Relativity Sports announced today that veteran NFL player agents Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy have joined the firm in a move expected to make it one of the most powerful NFL player representation firms in sports. Hendrickson and LaBoy represented about 40 NFL players, including Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, Bills WR Stevie Johnson and Giants DE Justin Tuck. Relativity Sports, which was launched by TV and film studio Relativity Media in July '12, already has a football player representation practice led by veteran agents Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes that represents about 40 NFL players. Hendrickson and LaBoy will report to Parker, who serves as Relativity Football CEO. Hendrickson and LaBoy formerly worked in Octagon’s NFL player practice, and the agency today issued a statement that reads, "Octagon and Doug/CJ have different views on how to operate in this business. As we part ways, Octagon will continue to stick to its core values of experience, integrity and a client-first mentality." It is not exactly clear how many NFL clients will follow Hendrickson and LaBoy to Relativity Sports, but as a practical matter, athletes tend to stay with the agent they have the strongest relationship with. “We are thrilled to have Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy join the Relativity Sports family,” Relativity Sports CEO Happy Walters said in a statement. “They are natural fits for our organization because of their holistic approach to helping their clients and wanting to provide them with a wide range of opportunities on and off of the field.”
