Last year, as evidence that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was involved in dog fighting went from circumstantial to overwhelming, Nike remained in Vick's corner.
In fact, Nike still kept its endorsement deal with Vick going even after Vick had been indicted and the NFL had suspended him, even though Nike's deal with Vick specifically stated that the company could get out of it if Vick were charged with a felony. It was only after pressure from groups like the Humane Society intensified that Nike executives finally faced the reality that Vick was costing them a lot more money than he was making for them.
Nike got a PR black eye from the Vick ordeal, but the company hasn't been scared off endorsement deals with Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that new Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has signed a contract with the company.
No financial details of Ryan's contract were reported, but it's fair to say he's making less than the estimated $5 million a year Vick was making from Nike. The apparel maker, which also signed Darren McFadden to an endorsement deal, had a big Vick-oriented marketing campaign planned last year that had to be scrapped. Ryan and McFadden represent the next generation of Nike NFL stars, and I think it's safe to say these deals will represent a better long-term investment.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Darren McFadden and Matt Ryan will make good Nike pitchmen and I am sure they won't be doing dog fighting businesses.
Posted at 12:17AM on May 12th 2008 by George B Vieto
2. Did Nike ever rip up the endorsement contract? Or did they just suspend it?
Posted at 9:06AM on May 13th 2008 by BC