04/23/24
April 11, 2006
Sources: QB Leinart fires agent Steinberg: Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart has already called his first pre-draft audible by firing Leigh Steinberg as his agent. Shades of Jerry McGuire?
posted by wingnut4life to football at 07:24 AM - 13 comments
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by eccsport78 at 08:21 AM on April 11, 2006
wow...the next agent that represents matt..is going to get screwed on his commissions..lol!! and its about time the agents get spanked...
posted by ktown at 08:44 AM on April 11, 2006
last time I checked the agent works for the player. The player accepts or rejects the deals, not the agents. genuis.
posted by Drallig9399 at 09:53 AM on April 11, 2006
Right. Well. Back on topic: Normally, an athlete firing their agent just before being drafted (or any large negotiation) is never a good sign. But Leinart has shown some good judgement and forethought in his decisions in the past (for example, he stayed in school for a long list of reasons that he had obviously given no small amount of thought to and decided on himself), and it's entirely possible he's doing the right thing here too. I'll withhold judgement until he gets drafted by the Jets and holds out, at which point I'll grab the pitchforks and torches. But I suspect that won't happen. On the other hand, if for some inexplicable reason he jumps to Drew Rosenhaus, I retract that last paragraph.
posted by chicobangs at 12:43 PM on April 11, 2006
last time I checked the agent works for the player. The player accepts or rejects the deals, not the agents. I couldn't care less about spelling ... but, that comment makes it sound like you're blaming Leinart because he wrongly fired Steinberg because of poor performance or spite or something. Seems legit to me. What I gathered from the article, it was more to achieve a consolidation or lack of conflict-of-interest. Is there something else I'm not catching onto?
posted by littleLebowski at 12:52 PM on April 11, 2006
I really don't have a high or low opinion of Leinart yet. I think that he's an excellant college player who has the potential to succeed in the NFL. He seems like he's got his head on straight, so I'm guessing this is more about his future and not his ego. I have to give him props for coming back his senior year to get his ballroom dancing degree (oh, and to play a little football too).
posted by wingnut4life at 01:26 PM on April 11, 2006
I think you guys give Leinart too much credit for going back his senior year. I mean it looks good to say he came back because he saw the team around him and wanted a chance to defend his title, or because he loved the college atmosphere, or because he wanted a degree, etc. The reality is that he had offseason surgery after his junior year and wouldn't have been able to do any throwing for the scouts prior to last years draft...chances are his stock would have fallen as a result. I think that, more than any reason, was why he came back for his final year (though I'm sure the other things made his decision easier)
posted by bdaddy at 02:31 PM on April 11, 2006
I'm a USC fan. So, I always give the guys the benefit of the doubt. Ya know? Anyway, the thing I liked about Matt & Carson was, they never looked anxious or extremely concerned after a mistake. They had that, "Just let me back in there, coach" attitude. No yellin', demonstrations on the sidelines, etc. Even if he had surgery, all he needed to bring to the combine (schumbine) was tapes and a resume. He would sit out the first pro year anyway. About returning to school? Matt said, he was having fun with the college experience and playing college ball, etc. Now, after college, life has already dealt him a reality check, and he had to fire somebody. Good Luck Matt. And give Carson a call sometimes. He looks like an excellent pro.
posted by porkchop at 03:55 PM on April 11, 2006
I suspect Matt Leinart & Carson Palmer have been in steady contact over the last couple of months. Call it a hunch.
posted by chicobangs at 04:01 PM on April 11, 2006
RIP, Matt Leinart...
posted by wolfdad at 12:04 AM on April 12, 2006
last time I checked the agent works for the player. The player accepts or rejects the deals, not the agents. genuis Yeah but if the agent isn't getting deals that Leinart is happy with he'll want someone who is getting him better offers
posted by autzenrocker123 at 05:51 PM on April 12, 2006
True, the agent does work for the player. And if the agent doesn't do their job to the player's satisfaction, then the player fires the agent. They're not all as on top of things as, oh, Arliss Michaels, you know.
posted by chicobangs at 01:48 AM on April 13, 2006
Good for Matt, I am tired of Steinberg and Rosenhaus calling the shots for too many players. Rosenhaus is the biggest self-promoting egomaniac and Steinbert a close second.