According to an investigation by Yahoo Sports, five SEC players received impermissible benefits from NFL agents and financial advisors.
The players in question are Alabama OT DJ Fluker, Tennessee QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee DE Maurice Couch, Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox and Mississippi State WR Chad Bumphis. Of those five, only Couch is still an NCAA player - Tyler Bray is on the Kansas City Chiefs, Cox plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, Fluker is a San Diego Charger, and Bumphis was recently cut by the Miami Dolphins.
The players were identified thanks to phone records and financial statements belonging to former Alabama DE Luther Davis. Davis reportedly acted as the middleman between the NFL agents and the college players, and was responsible for the transfer of tens of thousands of dollars between several different parties. The NFL agents listed in the report are:
- Andy Simms of the PlayersRep agency, who represents NE Patriots RB Stevan Ridley, Lions WR Nate Burleson and 53 other NFL players
- Peter Schaffer, founder and owner of Authentic Athletix, which represents over 100 clients including Barry Sanders, Hakeem Nicks and Josh Cribbs,
- John Philips, a vocal advocate of NFL players rights during the 2011 lockout and self-proclaimed crusader against the "corrupt athlete-agent culture"
The Yahoo report contains full details on the benefits provided. Stay tuned to Chat Sports for more details on this developing story.
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