Priority Sports and Entertainment

Priority Sports and Entertainment is a full service sports management firm, representing NFL and NBA athletes, including Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals (retired)), Jake Delhomme (Cleveland Browns), David Lee (Golden State Warriors), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), and Mo Williams (Cleveland Cavaliers).

Priority Sports is one of the largest independently owned sports agencies in America. ^[1] It is an organically grown company that has been recognized for its strong reputation in the sports agent industry.^[2] Over the past two years, Priority Sports has negotiated more than $840 million in free agent deals.^[3] These deals include thirty contracts in the NFL valued at more than $470 million, and sixteen contracts in the NBA valued at $370 million.^[4]

Priority Sports was founded in 1985 by Mark Bartelstein.^[5] Mark is consistently rated as one of the most influential agents in professional sports. He gained worldwide acclaim for negotiating the largest contract in the history of team sports.^[6]

Priority Sports has the experience of representing more than 20 First Round draft picks. In the 2010 NBA Draft, Priority Sports led all firms by representing four athletes drafted in the First Round.^[7] In addition to Bartelstein, the NBA player-agents at Priority Sports are:

Brad Ames: Ames is an NBPA-certified player-agent, specializing in NBA salary and contract research, and preparing clients for the NBA draft. He also deals with all domestic minor leagues, from which Priority Sports have had the most NBA "call-ups" of any agency.^[8]

Reggie Brown: Brown, an NBPA-certified player-agent with many relationships throughout the NBA, has earned a reputation for identifying future NBA players and recruiting potential Priority Sports clients.^[9]

Aaron Mintz: Mintz is an NBPA-certified player-agent with an established network of relationships throughout the NBA.^[10] He specializes in NBA salary, contract research and negotiations, and NBA draft preparation. In recent drafts, Aaron has shown an eye for identifying underrated talent and helping them move up the draft boards.^[11]

Priority Sports represents the following NBA athletes:

Brian Grant (Los Angeles Lakers) Priority sports managed a sign and trade for Grant with Portland after Grant opted out of his original deal. Grant signed a seven-year, 100% guaranteed contract worth $90,000,000.^[12]

David Lee (Golden State Warriors) Priority Sports negotiated a sign-and-Trade from the Knicks to the Warriors worth $80,000,000 over six years.^[13]

Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings) Priority orchestrated a sign-and-trade from Indiana to Sacramento. Miller signed a seven-year, 100% guaranteed contract worth $68,000,000.^[14]

Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers) The 17th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Granger signed a five-year, 100% guaranteed contract extension with the Pacers worth $64,000,000.^[15]

Mo Williams (Milwaukee Bucks) Mo signed a six-year, 100% guaranteed contract worth $52,000,000, with a player option for the fifth and sixth years.^[16]

Bobby Simmons (Milwaukee Bucks) Priority Sports held Simmons sign a five-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $48,000,000.^[17]

Mark Blount (Boston Celtics) Signed a six-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $41,000,000.^[18]

Brian Cardinal (Memphis Grizzlies) After playing significant minutes for only one season, signed a six-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $39,000,000.^[19]

Michael Dickerson (Memphis Grizzlies) Grizzlies’ 3rd scoring option, signed a six-year 100% guaranteed extension worth $43,000,000.^[20]

Trenton Hassell (Minnesota Timberwolves) After being released the year before, Priority assisted Hassell in signing a six-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $27,000,000.^[21]

James Posey (New Orleans Hornets) Signed a four-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $25,020,800.^[22]

Charlie Bell (Milwaukee Bucks) One of only two restricted free agents to receive an offer sheet in 2007 - Signed a five-year 100% guaranteed contract worth $18,000,000.^[23]

Other NBA athletes Priority Sports represents include: Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Damion James, Jordan Crawford, Joe Crawford, J.R. Giddens, Javaris Crittenton,Charlie Bell, Bobby Brown, Will Bynum, Jannero Pargo, and Darius Songaila.

