Today, 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..