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New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
How an up-and-coming NFL agent (in Minneapolis!) finds his footing in a cut-throat league
HOPKINS, Minn. — It's early in the morning at a local country club, and Blake Baratz is sipping a hot coffee on the patio. A longtime friend spots him. 'Blake!' the man hollers. 'What's up, dude?' Baratz responds. 'I heard you're bringing out a prospective new member today,' the man says. Baratz laughs. Word travels fast. Jonathan Allen, the Minnesota Vikings' new defensive tackle, will soon arrive at the well-manicured golf course to crank tee shots alongside Baratz, his longtime agent. Advertisement The glamour of being a big-time sports agent never wears off in the eyes of others. 'Jerry Maguire' tossed gasoline on the already-romantic image, and Baratz, a Minnesota native, gets the allure. With free agency and the NFL Draft finished by this Saturday in May, the 45-year-old has just finished several months of daily phone calls with NFL general managers, college coaches and the families of some of football's most heralded prospects. Who wouldn't sign up for that? When it comes to being a sports agent, rarely does anyone speak about how the sausage gets made. It's too messy. Ask one question about how it works, and the answers reveal themselves like nesting dolls. To comprehend this, you must understand this. Soon, you're swimming in some gnarly minutiae: recruiting dynamics, how the contract is written, percentages agents take from their clients. Baratz differs from most in that he's willing to broach all of these subjects. This shouldn't surprise. Here is a guy bold enough to base a sports agency in Minneapolis. 'Team IFA,' which Baratz launched in 2009, has not only survived but also established a foothold in an industry dominated by behemoths like Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor and Athletes First. Sixteen years later, IFA is small enough to provide a personalized feel and educate players, but large enough to employ other agents in addition to staff members around the country. Rarely does Baratz have the time and serenity to appreciate his agency's climb. But as the driving range is filling up in front of him on this sunny Saturday, that's what he's doing. He compliments his staff. He tells stories about the clients — like Allen — who have entrusted him with their care. The reflections don't last long. After some time, he's back to pondering the future, explaining what's possible with the industry at an inflection point, especially considering all of the changes in college football. 'Right now,' he says, 'we have a real opportunity. A whole new world is opening up.' In 2009, one afternoon in Los Angeles, Baratz huddled in an office with one of his bosses, a more senior agent at their startup firm. Baratz had been urging his superiors to recruit a Tulane running back named Matt Forte. 'Go after him,' Baratz begged. 'I promise.' Finally, his superiors agreed to hear him out. Advertisement 'Let's call a general manager and see what they have to say.' The voice of then-Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo blasted through the speakerphone on the other end of the line. They exchanged pleasantries, then Angelo was asked to give a scouting report on Forte. 'Don't waste your time,' Baratz remembers Angelo saying. 'Probably undrafted.' By this time, Baratz had been in the business long enough to know his eye for talent was far from infallible. He had played college tennis at Wisconsin. It takes more than five years to become a football scouting savant. Angelo's feedback quieted Baratz, at least for a while. But then he watched Forte run for more than 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior before dominating in the Senior Bowl. Once Angelo, of all people, eventually drafted Forte in the second round, Baratz raced to the offices of his colleagues, throwing his hands to the sky. 'He actually believed what he told us in real time,' Baratz says now, 'but he probably hadn't even watched the player. That type of thing kept happening time and time again, and all of my trust and faith went out the door.' Baratz had kept tabs on the Wisconsin football players he'd grown close with in Madison. The most committed ones, the players who took it most seriously, carved out lengthier NFL careers. These examples, cherry-picked as they may have been, formed a philosophy. Good player? Important. Good character? More important. He was 28 when he decided to put his beliefs into practice. Using Minnesota as his home base offered an immediate network and easy access to schools throughout the Midwest and on both coasts. The build began slowly. He drove to Ohio State, met with safety Kurt Coleman in a conference room at the team hotel and spoke bluntly about the draft process as well as Coleman's draft prospects. Coleman appreciated the candor. Advertisement 'I don't need the fluff,' Coleman says. 'Sometimes, you just need to shoot it straight. That's what it felt like.' That was 2010, and the train really started to roll the following year when IFA inked first-round defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Adam Thielen came several years later, and by the time Allen's draft class came around in 2017, IFA found itself in the most competitive of territories. This is where the industry's truths live. Where agents (and ancillary figures called 'runners') cozy up to trainers, coaches and family members in an attempt to curry favor. Where flights are supplied. Where players are pitched curated pamphlets and presentations explaining why it makes sense to sign with them. Where some agents propose taking a smaller percentage of prospects' contracts than other agents would to sweeten their submission. Most NFL players can tell stories about being bombarded by potential advisers in college. Allen directed all of the suitors to his father. Baratz earned his trust when he suggested that Allen return to Alabama for his senior year, following shoulder surgery, rather than immediately entering the NFL Draft. Others recommended the opposite. The sooner Allen started the clock on his second and third contracts, the quicker the agents could make their coveted return on investments paid in the form of pre-draft training and, in some instances, money advancements before the prospects had played an NFL down. 