CAA on Thursday fired agent Ben Dogra "for cause," according to a source cited by ESPN.com. Dogra is a "listed agent of more than 35 NFL players." Dogra and CAA from '07-14 "led all agencies in the number of first-round NFL draft picks represented." If any of Dogra's clients "choose to leave CAA and join him elsewhere, they must submit a filing" with the NFLPA and can "make the switch after a five-day waiting period" (
ESPN.com, 11/13). Dogra did not return phone calls yesterday to his cell phone or to the CAA office in St. Louis, even after the news of his departure had been reported. Dogra was first hired by CAA in July of '06 from the former SFX Sports, joining the practice of Tom Condon, powerful agent to the NFL’s top QBs, including the Broncos' Peyton Manning and Giants' Eli Manning. CAA launched its sports division in April '06 by hiring Condon from IMG, before adding Dogra. CAA hired Jimmy Sexton, a powerful football coaches agent, as well as a prominent NFL agent, in '11. Together, the former rival agents built the most dominant representation practice. NFLers represented by Dogra include Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman, Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy and Texans DE J.J. Watt. Dogra personally represented 54 first-round NFL draft picks between '01-13, more than any other single agent (
Liz Mullen, Staff Writer).
