So Rosenpuke's outburst won't hurt him?

[PhillyGirl]

Paul Domowitch | Agents knock Drew's T.O. show
by Paul Domowitch

IT TAKES a lot to nauseate a sports agent. But Drew Rosenhaus' outrageous curbside performance at the Terrell Owens news conference Tuesday had a lot of his colleagues reaching for a barf bag.

"The most pathetic show I've ever seen in all my years in the business," said North Jersey-based Mark Lepselter, whose clients include Giants running back Tiki Barber and his brother, Bucs cornerback Ronde. "It was grandstanding and self-gratification at its worst. It was the Drew Rosenhaus press conference with T.O. as a guest star."

Cherry Hill-based agent Everette Scott said: "[As an agent] you've got to know when to shut up. If you're going to have a press conference, let [your client] put it all out there and then wrap it up. There was no need for him to speak."

But Rosenhaus did speak. And when he was done, any sympathy Owens had managed to muster with his earlier mea culpa to Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid and Co. had evaporated.

"Some people just lose sight that it's about the client and not about them," Lepselter said. "Clearly that's the case here. I thought T.O. was contrite and sincere, albeit 3 to 4 days too late. But his apology was destroyed within 5 minutes by his agent's grandstanding.

"If he felt the need to get a little bit of air time, all he needed to say was, 'I think Terrell's statement says it all. Thanks for coming today.' That's what I would have done. But instead, he had to turn it into a revival meeting. He added nothing and destroyed everything. Strictly because of ego."

Rosenhaus declined to respond to Lepselter's and Scott's comments.

"My response is no response," he said.

Scott said Rosenhaus' handling of the Owens affair has sullied the reputation of the entire sports-agent profession.

"It makes all of us appear as being the thorn, or the proponent of bad timing and selfish interest," he said. "Not good. We want to be perceived as the conduit of representing the player in the very best way. After this, I think you're going to see a lot of players take a closer look at their representation. Not only at Drew, but at all of us."

Denver-based agent Peter Schaffer said: "For a person who appreciates the profession we're in and how fortunate we are to be working with these types of athletes, it's bothersome to see that people have these images of what an agent does because [Rosenhaus] is out there promulgating poor stereotypes. What he does gives a bad name to the reputation of what many quality agents do day in and day out for their clients."

Rosenhaus represents more than 90 NFL players, far and away the most of any agent. He acquired roughly half of them in the last couple of years, including Owens, with the promise of getting them better deals, even if their contracts weren't due to expire. Owens was only 1 year into a 7-year deal when Rosenhaus informed the Eagles they were seeking a renegotiation. The Eagles balked, and so did most of the other teams Rosenhaus tried the renegotiation tactic on.

What effect his failure to secure new deals for players such as Owens will have on his client list remains to be seen. Two sources, one an agent, the other a league executive, indicated that some of Rosenhaus' clients already are in the process of seeking new representation.

Rosenhaus said he was unaware of any clients planning to leave him.

"I can't think of any," he said. "We get deals done. I feel my record speaks for itself."

Schaffer said he also expects NFL teams to start dealing differently with Rosenhaus and his clients in negotiations because of what happened with Owens and some of his other clients.

"His players are going to suffer because they'll have more egregious language in their contracts than other people will have," Schaffer said. "You're going to see teams start to put in stronger forfeiture clauses and language regarding signing bonuses if his players hold out.

"Your contract language shouldn't be based on who your agent is. It should be based on the player. This is the first time you're going to see it based on who the agent is."

Said Rosenhaus: "I'm not going to give him any credibility by responding to that."

AROUND THE LEAGUE

-- Raiders owner Al Davis is furious over the officiating in Sunday's 27-23, last-second loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City. For the third straight year, the Raiders drew referee Larry Nemmers' crew for the road trip to KC. And for the third straight year, Nemmers' crew played a role in the outcome. The Raiders have lost all three games, by eight total points. The Chiefs' game-winning drive Sunday was helped along by a tripping penalty on Raiders defensive tackle Ed Jasper that negated a sack of Trent Green. The penalty gave the Chiefs a first down at midfield with 27 seconds left. Three plays later, running back Larry Johnson scored on a 1-yard dive with no time left. Sources close to Davis say he doesn't understand why the league allows Nemmers, who is from Springfield, Mo., to work so many Chiefs games. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said it's strictly a coincidence that Nemmers and his crew have worked the last three Raiders games in KC. He said crew assignments are selected randomly by a computer and don't take into account where the officials live. He also said crews are not allowed to work more than two of a team's games per season. And those games must be at least 6 weeks apart. Nemmers and his crew also worked the Raiders' 23-20, Week 3 loss to the Eagles. Davis, sources say, blames them for that defeat as well. In that game, a roughing-the-passer penalty on linebacker DeLawrence Grant kept alive a drive that resulted in the Eagles' go-ahead touchdown. Safety Nnamdi Asomugha also was called for illegal contact on the Eagles' game-winning drive.

-- Chiefs coach meatcicle Vermeil has been roundly praised for his gutsy decision to go for it from the 1 with 5 seconds left Sunday against the Raiders rather than kick a gimme field goal and send the game into overtime. He acutally was the only one on the sideline who didn't want to go for it. He was inclined to kick the field goal before offensive coordinator Al Saunders talked him into going for the game-winning touchdown.

