|
AJ Faigin (b. Aug 11, 1957, Cleveland, Ohio) was a prominent sports agent in the 1980s and 1990s, negotiating several landmark professional football contracts. AJ Faigin represented four Football Hall of Fame players (Jack Lambert, Jim Kelly, Mike Webster and Mel Blount) who played in eight Super Bowls; as well as numerous Pro Bowl (all star) selections and First Round Draft Picks. After he left the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office (Cleveland, Ohio), where in his twenties he successfully prosecuted major felony cases including homicides, he was asked by a college and law school acquaintance to join Lustig Pro Sports as general counsel. There he became a seasoned negotiator and recruiter for the firm; and known throughout professional football for his creative strategies in the era before Free Agency was won by football players. ==Jim Kelly contract negotiations== AJ Faigin became noted in the national news when he signed the Buffalo Bills 1983 draft pick to the USFL Houston Gamblers (the first 1st Round NFL pick to choose the USFL) for a then record setting contract.〔New York Times, Sports, “Scouting”, June 9, 1983〕 The deal occurred when after at first merely meeting with USFL Chicago GM Bruce Allen to generate leverage, he and his negotiating partner received a famous return call by Allen to Faigin as they sat in the Bills offices about to finalize an agreement. Allen asked him to immediately fly to Toronto for a midnight meeting with USFL money-men at the home of multi-millionaire and league creative guru John Bassett. There they were told they could pick any team in the league.〔The Sporting News, “Pro Football Focus” by H. Balzer, June 1983; Miami Herald, “Sports Weekend” June 10, 1983; Sports Illustrated “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly” by Rick Telander, Feb 27, 1984〕 When the USFL was engaged in its anti-trust trial against the NFL, Kelly, Lustig and AJ Faigin met with Donald Trump after Faigin threatened a lawsuit if Trump would not guarantee Kelly’s contract should the USFL fold.〔Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Plain Dealing “ by Russ Schneider, October 16, 1985〕 Trump, who wanted Kelly for his USFL and a potential NFL franchise〔Sports Illustrated, “Life with Lord Jim” by Rich Telander, July 21, 1986, at pg. 68〕 threatened his own lawsuit against Faigin, but then capitulated and later signed an agreement. AJ Faigin then leaked Donald Trump's agreement with Kelly to the media to use as leverage against the Bills should the USFL lose their case.〔USA Today, “Sportsline” June 10, 1986; The Washington Post, front-page Faigin quote in article “USFL Votes...”, Aug 5, 1986〕 As a direct result Lustig and AJ Faigin signed Kelly to the largest contract in NFL history. The Salary package being 60% higher than the next highest player, Joe Montana.〔The Sporting News, “Salary Survey: Kelly Now No.1” by V. Stellino, March 16, 1987; Pro Football Weekly, “The Way We Hear It” by Len Pasquarelli, Sept 8, 1986; Miami News “Bills Turn Kelly Green” by M. Klinkenberg, Aug. 19, 1986〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「AJ Faigin」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|