"Integrity, trust, hard work, and exceptional service" - James A. Sims, Jr.
For over fifteen years, Sims Sports Management has dedicated itself to the highest level of professional sports management. We are committed to addressing the specific needs of the professional athlete and achieving the maximum results. Simply put, Sims Sports Management is geared to provide unparalleled representation services to its clients.
At Sims Sports Management, we value our clients more than just athletes; we value them as business professionals. We strive to give each client unbridled attention to fulfill both their personal and professional needs. We thoroughly understand the importance of contract negotiations to ensure our client's financial independence. Yet, we go beyond the contract negotiation phase in the representation services we provide. Sims Sports Management, and its associated professionals, offer's a full range of sports management services, all of which are specifically tailored to the professional athlete's individual requirements and goals:
° Contract Negotiation and Legal Services
° Financial and Investment Monitoring
° Tax Services and Estate Planning
° Marketing, Endorsements and Public Relations
° Combine Preparation
° Career and Business Planning
° Talent Development
° Charitable and Philanthropic Services
° Event Planning and Coordination
Whether you are a rookie or a seasoned veteran, our knowledge and proven results exemplify Sims Sports Management's commitment to obtaining the maximum results for our clients.
We encourage you to take a good look at Sims Sports Management. Sims Sports Management is a multi-service sports management firm that thrives on the challenge of structuring innovative contracts and marketing concepts as well as other essential services, to maximize the professional value and financial worth of our clients.
Contract Negotiations and Legal Services
“Negotiation is the art of the possible” –Bob Woolf
James A. Sims Jr., the founder of Sims Sports Management, is a highly respected attorney in the sports representation industry, with extensive experience in all phases of the negotiation and athlete representation process.
If you think this business doesn't require the services of a skilled and experienced sports attorney, think again. Over 75% of the services your sports representative provides for you are legal in nature. Also, when you consider the fact that a league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, which virtually governs a professional athletes career, is in essence a legal document- as it is negotiated, drafted and written by lawyers- you can understand the necessity of having a highly skilled and experienced sports attorney like James Sims, providing you with all the requisite legal counseling and advice for your personal and business matters.
Since 1987 James Sims has represented numerous first, second, and middle to late round draft choices as well as free agents, including Jamal Anderson, Tully Banta-Cain, Robert Blackmon, Rob Burnett, Sam Garnes, La'Roi Glover, Johnny Johnson, Deltha O'Neal, Jeremy Newberry, Andre Rison, Takeo Spikes and Eugene Wilson.
In 1993, James Sims treaded uncharted waters by pioneering the negotiation process for Rookies under the 1993 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. He was the first NFL sports attorney to negotiate a multi-million dollar contract for a 1 st round draft pick under the constraints of the new NFL Rookie Salary Pool. Unlike most agents who rely on higher draft picks to determine their client's value, we are proven leaders in determining the value for our clients in this age of the salary cap.
At Sims Sports Management we are committed to ensuring that our clients are fairly rewarded for their services. In 1994, James Sims negotiated a 2-year $5 million dollar contract extension for our client Johnny Johnson, which included a $2 million dollar signing bonus and made Johnny, a former 7 th round pick, one of the highest paid running backs in the NFL.
In 1995, James Sims once again lead the way under the salary cap system negotiating a 4-year $15 million dollar contract extension for Rob Burnett, which included signing and roster bonuses in excess of $7 million dollars making Rob one of the highest paid defensive ends in the NFL.
In 1996, James Sims continued the commitment of rewarding our middle to late round clients with outstanding contracts by negotiating a contract extension for Jamal Anderson, packed with numerous creative incentives and escalators. The structure of this contract was instrumental to Jamal later becoming the richest running back in NFL history.
In 1998 James Sims negotiated a $28 million dollar contract extension for La'Roi Glover, a previously waived 5 th round pick, making him one of the highest paid defensive linemen in the League. La'Roi's contract included signing & roster bonuses in excess of $6 million.
Also in 1998, Sims Sports Management added several outstanding rookies to our family of clients including, Takeo Spikes, the 13 th player selected in the 1 st round that year and Jeremy Newberry selected in the 2 nd round.
In 1999, Sims Sports Management enjoyed a very successful year when James Sims negotiated over $50 million dollars in contracts for our clients, lead by the blockbuster $32 million dollar contract for Jamal Anderson which made him the highest paid running back in NFL History. Jamal's contract included signing, roster and workout bonuses in excess of $15 million dollars.
James Sims kicked off the millennium for Sims Sports Management by negotiating a 4-yr $11 million dollar extension for Sam Garnes, which paid him a $1.7 million dollar signing bonus and made him one of the highest paid safeties in the NFL. Sam was a former 5 th round pick. James Sims also negotiated a $15 million dollar contract for Rob Burnett of the Ravens, which included a $4.5 million dollar signing bonus. Rob has been our client for over 15 years.
