BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills cornerback Terrence McGee
owes his former agent an additional $100,000 for negotiating the
player's last contract.
An arbitrator appointed by the NFL Players Association ruled in
favor of agent Terry Bolar, who argued he was owed 3 percent of the
$5 million bonus that was part of a four-year contract McGee signed
in October 2005. McGee paid only 1 percent under an agreement the
player said he reached with Bolar.
McGee alleged Bolar, who the player has since fired, destroyed a
document that included the 1 percent agreement.
Bolar said Thursday he felt vindicated by the decision, which
followed a hearing held in January.
"I've been in this business for 23 years. My integrity means
more than any dollar bills. Your name means more," Bolar said. "I
was very upset that I had to go that route. Nothing personal
against Terrence, it's just business."
McGee's Buffalo-based lawyer, David Sampson, was disappointed
with the ruling, saying the arbitrator failed to take into account
testimony that Bolar had destroyed the document and never submitted
it to the NFLPA.
McGee said he was preparing to dismiss Bolar before learning his
agent was negotiating a contract extension with the Bills. McGee
said he retained Bolar only after the two agreed to 1 percent
compensation.
Sampson said Craig Curry, McGee's former financial adviser,
submitted a letter to the arbitrator confirming McGee and Bolar
agreed to a 1 percent deal.
Sampson said the arbitrator based his decision on the contract
submitted to the NFLPA, which included the 3 percent compensation
to Bolar.
"The 1 percent agreement wasn't produced; well of course we
couldn't produce it because the individual who had control over it
had destroyed it," Sampson said, noting McGee has the option to
appeal the decision in federal court.
The arbitration is separate from a lawsuit McGee filed in
February to recoup more than $1 million the player said Curry
funneled into unauthorized and possibly nonexistent investments.
The suit filed in Texas also names Bolar and Washington Redskins
assistant coach Jerry Gray, who previously coached McGee in
Buffalo. McGee claims Bolar and Gray conspired in the scheme and
had opportunity to benefit from it by introducing the player to
Curry.
"It's ridiculous," Bolar said. "I don't know the financial
planner, never introduced him to the guy. I'm very disappointed to
have my name dragged into that."
A trial date has been scheduled for December, although it's
likely to be pushed back to the NFL offseason.