SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Matt Mitrione was a free-agent fighter over the winter, in talks with the UFC and Bellator MMA. Without a contract and exploring all his options, Mitrione was put in touch with Reed Bergman of Playbook, Inc., by former NFL teammate Jesse Palmer.
Bergman is a former agent who now helps athletes land television broadcast jobs, among other things. He has worked with Palmer and Michael Strahan, another friend of Mitrione and the co-host of the massively popular morning show "Live with Kelly and Michael."
Not long after Mitrione and Bergman were in contact, Playbook, Inc.