Sports agent Leigh Steinberg files for bankruptcy

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who represented many of the NFL's biggest stars and was the inspiration for the movie "Jerry Maguire," has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Known as the first super agent, Steinberg said Wednesday that he takes responsibility for debts of several million dollars.

"I just lost track while I was in rehab," Steinberg told The Associated Press. He said he struggled with alcohol for years but has been sober since 2010.

His attorneys filed the Chapter 7 petition late Wednesday in federal bankruptcy court in Santa Ana, Calif.

The filing comes weeks after an Orange County Superior Court commissioner authorized but didn't issue a bench warrant for Steinberg after he failed to appear in court in a case involving a $1.4 million debt.

Steinberg said his attorney agreed to change the date of a hearing, told him not to show up and then failed to reschedule.