'I was just trying to make the best decision for me and my family,' Allen says, 'and not just chase the money.' Securing the services of a player like Allen is a feat in itself, but even his inclusion did not elevate IFA beyond its status as a mid-sized shop. It didn't have the glitz of a CAA, which is renowned for its foothold in the entertainment industry, where agents work out of a sleek property in Century City on Avenue of the Stars. IFA, on the other hand, occupies an office down the block from a restaurant with exceptional chili called 'The Loon Cafe.' 'You sign with us because you know us as people,' Baratz says. 'You understand our offering. You're not getting inundated with the bulls—. And even then, it's still hard. I still have to fend off the wolves.' For years, that was the challenge: maintaining and, specifically, building a fence around the state of Minnesota. It was fun and competitive, absolutely, but in many ways repetitive and taxing. Then the 2020s arrived, and legislation opened a door that had previously been sealed shut. A couple of years ago, Baratz received a call from one of IFA's employees in Dallas. Other agencies were putting the finishing touches on proposals for Duncanville (Texas) High quarterback Keelon Russell, who was widely regarded as the top quarterback recruit in the country. Did IFA want to toss its hat in the ring? Advertisement Baratz reacted with skepticism. A high school kid? Really? Before dismissing the idea, Baratz contacted Howard Skall, a recent hire who worked for more than a decade with the NFL Players Association, then for 16 years as a senior marketing agent at CAA. If anybody could decipher a high school player's promotional value for leading brands, it'd be Skall. After doing some quick digging, Skall replied with almost jarring feedback. The number of commas (at least two) in the amount Russell could be worth blew Baratz away. 'That changed my perspective,' he says. IFA had already dipped its toes in the college football waters. The space had become ripe for hangers-on, folks who did not have to earn certification the way you do in the NFL. Other players allowed their parents to orchestrate deals, resulting in some major problems. (See: Iamaleava, Nico.) Baratz observed the landscape and recognized the opportunity. Why not take the professional model IFA had cultivated for more than a decade and see if it yielded similar value for players and families with even less knowledge about the world they were entering? IFA would also benefit from being able to create relationships with players and families earlier. And there was value in making agreements on the front end. Baratz believes that IFA's contract negotiation experience, combined with a full marketing team led by Skall and a PR arm run by former Denver Nuggets director of media relations Tim Gelt, strengthens kids' chances of maximizing their worth. Ultimately, Russell and his mother, April Moore, saw the vision. IFA's size allows for nimbleness, so once Skall appraised Russell's future prospects, Baratz pursued the youngster as a client. The current University of Alabama quarterback has become one of IFA's more than 40 non-NFL clients, and he has already partnered with Panini America on a multi-year trading card arrangement. Advertisement Still sitting on the patio at the country club, Baratz discusses what it's going to take to keep Russell. He constantly asks himself questions: How do you maintain the individualized feel while scaling? How do you ensure you're targeting the same qualifying level of person that got you here in the first place? A mountain of a man approaches as he's mulling these subjects. It's Allen. Their tee time is approaching. At least for a few hours, Baratz can enjoy the comforts that come with being a sports agent. (Top illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; all photos courtesy of IFA)
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Brian Flores has new weapons on Vikings defense, but don't forget the old ones
The Minnesota Vikings added plenty of defensive talent this offseason, but Brian Flores is as excited about the returning players as the new guys. The Vikings' defensive coordinator spoke to the press from minicamp on Tuesday, and unsurprisingly, the first question was about the two new faces on the defensive line: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Flores offered praise, but quickly pivoted to the developing players on the roster. "Those are two great additions, excited to have both guys," Flores said. "But also excited about guys like Jalen Redmond who came on, really, the entire year. He just got better and better day after day and week after week. Levi [Drake Rodriguez] who has, I would say, grown significantly from year one to year two. Bigger, stronger, faster, more confident." "We got a lot of guys who have played, there's a good amount of depth in that room," Flores added. "We're excited about all the pieces, and as coaches, it's about who fits where and how do we get the most out of each individual player and the collective unit." Another returning player Flores clearly has high hopes for is pass rusher Dallas Turner. A first-round pick last year, Turner showed flashes in his rookie season, but ultimately played a limited role behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, both of whom had standout first seasons in Minnesota. "All positive with him. Definitely see some growth, or a lot of growth, from his standpoint and excited to see where this goes," Flores said. "I think any time you're behind — or with, I shouldn't even say behind, because in that room I really see it as three