Priority Sports has over 20 years of experience assisting NFL athletes build their careers. In addition to Bartelstein, the NFL contract advisors at Priority Sports are:

Kenny Zuckerman: “Zuckerman is a former college football player and longtime agent with deep ties and a fat Rolodex.”^[24] He is regarded as an agent who has helped many players maximize their draft status.^[25]

Rick Smith: “Smith is an attorney by trade, a Northwestern graduate who practiced law for years before being certified as an agent.”^[26]

Tony Hickombottom: Hickombottom has been involved in professional football for the past seven years. He is an NFLPA certified player-agent involved in all aspects of client representation.^[27]

Mike McCartney: “McCartney is a former scout, and Priority leans heavily on his expertise.”^[28] He has been involved in college football and the NFL as a coach, scout, and personal executive for more than 20 years.^[29]

Deryk Gilmore: Gilmore was a member of the 1986 Penn State National Championship team. He has been involved with college athletics for more than 15 years as the Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Football Operations in the Big Ten and Pac Ten conferences.^[30]

Priority Sports represents the following NFL athletes:

Robert Gallery (Oakland Raiders) The second pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Gallery signed a seven-year contract worth a potential $60,000,000 with a $18,000,000 signing bonus.^[31]

Tyson Alualu (Jacksonville Jaguars) The tenth pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Alualu signed a five-year contract worth nearly $28,000,000 including over $17,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[32]

Levi Jones (Cincinnati Bengals) A 2002 1st Round Pick, signed a six-year contract extension worth $40,095,000 including $16,295,000 in guaranteed money.^[33]

Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) (retired) The 2-Time NFL MVP, Super Bowl Winner & MVP signed a two-year contract worth $24,000,000 with $19,000,000 guaranteed.^[34]

AJ Hawk ([[Green Bay Packers) The fifth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, signed a six-year contract worth a potential $40,000,000 with over $15,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[35]

Jake Delhomme (Cleveland Browns) This Pro Bowl Quarterback, released by the Carolina Panthers in 2010, signed a 2-year deal worth $12,500,000 with the Browns during free agency. Because of contract language that was negotiated by Priority Sports in his deal with Carolina, the Panthers still had to pay him $12,700,000 in guaranteed money, bringing his 2010 salary to a total of $19,700,000.^[36]

Isaac Sopoaga (San Francisco 49ers) One of highest paid backups in the NFL, Sopoaga signed a five-year contract worth $20,000,000 including $7,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[37]

Kris Dielman (San Diego Chargers) An undrafted defensive lineman converted to offensive guard. Signed a six-year contract worth $39,000,000 with $17,000,000 in guaranteed money over the first two years.^[38]

Joe Staley (San Francisco 49ers) A 2007 1st Round Pick, signed a six-year contract extension worth $42,000,000 with $18,000,000 guaranteed after only playing two years of his initial rookie contract.^[39]

Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens) The 12th Pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, signed a five-year contract worth $14,000,000 with over $9,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[40]

Tony Pashos (Jacksonville Jaguars) A fifth round draft pick, signed a five-year contract worth $25,000,000 with $10,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[41]

Alan Faneca (New York Jets) The highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL, signed a five-year contract worth $40,000,000 with more than $20,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[42]

Olin Kreutz (Chicago Bears) A perennial Pro Bowler, Kreutz signed a three-year contract extension for $25,000,000 with a $9,000,000 signing bonus.^[43]

Luis Castillo (San Diego Chargers) One of the highest paid defensive linemen in the NFL, signed a five-year extension worth $44,650,000 with $17,500,000 in guaranteed money.^[44]

Dominic Raiola (Detroit Lions) The highest-paid non-Pro Bowler at his position, signed a four-year contract extension for $20,000,000 with $9,000,000 in guaranteed money.^[45]

Kyle Kosier (Dallas Cowboys) One of the highest paid players that was never a starter as of opening day. Signed a five-year contract for $15,000,000 with a $5,000,000 signing bonus.^[46]

Madieu Williams (Minnesota Vikings) One of highest paid safeties in the NFL, Madieu signed a six-year contract for $33,000,000 with $12,000,000 of guaranteed money.^[47]

Other NFL athletes Priority Sports represents include: Arian Foster, Nate Kaeding, Kevin Mawae, Koa Misi, Mike Pollak, Alterraun Verner, Sean Lee, and Jason Jones.

• PrioritySports.com
• DannyGranger33.com
• MoWilliams.org
• KurtWarner.org
• AJHawk.com
• HalotiNgata.com
• MadieuWilliams.org