SB Nation Seattle - Sports Illustrated's 'Confessions Of An Agent' Targets Ryan Leaf, Leon Benderhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2010-10-13T09:53:09-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15116062010-10-13T09:53:09-07:002010-10-13T09:53:09-07:00Mike Price Responds To Sports Illustrated Article
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<p>The Seattle Times’ <a target="new" href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/cougars/2013143139_coug13.html">Bud Withers tracked down <span class="caps">UTEP</span> head coach Mike Price</a> to get his thoughts on the <a target="new" href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747565/sports-illustrated-confessions-of-an-agent-ryan-leaf-leon-bender?show_comments=true">Sports Illustrated article</a> centering on agent contact involving members of his Washington State teams in the 1990s. Price said he knew nothing of players receiving compensation from Josh Luchs, the agent in question, and wondered why fringe talent would receive benefits from Luchs.</p>
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<p>“I find that very, very hard to believe. Ryan (Leaf) was never really courted by anybody that wasn’t very, very responsible and a top-notch agent.</p>
<p>“And those other guys (Bender excluded), they weren’t that highly draftable. It’s news to me.”</p>
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<p>Withers also gets ahold of Drew Bledsoe’s father, though Bledsoe was not named in the report. His father makes clear that he was the one that handled Bledsoe’s matters and there was never any impropriety.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/13/1749091/mike-price-ryan-leaf-drew-bledsoe-sports-illustrated-confessions-of-an-agentBrian Floyd2010-10-12T17:18:19-07:002010-10-12T17:18:19-07:00Cougfan.com: Ryan Leaf Responds To Sports Illustrated Article
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<p>Ryan Leaf was prominently mentioned in the <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747565/sports-illustrated-confessions-of-an-agent-ryan-leaf-leon-bender?show_comments=true" target="new">Sports Illustrated article</a> centering on allegations by former agent Josh Luchs. Luchs alleged Leaf took around $10,000 in benefits, including cash to pay off a credit card debt, a trip to Las Vegas and a monthly stipend totaling of around $500.</p>
<p>Now retired from the <span class="caps">NFL</span> and away from football, <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/9/16/1692041/ryan-leaf-nfl-draft-bust-arrest" target="new">Leaf has been working in Canada as a business development manager</a> and now lives in Montana again. He’s also taken up writing, penning columns for Washington State fansite <a href="http://www.cougfan.com" target="new">Cougfan.com</a>. They caught up with him today and he responded to the allegations by email, which was posted on the <a href="http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=137&f=1995&t=6521573" target="new">Cougfan message boards</a>:</p>
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<p>He (Josh) was a friend of a friend who liked to pick up the tab. We were just kids having fun. Of course, now, as an adult it’s clear that even talking with him was a very stupid thing to do, let alone going on spring break to Las Vegas. I can say, though, that much of what I read in Josh’s reflections was news to me, actually bordering on bizarre in some spots.</p>
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<p>You can read the rest of his response <a href="http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=137&f=1995&t=6521573" target="new">here</a>. He admits he was immature and, knowing the lessons he’s learned since then, he wouldn’t follow the same path or associate with Luchs. However, his response still leaves the issue murky as he doesn’t deny Luchs’ allegations but does admit Luchs picked up the tab at times.</p>
<p>Leaf also apologizes for <span class="caps">WSU</span> being portrayed in an unfavorable way in the national media today. It’s clear now, and from his actions in the recent past, that he cares greatly about the opinion of fans and alumni of Washington State.</p>
<p>Leaf’s statements fall in line with what <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747693/sports-illustrated-agent-investigation-ryan-leaf-dave-muir-response" target="new">Dave Muir said earlier today</a> on 950 <span class="caps">KJR</span>. They both maintain neither knew Luchs was an agent and that he was simply a friend of a friend.</p>
<p>We’ll have more from Leaf as it becomes available.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747972/ryan-leaf-responds-sports-illustrated-agent-storyBrian Floyd2010-10-12T15:37:30-07:002010-10-12T15:37:30-07:00Mel Kiper Under Fire Because Of Sports Illustrated Story
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<p>Another prominent name mentioned in the <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747565/sports-illustrated-confessions-of-an-agent-ryan-leaf-leon-bender?show_comments=true" target="new">Sports Illustrated Confessions of an Agent story</a> is none other than <span class="caps">ESPN</span> <span class="caps">NFL</span> draft guru Mel Kiper. The relationship between Kiper and agent Gary Wichard was mentioned in the story, with Luchs alleging Wichard arranged for Kiper to call a prospective client that was still in college.</p>
<p>Pro Football Talk’s Gregg Rosenthal is <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/12/espn-looking-into-mel-kipers-relationship-with-gary-wichard/?related=1" target="new">reporting <span class="caps">ESPN</span> is opening an investigation into Kiper’s involvement</a>.</p>
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<p><span class="caps">ESPN</span> tells Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal that they are looking into allegations that agent Gary Wichard and Mel Kiper’s relationship is a little too cozy.</p>
<p>“We just learned of the story today and are looking into it,” ESPN’s statement read.</p>
