'Confessions of an Agent:' Holmes Allegedly Took Money While at Ohio State
by Matt Birch on Oct 12, 2010 3:17 PM EDT
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PrintToday, an expose entitled "Confessions of an Agent" was published on Sports Illustrated's website. This piece has been a hot topic buzzing around in the sports digital media world since making it way to the Internet earlier this morning.
The article highlights the 20-year career of former NFL agent, Josh Kuchs. However, the article is not concerned with Kuchs' career accomplishments, and focuses on how agents entice potential clients. Kuchs said that he knew of 30 former college players that received money as well as other improper benefits, including insane things such as urine to pass drug tests.
WR Santonio Holmes is cited in the article as having received money. Kuchs says that he and partner Steve Feldman met with Holmes outside of the Ohio State football building in November 2005. Here is a snippet, and what Kuchs says Holmes said:
"Listen, I want to save you the time. We don't need to meet. I've been taking money from [an agent] the last couple years, and he's been taking care of my family too."
Had it been 10 years earlier, I would have probably said, "Santonio, whatever he's paying you, I'll double it." But now, being at Gersh, I had Hollywood to sell. Let the other agents pay kids.
So Kuchs and Feldman approached Holmes about being a potential client, and Holmes responded by saying he already had an agent who had given him money.
TE Dustin Keller is also mentioned in the article as having met with Kuchs, but Kuchs said he "paid his way to see us." Also, Kuchs did reach out and contacted Holmes, and here is the official statement from a Jets' spokesperson:
Through a New York Jets spokesperson, Santonio Holmes denied taking money from any agent while in college or telling Luchs and Steve Feldman that he had taken money. Feldman confirmed to SI that Holmes told him and Luchs that an agent was paying him.
I strongly recommend you read this article, because some of the allegations cited in it are not going to go away any time soon, and may result in an investigation by NFL. Holmes will likely be OK, but the allegations that are cited in the article will open your eyes and give you insight into how business in the sports world really gets done. You can view it (here).
Maybe, just maybe, this article will force NCAA to consider adjusting their policies regarding recruitment of college football players. Probably not, though..
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I hate the NCAA
There is no reason colleges and the NCAA should be allowed to make the money they do off of these players and not let them get a cut, or at least take endorsement deals.
Agree
If they could adjust their crappy system, this wouldn’t happen nearly as much.
Pimp them out and take their money you make off of them on top of it? Uhh…
Gang Green Nation Managing Editor --- covering all things NY Jets!
SB Nation(.Com) Contributing Writer
+2
Its comical how they exploit these guys for millions and get all offended that they take money under the table. Its ridiculous. These guys build schools and they think that its fair to limit their compensation to a free education. These guys should be allowed to take what ever they want from boosters and the like. They should be afforded equal opportunity to profit from their talents. Opportunity that is currently monopolized by the university.
Fair or unfair
The college recruiting system is a microcosm of the real world. These top talents are swooned by agents and told to take advantage of a system that is ready and willing hand them whatever they want while they bleed the rest of the student body with recordbreaking tuition fees. How outrageous is it really that the business world most of us operate in today mirrors thoes same values. The only shame in all this are the kids less gifted who subsequently pay ever increasing tuition fees for a premium education that any intellegent and capable kid should have a crack at. But such is life. As much as I regret that this is the system my daughter will someday have to deal with, I still hope shes talented enough in sprots that things will come a bit easier to her in terms of her education. Shes one y/o btw. I think I should start doubling my contribution to her college fund just in case. lol
by colinyoung on Oct 12, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Who cares?
These guys get a subpar education (no one focused on going pro actually has time to learn anything worthwhile, save a few exceptions), and free room and board. Meanwhile the school makes millions, the coaches make millions, and the players spend years risking career ending injury. Players should take as much money as they need. A lot of them come from real poverty, and this is the only way to support themselves and their family. You can’t exactly get a part time job, playing D I football.
Holmes baked his way through college anyway. It’s a joke to refer to him as a “student-athlete.” Such players exist…my friend Kyle Adams is all Big Ten and one of the top students on campus, but he’s a rarity in football/men’s basketball. Most of these guys are just like Tone, whether they reach the NFL or not.
He’s a pro now…this is the NCAA’s problem, not ours.
http://www.jetskvetch.com
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Amazing article.
Birch. I can’t give you enough props for posting this on the site. It’s exactly the kind of thing this site needs. Please keep it up man. This is awsome. Even if this had nothing to do with Holmes in any way I would still rather read something like this on GGN. The site needs to promote coversation about the NFL from angles other then just from our own team.
The little Mel Kiper mention is epic. What a sleeze bag that guy is. hah!
by colinyoung on Oct 12, 2010 4:27 PM EDT reply actions
Great to hear man, thanks.
The site needs to promote coversation about the NFL from angles other then just from our own team.
This is something we’d be interested in from time to time, but its hard as SBNation has a blog for each team, and we don’t want to step on toes. I’m definitely with you though, I love discussing the NFL as a whole. Hopefully we’ll incorporate more stuff in the future, thanks for the feedback though, always helps us.
Gang Green Nation Managing Editor --- covering all things NY Jets!
SB Nation(.Com) Contributing Writer
I see your point
I don’t see the harm in posting something like this every once in a while however. Im sure you wont cause too many waves when we play around with topics that are so broad in scope like this one.
by colinyoung on Oct 12, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes Mel Kiper
Could take the biggest hit of all. Espn is already looking into his “relationship” with Wichard. Its also funny that Kiper had Jommy Clausen the #1 rated qb coming out this draft ( the only one mind you) and his agent is none other than Gary Wichard. Intresting
by afceast on Oct 12, 2010 4:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'm shocked! SHOCKED! I say.
I cannot believe that the system of star athletes being exploited by the NCAA while not being given anything other than a mockery of a college education has resulted in corruption whereby sleazy agents pay players during their college years in exchange for getting to be their agents during their lucrative professional careers.
The fact is, a lot of these star athletes come from backgrounds of poverty and poor education. And they are being used to fund massive operations at major Universities, where many of these kids are unprepared to take advantage of the educational opportunities, and in fact often discouraged from putting their studies at a high priority in any case. They often have no recourse but to view their collegiate athletic career as a minor league to develop their skills to the level to get to the pros, and to get the biggest payday once they get to the pros – and they will do whatever it takes to get them there.
It seems to me that if the Schools gave the players from major revenue sports a reasonable stipend – on the order of around $1-2K a month during the period where they were fully committed to the athletic program (which in football, is at least 9 months a year), then a lot of this nonsense could be avoided.
I'm not really sure why this has an impact on the NFL Players
If they were taking money in college, they were ineligible then. I don’t recall any NFL rule that could penalize a player for taking money from agents back in college.
But yes, stirring article.
It doesn't really, like you said they can't be penalized
It’s more of an eye-opening, expose, piece, to hopefully expose the NCAA for what it is.
Strongly doubt any current NFL players will be prosecuted as a result, they can’t be.
Gang Green Nation Managing Editor --- covering all things NY Jets!
SB Nation(.Com) Contributing Writer
Definitely true (and the NCAA also)
As it should!
Something’s gotta change….
Gang Green Nation Managing Editor --- covering all things NY Jets!
SB Nation(.Com) Contributing Writer
hey i know ranking dont matter much but SBN ranked us no.1
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/10/12/1746536/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-jets-ravens-vikings-chiefs
Gang green nation!
Now lets go get a F#@ing snack!
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