Rick's rants: English settles on Todd France as agent

Northern Illinois University defensive end Larry English has signed with Atlanta-based Todd France as his agent.

English and his family interviewed a number of prospective agents before reaching agreement with France, who has the player settled into an apartment in the Atlanta area while he trains for the upcoming NFL combine with Chuck Smith, a former all-pro defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons.

"It was definitely a hard decision," said English. "Basically, you put your trust in people you don't know and you have to build a comfort level in a short amount of time."

France got his start with the CSM Agency, learning the business from veteran agent Lonnie Cooper, but left in 2003 and took the agency's football division with him, including Takeo Spikes and Priest Holmes. Last summer, Brian Westbrook of the Eagles fired his agent and hired France, who is not know for controversial signings or having players hold out.

He didn't have his first first-round draft choice until 2005, when he had three in Auburn running back Ronnie Brown (No. 2, Dolphins), Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers (9, Washington) and Georgia safety Thomas Davis (14, Carolina).

For more on France, go to:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft05/news/story?id=2047354