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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2009 > May > 23 > Entry
Bengals’ Andre Smith needs to grow up
Could somebody please help me?
I’d like to know who has the distinction of being Andre Smith’s agent.
The Cincinnati Bengals need to know, too, because whoever it is, that’s who they’ll be dealing with during what promises to be a difficult negotiating process.
Smith originally hired Alvin Keels. But Smith fired him before the 2009 NFL Draft.
Smith then hired Rick Smith of Priority Sports. Rick worked magic on Andre, who was drafted No. 6 overall by the Bengals.
Now it looks as though Andre has fired Rick, and re-hired Keels.
What the h-e-double-golf-stick is going on here?
Smith wears uniform No. 71, formerly worn by Willie Anderson, who was affectionately known as “Mother Gibraltar.”
Willie was part Mother Teresa, part Rock of Gibraltar.
Willie hired his lifelong friend, Terry Bolar, as his agent and stuck with him through thick and thin.
Smith can’t seem to settle on an agent, and that’s more than sad. It’s wrong. He’s playing with people’s lives and that’s not good.
Smith’s a fine offensive tackle. But his people skills are lacking. Bengals fans have to hope his wishy-washy decision making doesn’t translate over to the football field.
It’s clear he needs to mature on and off the field.
For more on Andre Smith’s merry-go-round, go to:
http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/05/12/bengals-rookie-ot-smith-to-re-hire-agent/
Was Andre Smith’s grand plan to dump Rick Smith and go back to Alvin Keels all along?
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Globetrekr
May 24, 2009 12:54 AM | Link to this
Looks like another bonehead draft pick for the Bungles. All signs point that he will soon be arrested for DUI, carrying an illegal weapon, or beating up his girlfriend. What a fine draft pick.By Max
May 24, 2009 5:18 AM | Link to this
Wow Gloetreker, just because he is having trouble picking an agent, doesn’t make him a criminal. Give us a breakBy nyc
May 24, 2009 7:58 AM | Link to this
lol…”he is playing with peoples lives”..you gotta be jokin…what you been smoking..wont they just leave him alone..agents are suckass money grabbers..lol..he can do what he wantsBy nyc
May 24, 2009 8:00 AM | Link to this
lol…”he is playing with peoples lives”..you gotta be jokin…what you been smoking..wont they just leave him alone..agents are suckass money grabbers..lol..he can do what he wantsBy nyc
May 24, 2009 8:00 AM | Link to this
lol…”he is playing with peoples lives”..you gotta be jokin…what you been smoking..wont they just leave him alone..agents are suckass money grabbers..lol..he can do what he wantsBy Cartog
May 24, 2009 8:05 AM | Link to this
Andre needs a good kick in his fricken fat a*s! He needs to get his act together. It will be interesting to see if he plays to his potential or turns into another big Dud for the Bengals.By wolfman4472
May 24, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this
chick..is he your new whipping boy for this year?…leave him be….he is young, but if he can block, who cares who is agent is!By BOROMAN
May 24, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
Rather than “Big Daddy” we may have “Big Duddy”. I hpe he can pick his nose better than he can pick his agent.By BOROMAN
May 24, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this
Rather than “Big Daddy” we may have “Big Duddy”. I hpe he can pick his nose better than he can pick his agent.By bob
May 24, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
There were a ton of red flags being waived all around Andre Smith, but the Bengals picked him anyways. And the fans and the media were so happy! Now comes reality and Chick starts to complain? You should have seen these problems from miles away.By Gary
May 24, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
It is unreal the amount of criticism that can be dished out over nothing.The old mountain out of a mole hill. Chick can`t you do better then this. Really! You are so predictable it is quite boring. Give the guy a chance.By richardb
May 24, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
His agent issues doesn’t bother me. What bothers me about Andre Smith is all of his bad decisions beginning in late 2008. Getting kicked off Alabama’s bowl team; showing up to the combine out of shape; showing up to his pro day out of shape. Each one of those events should have been the most important of his life yet he did obviously stupid acts that showed nothing was important. No way I could invest big $ on a guy with that track record. Eugene Monroe anyone?By photoman
May 24, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
Chickster!! Just yesterday you were so PROUD of your selection and agreement with MB on the number 6 overall draft pick. I don’t think 24 hours has passed since your famous message on your happiness of the pick. NOW reality is setting in. Perhaps you are seeing things as they really are. Perhaps you will see the possibility of confusion with this selection and the down the road possibility of Andre eating himself out of the NFL real soon. You are excused for your delirium tremens. Now it looks like we have our Chickster back.By photoman
May 24, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
Chickster, remember this news? “On December 29, 2008, Smith was suspended from playing in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, a game Alabama lost to the Utah Utes 31-17. He reportedly was suspended because he dealt with another agent other than his own.” It looks like trouble from that point in time.By richardb
May 24, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Chickster, did you make the 2009 edition of the Ben-Gals? Your cheer leading for the Bengals since the draft is embarrassing to read or see….like seeing you in tights shaking your pom-poms.By psychostats
