On Monday, we took issue with an item in SportsBusiness Journal regarding the inherent conflict of interest that arises when the same agency represents multiple players at the top of the draft.  The topic has been a hot one in 2008 due to CAA’s representation of three of the first six players selected in last month’s draft.

Our biggest problem with the SBJ item was that it included quotes from people who don’t believe that a real and potentially problematic conflict of interest arises, and it excluded any input from agents or others who feel differently on the subject.  If, as Leigh Steinberg said, the conflict of interest argument is raised by rival agents hoping to horn in someone else’s turf, there should be plenty of agents who’ll share their opinions and reasoning regarding the existence of a conflict of interest with SBJ.

Since that didn’t happen, we went out looking for a few quotes.  And we got some.

“Of course it’s a conflict,” said one veteran agent who requested anonymity due to the relationship between CAA and NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw.  “Ask Leigh Steinberg why Jim Harbaugh fired him back in the 1990’s when Harbaugh and Warren Moon were both being courted by and wanted the San Diego Chargers starting quarterback job.  Both were being represented by Steinberg and both desperately wanted the job.  Harbaugh fired Steinberg, hired another agent, and got the Chargers starting quarterback job.”

The source explained that agents routinely account for possible conflicts of interest while recruiting players.  “We are aware of the conflicts that can arise in free agency and the draft and try to avoid those situations,” the source said.  “The smart players are aware of it and voice it in our meetings.  We frequently have veteran players looking for a new agent ask if we are going to be representing another player at the same position in free agency the next year.  And we similarly have college players ask if we are recruiting other players at the same position for the next draft.

“Our rule of thumb is don’t recruit players at the same position who are projected to go in the same area of the draft, recruit two or three first-round graded players, not ten to fifteen, and don’t sign multiple players at the same position who are going to be free agents at the same time.  By following those rules, we almost never run into problems.” 

As to why more agents don’t follow this approach, the source had this to say:  “The agents that follow the Condon approach are more concerned with money and power than what is in the best interest of the players.”

Another source chimed in on Ben Dogra’s assertion that there’s no conflict of interest because agents have no influence over the process of when and where a player gets drafted.  “That will come back to haunt Dogra and CAA in recruiting,” the source said.  “CAA sells themselves as being the most powerful and influential agents in the business.  And now Dogra says they have no influence?”

Bottom line?  This is a problem that won’t be going away anytime soon, primarily because those defending the practice refuse to recognize the possibility that a problem even exists.