Greg Little cited as example in Desean Jackson, Drew Rosenhaus dispute

Oct. 29, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus on the sidelines of the game between the San Francisco 49ers against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Desean Jackson and his former agent Drew Rosenhaus have a dispute over money that Jackson feels he is owed by Rosenhaus totalling over $516,000 that now involves the NFLPA as Jackson is now accusing the executive director and primary arbitrator of the NFLPA of failing to regulate Rosenhaus’ violations of the union’s rules according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.

From Yahoo!

"Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson is accusing the executive director of the NFL Players Association and its primary arbitrator of bias based on their refusal to regulate agent Drew Rosenhaus’ violation of union rules, according to a federal court filing obtained by Yahoo Sports.In the filing (see full court filing below), Jackson says the relationship between NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith and Rosenhaus has rendered the executive director, and the union he heads, incapable of protecting players’ interests when allegations of misconduct by Rosenhaus are involved. Jackson wants the ruling, made by longtime NFLPA arbitrator Roger Kaplan in April, requiring him to pay Rosenhaus roughly $516,000 in unpaid “loans” and agent fees, to be vacated because he says the arbitrator ignored union regulations, then created what Jackson describes as his own rules in order to reach the “outcome he preferred” of Rosenhaus winning the arbitration."

Jackson’s case against Rosenhaus also happens to involve the past of a newly acquired Oakland Raider as an employee of Rosenhaus was reported to have given the former North Carolina star wideout improper benefits that affected his NCAA eligibility.

From the Getlin report:

"After media reports came out in October of 2010 which indicated that a Rosenhaus employee provided the University of North Carolina’s Greg Little with benefits that jeopardized his collegiate eligibility, Rosenhaus attacked Little’s credibility in a letter he wrote to the union. Rosenhaus told the NFLPA that Little made “false,” “dishonest” and “inconsistent” statements to the NCAA regarding his interactions with that employee and that they would never speak to the player again.However, according to a text message from Rosenhaus employee Michael Johnson (who is currently facing three felony charges in North Carolina for his alleged involvement in funneling money to players for another agent), Rosenhaus later offered Little $100,000, a car for his mother, and $2,000 per month to fire his former agent and sign with Rosenhaus, none of which had to be paid back. NFLPA regulations prohibit agents from providing or offering money or any other thing of value to players to induce or encourage them to utilize their services."

Desean Jackson seems hellbent on making it known that Rosenhaus is not playing by the rules the NFLPA has set for agents and with precedent already out there in incidents involving Little along with other current NFL players including the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant it looks like he has a pretty good case that the NFLPA is turning a blind eye to Rosenhaus’ indiscretions. What will come of Jackson’s dispute with Rosenhaus will be interesting as the super agent has ties to a large pool of NFL players, making any punishment levied to him a ruling that would have a large ripple effect throughout the league.