Smith, agency split official
By Joe Reedy • jreedy@enquirer.com • May 21, 2009
Andre Smith hasn’t officially announced his new agent yet, but one thing is certain – there won’t be a reunion with Rick Smith and Priority Sports.
Priority Sports released a statement to ProFootballTalk.com on Thursday that said it's cutting ties with the Bengals’ first-round pick.
The statement said: “In regards to Andre Smith, we are moving forward and devoting all of our attention on the high character, hard working and honest clients of Priority Sports.
“We were asked to come in at the last minute to provide credibility to his draft status and we succeeded in that task. Soon after the draft, Andre Smith became a tremendous distraction to our company. What we have subsequently determined is that Andre Smith does not match the culture of Priority Sports and the character of the clients we take so much pride in representing. This will be our final statement on this matter.”
Rick Smith had planned to meet with the Bengals this week to start negotiating Smith’s contract. That didn’t happen. Andre Smith filed a letter terminating his relationship with Priority Sports with the NFL Players Association on May 11.
ProFootballTalk.com reported that Smith has rehired his original agent, Alvin Keels. Keels did not return calls or e-mails.
Andre Smith hired Priority Sports on April 22, three days before the draft. Smith fired Keels on April 12 after Smith made a questionable series of decisions leading up to the draft which included leaving the scouting combine early without informing anyone.
Bujnoch waived: Center/guard Digger Bujnoch was waived. He played at University of Cincinnati and is an Elder High grad.
Bujnoch spent the final six games of last season on the Bengals' practice squad. He entered the league in May of last year as a college free agent signee with the N.Y. Giants.
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