James Sims continued by representing the 1st cornerback selected in the 2000 draft, Deltha O'Neal, selected 15th in the 1st round by the Broncos and Eugene Wilson drafted in the top of the 2nd round by the Patriots in 2003. Deltha's contract included an unprecedented amount of over $5 million dollars in signing and guaranteed bonuses. Eugene's creative contract was in excess of $7 million dollars in signing and escalator bonuses to match his production on the field. We want you to be our next client!Financial and Investment Monitoring
"The gratification of wealth is not found in mere possession or in lavish expenditures, but in its application." -Miguel de Cervantes
To help you in the area of financial and investment management we utilize the most knowledgeable and respected investment and financial consulting firms in the country.
A professional financial consultant's job is to understand you, your investment goals, and to meet those goals with high quality, low risk investments. Major financial goals for most professional athletes include building assets and providing security for themselves and their families. It takes specialized knowledge to sort through the myriad of investment opportunities, the intricacies of the tax laws, and the complexities of compensation and pension programs.
That's where our financial consultants can help by providing an abundance of expertise: money management, insurance planning, retirement and pre-retirement investment strategies, estate planning, comprehensive individual financial counseling, college funding, and accounting and bill paying services if needed.
Our financial consultants will show you how to save enough money during your career to enable you to retire comfortably. Investing can be simple or complicated, our financial consultants prefer to keep it simple and to educate you so you completely understand your investments at all times.
Tax Services and Estate Planning
"A bad tax is one that is wastefully and poorly spent." -David Brinckley
In the area of Tax and Estate Planning services, we refer our clients to some of the most knowledgeable and well-respected tax accountants in the country. Our tax consultants have extensive experience in the filing requirements for professional athletes. They are all Board Certified Public Accountants and have a thorough understanding of the complex tax rules and regulations that have helped save our clients thousands of dollars.
Superior
service and responsiveness are two of the main reasons Sims Sports Management
selected our consultants to provide expert tax and estate planning services
to our clients, including:
° Tax advice and consultation
° Preparation of Federal, State and Local tax returns
° Personal Financial Planning
° Estate and Retirement Planning
° Assistance in the tax aspects of the negotiation and structure of contracts
Your tax planning today can have a significant effect on your disposable income
long after your football career is over. Therefore, implementing and overseeing
a sound tax strategy is one of our top priorities.
Marketing, Endorsements & Public Relations
“The stars who end up as fixtures on the national stage are those who couple extraordinary media charisma with outstanding athletic skill.” –Pat Riley
Sims Sports Management is devoted to providing a full range of marketing, endorsement and public relations services for our clients.
Through a comprehensive, hands-on approach, we work together with our clients throughout the playing season and the off-season to ensure that their efforts on the field are duly recognized off the field.
This aggressive media approach includes gaining coverage for our clients on national network television shows and other local and regional television and radio broadcasts.
In addition, we utilize the power of the Internet and a number of other media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, USA Today, College & Pro Football Weekly, Football News, ESPN The Magazine, SI for Kids, and a host of regional publications to create marketing opportunities for our clients.
In an effort to greater expand the recognition, exposure and endorsement opportunities for our clients, Sims Sports Management takes a power marketing approach to pursuing marketing and endorsement opportunities for our clients. In that regard, we actively seek and negotiate appearances, speaking engagements, promotions, shoe & apparel endorsements, automobile deals, trading card contracts, product & merchandise sponsorships, and much more for our clients.
We have also obtained television and radio shows for our clients in their playing markets. With the broadening of the Internet, we have assisted our clients with the development of their personal websites as well as negotiated Internet and website related endorsements. The financial reward you receive from our marketing efforts is one thing . . . but the supplemental income, fan recognition, and career business opportunities are the most valuable benefits you gain from our power marketing strategies.
Combine Preparation and Fitness Consulting
"You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional." -Joe Paterno
In order to achieve maximum results at the combine, pre-draft workouts and on the playing field, it is essential that a professional athlete be in peak physical condition. To ensure that our clients are prepared and in top physical shape for the combine, their personal workouts for teams, and the season, Sims Sports Management utilizes the services of some of the most renowned, respected and knowledgeable performance enhancement specialists in the country.
Combine training is different from season training. Combine training is event specific. The combine measures an athlete's athletic ability in six different events plus several position specific drills.
When an athlete only has a couple of months to prepare for an event like the combine, the emphasis should be on the development of core strength, fast twitch muscle fiber and speed. Most athletes evolve from strength and conditioning programs that put the sole emphasis on size and strength, two necessary components for professional sports. The problem is that bigger and stronger does not equate to a faster player. Most athletes will literally stack muscle without properly preparing the lower level fiber for sport. As a result, athletes lose athleticism as they gain size.
Our unique and proven training method is comprised of four components.
1. Stripping of unnecessary muscle fiber with training and proper nutrition
2. Explosive conditioning as a weight training replacement
3. Water training for technique and core strength development
4. Speed Training
An example of one of our clients that benefited greatly from our combine preparation is Deltha O'Neal who prior to the combine was projected to be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round because his 40 time was only in the 4.5 to 4.6 range. By taking advantage of our recommended training program, Deltha twice clocked 40 times in the mid 4.3 ranges and went on to become the 1st cornerback selected in the 2000 NFL Draft as the 15th pick in the 1st round.
When it comes to combine training the emphasis should be on athleticism. Our success in preparing our clients for the combine and their pre-draft workouts has been proven by the outstanding workout results our clients achieve and their overall selection in the draft..
"Human development is the greatest development of all." -Jim Brown
Understanding that a professional athlete could face a career span that lasts
an average of five years or less, Sims Sports Management makes available a specialized
career counseling program that extends the athlete's focus from success on the
playing field to active preparation for a career after sports.
To implement the program, we have retained a team of experts from the nation's most successful and prestigious career planning organizations for our athletes. Our clients have the opportunity to work with career consultants who specialize in working with active players to create an individualized career plan. The plan includes the following three components:
Personal Profile - The counseling staff will identify the individual's
aptitudes, interests, and goals, and then determine those careers that are best
suited to the individual's profile.
Career
Development - While the athlete is still active in his sport, the career
counselors will design a personalized Career Plan, which maps out a strategy
to meet future career goals. This plan may recommend a college degree completion
program, seminars or work shops, resume and job interview preparation, off season
internships as well as other options for the athlete to gain business/career
experience.
Career
Placement - Sims Sports Management is committed to working with the athlete
to identify all post sports career options. For the athlete who is ready to
seek meaningful employment after his career has concluded, our career counselors
will identify potential employers, set up job interviews and serve as the liaison
between the athlete and the hiring company.
At Sims Sports Management, we are aware that when the cheering stops, life goes on; the transition should be exciting and well planned. Our concern for the athlete as a person has led us to offer what we believe is the finest career counseling program available for athletes.
"One of the greatest talents of all is the talent to recognize and develop talent in others." -Frank Tyger
Helping our clients enhance their talent is an additional service we provide. Our belief is that everyone has talent, but what may be missing is the creative ingenuity to develop that talent. Since football helmets limit a player's exposure, we have developed a "helmet's off " approach whereby we prepare separate marketing packages for each of our clients which may include a glamorous headshot, action photos, model composite, and a publicity biography, for distribution in the sports, fashion and entertainment marketplace. Our "helmet's off " approach achieves the exposure necessary for our clients to be strongly considered for the talent opportunities in which they may be interested.
Additionally, for those of our clients interested in pursuing careers or opportunities in the areas of fashion, modeling, television or film, we work in conjunction with some of the best talent and advertisement agencies in the country. Our alliance with these talent and advertising agencies is a major asset for us in the talent development process and provides us with another avenue for placing our clients' talents in the public marketplace.
Charity & Philanthropy; Event Planning & Coordination
"No person can become rich without enriching others"-Andrew Carnegie
back" and is committed to helping our clients extend their good will and
support throughout society. We encourage our clients to contribute their philanthropic
resources through the formation of charitable foundations or by donating their
time or resources to other community activities such as sports camps, public
service announcements, or speaking engagements.
Sims Sports Management's community support role is twofold. First we act as a philanthropic facilitator to help our clients define their vision for the direction of the foundation they wish to form, which includes creating the overall mission and goals for the foundation. Second, we act as the coordinator to oversee the initial formation and program structure of the foundation, which may include identifying and organizing the initial key personnel within a community to work in the strategic program areas, and targeting donors and recipients.
To help assure the foundation's success, we assist our clients with fundraising efforts for the foundation. This may include organizing special events as well as locating and applying for corporate, government, or private grants or sponsorships for the foundation. In assisting our clients with their philanthropic efforts, our hope is that they find true meaning in the phrase "Giving Back".
As an ancillary service for our clients we actively assist them with planning, organizing, and coordinating various types of events. These events have included charitable and philanthropic fundraisers and other celebratory engagements. In the process of providing our event planning services we actively persue and identify sponsors, endorsers, and other potential contributors for the events. In the course of our planning efforts, we keep in mind both the short and long-term relationship benefits to our clients.
Sims Sports Management's format of aligning our clients with partner conscious event participants has been a key to building and maintaining long term business and personal relationships for our clients.
