Meet Paul DeRousselle. He’s important and someone you’ll need to pay attention to for the foreseeable future.
An NFL agent, who currently represents Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver, Keon Coleman and Tennessee Titans defensive tackle, Jeffery Simmons, the Southern Law graduate’s background in law and sports is fascinating.
A native of Eunice, Louisiana DeRousselle spent much of his legal career in the Complex Commercial Litigation Department at a perennial Top-10 global law firm. During his time there, he represented entities such as the National Football League Players Association(NFLPA), ESPN, CBS, Disney, Verizon Wireless, General Electric, Apple, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. In those cases, he successfully negotiated millions of dollars via skillful negotiation with opposing sides. This number includes over 70 Motors Liquidation Company/General Motors mediation settlements.
Since becoming a certified NFLPA agent in 2012, DeRousselle has secured lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Fanatics, Adidas, Panini Trading Cards, Leaf Trading Cards, Card.co and Dick’s Sporting Goods for his clients.
The one contract I’d like to see him secure is a contract with Macy’s department store for his rookie client, Keon Coleman of the Buffalo Bills.
Keon Coleman & Macy’s
After being drafted by the Bills back in April, Coleman’s introductory press conference with the local Buffalo media made quite an impression.
While wearing a yellow Guess brand winter coat, Coleman shared that he shopped at Macy’s ahead of the winter season.
“Guess where I got this from, though,” he said,
“You gotta guess. You’re gonna be wrong though, but guess.
“Macy’s… They be on sale on the rack, all the colors. $79, $89, nice lil’ deal. You get the trench coat for like $100. I’ll take you there, personally. I might go get some more colors. I need a blue one and another red one.”
The off-the-cuff conversation between Coleman and multiple reporters shared what many working class people do every day: live within their means.
Coleman’s endearing charm was a viral moment that won the hearts of moms everywhere.
That conversation was not even supposed to go that way according to his agent.
“Keon was never supposed to wear that jacket,” Paul DeRousselle tells Scoop B Radio.
“The jacket that spurred the conversation. He had a suit and tie; business casual. He was going professional but he didn’t have time to change.
“One thing you know about Keon is that he loves to share the gospel of saving money so really he just wanted to put the dude on because it’s cold in Buffalo and wanted to let the guy know that you too can have this nice puffer coat for $79.99.”
We’re still waiting on Macy’s and Coleman to somehow find a way to develop some sort of partnership.
Will it happen?
“There was a little hearing from Macy’s but nothing came to fruition but, you know how that goes, man,” said DeRoussells.
“It’s all good until we start talking numbers…maybe the block spun but as of now, we’re coolin’ it and just to be clear, Keon’s under contract with Nike. Nike makes puffer coats too. So if y’all want to put on a puffer coat, get with my guy Brandon at Nike who is going to watch this. We’re Nike athletes.”
Shrewd business!
Jeffrey Simmons & The Tennessee Titans
Last year, DeRousselle was the muscle in negotiating a four-year, $94 million contract extension for Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.
“I think my legal background helps a lot in these situations because being an attorney, you always want to be SUPER prepared and already be cognizant of what the other side’s gonna do,” shared DeRousselle with Scoop B Radio.
So I kind of knew what the Titans were thinking, right? You knew what the salary cap situation was, we researched all of their past extensions and what they do and so, the first thing that you want to do is look internally at the organization and look at their philosophy. Understand how they want to structure their signing bonuses, terms… all those things. So I did all my research on the organization; done all my research on Ran Carthon who is the GM and he came from San Francisco, so I had to research San Francisco too because some of those methodologies he was going to carry with him like roster bonuses and certain things. So, I would say the first thing with anything is just game study and film study. I didn’t go into it like a young rookie agent feeling like I’d be overwhelmed. I always view myself like I’m one of them ones! So it wasn’t no, Oh my god! This moment is too big… I was like, Let’s lace ‘em up. Let’s hoop! Let’s go compete!”
Simmons, who is theTitans’ team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for the second year in a row, ended up signing a four-year contract extension. The deal extends him through the 2027 season. This season, Simmons’ base salary is $16,500,000. Additionally, the deal includes a $24 million signing bonus and $66 million in guarantees.
DeRousselle broke down how he and the Titans were able to negotiate.
“Negotiations don’t always have to be combative,” he said.
“They can be collaborative. I think that there’s a misconception that in order to be an elite agent, you gotta be an asshole. It’s more so you talking to people and listening to understand as opposed to listening and responding. So, I did a lot of active listening, made my points clear; stood on certain things, made it very apparent what I’m not budging on, asked him what are his priorities… We had agreements on the terms of the deal like, he wants a four and I want a five; ultimately I want a three — let’s compose something.”
