Anew
NFL Players Association arbitrator not only ruled in favor of
Drew Rosenhaus against former client
DeSean Jackson in a second hearing but nearly doubled the award amount that the Washington Redskins wide receiver owes his former agent, sources said.
NFLPA arbitrator James Conway ruled late last year that Jackson should pay Rosenhaus a little more than $951,881, sources said. That amount includes the original $516,415 that another NFLPA arbitrator, Roger Kaplan, awarded him, plus attorneys’ fees and interest on the award amount.
Rosenhaus and his attorney, David Dickieson, declined comment. Jackson’s attorneys, Steve Feldman and William Quinn, did not immediately return requests for comment.
It’s a stunning reversal after a federal judge last February vacated Kaplan’s award. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald found that Jackson should have been told that Kaplan had worked for and was paid by Rosenhaus in a separate, private arbitration involving the agent and one of his former employees.
The case was sent back to the NFLPA, which appointed arbitrator Conway to hear the case. Sources said that Conway issued his decision in late November but that it was not publicly known.
> AGENT SUES ROSENHAUS OVER ARBITRATION: Meanwhile another NFL agent, Edy Jackson, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Maryland asking that another award by Kaplan in favor of Rosenhaus be vacated.
Jackson alleges in the lawsuit that she asked Kaplan to recuse himself twice from hearing a grievance she filed against Rosenhaus because he had prior business dealings in which he was paid by Rosenhaus, but Kaplan refused. Jackson is seeking damages from Rosenhaus, alleging he violated NFLPA regulations in signing her former client, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett.
Rosenhaus declined comment. Kaplan did not respond to an email request for comment.
After refusing her request that he recuse himself, Kaplan found in favor of Rosenhaus and against Jackson.
“My focus at this point is to have a specific wrong righted,” Jackson said. “That wrong is allowing Kaplan to preside over my arbitration when I filed a motion requesting that he be recused due to potential bias and conflict of interest.”
> WME SIGNS BROADCASTERS CARTER, MCSHAY: WME has signed NFL game analyst Cris Carter and draft analyst Todd McShay for representation.
WME agent Jordan Bazant represents Carter and recently negotiated his new deal, announced last month, to join Fox Sports 1 as an NFL analyst. He was previously an NFL analyst at ESPN and was represented by Vision Sports.
WME agents Ira Stahlberger and Jim Ornstein represent ESPN’s McShay for all work on and off the air and are expected to explore opportunities in areas across WME-IMG, including the agency’s college network and digital expertise. McShay was formerly represented by Creative Artists Agency.
> ACES SIGNS JASON HAMMEL: ACES Inc. has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Jason Hammel for representation.
ACES owners and brothers Seth Levinson and Sam Levinson will represent him. He was formerly represented by Octagon.
Hammel last played for the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs but was left off the postseason roster. The Cubs declined to pick up his 2017 option, which was $12 million, with a $2 million buyout, according to the Chicago Tribune.
> CAA SPORTS SIGNS OLYMPIANS: CAA Sports has signed Alpine skier Steven Nyman and figure skater Ashley Wagner for representation.
CAA Sports agents Lowell Taub and Lis Moss will lead the team representing Nyman and Wagner. Wagner was most recently represented by IMG, and Nyman was not previously represented.
A three-time Olympian, Nyman set a U.S. downhill record by standing on the podium in four consecutive World Cup races in 2016. His endorsements include Clif Bar, Spyder and Fischer skis.
Wagner has reached the podium 24 times in national and international competition and won a bronze medal in team figure skating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. She is a Nike athlete.
CAA Sports will seek corporate sponsors for Wagner and Nyman, who are both pointed toward competing in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
