Negotiation Warriors

Negotiation Warriors, the podcast that features conversations with the greatest negotiators in professional sports.

Negotiation Warriors is a sports podcast hosted by Cliff M. Stein, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Cliff M. Stein hosts Negotiation Warriors, a sports show with 16 episodes published.

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  Episode #15

  Episode #015: Telling it like it is (Rick Smith)

  Aug 3, 202641 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail Negotiation Warriors Episode #015: Telling it like it is with Rick Smith What separates good negotiators from great ones? Agent Rick Smith believes it isn't about winning every negotiation—it's about building relationships that last decades. In Episode #015 of Negotiation Warriors , Cliff Stein sits down with one of the most respected negotiators in professional sports. As President of Priority Sports and a veteran agent with more than 25 years of experience representing NFL players, coaches, and executives, Rick has negotiated some of the most significant coaching and executive contracts in football while earning a reputation for honesty, trust, and integrity. Throughout the conversation, Rick shares the philosophy that has defined his career: • Why relationships are the foundation of every successful negotiation • How to understand the other side's objectives before discussing numbers • Why emotional intelligence often matters more than leverage • The danger of backing someone into an intellectual corner • How transparency builds long-term credibility • Why great negotiators are problem solvers—not adversaries • Lessons from negotiating NFL coaching and executive contracts • The challenges facing today's rapidly changing college athletics landscape • Managing leverage when you have it—and when you don't • Building a legacy based on trust, humility, and respect One of the most memorable moments comes near the end of the interview when Cliff describes Rick as someone who simply "tells it like it is." Rick doesn't hesitate. "You're going to know right away. Unbelievably transparent. Unbelievably honest." Whether you're an attorney, sports agent, executive, coach, student, or business professional, this episode is filled with practical lessons on leadership, negotiation, communication, and building relationships that create long-term success. If you enjoy this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and Share . New conversations with the greatest negotiators in professional sports are released regularly. Follow on instagram: @frontoffic3360 Follow on X: @frontoffice360

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  Episode #14

  Episode #014: The Calm Warrior (Megha Parekh)

  Jul 20, 202649 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail ️ Negotiation Warriors – Episode #014: THE CALM WARRIOR: Megha Parekh on Leadership, Resilience & the Strength to Be Vulnerable For years, I have admired Megha Parekh for one quality more than any other. Calm. No matter how complex the negotiation… No matter how high the stakes… No matter how much uncertainty surrounded an issue… Megha always seemed to approach every challenge with remarkable composure. Then one sentence revealed the strength behind that calm. "You don't have to be so tough." Those six words, spoken by former Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke the morning after Megha survived a terrifying home invasion, became one of the defining moments of her career. Rather than hiding her struggle, she chose something far more courageous. She chose vulnerability. In Episode #014 of Negotiation Warriors, I sit down with one of the NFL's most respected executives to explore the leadership principles that have shaped her remarkable career. Megha is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. During her thirteen years with the organization, she has helped guide complex legal matters, major business initiatives, stadium redevelopment, organizational strategy, and some of the most important decisions facing an NFL franchise. But this conversation isn't just about football. It's about resilience. It's about emotional intelligence. It's about empathy. It's about preparation. It's about discovering that true strength isn't pretending everything is okay. It's learning how to manage life's most difficult moments. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: • How sports and music shaped Megha's journey from Harvard Law School to the executive offices of the Jacksonville Jaguars. • Why some of the greatest mentors don't simply open doors - they help you see potential in yourself before you can see it. • The leadership philosophy that transformed her from "the no fun police" into one of the NFL's most trusted executives. • How a terrifying home invasion forever changed her perspective on leadership, vulnerability, and resilience. • Why Trent Baalke's simple words—"You don't have to be so tough."- became one of the most important lessons of her career. • Why "managing it is the source of strength" may be one of the most important leadership lessons every executive needs to hear. • How becoming a certified crisis counselor transformed the way she negotiates, listens, and leads. • Why empathy is one of the most underrated skills in every negotiation. • The surprising connection between heavy metal, Bon Jovi, playlists, breathing, and performing under pressure.