May 24, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
Can we please have a No. 1 pick that changes agents less often than he changes his underwear? Let’s take bets on how long Andre The Giant Boob holds out. My guess is until after the regular season starts.By Derrick
May 24, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this
Chick, can you please fix this blog-o-site? It is way too complicated for people to submit a comment. Why else would we have to see so many duplicate posts? It can’t possibly be the posters, duh!By TechGuy
May 24, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this
It’s been reported that Smith has had little exposure to the world outside of Alabama. This is an opportunity beyond anything he or anyone he knows has ever imagined, and you know he is getting more advice than a person can process on how to get all he can from it. Chick, we both hope he figures out quickly what is good for a quick payday and what is good for a great career in the NFL.By Ft. Myers Foursome
May 24, 2009 11:04 PM | Link to this
As long as he doesn’t have Drew Rosenhaus as an agent, the Bengal’s have a chance and signing and coaching this KID.By Stone
May 24, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
Once again the moronic media has to paint a guy with their own spin before he even steps on the field. Chick, you don’t know anything about agents or financial dealings in sports, so why claim to be an expert in the subject? I’m sure you don’t know the half of it. But most importantly, why must the media and writers constantly pick a star player or future star and bad mouth them to no end making them and every other player hate Cincinnati sports? It’s been from Griffey Jr to Ocho Cinco to even Boomer Esiason at one point. When will you morons learn to stop driving out the talent with stupid printed drivel?By Bob V
May 25, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
This is why the big money should be reserved for the proven veterans. All rookies should get a three year contract at a set dollar amount based on their draft status. If they have proven themselves in the first three years they will get their big payday. When drafted they all seem to say what a privilege and honor it is to have the opportunity to play in the NFL. This way they can prove it and the agent becomes less of a factor until year four.By Brian
May 25, 2009 6:22 PM | Link to this
The Bengals should give in and release Chad because keeping him tied up as a Bengal is not only hurting Drew Rosenhaus’s feelings but messing with Drew’s life!!!By Gary
May 26, 2009 12:54 AM | Link to this
By Brian May 25, 2009 6:22 PM The Bengals should give in and release Chad because keeping him tied up as a Bengal is not only hurting Drew Rosenhaus’s feelings but messing with Drew’s life!!! ..Seriously WHAT?.By Rey Maualuga in your face
May 26, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this
Agents constantly screw teams over. One guy sticks it to ‘em and now were supposed to feel sorry for the agents….psh, please. Priority Sports’ “Priority” is making money, they could frankly care less about the teams that need their high draft picks in training camp ASAP. I might have to give Andre The Giant a pass here, it’s about time an agent got played.By VoHo
May 26, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this
Chick - listen to guys… agents are right there with lawyers. They are like ticks. I mean what else are they good for… Another source of protien? I say mess with them as much as possible!By get real
May 26, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this
Bengal fans are a single minded as Bengal owners. Jokes get old, maybe some solutions for once fellas??By islebfrank
May 26, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
By photoman May 24, 2009 12:07 PM “Chickster, remember this news? “On December 29, 2008, Smith was suspended from playing in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, a game Alabama lost to the Utah Utes 31-17. He reportedly was suspended because he dealt with another agent other than his own.” It looks like trouble from that point in time.” College athletes aren’t supposed to have an agent, so I think you may be confused on the details.By Kwanblaze!
May 26, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! This is all so boring and typicalBy Bored
May 26, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this
Chick, I know you need something to write about to keep your job/readers. But holy cow talk about a mountain out of a mole hill…By psychostats
May 27, 2009 12:53 AM | Link to this
It’s all about context. If not for those boneheaded moves he made prior to the draft, nobody would care about Andre Smith changing agents now. But when taken with the prior events, this revives the legitimate concerns over his maturity and character. Our expensive No. 1 deserves the criticism, and we can only hope that it affects him in a positive way.By Brian
May 27, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this
Darn it Andre, because of you Rick Smith of Priority Sports had to order a few items off the McDonalds Dollar Menu for dinner last night instead of the large sized Double Quarter Pounder meal with a 6-piece Chicken McNuggets he really wanted! Stop playing with Rick’s life and taking food off his table!! If Andre would do this to a professional sports agent it HAS to be an indication he’s some kind of sociopath or WORSE…By psychostats
May 27, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this
Nah, it’s our new Right Tackle who orders those McDonalds menu items before getting down to some real eating. After Andre The Giant Appetite devours the rest of his credibility, he’ll start to snack on the fans’ hopes.