NFL agent David Canter has been under investigation by the NFL Players Association for trying to convince teams to draft his players by “offering the use of vacation properties belonging to him and his wife,” according to ESPN.
The potential violations of the NFLPA’s “Regulations for Contract Advisors” allegedly occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. ProFootballTalk added at the time that one general manager who received the attempted bribe knew of two others contacted.
Anonymous sources told ESPN that the alleged violations from Canter reflect a “form of bribery,” and the outlet later reported that Canter’s actions are “unprecedented.”
On Friday, Canter released a fiery statement through his attorney, Mitchell Schuster.
“It has been publicly reported that the NFLPA is investigating agent David Canter for so-called ‘bribery’ attempts during the NFL draft. Although we preferred to address this matter in a private fashion, the leak of the NFLPA’s investigation has compelled us to publicly respond. The communications that are the subject of the investigation were no more than playful banter by Mr. Canter with industry colleagues, who interpreted them to be made in jest, as any reasonable person would. It is unfortunate that Mr. Canter must now defend his reputation, both in the court of public opinion and within the confines of the NFLPA’s disciplinary committee.”
Canter attended Ithaca College and the University of Miami School of Law, according to his NFLPA bio page.
One article from the “Regulations for Contract Advisors” that ESPN cited included a part about “engaging in unlawful conduct and/or conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or other activity which reflects adversely on his/her fitness as a Contract Advisor or jeopardizes his/her effective representation of NFL players.”
ESPN also reported that “trying to incentivize a team to draft a player is not explicitly prohibited by the NFLPA.”
Canter’s high-profile clientele include Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard and Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, according to the GSE Worldwide football website.
Canter and GSE Worldwide represented 21 draft picks this year.
He even tweeted out a graphic in late April to congratulate eight of the agency’s clients selected. One of those players included Desjuan Johnson, the 2023 Mr. Irrelevant from Toledo.
Canter assisted Howard in re-signing with the Dolphins in April 2022, which included $50.6 million in new money, giving Howard the most guaranteed money for a cornerback in league history.
He stands to lose out a lot if these allegations against him prove to be true.
WANT MORE FROM TOTALPROSPORTS? FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS.