Yardbarker: Andre Smith

Terps a little punchless early on

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:39:56 -0500

Quarterback Jamar Robinson is starting slowly against Virginia Tech in his first career start. Trailing 14-0, Maryland did not have a first down until its third possession. Robinson completed his first two passes of the game on the series. From the Virginia Tech 27, his throw into the end zone for Torrey Smith attracted a 15-yard pass interference penalty, sending the ball to the 12. Nick Ferrara followed with a 36-yard field goal, cutting the Hokie lead to 14-3. Virginia Tech d...

Andre Smith Re-Hires Keels. Priority Sports Pissed!

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:38:57 -0500

The Andre Smith sweepstakes is over. For now. The newest winner (if that’s what you want to call it): Alvin Keels of Global Management Group (GMG). Just as a recap, here is how Andre has chewed up and spit out agents thus far (in chronological order).

DeBartolo Sports
GMG
Priority Sports

And now he’s back with Keels and GMG. But wasn’t Smith supposed to actually be re-signing with Priority after firing the company prematurely? That’s what his one time agent, Rick Smith, had thought. On May 14, Rick Smith of Priority was saying that Andre Smith decided not to fire Priority Sports and that the Smiths were still tight. Meanwhile, Alvin Keels was asking for his Twitter fans to root him on in winning back Andre Smith as a client. Rick Smith did not believe it (or did not tell the press he believed it) at the time, but Andre was not coming back to Priority.

Rick Smith is not happy. Here is what he had to say to ProFootballTalk.com yesterday,

“In regards to Andre Smith, we are moving forward and devoting all of our attention on the high character, hard working and honest clients of Priority Sports.

“We were asked to come in at the last minute to provide credibility to his draft status and we succeeded in that task. Soon after the draft, Andre Smith became a tremendous distraction to our company. What we have subsequently determined is that Andre Smith does not match the culture of Priority Sports and the character of the clients we take so much pride in representing.

“This will be our final statement on this matter.”

Is this a hit at A) Andre Smith B) Alvin Keels or C) All of the Above. I pick answer C. Should we expect a response from Mr. Keels? Will it be made from his Twitter account?

And wait, Priority just now found out that Andre Smith might have character issues? Also, what are your thoughts on agencies/agents making these types of public statements? Does the statement do more to help or harm Rick Smith and Priority Sports?

Andre Smith Fires Agent Again

Tue, 19 May 2009 18:58:21 -0500

Alvin Keels, the agent widely blamed for not having Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick Andre Smith properly prepared for the combine, and the NFL’s pre-draft dog-and-pony show in general, is reportedly once again Smith’s agent. The word going around the league Tuesday is that Bengals rookie right tackle Andre Smith has gone back to the [...]

Andre Smith Starts OTAs at Right Tackle; Agent Saga Not Yet Over

Tue, 19 May 2009 14:32:46 -0500

Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Andre Smith, who worked at left tackle during the rookie minicamp earlier this month, was on the right side on this first day of voluntary team workouts — and head coach Marvin Lewis says that’s the way it’s going to stay. “When I watched (Smith) on tape, that’s what he looked like [...]

Why Not Let Andre Smith Speak For Himself?

Thu, 14 May 2009 08:26:05 -0500

24 hours later, and I have figured out who wants to be Andre Smith’s agent. The only problem, is that I have no clue who he wants to be the person in charge of his contractual negotiations.

Yesterday, I reported that Andre Smith dropped his third agent (Rick Smith of Priority Sports) and rumor had it that he was planning on re-signing one-time agent of Smith’s, Alvin Keels. By the afternoon, the world was once again turned on its head.

Rick Smith was proclaiming that Andre Smith decided not to fire Priority Sports and that the Smiths were still tight. Meanwhile, at around 2 p.m. EST, Alvin Keels was using his new Twitter toy. He wrote, “How about this Andre Smith story? I’m in a heated battle right now to win his business back. We are in the bottom of the 9th. Root me on!“ According to Rick Smith, the game was postponed, because Andre is not leaving.

Hopefully, Jim Trotter, the guy who originally broke the story of Andre Smith dropping Priority Sports and later informed everyone that Smith would be re-signing the company, is less confused than I am. Once we figure something out, I am sure Andre will shake things up again…he would not be my favorite 332 lb. person without those crazy antics of his. For the meantime, until Andre Smith officially informs the NFLPA that he is rescinding his termination of Priority Sports, the 5-day waiting period before Smith can hire a new agent will run. If by Friday Andre Smith has not yet re-signed Rick Smith and Priority, Andre will be able to sign with Alvin Keels or any other NFLPA agent that he likes on that particular day.

All I know is that Eddie DeBartolo must be laughing his ass off watching everything that has gone down since Smith originally moved on to Keels.

Andre Smith Unfires Priority Sports

Wed, 13 May 2009 13:00:30 -0500

And so closes the latest bizarre mini-chapter in the as-yet brief but-oh-so-eventful professional football career of Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith. SI’s Jim Trotter, the guy who kicked things off with his report yesterday that Smith was firing Priority Sports, writes today that Andre has reversed course. Two days after firing his second set of [...]

