David E. Canter
David Canter (born January 4, 1973) is an American sports agent who primarily works with NFL players. A graduate of both Ithaca College and the University of Miami School of Law, he received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Ithaca in 1995. While at Ithaca he was a founding member of the Sports Management Club and played football for the Division III National Champion Bombers.
Biography
After working for the Florida Marlins during the strike-shortened season of 1994, Canter enrolled at the University of Miami School of Law. While attending law school, he had a chance meeting at a Shell gas station with former University of Miami standout wide receiver and ex-Miami Dolphin Lamar Thomas. After their meeting Mr. Thomas became Canter's first client. Canter graduated from the University Of Miami School Of Law in 1998 where he was a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Canter has been able to combine his football playing experience, his sports management degree, and his legal background into the formation of his own sports management and representation firm DEC Management.
DEC Management
DEC Management has grown from a company of meager beginnings into a worldwide powerhouse of professional representation under Canter's auspices. The company now has working relationships with many of the major athletes in the sports world and celebrities in the entertainment industry. The company has also co-produced two television shows, three radio shows, and has secured major multimillion dollar marketing deals with companies such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Ford, Acura, Mitsubishi, Kangol, Cytodyne Technologies, and several others on behalf of his clients.
1999
Canter shocked the world when his 2nd round draft pick's contract for then Indianapolis Colts linebacker Mike Peterson was the largest 2nd round package ever signed. Peterson's contract with incentives made him the highest paid second round pick in the history of the NFL at the time.
2000
Canter represented the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft (Travis Taylor). The contract included a $5 million signing bonus and totaled almost $11 million. In 2000 Canter assisted banned former agent Steve Weinberg in negotiating the largest potential deal in NFL history at the time for Washington Redskins running back Stephen Davis (9 years, $135.75 million).
2003
Canter negotiated the largest ever NFL playing contract for a punter representing Todd Sauerbrun of the Carolina Panthers (five years, $7.5 million).
Canter also negotiated the largest incentive package for any NFL running back with Stephen Davis' 2003 deal with the Carolina Panthers (5 years, $36 million). Canter is known in the industry as one of the most aggressive and respected contract negotiators besides being an expert in marketing.
2005
Canter took a player, Troy Williamson, that was told by the NFL Advisory Committee that he would be no better than a second round pick, all the way to the 7th Overall selection of the 2005 NFL draft. The contract Canter secured for Williamson is larger, has more up front guaranteed money, and a larger average per year then the fourth, fifth, and sixth picks of the 2005 NFL draft. Canter also helped Damien Nash (no combine invite) get drafted in the 5th round and Rodriques Wilson (no combine or all star game invite) get drafted in the 7th round. Canter's elevation techniques have proven time and time again that players CAN elevate their position in the draft with the right agent and life manager.
2006
Canter took a player whom the NFL evaluation committee told would be no better than a fourth round pick and elevated him all the way to the top of the second round. Chad Jackson, Junior Wide Receiver at the University of Florida, was given a fourth round grade by the NFL Underclassman evaluation committee, yet ended up being the second wide receiver drafted overall when he was chosen by The New England Patriots with the 36th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft.
2007
Canter was able to sign four high profile draft picks and help them elevate into the upper echelon of the NFL draft. Eric Weddle was an underrated safety from the University of Utah who entered The Spring prior to the draft as a projected 3rd round pick. Canter and Weddle San Diego Chargers traded 4 draft picks and moved up slots in Round 2 to select Weddle with the 37th overall pick.
Ryne Robinson wasn't projected to be drafted in the 2007 NFL draft when the spring grades first came out. With Robinson's hard work and diligence, he was able to elevate in the high fourth round as the 118th Overall pick of the Carolina Panthers.
2008
Canter added two NFL veterans in 2008 and was able to secure HUGE new deals for them. For Chargers safety Steve Gregory Canter negotiated a 3 year extension for $4.8 million with $2 million in guaranteed money.
David then pulled off an INCredible deal for former undrafted free agent outside linebacker Jyles Tucker for whom Canter secured a whopping 4 year extension worth $15 Million total with $6.5 Million up front.
What makes the Tucker deal so incredible is that Tucker had only played in 6 NFL games after spending the majority of the 2007 season on the Chargers practice squad. This contract is unprecedented in NFL history- NO PLAYER HAS EVER GOTTEN A NEW EXTENSION AFTER JUST 6 GAMES NOR HAS ANY PLAYER IN NFL HISTORY EVER RECEIVED THIS KIND OF PACKAGE WITH NEVER HAVING STARTED AN NFL GAME!
