Question for SportsLaw

[MustangFan]

Just read your column - very interesting article.

You talked about how once the draft is over, teams "cull hundreds of players" for their free agent additions. We're in that period now, with John Hampton signing with the Titans yesterday. I'm wondering: how does this process work? Do teams contact the players only? Do players call teams that they think have a need for a player at their position? Do college coaches and agents make the calls? Thanks.

[Sports Law]

Glad you liked the article! By the way, congratulations and good luck to both Kevin Garrett and John Hampton.

It happens both ways. Just as the draft ends, teams start calling the players (or their agents, if they have one) that are still on their "board" and start working the deals - mostly on signing or roster bonuses, not base salaries. At the same time, agents for the remaining undrafted players start scrambling; calling any team that will listen, trying to land their player in a camp - even a mini-camp. At this point, while the agents want to try and find a nice fit and get a better signing bonus for their guy (if there's interest in the player by more than one team), in most cases, the players just want a shot - somewhere...anywhere! The college coaches sometimes get involved; but its usually the pro teams and the agents that are driving the process.

I would guess that Hampton might have had a choice of more than one team and chose the Titans because he (and/or his agent) thinks that he might have a better chance to make that team, as compared to any others that might have shown some interest. I'm basing that solely on the timing of the signing and on NO other information. So, I could be way off on that. It could be something as simple as the Titans offered the best signing bonus or were the only ones to show any interest.

Again, thanks for the kind words. I'd love to hear your suggestions (and anyone else's too!) for future columns.

[Dark Horse]

How about a column on Title IX and gender equity, and how SMU is doing (keeping in mind its recent addition of equestrian as a varsity sport for the 2003-04 school year) in its effort to be fully compliant? For instance, the breakdown between the number of scholarships for male and female student-athletes, or does it refer to a ratio equal to the ratio throughout the student body? Or is it based on total dollars per gender? I've read a lot about it, and it can be confusing.

[This message has been edited by Dark Horse (edited 05-01-2003).]

[PerunaPunch]

Follow-up question for SportsLaw:

How do NFL teams know who to call about a free agent?

When you were the agent for UT DT Darrin Benson, I'm sure the Cowboys knew exactly who to call because Benson was a second round selection (if I remember correctly). But when you think you have a player who will stick with an NFL team, but they might not be familiar with the player because he wasn't invited to the NFL Combine, etc., how do you put the two parties together?

Do NFL teams just know who to call because their scouting departments generally stay on top of this sort of thing, or do you have to do a lot of marketing on behalf of a player. Do you work mostly with scouts or coaches??

[Water Pony]

Dark Horse:

There are several criteria for Title IX compliance.

First, absolute numbers of student athletes is key. Walk-on's for Men's sports work against compliance as does the size of the FB Team. Next, funding and scholarships will be weighed and should be far. There is no credit for the revenue generating capability of FB and BB.

[Sports Law]

Thanks for the question and sorry for the late reply -

NFL teams already know about prospects that are now in high school, much less those that are currently draft-eligible. That's where "diamonds in the rough" like Kurt Warner and the aforementioned Darren Benson (who was actually from Trinity Valley Community College - a supplemental third round pick) come from - pulling out old files on players that didn't get drafted or wind up in Canada, or flamed out from college - for whatever reason. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Additionally, most teams pool much of their scouting resources, so they are often working from the same information. Its the "extra step" or different analysis that a team takes on a particular player that results in different thoughts on how much potential the player might have.

Tips on players come to the teams from everywhere - college and former high school coaches that may (or may not) have friends that are on NFL staffs, agents, scouts, friends, relatives....everywhere you can imagine!

The players (or coaches, agents, etc.) contact the teams through the team's staff or scouts (or secretaries, even) and try their best to get a tryout. If they get their shot and the team wants to sign them; but they don't have an agent, the player can either contact the NFL Players Association, which would refer them to their list of registered agents, or the team might provide the player with the same list. Technically, neither the team nor the NFLPA is permitted to direct a player to a specific agent.

The marketing also doesn't stop when training camp starts - its a year-round thing. Remember Jimmy Johnson's first year revolving door with the Cowboys? A persistent agent or player will do everything they can to keep their name in front of as many teams as possible in case of injury or other opportunity.

So, for all those Mustangs (or Horned Frogs, etc.) that don't yet have a team - they can continue to knock on the NFL door for as long as they want (or as long as they can convince someone that they still have what it takes). Whether or not a team answers is an entirely different question.

[Sports Law]

Thanks for the thought. That's one of many suggestions that I've received.

Title IX is a very complex issue on which well meaning, reasonable people can have dramatically different views. While we might delve deeper into the topic at some point, the bottom line can often be summarized as follows: As long as football and men's basketball are driving the revenue stream (something that is not likely to change), "minor" (particularly women's) sports will continue to feel the strain and ADs will continue to have a difficult challenge to meet the requirements of Title IX, regardless of one's interpretation of the technical criteria. Most, if not all, take that challenge very seriously and do their best to do the right thing for the institution and the female student-athlete. Sorry if that's too simplistic for some people; but (in my opinion) those are the realities.

[SMUguy]

It's easy to make fun of lawyers, of course, but this is some really interesting stuff. Glad to have you on PonyFans.com, Sports Law - it's very enlightening to have you sharing your expertise.

[GrapevineMustang]

Ditto. Welcome!