Rodgers Is Fined $10,000

Johnny Rodgers, former Heisman Trophy winner from Nebraska, and a Nebraska sports marketing firm each were fined $10,000 Friday by the Texas secretary of state, who alleged that they illegally contacted 1989 Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware of Houston.

Secretary of State George Bayoud identified the firm as Total Economic Athletic Management of America Inc., or TEAM America, of Lincoln, Neb.

A two-year-old Texas law requires that athlete agents be registered with the secretary of state and prohibits agents from making contact with a player who has collegiate eligibility remaining.

Ware has one year of eligibility remaining and, according to a statement released by Bayoud, has said that he plans to return to Houston for his senior year.

A report released by Bayoud alleges that Rodgers and TEAM America failed to register as athlete agents in Texas, illegally contacted Ware and offered gifts, cash and other inducements to Ware’s mother, Joyce, to lure Ware into signing a professional services contract.

Rodgers has denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged this month that he had contacted Ware’s mother.