Maxx Sports & Entertainment has signed veteran NFL quarterback
Donovan McNabb for broadcast work and is close to agreeing to a network deal for the longtime Philadelphia Eagles star.
“We are on the cusp of something, but I can’t say what network it is with,” said Mark Lepselter, founder and president of New York-based Maxx. “We are exploring broadcast opportunities and we are confident that Donovan will have opportunities in the broadcasting arena.”
A 13-year NFL veteran, McNabb played for Minnesota last year before being released midseason. Lepselter declined to comment on any prospects of McNabb returning to the field this year.
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McNabb did some on-camera work for ESPN at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa in 2009.
Photo by: DON JUAN MOORE
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McNabb is represented on the field by agent
Fletcher Smith. Lepselter said he met McNabb through Smith.
McNabb previously has done on-air work in guest stints with ESPN and Comcast SportsNet.
“The networks always seem to gravitate first to guys who played the quarterback position,” Lepselter said. “I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Donovan has as unique a perspective as anyone who has played that position.”
Maxx represents more than 40 sports broadcasters and other current and former athletes for off-the-field work, including Rodney Harrison, Jeremy Roenick and Tiki Barber. Lepselter recently negotiated a deal for former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz as an NFL game analyst with Fox Sports and a deal for former NFL wide receiver (and Indiana University quarterback) Antwaan Randle El to join the Big Ten Network as a studio host.
LMM SAYS INVESTOR KNEW ABOUT LOANS: A private equity firm that bought a minority stake in the NFL player rep agency owned by Ethan Lock, Eric Metz and Vance Malinovic knew about and approved a $350,000 loan to Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith as well as loans and payments to others, Metz said last week.
The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based agency, now operating as LMM Sports Management, represents about 50 NFL players. It is engaged in a legal battle with the equity firm, Your Source Pacific Fund (YSP), and its subsidiary Your Source Financial regarding the deal, in which YSP bought 40 percent of the agency.
LMM has asked a court to be able to dissolve itself and for $900,000 in damages, alleging YSP reneged on a deal to pay for the continuing expenses of the agency. YSP contends that the three agency partners violated an operating agreement by engaging in a number of activities that were not authorized by the joint executive committee overseeing the agency. These activities, YSP contends, include the agency making the $350,000 loan to Smith as well as a $33,900 loan to Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Jon Asamoah and a $50,000 payment to longtime quarterbacks coach Bob Johnson.
“Your Source, as a minority partner, not only authorized the loan agreement [with Smith], they actually drafted the loan agreement themselves and requested in writing that any communication about the loan agreement also be sent to the Your Source attorney,” Metz said. He said the same was the case with the loan to Asamoah.
As for Johnson’s case, Metz said, “Once again, documentation shows that Your Source actually drafted this agreement.”
James Ryan, attorney for the Your Source entities, declined to comment on Metz’s statements. “We are just going to litigate it in court,” he said.
Both Smith and Asamoah are represented by LMM. Johnson said he has been paid to train quarterback clients for LMM but does not know about any approvals related to that payment.
TLA SIGNS JOHNSON FOR MARKETING: The Legacy Agency has signed Brooklyn Nets coach Avery Johnson for off-the-court endeavors, including endorsements and appearances. TLA partner and marketing agent Russ Spielman will represent him. Johnson continues to be represented on the court by his longtime agent, Tony Dutt.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SBJLizMullen.
