Patrick Peterson fires agent, on verge of becoming NFL's highest paid defender

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Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson fired agent Patrick Lawlor on Monday night, two months before Peterson is expected to begin negotiating an extension with the Cardinals that could see him earn more than $50 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

Peterson, who the Cardinals drafted with the fifth pick in the 2011 NFL draft, is widely regarded as one of the top defensive players in the league and is on pace to make his third consecutive Pro Bowl. He has three interceptions, 10 passes defended, 202 return yards with four touchdowns and 64 yards receiving on the season.

Lawlor took aim at the NFL Players Association on Tuesday night for what he believes is fostering an environment where Lawlor says agents consistently go outside the union's rules to convince a player to switch representation. He said he's likely to file a complaint with the union regarding rules he believes were broken in regards to Peterson.

"The NFLPA refuses to address [client poaching] and it's disgusting," Lawlor said. "No agent out there is willing to talk about it because they're afraid of pissing off the NFLPA or somehow upsetting their existing clients. Well, I'm tired of that. They need to address it. A little guy like me can't compete with these large agencies who are putting these massive marketing guarantees out there. It's a hidden little rule and it's disgusting."

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