starters, so you're with two guys who receive all the accolades and obviously are good players who've been in the league, have made a lot of plays, are significant contributors to the team, the best thing you can do — and I think Dallas did this — is just soak up that information." Not all the talent is up front, though. In the secondary, the Vikings' defense will feature new faces, players stepping into larger roles and promising prospects returning from injury. One of those new faces: Isaiah Rodgers, of whom Flores and head coach Kevin O'Connell have spoken highly. "I've always thought he was a good player and was ascending, and when the opportunity presented itself that we could maybe acquire him, I was all in," Flores said. "And I'm happy we got him, he's been a great addition. He's got great football IQ and acumen." Rodgers will likely have the largest role of his career this season thanks to the Vikings' thin cornerback room. Behind star Byron Murphy Jr., the room features a handful of players with uncertain upside, including Mekhi Blackmon. Blackmon showed promise in his rookie season, then missed his entire sophomore year with a torn ACL. "As a rookie, you saw the quickness, the speed, the acumen. I think he needs to build right on that," Flores said. "It was unfortunate when he went down last year, because we were excited about the possibility of him playing quite a bit. The way he rehabbed, it was incredible, honestly." Flores also gave a shoutout to Theo Jackson, a safety who has been buried on the depth chart but earned a new contract and will see his role increased this season after Cam Bynum's departure in free agency. "Theo's been great, and that's something we've been saying for two years," Flores said. "I think he's steadily built his communication skills, his techniques, his fundamentals, his disguises, his playmaking ability. He's one of the hardest workers we have." The Vikings' defense finished fifth in points allowed and tied for first in turnovers last season. While it will be tough to replicate those numbers this year, Flores has all of the pieces he needs to field a fearsome unit on that side of the ball once again.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After Eagles' FA defections, do Cowboys or Giants have NFC East's best DL?
After Eagles' FA defections, do Cowboys or Giants have NFC East's best DL? NFC East teams feature defensive line units that would all rank among the best in the entire NFL. While the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Washington Commanders have invested heavily in their offensive lines and receiving rooms, the defensive lines have been the mainstays of the division for a long time. Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame candidate thanks to the Giants' DL being catalysts for two Super Bowl runs. They've recently drafted two defensive ends in the top five, traded for a starting edge rusher, and paid the best one-technique in the NFL, who was also a first-round pick. The Eagles' pass rush, led by a defensive line that had three first-round picks, tormented Patrick Mahomes in route to a Super Bowl blowout. Washington has seen former top picks Chase Young and Jonathan Allen depart, but still have Daron Payne and continue to invest in the line in free agency and the draft. Dallas just paid Osa Odighizuwa, signed Dante Fowler Jr., drafted a defensive end in the second round three of the past four seasons, and Micah Parsons was a first-round selection. 4. Washington Commanders Dorance Armstrong followed Dan Quinn over from Dallas to become a starting defensive end for the Commanders. He played 60% of the snaps, 600-plus for the first time in his career, and became a solid starter. He achieved his highest totals in QB knockdowns, pressures, and tackles, but his lowest sack total since 2020, and his missed tackle percentage increased by over 10%. His run defense needs to improve. Pro Football Focus graded him at 46.4 against the run compared to a 76.4 pass rush grade and a 68.9 overall grade. Armstrong isn't a star, but he is a positive starter for Washington. The other defensive end spot needs to be upgraded. Clelin Ferrell is a solid edge setter, but doesn't offer much of a pass rusher. Deatrich Wise is a veteran rotational defensive end who is a decent backup. He has averaged 42 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and five tackles for a loss a season. Jacob Martin is another option, but he hasn't been as productive as Ferrell or Wise. The strength of the team has long been the defensive tackle position, featuring Jonathan Allen and Payne. However, Allen signed elsewhere as a free agent, and Payne had a down year in his first season in Quinn's system. Quinn's defenses have difficulty stopping the run, and this issue persisted last year. Washington was the third worst in rush yards allowed and yards per carry. Payne might be in decline due to age and attrition. Allen is going to be replaced by free agent signing Javon Kinlaw and 2024 second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton. ] Eddie Goldman is the backup for Payne. 3. Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles suffered several losses to their defensive line this offseason, which is why they fell to third in the division. Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, and Bryce Huff are a lot of production to replace. Nolan Smith Jr. had a breakout season in his sophomore campaign with 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and 15 pressures. The former first-round pick will step in as a starter and is expected to be a quality player. He is a light edge rusher, but had a run defense grade of 77.6 and a missed tackle percentage of only 2.3%. Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche have been successful pass rushers, but Uche hasn't been the same since his breakout season in 2022, and Ojulari just hasn't been able to stay healthy. Jalen Carter is a game-changer as a pass rusher and could develop into the next Aaron Donald. He isn't as impactful as a run defender; PFF graded him under 60 against the run. His playmaking ability will raise the play of everyone around him. Jordan Davis has one job: to take on double teams and open up holes for linebackers and one-on-one blocks for Carter. Moro Ojomo is going to try to fill the shoes of Williams. 