Va.-based company wins second derby title
With 12 clients selected, including QB Aaron Rodgers, Octagon won this year's agent draft derby.
Not even the agonizing slide of former California quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who plummeted from potentially being the first overall pick in the NFL lottery all the way to the 24th slot, could keep Octagon from claiming the top spot in the annual ESPN.com agent draft derby.
The McLean, Va.-based firm had 12 clients selected in the 2005 draft and totaled 56 points under the ESPN.com scoring system. Points are awarded in descending order, with seven points for a player taken in the first round, down to one point for a seventh-rounder. Among the Octagon clients were eight first-day selections, with two each in the first and second stanzas, and four in the third round.
| 2005 agent draft derby | ||
|---|---|---|
| Here are the top 10 firms in the annual ESPN.com agent draft derby. Points are awarded, in descending order, based on the round in which a player was selected. A first-round pick earns seven points, a seventh-rounder gets one point: | ||
| Agency | Picks | Points |
| Octagon(a) | 12 | 56 |
| SFX Sports(b) | 7 | 44 |
| LMM(c) | 10 | 43 |
| Sportstars(d) | 12 | 41 |
| Athletes First(e) | 11 | 39 |
| Domann & Pittman(f) | 11 | 37 |
| Priority Sports(g) | 9 | 37 |
| Maximum Sports(h) | 7 | 35 |
| IMG Football(i) | 6 | 32 |
| F.A.M.E.(j) | 5 | 28 |
| Notes: (a) Principal agents are Mike Sullivan, Jeff Sperbeck, Doug Hendrickson and Ken Landphere; (b) Ben Dogra and Jim Steiner; (c) Ethan Lock, Eric Metz and Vance Malinovic; (d) Alan Herman, Brian Mackler, Jason Chayut, James Ivler, Bill Heck, Lester Archambeau and David Butz; (e) David Dunn, Joby Branion and Brian Murphy; (f) Craig Domann, Drew Pittman and Leo Goeas; (g) Rick Smith, Mike McCartney, Mark Bartelstein and Kenny Zuckerman; (h) Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes; (i) Tom Condon and Ken Kremer; (j) Todd France. | ||
This marks the second victory for Octagon in the six-year history of the agent draft derby. Last year's winner, Maximum Sports of Fort Wayne, Ind., ranked eighth in 2005. IMG Football, which was No. 9 this year and has dominated the agent draft derby with three victories, continued its streak of being in the top 10 all six years.
Not surprisingly, IMG, noted for its selective recruiting, placed four of its six clients in the '05 draft in the opening round. "Hey, we're pretty efficient, right?" said Tom Condon of IMG, which annually has very few clients outside of the high rounds. Condon and Ken Kremer, the other principal agent for IMG Football, have represented more first-rounders over the past decade than any other firm.
Their clients this year include top overall selection Alex Smith, the former Utah quarterback chosen by San Francisco. This is the fourth time in eight years that IMG is representing the first choice in the draft.
SFX Sports, which was second in the overall scoring with 44 points, also had four first-rounders, tying IMG. Once again, the draft fortunes of the "big three" conglomerate-type agencies (IMG, SFX and Octagon are all owned by huge sports, marketing and entertainment entities) stood out.
Just as conspicuous, however, were impressive performances by several smaller agencies.
Only four agencies have rated among the top 10 in the derby in each of the past three drafts, and that IMG and Octagon represent half of that elite group is reflective of their muscle. The two other agencies with top-10 finishes in each of the last three years, Manhattan-based Sportstars and Chicago's Priority Sports and Entertainment, lack the financial resources of the conglomerate firms but still have posted great finishes.
Both firms have moved, in recent years, beyond the label of "boutique" agency. Despite the intense competition from the conglomerate firms, and the ongoing contraction of a business in which fewer agencies represent more players, Sportstars and Priority Sports have become fashionable options for draft prospects.
"We're really a little bit like Avis," said Alan Herman, president of Sportstars, which had a dozen clients drafted this year, tying Octagon for the most picks. "We have to try a little harder. We have to be better at the negotiating table. We have to offer better training than the other guys. We have to build relationships. If you look at our client list, and at where players were drafted, it reflects a real cross section. We're not elitists, that's for sure. We have guys scattered throughout the draft, but they are all solid prospects, good players and good people, and we represent them all well."
Indeed, Sportstars had at least one prospect chosen in all seven rounds of this year's draft, and that included two first-round choices.