Bloggination Domination

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:27:05 -0500

Who Wants To Be Andre Smith’s Agent? Sports Agent Blog First-ever Streaker at Citifield (Video) My Sports Rumors Separated at Birth: NBA Playoff Edition Fan Sided Soccer Goal of the Year (Video) Total Pro Sports Alex Ovechkin Is Unoriginal, Stupid PSaMP Four Teens Charged With Sexually Assaulting Flag Football Teammate Sports Rubbish Another Insane Finish at Bellator (Video) Chicago’s MMA More Unusual [...]

Who Wants To Be Andre Smith’s Agent?

Wed, 13 May 2009 08:08:49 -0500

Andre Smith (yes, the guy pictured here) has seen his ups and downs in a short span of time.

Before Bowl season, he was listed as the best Offensive Lineman going into the 2009 NFL Draft. Then he was banned from playing in the Sugar Bowl for apparently having dealing with an agent (which is a big no-no when you are a collegiate athlete). Even though Smith was suspended from what would probably have been the most important single game of his young career, no one thought that it would take any toll on his draft stock.

The winner of the Andre Smith sweepstakes was Alvin Keels and Global Management Group. Many rumors had been circulating that Todd France and FAAM were the favorites, but Keels came out on top. For the time being. I doubt that Keels knew what he was getting into when the talented O-Lineman signed with his company. Andre Smith ended up showing at the NFL Combine unfit to perform, refused to participate, and then fled the scene. To make matters worse, the picture above came out and the press was eating it up.

Then Smith scored a 17 on his Wonderlic Test. And then, with only days remaining before the NFL Draft, Smith dropped Keels in favor of Priority Sports. Somehow, some way, Smith was a top 10 pick. His thanks to Priority Sports was a big middle finger. Yesterday, Jim Trotter of SI.com reported that Smith dropped Priority Sports and guess who Smith is apparently going to hire to fill the void…Alvin Keels.

This is what Keels had to say in response: “I haven’t been rehired yet,” Keels told us via e-mail. “Honestly, I might not get him back. If I do get him back it definitely wasn’t planned that he fire then rehire me.”

But who fires an agent only to re-hire him later? Oh wait, apparently Jeremy Shockey is in the midst of doing the same thing with Rosenhaus Sports Representation as we speak.

Interestingly, Neil Stratton of InsideTheLeague.com reports that even before Smith first hired Keels, he was with DeBartolo Sports. That means that once Smith officially signs with a new agent (or a new agent who also happens to be a former agent), it will be the fourth time he has signed on the dotted line. Andre Smith has still not taken a snap in a professional game.

What He Really Is Saying: Andre Smith's Agent

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:49:13 -0500

Darren Rovell of CNBC recently had an interview with Rick Smith, the agent of Cincinnati Bengals 1st round draft pick Andre Smith. It's time to translate what he is really saying. Darren: I know you have only been with Andre for days, but how did he manage to salvage what could have been a monumental loss of money for him?Smith: It started with team officials understanding the fact that he responds well to the type of discipline that Nick Saban gave him at Alabama. And he doesn’t do as we...

Andre Smith goes to Cincinnati

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:19:49 -0500

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Alabama left tackle Andre Smith with the sixth pick in the ‘09 draft. At one point, Smith was considered the top prospect in the draft before he went Houdini at the combine and had an unimpressive pro day. The Bengals chose to ignore the warning signs and will bank on Andre being [...]

Andre Smith To The Chiefs? What!?!?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:12:12 -0500

Offensive tackle Andre Smith could go to the Kansas City Chiefs today. Yes, I actually just wrote that. Crazy, I know. But is it really that crazy? Steve Wyche came on the NFLN last night and said that Smith will not slip past the Bengals at No. 6. Apparently, teams are starting ...

With the Sixth Pick in the Fansided Collaborative Mock Draft…

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:50:21 -0500

…the Cincinnati Bengals select Alabama OT Andre Smith. The Bengals entertained a trade offer from a team with a mid-round pick which offered that selection plus a starting right tackle, but that player will be a free agent in 2010 and Cincinnati had no guarantee it would be able to sign him prior to next March. [...]

AFTERNOON DELIGHT WITH GIRLS OF THE BIG 12

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:22:40 -0500

Hottest girls of the Big 12 (Busted Coverage)Double Viking Hotties in the Wild (Double Viking)The McLobster Sandwich, and other McMenu Madness (Gunaxin)Thigh of the Week: Brooklyn Decker (Sharapova's Thigh)Beneficial Booze - Get Loaded on Super Fruits (The Bachelor Guy)Why Wasn't I Told About Natalia Bush? (MoonDog Sports)Sam Malone=Fired. Big Bird=watch your tail. (9 to Fried)"Best" Moobs in Sports, In Honor of Andre Smith (Brahsome)My Morning Jacket - Celebración De...

Hide the Children

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:42:03 -0500

I’m really sorry about this guys, but it had to happen… AHHHHHH! /runs away

DOES ANDRE SMITH USE THE BRO OR THE MANZIER?

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:57:56 -0500

Speaking of cleavage, uh, holy hell Andre Smith.I mean, I realize you're an offensive linemen and hitting the buffet 5 or 6 times is actually encouraged...but seriously...Did all that food go to your titties?You're going to rival fat Philly Mick soon for the "Man tits award"