Reggie's representatives

[Randall]

May 28, 2006

 

For someone so proficient at running to daylight, Reggie Bush seems hopelessly trapped in the dark when it comes to the performance of his agent, Joel Segal, and his marketing rep, Mike Ornstein.

 

The last time a top-five draft choice received worse representation was 1999, when fellow San Diego County Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams signed with rapper Master P's fledgling sports company, then agreed to an eight-year contract with the Saints that was short on guaranteed money and long on incentives.

 

It's now starting to look as if Team Bush is equally negligent when it comes to protecting the client's best interests.

 

Segal, whose background includes a one-year suspension by the players association for funneling cash to a University of Florida athlete, blew the running back's chance at being the first pick in last month's draft by making ridiculous contract demands.

 

 

Houston reportedly was willing to give Bush a 10 percent bump in guaranteed money over what 2005 top pick Alex Smith received, but Segal is said to have wanted double that. The Texans eventually tired of the demand and decided to open negotiations with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, with whom they came to terms on the eve of the draft.

Ornstein, whose background includes a 1997 felony conviction for mail fraud, has been no better. Sure, he lined up a couple of big deals for Bush, but he also hurt the Helix High alum and USC standout by allowing him to do television interviews shortly after news broke that Bush's family might have lived rent-free in the house of a man seeking to partner with Bush in a fledgling sports-marketing agency.

 

Halfway across the country, a well-known NFL player took a break from his workout to watch Bush's first interview after the allegations of NCAA violations surfaced. When Bush stammered and stumbled after being asked if his family paid rent while living in the home, the veteran said out loud to the television what others were thinking in their heads: “He's not ready. He . . . is . . . not . . . ready!”

 

Wasn't then, and isn't now.

 

In some respects, it's amazing to witness the ineptitude that has taken place. When Bush left USC after winning two national titles and playing for a third, he was everybody's All-American. He had a clean background, a great smile and a game that, according to some, comes around but once a generation.

 

But now it seems as if Bush can't get out of his own way, in part because he's receiving poor advice from his handlers.

 

Two weeks ago, he tried to say all the right things at the Saints' minicamp. He told reporters he was ecstatic to be in New Orleans as the second pick, that he wanted to help rebuild the city and that he was confident his agent and the team would come to terms on a contract before training camp.

 

“I told my agent that I want to be here in camp on time, whatever it takes,” he said. “I don't want to get caught up in holdouts or anything.”

 

A few days later, after probably being informed that he had just undercut his agent's negotiating leverage, Bush was sent back out to “clarify” his remarks. His new position was that the Saints' proposal would have to “meet our expectations.”

 

If it weren't so painful, it would be comical. Here he had a chance to distance himself from the scrutiny of the NCAA's investigation and the sting of falling to No. 2, but, once again, he was put in an uncomfortable and unfortunate situation because his handlers failed to do their jobs. And things might get even worse.

 

If Segal intends to seek in the neighborhood of $30 million in guarantees from the Saints, as some knowledgeable people throughout the league claim, New Orleans has a better chance of rebuilding its levees before the next hurricane season than Bush does of getting to camp on time.

 

Saints GM Mickey Loomis has no intention of paying Bush more in guarantees than Mario Williams received as the top pick. That pact included $21.75 million in guarantees, with the figure jumping to $26.5 million if the Texans exercise an option next year.

 

The saddest part of this situation is that the two people who should have been looking out for Bush's best interests – his parents – are the ones who helped create much of this mess. They not only surrendered too much control to Ornstein, who forged a relationship with Bush after hiring him as an intern last summer, but also allegedly violated NCAA rules by taking improper benefits from a man seeking to form a business partnership with their son.

 

The veracity of the claim can be debated from now until the NCAA concludes its investigation, but if various witnesses are to be believed, stepdad LaMar Griffin was walking around with his hand extended in every direction, eager and willing to take handouts tied to Bush's celebrity.

 

The only thing worse than being greedy is being greedy and sloppy, and Griffin was apparently both. Now Bush stands to lose the Heisman Trophy and one of his national titles. That's on top of the millions in guarantees he already has lost for not being the top pick.

 

Even in the dark, those realities shine brightly. The question now is, what will Bush do about it?

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...s28trotter.html

Edited May 28, 2006 by Randall

[Big Score 1]

Houston reportedly was willing to give Bush a 10 percent bump in guaranteed money over what 2005 top pick Alex Smith received, but Segal is said to have wanted double that. The Texans eventually tired of the demand and decided to open negotiations with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, with whom they came to terms on the eve of the draft.

Hmmmm.........

 

Seems the Texans taking Williams vs Bush, was a money decision after all.