The emergence of Sportstars, a firm that includes seven registered agents, has been fairly remarkable to track. About five years ago, the agency made a conscious decision to abandon its niche-style recruiting, with most of its clients from the Northeast, and seek a broader base. The result: Sportstars has rated among the top 10 firms in the ESPN.com derby for five straight years. That includes three straight second-place finishes and no ranking below seventh.
Its prize catches this year include first-rounders Matt Jones (Jacksonville) and Fabian Washington (Oakland), two players who didn't mind temporarily moving to the thriving metropolis of Fair Lawn, N.J., to train at the facility with which Sportstars has an exclusive relationship.
Don't bet against one of the Sportstars clients becoming the initial first-round choice to reach a contract accord. Led by superb number cruncher Brian Mackler, the firm has developed a reputation for being proactive in negotiations and annually seems to be out front in striking deals. The lone player among the 255 chosen to have a contract already, St. Louis Rams fourth-round safety Jerome Carter is, not surprisingly, a Sportstars client.
A big selling point for Sportstars, and justifiably so, is that Mackler has a keen knack for defining the market, and his deals typically hold up even when the other contracts begin to fill in. Said Herman: "Brian tries to set the market, rather than have it be set for us, and he just doesn't miss."
Priority Sports doesn't miss very often, either, the result of a philosophy established by Rick Smith, one of the firm's three primary NFL agents.
"We don't throw darts," said Smith, whose firm finished sixth this year after being No. 2 in 2004 and fifth in 2003. "We're not out there chasing every player with a pulse. For us, it's a process. We want players who are going to be solid throughout, not guys who might just have one good day in April. So we do a lot of research, talk to a lot of scouts, and then we sit and watch tape and evaluate. We target a reasonable number of players, and we work off that list."
Although the firm typically has a narrow list of candidates, Smith and his partners, Kenny Zuckerman and Mike McCartney, offer diverse perspectives. Smith is an attorney by trade, a Northwestern graduate who practiced law for years before being certified as an agent. McCartney is a former scout, and Priority leans heavily on his expertise. Zuckerman is a former college football player and longtime agent with deep ties and a fat Rolodex.
Unlike Herman, who acknowledged the difficulty in competing against the conglomerate agencies, Smith contended that Priority Sports hasn't really lost that many potential clients to the big guys.
"It's still about building relationships," Smith said. "In the end, we've generally found that a [player] is usually going to sign with the agent with whom he's most comfortable."
That comfort level remained diverse this year even as the agent universe continued to shrink a bit, which was best demonstrated by the fact that the 32 first-round choices were spread among 19 different agencies. There were seven agencies with multiple first-rounders, accounting for 20 of the selections, but there was still plenty of action to go around.
Thirteen agencies scored at least 20 points in 2005, and five groups had 10 or more clients chosen in the seven rounds. The lottery demonstrated the continuing emergence of firms such as Lock, Metz and Malinovic (third place) and Domann and Pittman (seventh) and showed there is still a place for a one-man operation such as that of Todd France of Atlanta (10th place, with 28 points and three first-round choices). Of course, perennial powers such as Athletes First and Maximum Sports remained strong.
"I think it showed," Smith said, "that the people who do it right are still very viable, no matter the size of the [agency]."
Around the league
• Nothing is imminent, but judging from the volume of initial inquiries concerning Peter Boulware fielded by agent Roosevelt Barnes in the wake of the linebacker's release by the Baltimore Ravens Wednesday, the eight-year veteran won't spend too much time in the unemployment line. Unless, that is, his contract demands are so lofty they scare off some suitors. As of Thursday evening, Barnes had heard from eight teams. The clubs were mostly performing their preliminary due diligence – "kicking the tires," so to speak – and attempting to ascertain the state of Boulware's health after he spent the entire 2004 season on the physically unable to perform list with knee and toe injuries. Barnes was trying to separate the contenders truly interested in his client from the pretenders. Word is that Boulware, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, rejected an offer from the Ravens that would have reduced his scheduled base salary of $6 million for 2005 to $2 million, with the ability to recoup an additional $2 million in incentives. Translation: It's going to take more than a minimum salary deal to attract Boulware, who as recently as 2003 played in the Pro Bowl. Barnes declined to get into a discussion of finances with ESPN.com, but did insist that Boulware is all but recovered from injuries that have kept him off the field since the penultimate game of the '03 campaign. "From what Pete tells me," Barnes said, "he feels confident he could play an entire game right now. Certainly, once he gets into a team's training program and into camp, he'll only get even stronger." Barnes said that Boulware is not looking just for an opportunity to be a situational pass-rusher but wants to start if possible and that he would even consider playing defensive end. Among the teams demonstrating varying degrees of curiosity: Washington, Seattle, Cleveland, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston. The franchise that Boulware privately hopes will call him is Indianapolis. He feels the Colts are a Super Bowl contender, admires coach Tony Dungy and envisions himself teaming with Dwight Freeney to provide the club a formidable outside pass rush. Problem is, Indianapolis already has an upfield presence opposite Freeney in third-year veteran Robert Mathis, who collected 10½ sacks in '04 on the left side. After flirting with the idea of moving Mathis to linebacker, Colts coaches have decided to keep him at end. Expect Boulware to strongly consider Seattle, where his younger brother, Michael Boulware, is the Seahawks' starting strong safety. But the Seahawks might have to ante up more than the $2.5 million (which includes a $1.5 million signing bonus) they recently awarded free agent Jamie Sharper, another former Baltimore linebacker, on a five-year deal. Sharper is a guy who makes tackles. Boulware, if healthy, is a guy who makes game-altering plays.
