The NFLPA yesterday announced that its Committee on Agent Regulation & Discipline (CARD) had voted unanimously to decertify Relativity Football co-CEO Ben Dogra for various infractions pending an appeal. Dogra represents many high profile NFL players, including Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, Seahawks S Richard Sherman and Bills DE Mario Williams. The NFLPA said the players on the CARD Committee all voted to revoke his
certification "based on verified information included in a thirty-eight
count disciplinary complaint, sworn testimony, and careful review of
the evidence.” The committee members found he violated the NFLPA
regulations governing contract advisers. It is not clear what regulations Dogra was found to have violated, but
the NFLPA has been investigating him since at least last April, when he
and his attorneys, including Rusty Hardin and former NFLPA counsel
Arthur McAfee, met with NFLPA staff in its DC headquarters. The NFLPA said Dogra has the right to appeal the discipline to an independent arbitrator, which would stay the discipline. If the NFLPA revocation of Dogra’s certification is upheld, Dogra could re-apply to become NFLPA-certified after three years and after paying a $200,000 fine. Dogra in a statement said that he would appeal the discipline and noted that he can still represent clients while the appeal process is on-going. Agents must be certified by the NFLPA to conduct playing contract negotiations with NFL clubs on behalf of players. From '01-15, Dogra has represented or co-represented 56 first-round picks at three different agencies -- the former SFX Sports, CAA Sports and Relativity Sports. He was fired by CAA Sports in November '14 and joined Relativity Sports last February.
