words_Zac Dubasik
images_Steve Mullholand
In the interest of full disclosure, I couldn’t start off an opinion piece about Michael Vick without first stating the following: Not only am I a dog lover (my dog Perry is tattooed on my right arm), I have been a vegetarian for seven or eight years. And I donate to PETA. (Although I haven’t thrown any paint on furs … lately.) I’ll try not to make this personal though. The point of this blog isn’t about whether or not I think Michael Vick should be allowed to play football again, or if I think he was given the correct penalty for the awful things he did. What this is about though is if it makes sense for a company to have him endorsing their product – to represent them and be the “face” of that brand.
Being one of the last athletes to have a major training signature shoe with Nike, it’s only natural to wonder about his sneaker future in particular. Now that his return is imminent, the questions are if, with whom and when? Is he worth it at all, or is it too much baggage when he’s realistically entering the tail end of his career? Who would be willing to take the chance? An established industry giant, or an up and comer with less at stake? And how soon? Take the chance now, or wait to see how his on-field return is publicly perceived?
The circumstances are far different than what’s typical when a player’s endorsement rights are up for grabs. When a young player is just entering the professional realm, questions about that player’s on-court/on-field performance, ability to sell shoes and ability to have sustained popularity can be very much up in the air. With Vick though, he has obviously proven not only to be a premiere player in the NFL, he’s also shown the ability to successfully sell shoes bearing his likeness. Even before his legal issues, Vick was one of the most recognizable players in the League – even to non-fans. And you can believe that he will receive quite a bit of press once he returns. And with that attention comes the opportunity for a potential suitor to have a product highly visible on his shoulders and on his feet. But is it work the risk? Is any press good press in this situation?
I think Michael Vick has every right in the world at this point in his career to sign a new endorsement deal. He fulfilled his sentencing and is now free to make a living any way he is able. But should a company with anything at all to lose be willing to take the risk by associating themselves with him? Nike, his former sneaker brand, has built an image as a green-friendly, progressive company over the past few years. From their base of operations in Beaverton, OR, to their Considered mentality, to their involvement with the Doernbecher charity project, Nike has projected a forward-thinking, compassionate aura. Adding an animal cruelty-convicted athlete to their roster just doesn’t seem to fit – even when said athlete has been a proven winner with them in the recent past.
Adidas, who’s U.S. headquarters is located just a short distance away in Portland, has a history of athlete endorsers with clean images, and has recently stepped up its environmentally-friendly efforts. “Dog-abuser” just doesn’t seem to fit the bill for the signature-athlete they would be looking for. There could also be some hesitation of signing another marquee NFL star after their hard-sell of Reggie Bush out of college hasn’t yielded the results they were hoping for.
Without a major athlete endorser outside of AI for what seems like forever now, Reebok might seem like a logical choice, and presents an interesting scenario. With their league-wide sponsorship of the NFL through their jersey deal, Vick will definitely be wearing the Reebok Vector one way or another when he makes his return this fall. But Women’s business has been a major focus as of late for Reebok, and I have a hard time imagining a company with a push in Women’s fitness would also promote an athlete with Vick’s now tarnished reputation. The possibility of a revolt from their only loyal and consistent category seems like far too much of a risk for the suffering company.
Under Armour has been a major player in the apparel world for years now, and is making its biggest push yet in footwear. Signature athletes aren’t what the brand built their reputation on though, and while they are now signing more athletes, having their biggest name to date being fresh out of prison doesn’t sound logical. Their history of having a more conservative image also leads me to have doubts about that direction. You can bet that any company willing to take the chance would face a major backlash from animal rights groups, and in a high risk situation like signing Vick, the brand’s safe-leaning past doesn’t seem like the right fit.
What about a smaller company though? There aren’t too many out there that are making shoes for and promoting athletes at a professional level. One that does come to mind though is Pony. With one major NFL star already under contract in Randy Moss, Pony is definitely capable of making product for a pro athlete. What about image? While not nearly on the level of Vick, Moss has had his share of on-and-off field controversy. And while any backlash would be bad, Pony certainly doesn’t have the level of ground to lose that some of the footwear giants do. Chances of multiple companies throwing barrels of cash towards Vick are pretty slim, which means that he could possibly come at a deal too. Is it perfect? Probably not, but it’s one of the best fitting scenarios that I can imagine. Then again, it would only take one person within the company that happens to have a particular issue with that crime to shut the whole thing down, regardless of the potential upside.
It’s that potential upside though, or lack thereof, that gives me my biggest doubts. In all probability, Vick will be 29-years-old when he returns. With an average NFL career only lasting three and a half years, and taking into account he entered the League in 2001, he’s already running on borrowed time.
So, even if everything went right – if he was embraced by the public upon his return, if he hadn’t lost a step (or more) after his time off, if he could still sell shoes (and if all of these things held true nationwide, not just in the city he eventually plays in) – if everything went right, he would still probably be looking at only a few years left in his career. A few years that would likely see his skills doing the opposite of improving. As a quarterback who has based his success mainly on his athleticism, he has less to fall back on than if he had been a less physical player. His endorsement signing could very possibly be a quick hit of publicity, but the lack of a major return on investment is what I think will keep him from seeing a big deal. It’s not personal, it’s just business.
