for what it's worth, JJ and his agent still feel >

[CWSD]

Actually, agents don't make that much (relatively). In the NFL, per the NFLPA, the max commission is 3% on player contracts. For example, if you are Vick's agent, he recently signed a 10 year 130 mil extension, one of the richest in the NFL. The yearly payouts differ, but you would get approximately 3% of 13 mil a year, or $390,000 a year.

That is a lot of money, but even if you had a stable of NFL players who made a total of $50 mil a year (you be a major player), your annual take would be $1.5 mil. That is not owner money.

Leigh Steinberg is often considered the best NFL agent. His best year was 1993 when he negotiated deals for a total of $80 mil. He made $2.4 mil that year.

The NBA does not have a capped commission, but the general figures are between 3% and 5%. So if you are JJ's agent, and maybe you have a 5% deal, you would get $3.5 mil, spread out over the life of the contract, or $700,000 a year. The NBA contracts are much bigger, but there are not as many players.

Also, remember it is common there be little or no commission on rookie contracts because they are slotted and there is little to no negotiation.

The agents are not capped on endorsement deals, etc. The going rate on these is generally 10%, give or take. So obviously there is big money if you can get a shoe deal or Gatorade, etc. There are not many big money shoe deals anymore, most are less than $100,000 unless you are a superstar.

As an agent you need a bunch of clients and you want stars, but competition is fierce. Did you know there are more registered NBA agents than there are players? There are no agents who could be major shareholders in a team unless they are making more money on some other venture.

[CWSD]

Here is some related info:

Athlete's Yearly Salary:

Sport: Low: High: Agent Advisor Commission:

National Football League (NFL) $225,000 $20,000,000 $6,750 - $600,000

Arena Football League (AFL) $28,000 $240,000 $840 - $9,600

Canadian Football League (CFL) $75,000 $275,000 $3,000 - $11,000

National Basketball Assoc. (NBA) $385,000 $28,000,000 $15,400 - $1,120,000

European Basketball $6,000 $1,000,000 $240 - $40,000

Major League Baseball (MLB) $300,000 $22,000,000 $12,000 - $880,000

National Hockey League (NHL) $350,000 $10,000,000 $14,000 - $400,000

Minor League Hockey $10,000 $200,000 $400 - $20,000

Major League Soccer (MLS) $15,000 $500,000 $600 - $20,000

European Soccer $45,000 $7,800,000 $1,800 - $312,000

[cyman3]

NBA agents seem to have it the best.

Arena football agents may need a 2nd job, however.

[CWSD]

NBA players definitely make the most money (and potentially their agents), but there are not that many players. There are no more than 500 NBA players, including all the injured and marginal players. The top 25 agents probably represent nearly half. The next 25 agents probably have another 30%. That leaves all of the rest of the agents (hundreds of them) fighting over the remaining 100-125 players.

At least in football you can get your foot in the door easier, but it is harder to sign enough guys to really make good money at it.

[chillzatl]

a lot of the small time agents are lawyers and representing a player is not what they do full time. They are just there to negotiate contracts and make sure they're guy is getting a good deal. Big agents like Tellem and SFX much more than this and they make a LOT more than those numbers would lead you to believe. They also make much larger cuts of signing bonuses.

[cyman3]

personally- i wouldnt want to be a sports agent. flying and following your clients as they travel city to city. sports agents are nothing more than PROFESSIONAL BABYSITTERS. they're basically the athlete's B*TCH.

you have to be one helluva fan (of the sport), to be a sports agent.

[chillzatl]

once a contract is done, very few of them have to babysit the players. The agents that offer other services are the ones that get locked into that babysitting role. But again, they're well paid for it. Not to mention the access afforded them because of this.