NFL agent Damarius Bilbo has been suspended and fined for violating regulations about contract advisors, but the penalties are less than what the NFLPA initially sought. Bilbo, who reps Saints RB Alvin Kamara, Chargers RB Melvin Gordon III and Browns WR Jarvis Landry, among others, was handed a three-month ban and a $12,500 fine, though that was a reduction from the one-year suspension and $50,000 fine the union's Committee on Agent Regulation & Discipline (CARD) originally imposed on him last year. The disciplinary case involves an $18,000 marketing payment to Landry from NFL Players Inc. that was mistakenly deposited into Bilbo's business account. "There is no evidence in the record to suggest that this deposit was done intentionally or with any sort of intent to steal or defraud," NFLPA arbitrator Roger Kaplan wrote in his decision. "Indeed, the evidence demonstrated conclusively that the deposit was a mistake." Kaplan also noted that Bilbo "swung into action" as soon as it was known the check to Landry had gone missing, including calling the bank and initiating engagement with the NFLPA. The judge also noted Bilbo paid Landry back, did not take a marketing fee and cooperated with the NFLPA's investigation. Kaplan noted Landry kept Bilbo as his contract adviser and "vigorously expressed his confidence in Bilbo." He wrote, "These additional factors add to the reasons for mitigating Bilbo's penalty" (Liz Mullen, THE DAILY).
IMPACT ON FUTURE CONTRACT TALKS: In Miami, Adam Beasley reports Bilbo's suspension could impact Dolphins CB Xavien Howard's quest for a "long-term, big-money deal this offseason." Howard has indicated that he "wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league." However, that is "hard to get when your agent has been stripped of his power to negotiate on your behalf." Howard can sign a new deal on March 13, the "start of the league year," but Bilbo will still be suspended then. It is possible he "sticks with Bilbo and waits until the suspension has been lifted before entering negotiations with the Dolphins." However, it is not clear whether the Dolphins "want to do business with Bilbo." He "ripped the Dolphins publicly" and "criticized the front office in sharp terms" for how the team handled contract talks with Landry last year before trading him to the Browns (MIAMI HERALD, 1/9).