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pick him back up NIKE!!
What MIke did was no worse than Kobe-real talk.
I love dogs and Mike was 100% WRONG for what he did.
He payed for his mistake.
He’s worth the risk. No man is beyond redemption.
He’s my favorite QB.
Nike picked up Kobe because he’s clean cut, speaks Italian, and he appeals to suburban America.
Mike Vick has a harder look and appeals more to “urban” America.
I think he can still be a asset to a team and if a shoe co. Picks him up, he can still sell kicks
are you serious? no worse than kobe…i love both of these athletes but kobe was guilty of adultery…nothing more, nothing less which is morally wrong but definitly not a crime…mike on the other hand is a convicted felon..REAL TALK albeit for something many people consider as a sport in the inner city. they made an example out of vick and i do think he should get a new endorsement deal but not in year 1. Under Armour is a perfect fit if mike can have some success with the eagles this year. if he can show he still got game than he will earn the endorsements and not have them handed to him and that in my opinion will sit well with the fans.
heck yea he’s worth the risk…4get Nike Brand Jordan pick up Mike Vick
hell yea its worth the risk. think about the people that supported Mike Vick throughout everything, think about what the fans want. mike vick is one of the greatest QB’s and hes real popular in urban America like my man said up at the top.
Why not? He is only 29 and has alot of life left in him. He messed up and paid his debt, now its time to move on.
Would Nike even reconsider? Nope.
Under Armour is the only company I can see him going to.
Knowing myself, I’m partial to shoes I’ve work for years…Vick wore Nike in HS, College, and in the Pros…
Only time will tell
all those Vick 2s are sick, wish i had a pair…… Nike SHOULD STRONGLY reconsider, but i doubt they will
The shoe kind of look like the 15’s.
ya they do look like the 15s with that stripe thing on da toe instead of the heel
Until he gets an NFL team to sign him, why on Earth would any company throw money at him?
I might reach out to him and keep him on flow. But, I wouldn’t sign him until he actually makes an NFL roster.
Besides, did he really sell that many shoes before?
I know he sold jerseys, but I don’t remember the Vick kicks being all that hot.
VICKs JOINTS WERE ULTRA HOT!
i’d love to see another VICK SHOE WAVE…
god the mike vic discussion is so tired, who the fuck cares just let him play!
What risk. The man has served his time. Let him move on and put his past behind him.
Vick is a sadistic dog-torturer. He is heartless and cruel. All of you stupid neanderthals should be ashamed of yourselves for supporting him. He deserves a fate much worse then death.
you’re lame. what about all those purebred racehorses that get “put to sleep” when they can no longer race at the competitive level???? why don’t they get the right to be given or sold to some horse-loving family so it can be a real horse and roam free on a ranch somewhere??? no, they just get murdered because they can’t perform at a human’s sport that whips horses like slaves for man’s self-entertainment. i dont see anyone care about that though. animals aren’t human so get over it when “inhumane” things happen to them. not saying what vick did was okay, just saying you shouldnt judge a man for what he does when we all do things that arent right, one way or another.
Michael “Dont let the dogs out” Vick should not receive an endorsment. There are so many jobs in America once you get a felony you cant do those jobs any longer…police officer, firemen, attorney, postal service and the list goes on… are these people in these positions not sorry, repentive, hate that they have destoryed their careers? Why is it that the NFL does not have the same policy…IT IS A PREVILAGE being in the NFL if you can’t understaned that or appreciate that the first time around are you kidding me its a wrap – not like they dont have other options play in the off league the one that has 6 games a year with a salary on the high side of 1.5 millon. Why is it because they have money and have a GOD given talent they have the right to do what they want just pick back up where they left off…and what he did was horrible and his continued lies and the way he killed the dogs brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear of it “not cool” oh but he is a goooooood quarter back
leave the man alone, jeeze, he himself didnt fight any of those dogs he funded the operation, yea still bad i get it, he’s human he made a mistake and he served almost 2 years for it, you have people committing crimes against other human beings (kobe, rothlisberger, ray lewis)and your worried about mike vick? sue me, i support michael Vick, everyone deservers a second chance point blank period and you self righteous people passing judgement on mike need to look in the mirror, acting like you never did anything wrong in your life that people wouldnt be disgusted with so rainstar and ryan shut the fuck up, and i cant wait til he comes out with a new shoe and he signs a fat ass contract that eclipses your insignificant life earnings
lol owned. i second that
i am not so sure that vick would sign off on just any brand for the endorsement money. he’s worn nike all his life and i dont know about everyone, but a lot of athletes i know that are actually good at their sport will live and die by the brand they wear and trust. if anything, i think vick would just wear nikes w/o being endorsed by anybody if nike decides not to resign him.
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hell no hes not worth it!!! hes like a %&*$#@?! with a fricking cute dog wich is innocent