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  Negotiation Warriors

  Negotiation Warriors – Episode #012: The Salary Cap Godfather (Joe Banner)

  Jun 24, 20261h 16m

  Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Negotiation Warriors – Episode #012: The Salary Cap Godfather with Joe Banner In Episode #012 of Negotiation Warriors , I sit down with one of the most innovative front office executives in NFL history—Joe Banner. As President of the Philadelphia Eagles and CEO of the Cleveland Browns, Joe helped reshape how NFL teams approach roster construction, contract negotiations, and salary cap management. Throughout his career, he pioneered strategies that gave his organizations a competitive advantage and influenced how front offices across the league manage the salary cap today. In this conversation, Joe takes listeners inside the executive suite to explain how championship organizations are built—not just through great players, but through disciplined preparation, strategic negotiation, innovative thinking, and a relentless pursuit of competitive advantage. In this episode, you'll learn: How a chance friendship with Eagles owner Jeff Lurie launched one of the NFL's most influential executive careers. Why negotiation extends far beyond player contracts and influences every aspect of building a winning organization. How the Eagles became innovators in salary cap management, contract structure, and roster construction. Why extending core players before free agency can create millions of dollars in long-term salary cap value. How identifying undervalued talent—including Jason Peters and other overlooked players—helped build championship-caliber rosters. Why evaluation must always precede valuation. How analytics, preparation, and collaboration became competitive advantages inside the Eagles' front office. Joe's philosophy on hiring great people, empowering employees, and creating a culture where innovative ideas thrive. The leadership principles that helped build one of the NFL's most successful organizations. Why listening remains one of the most powerful—and underrated—skills in every negotiation. Joe also shares behind-the-scenes stories about building the Eagles into perennial contenders, creating front office innovations that spread throughout the NFL, and why the best negotiators are constantly thinking several moves ahead. Whether you're an executive, coach, agent, attorney, business leader, or simply fascinated by leadership and negotiation, this episode offers an insider's look at how winning organizations think, plan, and negotiate. 🎧 Listen now: Search Negotiation Warriors Follow on Instagram: @frontoffice360 Follow on X: @frontoffice360 Front Office 360

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  Episode #11

  Episode #011: Beyond the Contract (Peter Schaffer)

  Jun 8, 202657 minS1

  Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Negotiation Warriors – Episode #011: Beyond the Contract with Peter Schaffer In Episode #011 of Negotiation Warriors, I sit down with veteran NFL agent and attorney Peter Schaffer, one of the most respected and accomplished player representatives in professional sports. Over a career spanning four decades, Peter has represented some of the biggest names in football, including Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Willie Roaf, Jerome Bettis, Steve Atwater, and Joe Thomas. Beyond negotiating contracts, Peter has built a reputation for developing lasting relationships, advocating for athletes on and off the field, and helping clients navigate the business, legal, and personal challenges that accompany professional sports. In this conversation, Peter shares: • How he broke into the agent business “by accident” and built a successful practice from the ground up • Why managing client expectations is often more challenging than negotiating contracts • The reality of life as a sports agent and the sacrifices required to survive in the business • The importance of preparation, patience, and listening in every negotiation • Lessons learned from legendary NFL executives and negotiators, including George Young and Ted Phillips • Why relationships and trust remain the foundation of successful negotiations • The role of agents as advisors, counselors, connectors, and problem-solvers beyond contract negotiations • The growing impact of NIL and college athlete representation • The importance of educating athletes about finances, taxes, contracts, and life after sports • Why preparation creates confidence at the negotiating table, including the story behind Joe Thomas’ historic contract negotiations Peter also opens up about overcoming adversity, maintaining perspective through life's challenges, and why great negotiators must never lose sight of what truly matters. This episode is a masterclass in relationship-building, preparation, leadership, resilience, and the art of negotiation. 🎧 Listen now: Search Negotiation Warriors Follow on Instagram: @frontoffice360 Follow on X: @frontoffice360 Front Office 360

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  Episode #10

  Episode #010: Breaking Down the Salary Cap (Khai Harley)

  May 25, 202644 minS1

  <p>Send us Fan Mail</p><p>🎙️ Negotiation Warriors – Episode #010: Breaking Down the Salary Cap with Khai Harley</p><p>In Episode #010 of Negotiation Warriors, I sit down with one of the NFL’s top salary cap and contract strategists — Khai Harley, Senior Vice President of Football Operations and Assistant General Manager of the New Orleans Saints.</p><p>Over the course of his 23-year NFL career, Khai has become widely respected as one of the league’s leading experts in salary cap management, roster construction, contract negotiations, and the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. Working alongside Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, Khai...

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