-- With Rams coach Mike Martz not expected back next season, Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is considered the leading candidate to replace him. Where Martz, who is recovering from a bacterial infection of his heart valve, will end up still is anybody's guess. But with more than a half-dozen head-coaching jobs expected to be vacant, he almost certainly will coach somewhere next year.

2-MINUTE DRILL

From the lip, T.O. edition

-- "If the Falcons sign T.O., I'll disown my kid." - NFL Network analyst Jim Mora Sr., whose son, Jim Jr., is the Falcons' coach.

-- "He's almost dismantled the Eagles. Why would I wish that on us? I've already got enough problems. Some things can overcome talent, and he's figured out how to do that." - Texans owner Bob McNair when asked whether he would have any interest in Terrell Owens.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

So far it's just other agents speaking out about him.  I'd love for it to hurt him, but we'll see if it really does.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I'd love it to hurt him too. I think a few more of the quieter type players (ala Billy Volek, who already had to blast Drew for being a dope) will roll on him.

However, PFT.com has this from a piece about Larry Johnson firing his agent:

And even as most management-side NFL insiders were turned off by the performance of agent Drew Rosenhaus at Monday's press conference with T.O., folks around the league recognize that some players will be drawn to Rosenhaus, given his reputation as an uncompromising, high-energy advocate for his clients.



Along these same lines, we're told that Dolphins cornerback Sam Madison recently has fired agent Gene Burrough, and has hired Rosenhaus.  Though we're not aware of the specific timing of the move, it most likely occurred prior to Monday's events.

I am glad that Sheldon Brown is going to tell the SC players to stay away. But we'll see exactly how the rest of the league looks at him.

[Feva]

As much as we would love for this whole thing to put Rosenhaus on his ass... you've got to understand that the everyday NFL player doesn't think like we do.  We have a personal gripe against him because he's farging with our team.  We know he's the shtein that scum is made of.  An NFL player just wants to know how much money Drew can get them.  If he shows to still be successful at that, this TO thing will just end up a blip on the radar.  He's one of, if not the... most powerful agents in sports.  This one farg up ain't gonna bring him down.

[PhillyGirl]

As much as we would love for this whole thing to put Rosenhaus on his ass... you've got to understand that the everyday NFL player doesn't think like we do.  We have a personal gripe against him because he's farging with our team.  We know he's the shtein that scum is made of.  An NFL player just wants to know how much money Drew can get them.  If he shows to still be successful at that, this TO thing will just end up a blip on the radar.  He's one of, if not the... most powerful agents in sports.  This one farg up ain't gonna bring him down.

My point exactly. He wasn't so much this year. Between TO and Walker, he's royally farged up.

[Feva]

I feel you, but he can still always fall back on landing a deal that made his client the highest paid DE in NFL history.

He's by no means, dead in the water, but I do think he'll have to change his tactics up a little bit though.  The Eagles and the Packers have shown that his guerilla apporach isn't always effective and I'm sure other teams will catch onto that.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

My point exactly. He wasn't so much this year. Between TO and Walker, he's royally farged up.

Your point was actually the exact opposite, it would seem.  Feva's saying that when the history of Rosenhaus's career is put together far in the future, this whole T.O. incident will not be looked at as a major happening or turning point, but rather a small "blip".  It's something that is unlikely to change much about the future of his career, whether his fellow agents and us Eagles fans want it to or not.

[ice grillin you]

if he lost 50 clients and didnt get any new ones hed still be #1...i dont think hes to concerned

[MadMarchHare]

Well, a bullet to the head would.....just saying.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

if he lost 50 clients and didnt get any new ones hed still be #1...i dont think hes to concerned

If he actually lost 50, even if he were still #1, he'd be very concerned.  But he won't lose 50.  Not even 5, probably.

[Rome]

Meh - this is like one hooker whining about another hooker stealing her John's.

[henchmanUK]

-- "If the Falcons sign T.O., I'll disown my kid." - NFL Network analyst Jim Mora Sr., whose son, Jim Jr., is the Falcons' coach.

Ha! Nice quote Jim! 

[Rome]

-- "If the Falcons sign T.O., I'll disown my kid." - NFL Network analyst Jim Mora Sr., whose son, Jim Jr., is the Falcons' coach.

Ha! Nice quote Jim! 

Ahahahaha!  Did he really say that??

If so, that's hilarilous!

[Tomahawk]

NFL Network guys say some funny shtein, or shtein you wouldn't expect. I heard Emmitt Smith say Your Momma to defend his side of the debate right before the cut to a commercial break. Last night Lincoln Kennedy looked over at Woodson and said something close to, "Nice job on finding a suit to match your skin color, Paco."

[Don Ho]

-- "If the Falcons sign T.O., I'll disown my kid." - NFL Network analyst Jim Mora Sr., whose son, Jim Jr., is the Falcons' coach.

Ha! Nice quote Jim! 

Ahahahaha!  Did he really say that??

If so, that's hilarilous!

Mora Sr. has the best lines ever!  To bad jr. is such a putz.