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• Nice, modestly priced pickup by the Washington Redskins this week, when they signed former Chicago and Cleveland linebacker Warrick Holdman to what is believed to be a one-year contract. Over the last couple of seasons, the six-year veteran hasn't been the same player he was for the Bears early in his career. But Holdman is still just 29 and knows how to play the game, and Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will figure out a way to make good use of him. The acquisition of Holdman, who has played all three linebacker spots at various junctures of his career, almost certainly will make Mike Barrow expendable. The veteran middle linebacker missed the entire 2004, season and Washington probably will jettison him after June 1, when it needs salary cap space to sign its draft choices. Holdman might join the group of linebackers vying for the starting job in the middle, where the free-agent defection of Antonio Pierce to the New York Giants has created a big hole. But don't discount the possibility that the Redskins will move strong-side linebacker and 2004 Pro Bowler Marcus Washington into the middle, and use Holdman to fill his slot. When they were recruiting Washington last spring as a free agent, Redskins coaches floated the idea of playing him in the middle, and it could happen. Regardless who lines up where, the addition of Holdman gives Williams a lot of flexibility, assuming LaVar Arrington returns whole from the injuries that limited him to just four games a year ago.
• The recent signings of Holdman, Brown, Jay Foreman (by Oakland) and Nate Wayne (Jacksonville) might start a bit of a run on linebackers, and there remain some starting-caliber players who can probably be had at very reasonable prices. In addition to Peter Boulware, the list includes Kevin Hardy, released by Cincinnati two weeks ago, and still a viable contributor, and former Seattle standout Anthony Simmons. A few others: Rob Morris (Indianapolis) and Ronald McKinnon (Arizona), the starting middle linebackers for their respective teams for the past several seasons; Jason Glenn (Jets); T.J. Slaughter (Ravens); and Eric Westmoreland (Browns). Jacksonville actually thought long and hard about bringing back Hardy, a first-round choice of the Jaguars in 1996, before deciding to add Wayne instead.
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• In signing former Mercer standout power forward Wesley Duke as an undrafted free agent and trying to convert him to tight end, the Denver Broncos are hoping lightning strikes twice. Or at least that it strikes twice for Broncos new tight ends coach Tim Brewster, who seems to know a thing or two about converting basketball players into receivers. Brewster is generally credited with unearthing Antonio Gates, a former Kent State hoops star, and bringing the Pro Bowl tight end to San Diego when he had offers from several other teams. Now Brewster, who moved to Denver this spring after three seasons on the Chargers' staff, has recruited Duke, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds as a four-year starter at Mercer. As was the case with Gates, there were a few other franchises chasing Duke with free-agent offers, but Brewster prevailed, in part because of his Gates connection. One of the top recruiters for Mack Brown during his stint on the University of Texas staff (1998-2001), Brewster put his old salesmanship skills to work. Now we'll see whether he can turn Duke into the next Gates.
• Amid the glut of veteran wide receivers still trying to land jobs – which includes Mitchell, David Boston, Az-Zahir Hakim, Curtis Conway and Tai Streets – former Green Bay standout Antonio Freeman is still hoping to get one more shot to finish his career on his terms. Freeman was signed by Miami last summer after Boston suffered a season-ending knee injury, but was released when the Dolphins traded for Chicago's Marty Booker and couldn't catch on with another team. Beyond the fact he will turn 33 later this month, Freeman, who averaged one touchdown every 7.8 receptions in his career, has other obvious drawbacks. He hasn't played since 2003, when he had 14 catches for 141 yards in a second incarnation in Green Bay. After Freeman posted a career-best 84 receptions in 1998, his catches dropped every year over the ensuing five seasons. And he hasn't been a starter since 2001. But Freeman proved to be a steadying influence in Philadelphia in 2002 and had 46 catches as the Eagles' slot receiver. He works out diligently and still feels he can help some team on the field and as a veteran presence with young receivers. Last week, he was timed – by an independent scout with no vested interest in him – in the mid-4.5s. If that sounds a little pedestrian, heck, Freeman never ran much faster than that in his prime.
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• Not hard to believe that the Dallas Cowboys passed on signing unrestricted free-agent safety Cory Hall after auditioning him Thursday. What's hard to fathom is the Cowboys acknowledged they will keep Hall's phone number close at hand in case they decide they need a veteran safety after their upcoming round of organized on-field workouts. Hall, after all, is anything but a playmaker. In six seasons, including 70 career starts, the guy has just three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, a couple of forced fumbles and three recoveries. In the past two seasons as a starter in Atlanta, Hall had zero interceptions and four passes defensed. Hall's big excuse early in his career was he played in Cincinnati and was a victim of the loser's syndrome there. But even being on a bad team, a defender is allowed to make an individual play once in a while. As we noted here last week, the Falcons should be thrilled Hall reneged on his agreement, struck just after the draft concluded, to rejoin the club on a one-year deal. If the Cowboys conclude they need a veteran safety, there are more appealing options available, including Antuan Edwards (St. Louis), Rogers Beckett (Cincinnati), Izell Reese (Buffalo), and Indianapolis' Cory Bird and Anthony Floyd.
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• You've got to admire the incredible marketing skills of Atlanta owner Arthur Blank, a great salesman who never seems to miss a public relations opportunity. For the second straight year, Blank and the Falcons have scheduled the premiere of the franchise's highlight film at Atlanta's historic Fox Theater. The 2004 event was a smash success, and tickets are selling briskly this year, as well. But the date of the event, May 25, certainly is a significant one, and you can bet it wasn't picked simply by happenstance. May 25 is when NFL owners will choose the site for the 2009 Super Bowl, and Atlanta, which has hosted two previous title contests, is said to be the front-runner. Blank already is beloved by Falcons fans for having reversed the fortunes of the moribund franchise, so imagine the reception he figures to receive that night if he returns from Washington with a Super Bowl in hand.
• One personnel chief's take on former University of Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, a projected top-10 choice who slipped to the 15th slot in the first round (picked by Kansas City): "We just couldn't see spending that much money on a guy who we would have to have taught how to shed a block and how to tackle. He's a great athlete, for sure, but there are a lot of football deficiencies there." That assessment aside, Chiefs coaches have said they were pleased by Johnson's mini-camp performance.
• Punts: The Buffalo Bills, still hoping to find a trade partner to take Travis Henry, made a nice, quiet acquisition this week when they signed tailback ReShard Lee, released last week by the Cowboys. Lee never gained the trust of Bill Parcells in Dallas, but there are some scouts who feel the guy has legitimate NFL-caliber talent. … It appears star Ravens tight end Todd Heap, who missed 10 games in 2004, will be sidelined for the first half of training camp. Heap is coming off an ankle injury but also required shoulder surgery in the offseason. … Washington defensive tackle Brandon Noble suffered a setback in his recovery from the knee injury that sidelined him for all of 2004. Noble contracted an infection in the knee, and it had to be treated aggressively. … Tennessee officials, still cap-strapped, figure to make a decision in the next week or two as to whether the Titans can afford to bring back tailback Eddie George to serve as backup to starter Chris Brown in 2005. … The Patriots' standout, young line aside, it's still obvious their defense revolves around the linebacker position. The Pats have 17 linebackers on the roster. … Former New England star cornerback Ty Law has drawn considerable interest from Detroit and Miami, in addition to the New York Jets, but is still probably a month away from being able to run on his surgically repaired left foot. … Cincinnati hopes to get veteran center Rich Braham re-signed to a one-year contract before the start of its passing camp next week.
• The last word: "Onterrio has embarrassed the team, but first and foremost, he embarrassed himself. He is a member of the team, and he represents the team. He hasn't represented us in a positive way. But I think he did more damage to himself." – Minnesota center Matt Birk, on Vikings teammate Onterrio Smith, after the tailback was stopped at an airport last month in possession of "The Original Whizzinator," a kit designed to help individuals pass drug tests.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here 
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