illegal, but got him disbarred, you would defend him for advocating for his client?

Yes.

The agent works on behalf of the player.

He found a loop-hole to continuing searching and maximize his client's value in the open market.

That is how the game is played.

[penbrook]

RT @JosinaAnderson: Update: WR Emmanuel Sanders has landed in Denver...about 11m ago to be exact.

[PA Chiefs]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

Elway didn't know what was going on? Riiiight. Elway knew he had a chance to spite the rival team and ****ed us.

Exactly that's were Elway needs to act in good character and not just say I will screw this team over. Unwritten rules suck when someone of Elways character is making moves.

[penbrook]

Per RossTuckerNFL

All the players lied to by coaches/execs feel really badly for teams spurned by Emmanuel Sanders

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Yes.

The agent works on behalf of the player.

He found a loop-hole to continuing searching and maximize his client's value in the open market.

That is how the game is played.

You're arguing against a fanbase that would rather have the moderately talented "good guy" rather than the superstar "bad guy".

Good luck.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by PA Chiefs

Exactly that's were Elway needs to act in good character and not just say I will screw this team over.

Again it is not Elway's job to worry about not screwing the Chiefs over.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I don't know. I'm no NFL rules expert. I'd say an unwritten rule was broken by the agent, and I will stand firm in saying that Elway knew all about it since he basically agreed to a contract with Sanders over the phone without having him in. Is that illegal by letter of the law? Doubt it, but I'm not sure. Now, if Elway really DIDN'T know about the contract with the Chiefs, he should null his contract and file a grievance with the NFLPA.


All this being said - You're laughing your ass off as you type this stuff, aren't you?

Not laughing at all. I'm just trying to understand the lashing out at a GM for the shadiness of an agent.
I wonder how many here would want KC to seem send Emmanuel to Denver if the roles were
reversed?

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Yes.

The agent works on behalf of the player.

He found a loop-hole to continuing searching and maximize his client's value in the open market.

That is how the game is played.

He didn't "find a loophole." Every agent probably knows they could violate a binding verbal agreement, but they don't do it because its a bad business practice.

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

Originally Posted by TEX

Yeah, but he's signing players left and right this year, isnt he?

He's not the GM. But they're signing his...failures

edit: overpaying his failures

[In58men]

Can't believe all the butt hurt going on. Football is a scandalous business. Shit happens. Move on.

[NCarlsCorner2]

Originally Posted by PA Chiefs

Exactly that's were Elway needs to act in good character and not just say I will screw this team over. Unwritten rules suck when someone of Elways character is making moves.

Elway broke rules as a player and won games by doing so, nothing new here.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Not laughing at all. I'm just trying to understand the lashing out at a GM for the shadiness of an agent.
I wonder how many here would want KC to seem send Emmanuel to Denver if the roles were
reversed?

0.0%.

Most common answer given?

"**** Denver"

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Agreed, the agent is ****ed. The thought this would cause someone not to play for Denver, or work with Elway who is firmly entrenched in the nfl good ol' boy network seems far fetched. It's not like Denver whelched on a deal with another team.

Right now, they are moving forward even though they know the agent did this. They could even choose to investigate it, and still sign him. They aren't doing any of that.

Don't get me wrong... it's hard to blame Denver for this. But we can't use the "they didn't know" thing anymore. I think there are teams and agents that might think twice about dealing with Denver, especially given the respect in the league for Dorsey and Reid. And yes, I think it will be a pretty small pretty unnoticeable ding, not a big one.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Money aside, catching passes from Peyton Manning on a team that went to the Super Bowl last year is a better deal than the alternatives. (KC, TB)

"Better deal" doesn't always equal money.

True, but the way it went down I bet we find out it was for more $$$ and less restrictive terms.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by TEX

Yeah, but he's signing players left and right this year, isnt he?

Isn't he the assistant GM?