Agent David Dunn, whose reputation in recent months has been battered in the courts by a jury and in the press, continues to sign the most prized football players in the country, including Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, leaving competing agents wondering why.
Dunn, who has been accused by the NFLPA of violating six union regulations after a jury found that he stole most of Leigh Steinberg's football practice, has also signed Dave Ragone, Brandon Lloyd and Jason Gesser and is close to signing several other top draft prospects.
"Hiring David Dunn is really stupid," said agent Jerome Stanley, who represents NFL star Keyshawn Johnson. "There are enough qualified people who can represent Carson and do a good job, other than a person who has just been found guilty of stealing someone's business and other than someone who has just been assessed $40 million for doing so."
USC quarterback Palmer is projected to be the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft. Ragone is a highly rated quarterback from Louisville, Lloyd is a wide receiver from University of Illinois, and Gesser is a quarterback from Washington State.
NFLPA officials told a federal judge last week that Dunn could be barred from representing players as a result of the NFLPA disciplinary action. The NFLPA complaint, issued Jan. 3, alleges that Dunn violated regulations governing conduct of agents, including a rule that prohibits agents from engaging in unlawful behavior, conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or anything else that jeopardizes the agent's ability to represent players.
Dunn's former employer, Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn, won the $44.66 million jury verdict in November, when an eight-member panel found that Dunn had breached a contract and that he and his sports agency, Athletes First, had engaged in unfair competition against his former firm. The jury also found that Dunn acted with fraud, oppression and malice when he walked off with more than 50 of Steinberg's clients.
Veteran football agent Jack Mills said: "I would say it is surprising what little effect the legal proceedings seem to have on people's judgment about representation. All I can say is he must be one helluva salesman."
Mark Humenik, attorney for Athletes First, denied that Dunn or Joby Branion, another Athletes First agent who also is the subject of an NFLPA disciplinary complaint, violated any regulations.
Asked about the company's recruiting successes in the wake of Dunn's legal history, Humenik said, "Our reputation for negotiations is unassailable, and we service our clients very well."
One agent who wasn't surprised about Dunn's success is Frank Bauer. "In his search for an agent, players should make sure the agent has no complaints against him or grievances in his [NFLPA] file," he said. "Obviously, the integrity of this business has gone down so far. ... I don't think it matters anymore if a guy has had trouble in this business. Dave has tremendous clients in the National Football League and players care about who you represent."
Bill Palmer, Carson's father, said other agents have spoken about Dunn's reputation. "They find it incredible that you would go with anyone in spite of those things," said Palmer.
But the elder Palmer, who directed his son's search for an agent, doesn't appreciate other agents suggesting that his son not sign with Dunn. "He didn't do anything wrong that would affect whether he could represent my son adequately," said Palmer.
Judge Ronald Lew was expected to rule Friday on a motion asking that Dunn be barred from representing players until 2005.
Bill Palmer said he didn't think the court or the impending union action would lead to the banishment of Dunn.
Craig Lucas, who helped his brother-in-law, Dave Ragone, conduct his agent search, said he read everything he could about the Steinberg-Dunn trial and asked Dunn about it when the Ragone family interviewed him.
"One of my concerns was that given everything that was going on, there was a significant potential for ... distraction," he said. "My hope is Dave is able to continue on with this relationship, because it is the relationship [Ragone] wants."
Under NFLPA regulations, agents have 30 days to answer a disciplinary complaint. The disciplinary options are no discipline, a letter of reprimand, fines, suspensions, or decertification.
Once the answer to the complaint is received, the disciplinary committee would try to issue a decision within seven to 10 days, said NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen.