NFL draft history
1999
- Mike Peterson, LB, Florida University, Indianapolis Colts, 2nd Round - 36th Overall
- Tony George, Safety, Florida University, New England Patriots, 3rd Round - 91st Overall
- Madre Hill, Runningback, Arkansas University, Cleveland Browns, 7th Round - 207th Overall
2000
- Travis Taylor, Widereceiver, Florida University, Baltimore Ravens, 1st Round - 10th Overall
- Erron Kinney, Tight End, Florida University, Tennessee Titans, 3rd Round - 68th Overall
- Chris Cole, Widereceiver, Texas A&M, Denver Broncos, 3rd Round - 70th Overall
- Hank Poteat, Cornerback, Pittsburgh University, Pittsburgh Steelers, 3rd Round - 77th Overall
- Reggie Austin, Cornerback, Wake Forest, Chicago Bears, 4th Round - 125th Overall
- Paul Smith, San Francisco 49ers- RB- UTEP- 5th- 132nd Overall
- Robert Bean, Cornerback, Mississippi State, Cincinnati Bengals, 5th Round - 133rd Overall
- Lamar Chapman, Safety, Kansas State, Cleveland Browns, 5th Round - 146th Overall
- Jeno James- Carolina Panthers- OT- Auburn- 6th- 182nd
- Antwan Harris- New England Patriots- CB- Virginia- 6th- 188th
- Wes Shivers- Tennessee Titans- OG- Mississippi State- 7th- 237th
- Danny Clark- Jacksonville Jaguars- LB- Illinois- 7th- 245th
2001
- Mike Gandy- Chicago Bears- OG- Notre Dame- 3rd- 68th
- John Capel- Chicago Bears- WR- Florida- 7th- 208th
2002
- Carlos Hall- Tennessee Titans- DE- Arkansas- 7th-240th
2004
- Deandre' Eiland- Minnesota Vikings- CB- South Carolina-6th-184th
- Donnie Jones- Seattle Seahawks- P- Louisiana State-7th-224th
2005
- Troy Williamson- WR- Minnesota Vikings-South Carolina-1st-7th Overall
- Damien Nash-RB-Tennessee Titans-Missouri-5th-142nd
- Rodriques Wilson-LB-Chicago Bears-South Carolina-7th-220th
- Darrell Shropshire-DT-Atlanta Falcons-South Carolina-7th-241st
2006
- Chad Jackson- WR- New England Patriots- Florida-2nd-36th Overall
- Jeremy Mincey- OLB- New England Patriots- Florida-6th-191st Overall
2007
- Eric Weddle-S- San Diego Chargers- Utah-2nd-37th Overall
- Ryne Robinson-WR- Miami University (OH)-4th-118th Overall
- CJ Gaddis-FS- Clemson- 5th- 159th Overall
- Deshawn Wynn-RB- Florida-7th-228th Overall
2008
- Cory Boyd-RB- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- South Carolina-7th- 238th Overall
Current clients
- Eric Weddle, Cornerback, San Diego Chargers
- Ryne Robinson, Wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
- DeShawn Wynn, Running Back, Green Bay Packers
- Troy Williamson, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Rashad Jeanty, Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals
- Rod Wilson, Linebacker, Chicago Bears
- Matt Turk, Punter, Houston Texans
- Cecil Sapp, Running Back, Denver Broncos
- Jyles Tucker, Linebacker, San Diego Chargers
- John Busing, Linebacker, Cincinnati Bengals
- Lance Laury, Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks
- Stephen Davis, Running Back, Retired
- Darrell Shropshire, Defensive Tackle, Arizona AFL
- Todd Sauerbrun, Punter, Retired
- Teraz McCray, Defensive Tackle, Buffalo Bills
- Martail Burnett, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings
- Jabari Levey, Offensive Tackle, Montreal CFL
- Brian Hernandez, WR, Saskatchewan CFL
- Jon Abbate, LB/FB, Montreal CFL
- Carl Berman, WR, Saskatchewan CFL
- Phil McGeoghan, WR, Retired
- Willie Offord, S, Retired
- Doug Evan, CB, Retired
- Keith Washington, DE, Retired
2009 Draft clients
PAUL KRUGER- DE- UTAH SEAN SMITH- CB- UTAH BRIAN JOHNSON- UTAH FREDDIE BROWN- UTAH DARRELL MACK- RB- UTAH TAURUS JOHNSON- WR- SOUTH FLORIDA MERF TROUT- K- GRACELAND JC NEAL- S- NC STATE JHMAL FLUELLEN- RB- MAINE
Personal life
Canter is a frequent public speaker and has given lectures at the Florida International University College of Law, University of Miami, St. Thomas University, Lynn University and is a frequent guest on several nationally syndicated radio and TV shows.