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.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

Wait, so his agent was back home in Dallas while Sanders is in KC? Boy I'm ****ing lost

Well I assumed incorrectly on the Dallas part (although he could live in the region if he's an SMU alum), but unless his agent lives in KC than I'd assume he wasn't there.

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

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

According to the story, his agent was declining to comment from his home in Dallas already. Chances are he wasn't even in KC for the process, so it's kinda hard to have representatives there when you aren't even there.

Don't know for sure, but that's what I'd assume.

The agent is almost NEVER there at the actual signing.

Most respected agents represent 25-50 clients...it's nearly impossible to be able to be everywhere at once.

The agent negotiates the deal and the player takes his physical and then signs the contract. Most of the time, this is in person right after taking the physical and the team doctors give thumbs up.

It's entirely possible that Sanders didn't know anything about all of this, but I doubt it...especially when it's reported that the 2 sides agreed to the terms of the contract...that doesn't happen without the player giving the final ok...but who knows when you have a punk like this guy representing you.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by BossChief

The agent is almost NEVER there at the actual signing.

Most respected agents represent 25-50 clients...it's nearly impossible to be able to be everywhere at once.

The agent negotiates the deal and the player takes his physical and then signs the contract. Most of the time, this is in person right after taking the physical and the team doctors give thumbs up.

It's entirely possible that Sanders didn't know anything about all of this, but I doubt it...especially when it's reported that the 2 sides agreed to the terms of the contract...that doesn't happen without the player giving the final ok...but who knows when you have a punk like this guy representing you.

This isn't your typical agent though obviously lol

Basically both sides agree to terms to a contract, which at that point, it's expected the player is no longer on the market. Once that takes place, a formal written contract is formulated and the player goes through a physical and if things all check out, it's sent to the league and it's finalized once the NFL signs off on it.

In short, I fail to see how John Dorsey is liable when he followed protocol and a shady agent didn't.

[Mother****erJones]

It just HAS to be Denver fisting us...FML

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Well I assumed incorrectly on the Dallas part (although he could live in the region if he's an SMU alum), but unless his agent lives in KC than I'd assume he wasn't there.

Again, agents are almost NEVER there at signings unless its a big time deal and they want camera time for promotional purposes.

These things are handled by phone and other forms of communication.

[T-post Tom]

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

It just HAS to be Denver fisting us...FML

Only a fool would believe otherwise...and this scumbag agent knew it.

Used car lot guy and scumbag agent worked together on this. No doubt about it.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Again, agents are almost NEVER there at signings unless its a big time deal and they want camera time for promotional purposes.

These things are handled by phone and other forms of communication.

It was brought up basically because well it's pretty ****ing easy for a slimeball to pull off that stunt when he's thousands of miles away and well gosh Dorsey should of prevented that.

[Just Passin' By]

All this shitstorm over a WR3. Well, when teams refuse to deal with the agent because of this, players will figure that out.

[JohnnyHammersticks]

The amazing thing to me is that Sanders agreed in principle to a deal with us in the first place. Kudos to Dorsey for temporarily convincing him that great BBQ was more important than playoff wins and contending for championships.

[Mother****erJones]

His agent=Ted from Breaking Bad

[mcaj22]

what was Sanders doing in KC for two days then, hiding out in a hotel or was he actually at the facilities either completely clueless or duping everyone

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

what was Sanders doing in KC for two days then, hiding out in a hotel or was he actually at the facilities either completely clueless or duping everyone

2 words

Jack stack

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by BossChief

2 words

Jack stack

Bazookas.

[T-post Tom]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

what was Sanders doing in KC for two days then, hiding out in a hotel or was he actually at the facilities either completely clueless or duping everyone

I heard he was watching hoops at the Sprint Center.