SEC commissioner and league coaches target problems with rogue sports agents

[BamaMan]

The problem, as many of the coaches conceded, comes down to the players themselves. They are educated from the minute they step on a college campus that they must avoid accepting anything from agents or runners until they have used up their collegiate eligibility.
 
“The players and their families are very savvy negotiators and they play the agents against each other,” said Sam Farmer, NFL writer for the Los Angeles Times on the Dan Patrick Show Monday. “The players and their families have their hands out.”
 
Farmer struggled to find an answer to the problem, which he calls a simple matter of supply and demand, but did agree with Saban that the NFL should help shoulder some of the responsibility.
 
“Do you pay the players? Do you penalize them before they get to the NFL? Do you suspend them for eight games if they are caught taking money in college? Is that even possible?” said Farmer. “There are a lot of things I think the NFL should do to help college football because they are essential to each other...

No, it is not a good situation. The NCAA rules regarding amateur athletes and their eligibility virtually unenforceable. So the NCAA is reviewing the rules, what good will that do? Coaches can’t monitor their players 24/7 and players have been given a sense of entitlement since they were in high school.
 
So here is a logical solution. Allow players to take the money. If an agent wants to invest in the chance for future earnings for a particular player, allow the agent to assume the risk. If he pays a player and the player doesn’t get a chance at NFL riches, he doesn’t have to pay it back. Don’t put the players’ eligibility at risk, put the agent’s bankroll at risk. This solves another problem — the idea of paying players. The schools can’t do it, but the agents can.
 
Not all players are good enough to play in the NFL and those who don’t get money from agents might think it is unfair, and it probably is. But life is tough; all those remaining players get is a free education for their efforta. And that’s not all bad either.
 
It is a win-win for everybody.

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[CrimsonPaul]

No, letting agents pay players won't work. Then the agents will have a say on when the player plays or even how well he plays not counting the bad feelings it will have among his team mates.

"Kid, I don't want to see you hurt, just fake an injury and lay out of the game with Florida. You know, I've got a big investment in you".

[NoLaTideFan]

No, letting agents pay players won't work. Then the agents will have a say on when the player plays or even how well he plays not counting the bad feelings it will have among his team mates.

"Kid, I don't want to see you hurt, just fake an injury and lay out of the game with Florida. You know, I've got a big investment in you".

good point

[ybzptww]

As long as there are Johns there will be Prostitutes and as long as there Drug Addicts there will be Drug Dealers. The same goes for players who have their hands out... as long as some players have their hands out  there will be Rogue Agents.

 Drug Dealers and Pimps never conduct their business directly and neither do Agents. Since it would be impossible to police the Agents because they use runners, to avoid any rules, the only choice is to get rid on the "victims".

If you do that  you will get rid of the problem... Nip the problem in the bud. It is simple, any player who is caught dealing with an agent should be banned from college football and the NFL permanently, no second chances...

That would stop this problem instantly and permanently!

[CrimsonPaul]

As long as there are Johns there will be Prostitutes and as long as there Drug Addicts there will be Drug Dealers. The same goes for players who have their hands out... as long as some players have their hands out  there will be Rogue Agents.

 Drug Dealers and Pimps never conduct their business directly and neither do Agents. Since it would be impossible to police the Agents because they use runners, to avoid any rules, the only choice is to get rid on the "victims".

If you do that  you will get rid of the problem... Nip the problem in the bud. It is simple, any player who is caught dealing with an agent should be banned from college football and the NFL permanently, no second chances...
That would stop this problem instantly and permanently!

I'm afraid it will have to come down to this to really see it stopped. Also it should be hammered into the players not only the rules but, maybe more so, what happens when they break these rules.

[BamaMan]

That would stop this problem instantly and permanently!

I doubt it!  A lot of these college kids are very immature, naive, & gullible.  These agents are well versed in the ways of the world & know every trick in the book in suckering these kids into what they want.  I agree that any solution has to involve some type of punishment for the athletes involved, but IMO it also has to involve these low life agents & the NFL.  If the coaches, conference officials & everyone else involved with college athletes, stopped talking & actually took action against the NFL, something will be done.  As long as the NFL is allowed access to athletes in the manner to which they are accustomed, they will sit on their hands & do nothing.  If they have to endure some pain, they will get off their duffs & do what it takes to alleviate it.

[ybzptww]

That would stop this problem instantly and permanently!

I doubt it!  A lot of these college kids are very immature, naive, & gullible.  These agents are well versed in the ways of the world & know every trick in the book in suckering these kids into what they want.  I agree that any solution has to involve some type of punishment for the athletes involved, but IMO it also has to involve these low life agents & the NFL.  If the coaches, conference officials & everyone else involved with college athletes, stopped talking & actually took action against the NFL, something will be done.  As long as the NFL is allowed access to athletes in the manner to which they are accustomed, they will sit on their hands & do nothing.  If they have to endure some pain, they will get off their duffs & do what it takes to alleviate it.

I don't know, I guess I look at it like I do my family. I can't control what temptations are out there, but I can let my kids know what I expect out of them and let them know what will happen to them if they choose to test me.

It would be like me trying to blame Jack Daniels or Budweiser if my kid got caught drinking and driving... It might sound good, but in reality I would be really blaming someone else for my failures as a parent and making excuses for my kid's lack of judgement and character. I can only control my end of things and have no power over the world outside my home...

I think the same rule applies in college football. Control your end of the problem and quit blaming the world for being the cesspool it is...

As parents we are supposed to prepare our kids to go out and deal a world that is full of temptations. College coaches should at least attempt to instill some character in these athletes instead of just  blaming society for tempting them.

Sure, go after the agents but hold you student athletes accountable for their actions and quit making excuses for them...