2. Dallas Cowboys Parsons is everything a team wants in a star pass rusher. He has posted generational numbers that place him in the ranks of Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White, with no less than 12 sacks, 23 QB hits, 41 pressures, 12 tackles for a loss in any season. Osa Odighizuwa is the other lineman with game-changing abilities on the defensive line. His plays behind the line of scrimmage might seem light, with only five tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks, but his 23 QB hits and 33 pressures indicate the type of impact he has in the backfield. The key to Odighizuwa taking the next step could be an improved rotation around him. He played over 850 snaps, accounting for 78% of the defensive snaps on the season. Dante Fowler Jr was a double-digit sack guy for the Commanders and could have another season with 10 or more sacks with Parsons and Odighizuwa taking all the double-team blocks. The young edge rushers rotating with them are all full of potential. If one or more of their second-round picks, Marshawn Kneeland, Donovan Ezeiruaku, or Sam Williams, can be productive defensive ends, their edge unit could be elite. Solomon Thomas was brought in by the new defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton, who had previously coached Thomas with the New York Jets. Thomas hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he is a high-character, high-motor player who is in the best shape of his life. Thomas doesn't have to start, but if he can provide productive snaps to allow Odighizuwa to get a rest. Mazi Smith and Jay Toia will be the one-technique tackles next to Odighizuwa and Thomas, and could be the key to how special this defensive line could be. 1. New York Giants Abdul Carter is a ready-made edge rusher who will have an immediate impact from his first snap. He had a 92.4 pass-rush grade and a true pass set pass rush grade of 93, with a pass rush win-rate over 22%. He will start on a team that includes Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns as defensive ends. Burns was acquired via trade last offseason and quietly had another good year. He started every game and had his highest tackle and tackles for a loss total. He added 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, eight batted passes, and 34 pressures. The starting duo of Burns and Carter could be one of the best duos in the NFL. Thibodeaux hasn't developed as the Giants had hoped when they drafted him with the fifth overall pick. FA pickup Chauncey Golston had more sacks and tackles for a loss in 2024 than in his first three seasons combined. The Giants could've found an up-and-coming defensive end to rotate in, and that could make them the best edge group in the league. The reason New York is first in these rankings is Dexter Lawrence. He is possibly the best defensive player in the NFL, but he plays one of the least appreciated positions in football, one-technique. His PFF grades are all over 80, and his overall grade is 89.9. In 12 games, he had nine sacks and eight tackles for a loss at a position that is about stopping the run. Lawrence has zero weaknesses, impacting the game with pressures, stopping the run, and his missed tackle percentage was only 4.3%. The team has little besides him at defensive tackle, but they drafted Darius Alexander to be the future DT next to Lawrence. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or Bluesky @
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump changes his tune on speedy trade deals: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Jonathan Allen digs into how Team Trump is shifting its message on trade deals as they've been slow to come to fruition. Plus, Andrea Mitchell examines a potential crossroads in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. — Adam Wollner The start of the deal: Why Trump stopped emphasizing speed on trade deals By Jonathan Allen Just a few weeks ago, President Donald Trump and White House aides were boasting that his tariffs would force a legion of foreign nations to rush into new trade deals — and that Trump's prowess would yield more favorable terms for the United States. 'I'm telling you, these countries are calling us up, kissing my a--,' Trump said last month before his reciprocal tariffs were due to go into effect. 'They are dying to make a deal. 'Please, please, sir, make a deal. I'll do anything. I'll do anything, sir!'' After Trump paused some of his tariffs and declared a three-month negotiating window, his trade adviser, Peter Navarro, said a few days later on NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' 'We've got 90 deals in 90 days possibly pending here.' But Trump has changed his tone and his tune in recent days, as it has become clear that trade agreements don't materialize as quickly as he would like and that there aren't dozens in the queue. His shift also comes amid heavy criticism that his tariffs will hike prices for consumers and harm an American economy that had its first negative growth in years in the first quarter. 'You keep writing about deals, deals. When are we going to sign one? It's very simple. We're going to say, in some cases, we want you to open up your country. In some cases we want you to drop your tariffs,' an obviously frustrated Trump told reporters Tuesday. 'So I wish they'd keep, you know, stop asking, 'How many deals are you signing this week?' Because one day we'll come and we'll give you 100 deals. And they don't have to sign.' Beyond the ambitious sweep of trying to haggle with scores of nations at once, the United States has yet to open discussions with its largest trading partner — China — since Trump applied a 145% across-the-board tariff on its products. