National Football League

Buddy Baker - Agent's Diary: For the Love of Football

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:13 p.m. ET

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GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 16: General view of a military flyover before the game between the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams at Lambeau Field on October 16, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won 24-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Buddy Baker is the President and CEO of Exclusive Sports Group. With over 15 years as an agent under his belt, with players, coaches and executives in the world of Professional & Collegiate Football and Basketball, Baker has lived the ins and outs of everything that the life of an agent entails. His client list is extensive and includes the likes of Malcom Floyd, Kroy Biermann and Doug Baldwin. 

This is the first part in an ongoing series of journal entries from Baker as he works the NFL calendar. From the close of the postseason, through the combine and on to the NFL draft, he'll detail the work involved in the industry's busiest time of year. 

Indianapolis - Thursday, February 5th

I love this business, more importantly I love my clients -- it is what keeps me going. My name is Buddy Baker, and I am the President & CEO of Exclusive Sports Group, an Indianapolis based agency representing NFL players, professional basketball players, NFL executives and collage coaches. And there is nothing I enjoy more than the first four months of the calendar year. Growing up in New York, it reminds me of Opening Day; new beginnings with draft eligible clients and potential new beginnings for veterans in Free Agency. The challenges and opportunities that come with this period are what drive me. 

Veteran clients are always a priority -- they are where our draft eligible clients want to be in three or four years. As we spend time recruiting these new clients, an important trait we want to see in them, and that's the ability to see the big picture.  As I mentioned, there is a lot of unknown, and draft eligible plays have to control what they can and ignore the noise. This is something we spend a lot of time helping them understand. 

A number of our draft eligible clients are training for the Combine in Indianapolis. This facility produces great results and being in my town allows a much stronger, lifelong relationship to be built. In fact, one of my veteran clients, Tyvon Branch, was in town for the Colts playoff game. 

Tyvon has been one of the highest paid safeties for the past three seasons – you could say, he's made it.  Regardless, Ty spent time talking with our draft eligible players; truly helping them understand that it is hard to get to the league, even harder to stay in the league. These philosophies are something I truly believe. However, there are a lot of technical things to be accomplished: NFL Combine Training, All Star Games and draft prep to name a few. 

The Saturday of the NFC Divisional game I had the pre draft players over to my house. Spending this time with guys really helps build this bond. We are going into uncharted waters for them. The Player/Agent level of trust is something they have not experienced. These times together are important. Notably, client Doug Baldwin had a great game. I was able to talk with them about Doug's approach --€“ how he hasn't changed. As an undrafted player, to the number one receiver on the defending Super Bowl Champions and earning life changing money --€“ he has spent time in the same chair one of the pre draft guys was sitting. This really puts it in perspective. No NFL team cares what you've accomplished,€“ they only care about how you project to the NFL; as a player and as a person. 

Monday of that week, Matthew Pope (my Director of Football Operations), and myself flew down to St. Petersburg for the East-West Shrine Game to see two of our clients, Dominique Brown (Louisville) and Leterrius Walton (Central Michigan). Prepping the clients for the interviews, introducing them to NFL Decision Makers and insuring their approach remained correct are some of our key responsibilities. 

I feel educating clients on the facts of the business (€the numbers game) helps them understand the position they are in. Think of it this way: each year 330 players are invited to the Senior Bowl, Shrine Game and NFLPA Game, around 150 are drafted; over 325 Players are invited to the combine, around 200 are drafted; 49 undrafted players made game one rosters this past year; over 1800 players signed agreements with agents; 600 of them were drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent. This is a tough business. Doug Baldwin beat the odds. Tyvon Branch (2008 4th round pick) has made more than double of ANY other safety drafted in the same draft. It truly does not matter where you start, rather where you end up. 

While with the guys at the Shrine game, we are surrounded by NFL personnel. Gathering and relaying information: What do they think our draft eligible clients need to improve on? What type of player are they looking for? What holes are they trying to fill in the draft? What about through free agency? I spoke with nearly every team while I was down there. Additionally, I had a great conversation with newly hired Washington Redskins General Manager, Scot McCloughan. I expect him to do great things with the Washington franchise. Also, it was nice catching up with former client and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Special Teams Coach, Carlos Polk. He is the perfect example of how to make the transition from the NFL to the next phase of your career -- happy to see him enjoying success as an assistant coach down in Tampa Bay. 

That's all for now. Next week I'll have an in-depth overview of our clients training and what a former NFL GM had to say about their chances. 

- Buddy Baker

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