[major-tom]

The saddest part of this situation is that the two people who should have been looking out for Bush's best interests – his parents – are the ones who helped create much of this mess. They not only surrendered too much control to Ornstein, who forged a relationship with Bush after hiring him as an intern last summer, but also allegedly violated NCAA rules by taking improper benefits from a man seeking to form a business partnership with their son.

 

Some peoples' parents should be

[Donutrun Jellies]

Some peoples' parents should be 

 

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and again!

[godtomsatan]

I'm sorry, but all of this stuff is oddball to me. Reggie Bush isn't the first coddled athlete to have leaches trying to suck off him. Nor are his parents the first ones to try and help out a 22 yr old in his professional endeavors (and make mistakes at such a thing). Where is all the bitching about Kellen Winslow's dad?

 

What mistakes has he made thus far? What he says to the media only has to do with his polish as a spokesperson and nothing to do with his footballing or contract value to the Saints.

 

And if you don't think Reggie Bush had 20% more GUARANTEED value to the Houston Texans than Alex Smith had to the San Francisco 49ers, look at the season ticket numbers for the New Orleans Saints before the guy's even signed a contract.

[Randall]

I'm sorry, but all of this stuff is oddball to me. Reggie Bush isn't the first coddled athlete to have leaches trying to suck off him. Nor are his parents the first ones to try and help out a 22 yr old in his professional endeavors (and make mistakes at such a thing). Where is all the bitching about Kellen Winslow's dad?

 

 

 

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It's been a couple of years for Winslow. Reggie will learn, he's trying but playing on the field is easier than playing with the meadia and teams in real life.

[CaptainHook]

Hmmmm.........

 

Seems the Texans taking Williams vs Bush, was a money decision after all.

 

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[Randall]

Hmmmm.........

 

Seems the Texans taking Williams vs Bush, was a money decision after all.

 

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And no signing bonus-

 

From ESPN,

 

League salary documents obtained by ESPN.com confirm the six-year contract signed last month by former North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the first selection in this year's draft by the Houston Texans, features a basic value of $54 million and a maximum worth, counting all possible bonuses, incentives and escalators, of $62.1 million.

 

 

The guaranteed money in the contract is initially $21.75 million, and then jumps to $26.5 million after the Texans exercise an option next spring.

 

 

And the signing bonus is zero.

 

 

That's right, folks, no signing bonus.

 

 

It is believed to be the first time in modern history that the top overall selection in a draft agreed to a deal with no signing bonus included. But that's hardly reason to pass around the collection basket for Williams. In fact, first-round contracts with no signing bonus money were frequently employed in 2005 as a means of countering collective bargaining agreement restrictions while still achieving the maximum value in most deals, and the trend almost certainly will continue this year.

[CaptainHook]

[Menudo]

Hmmmm.........

 

Seems the Texans taking Williams vs Bush, was a money decision after all.

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It is still people's reports, but, there is gathering evidence to show that you guys were likely right, money did play an important part in their decision to go with Williams. I still think they had to have had them ranked closely to allow the money issue to sway them.

 

However, whatever it was exactly that caused them to pass on Reggie Bush, as a Dominic Davis owner, I am happy.

[Swiss Cheezhead]

Segal, whose background includes a one-year suspension by the players association for funneling cash to a University of Florida athlete,

 

Ornstein, whose background includes a 1997 felony conviction for mail fraud, has been no better.

 

 

With all the sports agents and marketing gurus standing in line at your doorstep, why would Reggie (or his parents) choose these two clowns?

 

Oh yeah -- they were living at the second clown's house.

[Swiss Cheezhead]

It is still people's reports, but, there is gathering evidence to show that you guys were likely right, money did play an important part in their decision to go with Williams.  I still think they had to have had them ranked closely to allow the money issue to sway them.

 

However, whatever it was exactly that caused them to pass on Reggie Bush, as a Dominic Davis owner, I am happy. 

 

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Well, we've all had this discussion before. I think it was Azazello who, in a different thread, was arguing that it didn't matter how much money Bush was asking for -- the Texans should have selected him anyway. I argued against that point.

 

The one thing I believe that makes the difference to me is what Casserly said about the negotiations on the Wednesday before the draft. Ever since the Texans (stupidly) announced to the world that they were going to take Reggie Bush #1, I'm sure Segal started jacking the price up. However, the Sporting News writer -- who was with the team throughout the process -- reported that the team negotiator said he could proceed with either player and still get him signed before the draft for the same amount of guaranteed money. That tells me that Segal softened his stance once he realized there was a real possibility the Texans would take Williams.

Edited May 30, 2006 by Swiss Cheezhead