By Ellen Rugeley
The Jacksonville Jaguars new owner Shadid Khan recently made his first front office move by a hiring a new general counsel for the team after dismissing Paul Vance, who served as general counsel and senior vice president of football operations.
Khan, an Illinois businessman began negotiating to buy the Jaguars in late 2010 after a failed attempt to buy the St. Louis Rams earlier that year. On November 29, former owner Wayne Weaver agreed to sell the Jaguar franchise to Khan for $770 million in a deal that included a $660 million sale price and $110 million in debt. As the Jaguars new owner, Khan said he “will do everything possible to build a consistent winner on the field and a model franchise off the field.”
Vance joined the Jaguars in 1994 and since 2001 has been in charge of contract negotiations for the team. He also oversaw team training and medical functions, team video equipment departments and team travel logistics, and is said to have had a very influential voice on all matters relating to the team.
In addition, Vance is credited with helping the team solve its salary-cap problems in 2002 by implementing a plan that included offering then Pro Bowl tackle Tony Boselli and defensive tackles Gary Walker and Seth Payne to the Houston Texans in the expansion draft. Coupled with a plan of fiscal restraint in player contacts and acquisition for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, the move helped the Jaguars reach one of the best cap levels in the NFL by 2004.
Vance’s firing has been linked to typographical errors in the contracts of seven former assistant coaches that ultimately led to a salary dispute.
The assistants signed contract extensions in 2010 that the Jaguars intended to expire at the end of the 2011 season. However, the contracts actually state that the agreements “shall terminate on the later of January 31, 2012 or the day after the Jaguar’s last football game of the 2012 season and playoffs.”
As a result of the typos, the assistants, who have not been named, want to be paid for the 2012 season, especially if they remain unemployed. According to ESPN reports, compensating the affected coaches could cost the Jaguars as much as $4 million.
Vance called it an incorrect reference and stated that it “should have read the 2011 NFL season.” In a correspondence acquired by ESPN that was sent to the coaches, Vance said, “there was no intent on your part or our part of the club to establish a contract for the 2012 season.”
Typographical errors can be binding, even if they are unintentional. A judge will often uphold a contract even when typos are present, as long as the typos don’t create confusion about a key issue, and in the Jaguar’s case there’s no confusion about what “2012” means. Vance’s removal illustrates how important it is to clarify contract language.
While the dispute remains between the Jaguars and the coaches, if a resolution is not reached it could end up becoming a formal grievance filed with the league office.
Sashi Brown, senior vice president of digital media and assistant general counsel, was promoted by Khan to general counsel in Vance’s absence. Brown began working for the Jaguars before the 2005 season and according to Khan, has a passion for the NFL, the Jaguars and the Jacksonville community.
Brown earned his undergraduate degree from Hampton University in 1998 and his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2002. Before joining the Jaguars, he was a member of the Washington D.C. based Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr’s corporate law practice group.
When asked about Brown two years ago, Vance stated, “Sashi is extremely careful and dedicated to what he does and has exhibited very good judgment.” Vance also noted that, “from an early point of his time here, he has gained the trust of not only myself, but most of the staff here.”
Brown, who currently resides in Jacksonville with his wife Paige, serves as a member of the board and chairman of the Section 8 Subcommittee to the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Brown is also an ambassador of the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation.
According to Khan, Vance will continue to be used as a consultant for the remainder of the calendar year.
“Paul has been part of the Jaguars franchise since its inception and his contributions will always be appreciated,” said Khan.
According to ESPN reports, the organization was informed of the changes via an internal email, in which there was no mention of whether or not there will be a new vice president of football operations. Gene Smith, the Jaguar’s general manager overseeing the personnel department is, however, currently heading the search for a new coach, with Khan making the final decision on that hire.
