warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Teague Egan's Agent Certification Revoked By NFLPA

Paresh Dave |
December 3, 2010 | 2:21 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Baxter. (Shotgun Spratling)
Baxter. (Shotgun Spratling)

The NFL Player's Association revoked USC student Teague Egan's certification as a player agent on Friday, according to a statement released by the NFLPA that cites his "numerous" violations of rules governing agent conduct.

Two days before a game against Oregon State, Egan gave USC freshman running back Dillon Baxter a golf cart ride across campus, which NCAA rules consider as an improper benefit for a college athlete. USC compliance officials warned Egan that such rides were against NCAA rules shortly after he became certified in October.

Reached by phone in Florida on Friday afternoon, Egan said he had not yet been informed of the rescinding of his certification. He declined to comment until he heard directly from the NFLPA. 

USC vice president of compliance Dave Roberts said in a statement, "We appreciate that the NFLPA let us know about its action promptly so we could alert our players, including those who are soon to be draft eligible. Although the NFLPA has decertified Egan, USC would still view any benefit received from him by a current student-athlete to be impermissible under NCAA agent rules."

The decision was made by the NFLPA’s Committee on Agent Regulation and Discipline. The panel also notes that Egan is alleged to have listed attorney and USC adjunct professor Fred Fenster as an adviser for his agency, 1st Round Sports. In a development first reported by Neon Tommy, Fenster denied having any relationship with Egan's agency.

Baxter was suspended for the game against Oregon State for accepting the ride in Egan's golf cart. Baxter donated $5 to a local charity to match the value of the ride and was reinstated to the active roster before USC's next game.

Egan may ask for an expedited appeal of the NFLPA's decision. In an interview with L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers this week, Egan said he hoped to sign several USC players as clients after the team's season ends on Saturday.

Though NFLPA rules require agents to have undergraduate or postgraduate degree, Egan has neither. He has suggested that the NFLPA certified him because of his experience in representing recording artists Sam Adams and G. Curtis. The NFLPA's rules allow for an agent to become certified without having the proper education credentials if he or she can demonstrate having enough experience. Citing official policy, the NFLPA refused to say how many other agents have been certified without having the required education.

A source told Yahoo Sports reporter Charles Robinson on Friday that Egan should never have been certified. The NFLPA's director of communications Carl Francis refused to discuss Egan's situation beyond what is included in the statement.

USC is in the first year of a two-year-long NCAA probation because of improper benefits that may have been provided by two sports marketers to former USC running back Reggie Bush. The NCAA took away scholarships from the team and banned it from participating in bowl games this season and next.

The agent regulation committee also suspended Friday agent Gary Wichard's certification for nine months because of having improper contact with UNC's Marvin Austin.

Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.

 

 




 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness