Welcome to Question of the Day #7 in Athlete Rep Lab's daily NFLPA practice series.

Every day leading up to the NFLPA Contract Advisor Certification Exam, we're publishing a brand-new, original exam-style question covering important concepts from the NFLPA Regulations Governing Contract Advisors and the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Today's topic: Contract Advisor Fees After a Player Changes Representation.

Today's Question

A veteran player signs a four-year NFL Player Contract that was entirely negotiated by Agent A under a Standard Representation Agreement (SRA) providing for the maximum 3% Contract Advisor fee.

After completing the second season of the contract, the player terminates Agent A and immediately signs a new Standard Representation Agreement with Agent B, which provides for a 2% Contract Advisor fee.

The player continues playing under the same NFL Player Contract, and no extension, renegotiation, or modification of the contract ever occurs.

Which of the following best describes the Contract Advisor fees on the player's remaining compensation under the existing contract?

A) Agent A continues to receive a 3% fee on the remaining compensation because Agent A negotiated the existing NFL Player Contract, while Agent B receives no fee because Agent B did not negotiate that contract.

B) Agent A's fee automatically terminates when the player signs with Agent B, and Agent B receives a 2% fee on all remaining compensation because Agent B is now the player's current Contract Advisor.

C) Agent A continues to receive a 2% fee on the remaining compensation because Agent A negotiated the existing NFL Player Contract, while Agent B receives no fee because Agent B did not negotiate that contract.

D) Agent A and Agent B must equally divide a single 3% Contract Advisor fee for Year’s 3 & 4.

Think Before You Scroll

Take a moment to answer before scrolling.

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Correct Answer

✅ A) Agent A continues to receive the 3% Contract Advisor fee on the remaining compensation because Agent A negotiated the existing NFL Player Contract, while Agent B receives no fee because Agent B did not negotiate that contract.

 

Step-by-Step Explanation

Step 1 – Identify Who Negotiated the Contract

Agent A negotiated the player's four-year NFL Player Contract.

The player later changed representation, but the contract itself was never extended, renegotiated, or modified.

That distinction is the key to this question.

 

Step 2 – Understand How Contract Advisor Fees Are Earned

Contract Advisor fees are generally earned by negotiating the NFL Player Contract, not simply by serving as the player's current representative.

Although Agent B now represents the player under a new Standard Representation Agreement, Agent B did not negotiate the existing contract.

Accordingly, Agent A generally remains entitled to the Contract Advisor fee attributable to the remaining compensation under that contract.

 

Step 3 – Apply the Facts

Because the player continues to perform under the same unmodified NFL Player Contract:

  • Agent A remains entitled to the 3% Contract Advisor fee on the remaining compensation.

  • Agent B does not earn a fee on that existing contract because Agent B did not negotiate it.

Had Agent B negotiated a contract extension or modification, Agent B would generally become entitled to fees attributable to the new compensation negotiated.

 

Why the Other Answers Are Incorrect

❌ B) Agent B receives the remaining fees because he is now the player's current Contract Advisor.

This is the most common misconception.

Simply becoming the player's current representative does not automatically transfer fee rights associated with an existing NFL Player Contract.

 

❌ C) Agent A continues to receive a 2% fee on the remaining compensation because Agent A negotiated the existing NFL Player Contract, while Agent B receives no fee because Agent B did not negotiate that contract.

While this answer correctly recognizes that Agent A generally remains entitled to the Contract Advisor fee because Agent A negotiated the existing NFL Player Contract, it incorrectly states that Agent A would receive a 2% fee. Under the facts presented, Agent A's Standard Representation Agreement specified a 3% Contract Advisor fee, and that is the fee generally associated with the contract Agent A negotiated. The player's later decision to hire Agent B under a new Standard Representation Agreement providing for a 2% fee does not reduce Agent A's previously established fee on the existing, unmodified contract.

 

❌ D) The agents split the fee.

There is no provision in the NFLPA Regulations requiring Contract Advisors to split fees equally simply because representation changes during the life of a contract.

 

Core Concepts for Your Exam

1. Representation and Fee Rights Are Different

A player may change Contract Advisors at any time.

However, changing representation does not automatically transfer the right to fees already earned by negotiating an existing NFL Player Contract.

 

2. Focus on Who Negotiated the Contract

Whenever an exam question involves multiple agents, first determine:

Who negotiated the contract currently being performed?

That answer often determines who is entitled to the Contract Advisor fee.

 

3. Contract Modifications Matter

If the existing contract is later renegotiated, extended, or otherwise modified, the fee rights associated with the newly negotiated compensation may differ.

Always read the fact pattern carefully to determine whether the contract itself changed.

 

Exam Tip

The NFLPA exam often includes unnecessary facts to distract candidates.

In today's question, the 2% fee in Agent B's new Standard Representation Agreement may tempt you to assume Agent B automatically begins collecting fees.

Don't fall for that trap.

The critical fact is that the existing NFL Player Contract never changed.

Always ask yourself:

Who negotiated the contract that is currently being performed?

 

Keep Practicing

This is Question of the Day #7 in Athlete Rep Lab's free NFLPA exam preparation series.

Our goal is to help you understand not only what the rules say—but also how they apply in real-world representation scenarios you'll encounter as an NFLPA Contract Advisor.

We'll be back tomorrow with another original NFLPA-style practice question designed to sharpen your understanding of the CBA and the NFLPA Regulations.

Good luck with your studies!