RSR Sports Management, LLC is proud to announce that Landon Cohen, a defensive tackle from Ohio University has been drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2008 NFL Draft. Landon was the 9th selection of the 7th Round by the Lions and the 216th pick overall. He looks forward to playing under Head Coach Rod Marinelli who is the former defensive line coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Landon is the first positional player to be drafted from Ohio University since 1947.

RSR Sports also signed three players to NFL Contracts after the 2008 NFL Draft. Jon Banks, an outside linebacker from Iowa State signed with the Buffalo Bills. Matt Hahn, a fullback from Penn State University, signed with the Oakland Raiders. He will be coached by running back coach Tom Rathman, a former Pro Bowl fullback for the San Francisco 49ers. Ben Dato, a punter/kickoff specialist has signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Ben will compete for the punting and kickoff job with the Ravens and joins another RSR client in running back Cory Ross who is on the Ravens.

RSR Sports Management, LLC is pleased to announce a record breaking free agency period. RSR client Josh Brown signed a landmark free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams at the outset of free agency. Josh’s contract makes him the highest paid player at his position. His contract pays Josh 14.2 million dollars over five years with a 4 million dollar signing bonus. Both figures are the highest for a kicker or a specialist in the history of the National Football League. Josh was also the first kicker in the history of the National Football League to sign a contract on the first weekend of free agency.

RSR Sports Management, LLC then negotiated a multi-million dollar contract for punter, Kyle Larson with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kyle has been a fixture with the Bengals Special teams unit since he entered the National Football League and RSR struck quickly to keep him with the club. Although terms of the contract were not released, Kyle’s contract makes him one of the top paid punters in the National Football League.

RSR negotiated one of the top contracts for a long snapper when the firm resigned Nathan Hodel to the Arizona Cardinals for four years. Nathan was drawing substantial interest from other clubs but could not turn down the deal that was negotiated for him with the Cardinals. In total, Nathan’s contract breaks down into a four year contract worth 3.706 million dollars. He will be paid an average of $926,000 year and averages over 1 million dollars per year in the first two years. Nathan’s deal makes him the second highest paid long-snapper in the National Football League.

In total, RSR Sports Management, LLC negotiated over 25 million dollars in new contracts during the free agency period. Each player’s new contract makes them one of the highest paid players at their respective positions and has set the market for future contracts at these positions.

As reported in this Sunday’s Cincinnati Enquirer:

In Sunday’s 19-14 victory over the Browns, Shayne Graham made both of his field goal attempts to give him 30 this season, a franchise record. Doug Pelfrey had 29 field goals in 1995.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to help the team,” Graham said of himself and fellow specialists Kyle Larson and Brad St. Louis, the holder and long-snapper.

“We got opportunities to help, and we executed our snaps and holds and protections. Obviously, you want to have more wins.”

Graham is 30-for-33 on field goals this season.

“Not good enough,” he said.

Graham has 122 points. In 2005, when he kicked 28 field goals and 47 extra points, he scored a franchise-record 131 points.

RSR Sports Management, LLC is pleased to announce the signing of two standout defensive players, Jon Banks and Landon Cohen for the 2008 NFL Draft.

Jon is an outside linebacker from Iowa State University. This past season Jon established himself as one of the Big 12’s top defensive players. He was the second leading tackler on the team and ended the season with an impressive 9 tackles for loss and one interception. In total, Jon had 80 total tackles with 50 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles during the course of the season. He was also a weapon on special teams, consistently making tackles on kickoff and punt coverage teams.

Landon was a 2007 All MAC Conference 2nd Team selection and 2007 team captain. Landon ended his career with 39.5 Career Tackles which ranks him 4th All Time at Ohio University. He was the best defensive tackle in the MAC Conference based upon his play in 2007. He was a disruptive force on the defensive line, recording 12.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks. Landon led the entire team in tackles for loss. He also forced one fumble and recovered two other fumbles. Landon demonstrated his versatility with one pass break-up and one quarterback hurry. He finished the season with 59 tackles, 27 solo tackles and 32 assisted tackles. Landon was continually double teamed by opposing offenses and he produced stellar games.

RSR Sports Management, LLC is pleased to have these two outstanding athletes become part of the firm.

RSR client, Jeremy Kapinos, a punter from Penn State University, has signed with the New York Jets practice squad. Jeremy was in training camp with the Jets this preseason and was released. He was a four year starter at Penn State University and was a Ray Guy Finalist for the top punter in college football in 2006.

RSR Sports Management client, Josh Brown has signed an agreement to host the FoxSportsNet show titled, The Josh Brown Seahawk Insider Show. The show is currently the highest rated non-event show on FoxSportsNet. The deal was negotiated by RSR Sports Management and puts Josh in the select class of players that have their own television show. The show will be running three times per week in prime-time during the season.

Read Shayne’s Journal article from this week. Please click the below link:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070906/SPT03/709060377/1022

Read Shayne’s captivating journal entry for this week. Shayne talks about the focus that the Bengals have and their scrimmage with the New Orleans Saints. Please click the below link to read this piece:

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/SPT03/708230361/1022

Shayne Graham writes about his experiences at training camp with the Bengals. Please visit the attached link to learn about the Bengals training camp from Shayne.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070816/SPT03/708160309/1022

RSR athlete, Seppo Evwaraye, an offensive guard from Finland has been assigned to the Minnesota Vikings under the NFL International Practice Squad Program. A native of Finland and a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Seppo started at left guard for the Cologne Centurions during the NFL Europa season this year. Seppo helped pave the way for NFL Europa leading rusher Derrick Ross. Seppo looks forward to a year on the Vikings practice squad to further his development.