The Montag Group signs ESPN’s Smith, Rangers’ Quinn
The Montag Group has signed several new broadcasting clients for representation, including ESPN “Outside The Lines” host Ryan Smith and New York Rangers head coach David Quinn.
Additionally, TMG has signed quarterback-turned-broadcaster Jordan Palmer as well as new ACC Network anchor and sideline reporter Katie George.
Agency founder Sandy Montag and agents Steve Herz, Gideon Cohen and Carol Perry are representing Smith. Montag is representing Quinn. Cohen is the lead agent for Palmer, while Jeff Feldman is representing George.
Smith had been represented by CAA but left that agency more than a year ago. The other clients were previously without representation.
TMG is representing Quinn for speaking and other off-the-ice endeavors, as well as coaching. Montag met Quinn through mutual friends.
John Davidson, the new Rangers president, also is a TMG client.
Smith, a graduate of Columbia Law School, worked as a sports and entertainment lawyer and as an attorney for the Jacksonville Jaguars before becoming a broadcaster. He works for ABC News, as well as ESPN, and has appeared as a legal analyst, correspondent and host on multiple ABC News platforms.
Lately, Smith has been hosting ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” and there is speculation that he will become the permanent host after Bob Ley announced his retirement last month after 40 years at the network. “Ryan is going to be one of the big stories of ESPN in the future,” Montag said.
George is a former Louisville volleyball player who was the Milwaukee Bucks’ sideline reporter before being hired by the new ACC Network, which launches next month. Montag tabbed her as “an up-and-coming” broadcast talent.
Palmer is a former UTEP and NFL quarterback who is the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Carson Palmer. In recent years he’s worked as a quarterback coach for players entering the NFL draft.
“He’s a quarterback guru,” Montag said. “He’s starting to do more broadcasting, and since he’s become the top guru, a lot of networks have reached out to him.”
■ CAA SIGNS BOOGER MCFARLAND: Creative Artists Agency has signed Booger McFarland, a color analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” for broadcasting and work in all areas.
CAA agents Tom Young and David Koonin will lead the team of agents representing him. He was formerly represented by ICM Partners.
McFarland is a former defensive tackle who was the 15th overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. He played nine NFL seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings, one each with the teams he played for: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts.
■ WASSERMAN SIGNS GOLF PHENOM: Wasserman has signed breakout 20-year-old golfer Matthew Wolff and negotiated deals with TaylorMade for golf equipment and Nike for shoes and apparel.
John Mascatello, executive vice president and managing executive of golf, is leading the team representing Wolff, who won the inaugural 3M Open earlier this month in his third professional outing.
“When you win on the PGA Tour you get a two-year exemption, so you are automatically a member of the tour,” Mascatello said. Wolff, who played golf at Oklahoma State, won the NCAA individual men’s championship in May before turning pro.
“He is the third person in history [following] Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw to win the NCAA and a PGA Tour event in the same year,” Mascatello said. “The goal was for him to focus on these two partnerships and really focus on getting his card, which he has now accomplished.”
■ NFL AGENT CHANGES: Denver Broncos cornerback Kareem Jackson has signed with Sportstars. NFL agent Jason Chayut is representing him. Jackson formerly was represented by Impact Sports.
CAA has signed Browns running back Nick Chubb. NFL agents Todd France, Ben Renzin and Brian Ayrault are representing him. Chubb parted ways with SportsTrust Advisors several months ago.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.