Hearing set to determine if Redskins' Jackson owes Rosenhaus money
A hearing will be held in a California federal court Monday to determine whether Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson owes $516,415 to former agent Drew Rosenhaus as an NFL Players Association arbitrator previously ruled, FOX Sports has learned.
Rosenhaus had sought repayment of $777,793 given to Jackson for such expenses as loans, credit card charges, agent fees and interest that was accrued. Jackson unsuccessfully argued that the money loaned to him was an inducement to sign with Rosenhaus. That would have violated the NFLPA's rules and regulations for agents and potentially led to sanctions.
Rosenhaus negotiated the five-year, $48.5 million contract extension that Jackson signed with the Eagles in 2012. Jackson later fired Rosenhaus and signed with agent Joel Segal.
Jackson was released by Philadelphia in March despite being one of the NFL's top receivers. He subsequently signed a three-year, $24 million contract with Washington that included $16 million guaranteed.
According to court documents, Jackson's attorneys claim that "the sway Rosenhaus holds over the NFLPA necessarily taints the fairness of Jackson having to arbitrate his dispute with Rosenhaus under the NFPLA's auspices." Rosenhaus also reportedly had a previous financial relationship with NFLPA arbitrator Roger Kaplan related to another legal dispute the former was involved with. That information will likely be used by Jackson's attorneys in an attempt to bolster their appeal.
Rosenhaus, who was granted the $516,415 arbitration judgment in April, is the NFL's top agent representing more than 100 current players.
Darren Heitner of South Florida-based Heitner Legal, who is representing Rosenhaus in the hearing along with fellow attorney David Dickieson, declined comment to FOX Sports about the situation.