Arbitrator Upholds NFLPA's Suspension Of Carl Poston

By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Arbitrator Upholds Suspension Of Agent For Handling Of Arrington's Contract

Arbitrator Roger Kaplan upheld a two-year suspension the NFLPA imposed on agent Carl Poston, finding that he did not ensure that a $6.5 million bonus he had negotiated for former NFL LB LaVar Arrington was contained in a contract with the Redskins before Poston and Arrington signed it. Kaplan also found that Poston had failed to notify Arrington that the bonus was not included until weeks after the contract was signed and later failed to cooperate with the NFLPA in its investigation in what happened to the bonus. Poston did not immediately return a phone call to his office. Poston has been serving the two-year suspension since July of '06. Normally, agents are allowed to continue to represent NFL players in contract negotiations with NFL clubs until an arbitrator rules on the appeal of union-imposed suspensions. However, in Poston’s case, he was suspended immediately last year after his arbitration hearing was postponed by the agent several times.