Andre Smith Returns To Priorty Sports For Representation

Smith Makes Immediate Return Priority SportsTo Priority Sports

Bengals OT ANDRE SMITH, two days after filing paperwork with the NFLPA "terminating his agreement" with Priority Sports & Entertainment, has "decided to return" to the agency, according to Jim Trotter of SI.com. A source said that Smith would "submit paperwork [yesterday] restoring Priority Sports as his representation." The NFLPA "requires a five-day cooling off period after termination papers are filed," and during that time a player is "prohibited from signing with another agent." But an NFLPA rep said that the five-day period "does not apply to the terminated party, therefore Smith can re-sign with Priority immediately" (SI.com, 5/13). Agent ALVIN KEELS, who represented Smith until being fired last month, in a Twitter message posted yesterday acknowledged that he was "trying to re-sign Smith in time to negotiate a contract" with the Bengals. Keels in the message wrote, "I'm in a heated battle right now to win his business back. We are in the bottom of the 9th. Root me on." But Priority Sports agent RICK SMITH, who most recently represented Andre Smith, said reports Smith could sign with Keels were "a lot about nothing, and I don't know where it came from" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/14).