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers Wednesday that his planned meeting with Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend amounts to an early phase of negotiations that is not as far along as talks with less crucial nations. Read more → Holding steady: The Federal Reserve said it was leaving interest rates unchanged as it warned that the chances of both higher unemployment and higher inflation had climbed in the wake of Trump's tariff plan. The first signs of a Trump-Netanyahu divide? By Andrea Mitchell When President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the Yemeni Houthis had agreed to stop firing on U.S ships in the Red Sea and that the United States had halted its airstrikes against the Iran-backed militia, America's closest ally in the Middle East was caught unaware. Israel didn't even know a ceasefire was in the works, and its vessels aren't covered by the truce. In fact, the same day, Israel had hammered the airport in Yemen's capital, retaliating for a Houthi strike almost hit Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. The Houthis haven't said whether they are also extending safe passage to other international shipping so they could resume sailing through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a much cheaper route than the lengthier voyage around the Horn of Africa. The first public hint of a possible breach between U.S. and Israeli leadership came when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House last month, hoping the United Stateswould provide air support for a possible Israeli operation against Iran's nuclear facilities. Instead, Trump announced he would agree to direct talks with Iran. And now, the administration is pressuring Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage release within days. That's because Trump wants to announce an agreement before he leaves next week for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for the first foreign trip of his second term. His impatience is rooted in his hope of making progress toward completing the Abraham Accords, which he initiated in his first term, by getting Saudi Arabia to take the first steps toward recognizing Israel. The effort continued under President Joe Biden, but it collapsed when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering the war in Gaza. And the Saudis won't consider it while the war continues. But Hamas is entrenched, Israel has reoccupied two-thirds of Gaza, and Netanyahu's Cabinet has called up the reserves to expand the fighting. This week, special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff keynoted Israel's Independence Day celebration in Washington, D.C., by gently chiding Israelis to overcome their political divisions. On Wednesday, Netanyahu's closest political adviser, Ron Dermer, the former ambassador to the United States, arrived in Washington for ceasefire talks with Secretary of State/national security adviser Marco Rubio and Witkoff. The question is: Will Netanyahu reverse course in Gaza to achieve an even more important shared goal with the United States — an economic and security agreement with Saudi Arabia, completing his dream of peace and prosperity with the Arab world? Today's top stories That's all From the Politics Desk for now. Today's newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman. If you have feedback — likes or dislikes — email us at politicsnewsletter@ And if you're a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Columbia University library
By Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dozens of protesters stood on tables, beat drums and unfurled pro-Palestinian banners in the main reading room of a Columbia University library on Wednesday in one of the biggest demonstrations at the school since its New York City campus was roiled by a student protest movement last year. Videos and photographs on social media showed the protesters, most wearing masks, with banners saying "Strike For Gaza" and "Liberated Zone" beneath the Lawrence A. Wein Reading Room's chandeliers in the Butler Library. Columbia's public affairs office said in a statement that its public safety staff were asking protesters to show identification, and that if protesters do not comply with orders to disperse, they will be disciplined for breaking school rules and face "possible arrest." At one point, more people were seen trying to enter the library, according to a Reuters witness. Public safety staff locked a door and shoving and pushing ensued. The protest comes as Columbia's board of trustees continues its negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which announced in March it had canceled hundreds of millions of dollars of grants to the university for scientific research. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in an interview with the NBC 4 news channel that Columbia officials had asked for help and that the New York Police Department was sending officers to the campus. Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a collection of student groups, recirculated on social media on Wednesday their long-standing demand that the university end investments of its $14.8 billion endowment in weapons makers and other companies that support Israel's military occupation of Palestinian territories. Trump, a Republican, has called the pro-Palestinian student protests across college campuses last year antisemitic and anti-American. Student protesters at Columbia, Jewish organizers among them, say the government is unfairly conflating pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism. Trump is also trying to deport some pro-Palestinian international students at U.S. schools, saying their presence could harm U.S. foreign policy interests. The protesters in the library also demanded the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate student who remains in a Louisiana immigrants jail after he was among the first to be arrested. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ryan Murphy; Editing by Sonali Paul)
