The NFLPA's vote in February to reduce the maximum
commission that agents can charge players for negotiating
contracts to 3% of the total value of the contract, down
from 4%, could lead to "a war between the union and agents,
with some of the most powerful agents leading the charge to
battle," according to Mike Freeman of the N.Y. TIMES.
Freeman: "Some agents say they are considering suing the
players association, saying they have a right to charge
players what they want, just as the players have the right
to choose an agent who charges less." Some agents also say
a reduction in fees could lead to a change in service, with
"less attention being paid to players' problems." NFLPA
Exec Dir Gene Upshaw said the union is informing the
approximately 1,200 agents who pay an $800 annual
certification fee of the change. The change takes place
immediately, but is not retroactive. Upshaw: "It's a good
rule our players really wanted. The biggest issue with the
players was, who has been most responsible for the growth of
the game? The players believe it is them, not the agents."
Upshaw said agents won't lose that much money, as the
average fee now is 3.5% (Mike Freeman, N.Y. TIMES, 4/16).
