HILLSBOROUGH (AP) — A Georgia-based agent has been charged with violating the state’s sports agent laws by providing gifts to three former Tar Heels football players and obstruction of justice.
Unsealed indictments state that a grand jury indicted Terry Watson with 13 counts of providing cash or travel accommodations to Marvin Austin, Greg Little and Robert Quinn valued at nearly $24,000 in an effort to sign them. Watson also faces one count of obstruction for not providing records sought by authorities.
The 39-year-old Watson, based in Marietta, Ga., was arrested Wednesday morning, released on a $50,000 secured bond and made his first court appearance in the afternoon.
All three former UNC players are in the NFL. Quinn, a defensive end, was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2011, while Austin and Little were both second-round selections that year. Little is a receiver with the Cleveland Browns. Austin, a defensive tackle, was drafted by the New York Giants but was released in August and signed with the Miami Dolphins last month.
The law requires agents to register with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office and prohibits offering gifts to entice athletes to sign representation contracts.
Orange County district attorney Jim Woodall, whose office is prosecuting the case investigated by the Secretary of State’s office, has said he believes it is the first time nationally someone has been prosecuted for violating sports agent laws in a state.
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Joe Girardi has signed a four-year contract that could be worth up to $20 million to stay with the New York Yankees through 2017.
With the Yankees missing out on the playoffs this season for the second time in 19 years, the 48-year-old Girardi got an early start on determining his future. He went over several possible scenarios with his wife, Kim, and three children that included taking a year off, pursuing a broadcasting job or managing somewhere else. But they quickly came to the conclusion that six years in New York was not enough.
“It wasn’t ever a lot of thought that I might not possibly come back. I just had to make sure that everyone was still on board,” Girardi said on a conference call.
Girardi was in the final month of his second three-year contract (worth $9 million) with the Yankees since taking over for Joe Torre after the 2007 season.
The new contract includes $16 million guaranteed and up to $4 million in bonuses, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement.
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Injured South Carolina All-American Jadeveon Clowney was back at practice Wednesday, although it was still unsure if he would play this weekend at Arkansas.
Clowney has a strained muscle near his ribcage that he hurt last week. He pulled himself out of the Gamecocks’ 35-28 victory over Kentucky last Saturday night, saying shortly before kickoff that he was in too much pain.
Clowney had missed practice Monday and Tuesday with the injury. He worked out Wednesday and participated in sprints at the end.
Earlier Wednesday, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said he was hopeful that Clowney could return to the lineup when South Carolina (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) takes on the Razorbacks (3-3, 0-2) on Saturday.
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NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Travis Kvapil (KWAH’-pul) is free on bond following his arrest on charges of assault and false imprisonment.
A statement from the Mooresville Police Department said officers responded to a 911 call from the Kvapil residence on Tuesday. After an investigation, police said they arrested the 37-year-old Kvapil in connection with a domestic dispute between him and his wife. No further details were provided.
Kvapil was released from the Iredell County Jail under a $1,000 unsecured bond after a scheduled court appearance. It’s not known if he has an attorney.
Kvapil, who drives for BK Racing, is currently 31st in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. No one was available to comment at BK Racing on Wednesday afternoon.