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Collins' Agent Wanted Him To Be An Udfa...

Rave

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Rave

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The Dallas Cowboys were very fortunate to be put in the position to sign undrafted free agent La'el Collins, but the former LSU star was inches away from another team selecting him in the 2015 NFL Draft.

When news came out of a murder involving Collins' ex-girlfriend, the woman's 10-year old daughter mentioned the offensive lineman's name. This sparked interest in an investigation even though police never named Collins a suspect.

Collins' agent, Deryk Gilmore of Priority Sports and Entertainment in Chicago, wanted to get out in front of the story. He decided to turn to agency partner and general counsel Rick Smith for help. That's when Gilmore decided to send a text message to NFL team reps explaining the situation.

And so began Collins' draft plummet.

NFL agent Mike McCartney also got involved with Smith and Gilmore to help with the situation. It was an effort to clear Collins' name to salvage his draft stock.

Teams were considering taking Collins late in the draft. And as the former LSU product was a first-round talent, the group representing Collins wanted him to go undrafted if teams weren't going to take a chance on him early.

Im thinking, Thats the worst thing for us, McCartney said, via The MMQB. I ran the numbers. If a guy is drafted, he signs a four-year deal. If he gets a three-year undrafted-free-agent contract, plays well and often, then gets the first-round tender and the player participation pool bonus money, he could be paid better than the 33rd pick in the draft.

And as the draft continued with Collins on the board, the agents began to sweat. They told teams that if they drafted Collins on the second or third day, they'd enter him in the 2016 draft. However, it was only a bluff in attempt to keep teams away from Collins.

We can put it on the record now: We were never going back in the draft, Smith said. If someone had drafted him, we wouldve had a long, long discussion about it, but at the end of the day you cant go back in the draft. He could get injured, gain weight, or 10 great tackles could come out. Too many risks.

When Day 3 rolled around, there was one team that had serious consideration in taking Collins.

When we got to the last 10 picks I dont think Ive ever been so anxious in a draft, McCartney said. We were praying he didnt get picked.

The St. Louis Rams texted Smith before making their last selection.

There was a team that had drafted four offensive linemen, Smith said, and they said, Were taking him. And I texted back, Youre going to embarrass yourself. Youre going to waste this pick.

And they passed. And now hes a UDFA.

As the story goes, Collins went undrafted and fell right into the arms of owner/GM Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. That's when Jones invited a few of the team's leaders of to his mansion to host Collins and his mother. It was a very unique situation that the 'Boys capitalized on and landed another first-round talent.

But of course, they couldn't have done it with out the help of Collins' agent.

Collins signed a three-year, $1.6M deal with the Cowboys on May 7. His contract is fully guaranteed with a $21,000 signing bonus.

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ElbowDrop Newbie

ElbowDrop

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Why? An agent did what was best for his client. Isn't that his job?

you don't see any problems with what he did? he spit in the face of the nfls process. what's the point in having 7 rounds if a player threatens to not sign with a team and waist their pick so he can play wherever he wants.

disgusting

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ElbowDrop Newbie

ElbowDrop

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don't much blame the agent....the teams were ******* stupid

what are the odds a 6th or 7th rounder makes your team much less becomes a starter within 2 years? there was nothing to lose in drafting him and everything to gain

that's what I'm thinking. at the same time, he probably gave GM's a glimpse into the future. he's already an problem case and hadn't even made a team yet.

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ElbowDrop Newbie

ElbowDrop

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I would have used a 6th or 7th on the chance he wouldn't be charged

yea but you're using it on someone threatening to burn you. even if he's bluffing that's a red flag. I can't really blame anyone passing on him.

yea it's not a big deal losing that pick. but it's a potential headache prevented, and you select a player who's dying to get a chance to play.

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Rave Newbie

Rave

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It's not an issue of the NFL's process, it was an issue of being able to renegotiate after 1 year vs 3. The media cost Collins millions, this was the quickest way to get some of that back for him.

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ElbowDrop Newbie

ElbowDrop

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It's not an issue of the NFL's process, it was an issue of being able to renegotiate after 1 year vs 3. The media cost Collins millions, this was the quickest way to get some of that back for him.

That's Why the issue needs to be addressed. what's stopping players from leaVing the party if they don't get drafted in the first half if the draft, so they can go wherever they want.

and what's stopping teams from recruiting players out of college?

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DD: Objective Elite Newbie

DD: Objective Elite

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Why is there anything wrong with this.

Agents and GMs play a lot of games with each other. This seems no different.

**** the NFL.

He got screwed by bad media so I'm glad he was able to make some of it back up.

This is how I feel about Collins' situation.

As far as players that declared and refusing to sign, it's simple. If you want that player, draft him. If he rufuses to sign he's gonna sit out a year or the drafting team could trade him to a team he would play for and recoup some value. It's happened before, it'll happen again.

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Rave Newbie

Rave

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Why is there anything wrong with this.

Agents and GMs play a lot of games with each other. This seems no different.

**** the NFL.

He got screwed by bad media so I'm glad he was able to make some of it back up.

This.

This wasn't about picking a team. This was about the media putting Collins in a no win situation. So his agent did what he could to make the situation better. I'm sure Collins would have preferred to go top 10 vs undrafted had it been his choice. Anyone that thinks he would turn down top 10 money vs UDFA money is an idiot.

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