WR Emmanuel Sanders signs with Denver - Executives cry foul

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

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.

[NCarlsCorner2]

What if the agent is shopping the Broncos agreement with other teams right now, sounds like there is no agreement with anyone until Sanders actually signs a contract.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

I just like a lot of Agents are going off on Steve Weinberg on twitter. Steve wont be a agent much longer.

[PA Chiefs]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Are you attempting to teach a business ethics course here?

That is bullshit.

It is win at all costs in the NFL and the Chiefs as usual, get bent over like a bitch in this cut-throat game.

Yes but ethics apply in every type of business other wise this whole process needs to be replaced so the unwritten rules in which people in the NFL seem to upset with are put in writing and adhered too moving forward. That's it and it is not proven am speaking in general terms from what has been said on this board and the stories posted in it.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Who gives a shit if they offered him $1 to play next year?

He took it, and actually SIGNED the contract.

He's gone, and it's really not that big a loss, IMO.

I agree. You just said he took the better deal. We don't know that.

[Red Dawg]

His agent is a liar scumbag who I hope drops dead.

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

Pioli is a pretty good example of a GM no one wanted to deal with. Sleazy? I would not be surprised

[Messier]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Yes.

Thank you.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Being ethical in your business practices is just smart business. If other teams perceive that Denver is acting in a shady way, they may be hesitant to do business with Elway and Co. With such a limited amount of potential business partners in the NFL, it is always wise to keep good business relations with the other franchises.

Oh, I agree but this is more rationalization than anything. Bottom line is if there is enough benefit in a deal, anyone will play.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

His agent did it with Sanders blessing and the got the best deal for his client… he did his job.

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

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I doubt the NFL can do anything about it. But the agent will be pretty much blackballed, and I think teams and agents may be more reluctant to work with Denver again. Reputation does matter a little bit in the NFL.

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.

[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.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Messier

I agree. You just said he took the better seal. We don't know that.

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.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Should? Why? "Should" might work in small time high school but not in billion dollar business.

Please tell me about your extensive experience in what works in billion dollar business.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Why should they?

There's no NFL rule being broken here.

Is it shady ethically? Of course.

But ultimately, pen had not yet been put to paper, and Denver offered him more money and a better opportunity.

Meanwhile, this fanbase is so ****ed in the head from 20 years of frustration that they are whining about losing out on a WR2 with feet held together with screws. We didn't lose out on Jerry Rice in his prime, folks. We're so thin at WR that people are losing their ****ing minds.

It was a rhetorical question. Of course they're not going to tear up the contract. They just kept a guy with playmaking ability off of a rival's team, and they did it dirty. Like I said to vail - Elway just happened to sign this guy OVER THE PHONE while he was visiting Denver's rival. Yeah, Elway knew nothing of the contract offer at all.

I give less of a **** about Sanders per se than I do about the fact that the Chiefs take it in the ass yet again, but this time in a completely new and improved fashion. That's my issue with this whole cluster****, ultimately.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by OrtonsPiercedTaint

Pioli is a pretty good example of a GM no one wanted to deal with. Sleazy? I would not be surprised

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