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<p>Kiper isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, to come under fire in the wake of the SI story. Expect more to come as players named respond to the allegations.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747813/mel-kiper-sports-illustrated-agent-storyBrian Floyd2010-10-12T14:33:41-07:002010-10-12T14:33:41-07:00Dave Muir Responds to Sports Illustrated Allegations
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<p>Dave Muir, mentioned in the Sports Illustrated story about agents and improper benefits, was on 950 <span class="caps">KJR</span> with Ian Furness this afternoon and responded to the allegations that Ryan Leaf took money while at <span class="caps">WSU</span>.</p>
<p>Muir stated he was Leaf’s roommate and categorically denied the allegations, saying he spent "every waking moment" with Leaf and that the allegations are "completely false." Muir said the two were "barely getting by" and would take Gatorade from the team because they were that broke.</p>
<p>He also elaborated on the relationship Luchs had with Leaf and other players, saying he had no idea Luchs was an agent and thought he was "just a 20-year-old with some disposable income." He got the impression Luchs was a "hanger-on of football players" and nothing more.</p>
<p>When asked about the trip to Las Vegas, he said the trip "wasn’t some extravagant getaway as it’s been portrayed" and that they shared rooms at Harrah’s, spending as little money as possible.</p>
<p>Muir was angry about the allegations, calling Ryan "an easy target after his career in the <span class="caps">NFL</span> and the way it played out." He was most outraged about Leon Bender’s name "being dragged through the mud" and it was "tasteless and classless to bring up his name." Bender passed away after leaving Washington State.</p>
<p>Muir hypothesized that Luchs was "making one last gasp at a career and trying to make money" off the story by dragging former players through the mud. He admitted knowing Luchs, but said there was no indication Luchs was an agent.</p>
<p>Muir joins Torrey Hunter in denying the accusations. Singor Mobley, also a former Washington State player, has admitted to taking improper benefits from Luchs.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/10/12/1747693/sports-illustrated-agent-investigation-ryan-leaf-dave-muir-responseBrian Floyd2010-10-12T13:59:52-07:002010-10-12T13:59:52-07:00Sports Illustrated Confessions Of An Agent Targets Ryan Leaf, Leon Bender
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<p>With agents and improper benefits coming to light recently, Sports Illustrated struck while the iron was hot, convincing an agent to name names and divulge players he paid. Josh Luchs, the agent in question, <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/10/12/agent/index.html?eref=sihp">gave detailed descriptions of players he provided benefits</a> to, how he did it and how much money changed has while he was working out of Los Angeles. The 20 hours of interviews with Sports Illustrated yielded about 50 names, some of which have local connections.</p>
<p>Washington State got hit hard by Luchs' allegations. The 1997 Rose Bowl team showed up and was emphasized in the article, with a whole section devoted to his dealings with the Cougs. Among the players named were three Cougar defensive backs -- Torey Hunter, Singor Mobley and John Rushing -- and Leon Bender, a star in his own right.</p>
<p>The biggest fish from that WSU team was Ryan Leaf, who Luchs grew close to and allegedly provided a monthly stipend of around $500. Luchs allegedly took trips to Vegas and Tahoe with Leaf, even meeting Leaf in a hotel bathroom prior to the Rose Bowl in early 1998.</p>
<p>With Luchs' father dying, Leaf allegedly promised he's sign with the agent and assured Luchs' father his son had nothing to worry about.</p>
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<p>Ryan knew what I was going through. One day, he came with me to my dad's house, and while he was there my dad got very upset, talking about how he hated that his illness prevented me from doing my job. Ryan told him, "Don't worry. Josh doesn't need to recruit any other players. He's got me."</p>
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<p>When it came time to pick an agent and declare for the NFL draft, Leaf signed with another agent, leaving Luchs jaded and resentful.</p>
<p>At the end of it all, Leaf allegedly paid Luchs almost all of the money he took back. Luchs said he didn't apologize, didn't explain himself but he did pay it back in a moment of some maturity.</p>
<p>It's no secret that agents have been paying players to secure their services for as long as the agency game has been around. It's become more prevalent -- and the stakes are becoming higher -- as contracts and the bonus money that goes with them increase.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2010/6/9/1510580/ncaa-sanctions-usc-postseason-ban">USC was recently sanctioned</a> because Reggie Bush's parents took hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper benefits. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2010/8/6/1610108/ncaa-opens-investigations-against">North Carolina is under a microscope</a> because <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/5234/marvin-austin" class="sbn-auto-link">Marvin Austin</a> allegedly took benefits -- and he's now been ruled ineligible because of it. Even back in the 1980's, SMU was given the death penalty because of an athlete slush fund. </p>
<p>As long as there are agents, there will be players trying to skirt the rules and get something on the side. The NCAA is finally <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2010/7/19/1576966/ncaa-finally-realizes-agents-are-a">trying to do something about it</a>, but it's almost too little to late.</p>
<p>Seeing players from Washington State show up in the report only confirms this can happen anywhere.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/10/12/2322464/sports-illustrated-confessions-of-an-agent-targets-ryan-leaf-leonBrian Floyd