With the preseason approaching, more and more teams are applying the sandwich-board approach to their training-camp duds.
The Colts are the latest team to sell a piece of their practice jerseys to the highest bidder, inking a deal with Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.
Like several other practice-dud deals, the arrangement has been absorbed into the company's sponsorship of the team's training facility.
Though the patches will not appear on game jerseys, the move represents the first step down a slippery slope that might eventually result in NFL uniforms looking like NASCAR jumpsuits.
Colts sell practice jersey real estate
Posted by Mike Florio on July 15, 2009 5:07 PM ET
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Latest stories in: Indianapolis Colts, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Transactions, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Indianapolis Colts, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Transactions, Top Stories
NASCAR jackets look awesome. I wouldn't mind wearing a Bucs jerey with my favorite supermarket logo, and who knows maybe a strip club logo.
Dana White should have the UFC sponsor somebody's jersey. No reason why the NFL shoud turn down those advertising dollars. I'd love to see that!
Aren't you suppose to be on the beach?
Who really notices that crap anyway ? I watch a NASCAR race from time to time and I couldn't tell you who drives for whom ? I see a car and a number, the rest is just paint. I'd rather have them get their money from corporate sponsors Vs raising ticket prices.
I just hope the NFL keeps some level of restraint. I really don't want to see the NASCAR style jerseys. If they want to sell some "front fender" ad space on a jersey, that is one thing. I think that if the ads start to intrude on the rest of the uniform, it is going to seriously take away from the aesthetics of the game.
I remember the days before the words "Home Depot" showed up as an on-field overlay to every college game, and I kind of miss it, not that I watch college ball. It just seems that, in some respects, the game was better a few years ago - before all the technology.
Any thought, Mike, on the looming CBA being the reason why such little baby steps are being taken toward gameday jersey ads? Seems as if the war cry is "We're Broke" (owners) then getting some "sellable" space on something that is seen by millions 16+ Sundays out of the year would be something they owners would be pushing for hard. But waiting until after the CBA is through leaves that same excuse as leverage. I bet the minute the new agreement is signed, the NFL will raise the curtain on its new "Marketing Rules".
Their first sponsor, a loudspeaker distributor, fell through because there was a problem with the company's motto:
"Indianapolis loudspeakers, pumping in crowd noise for over a decade".
Maybe with the extra cash Jimmy (son of Bob the Red Faced Owner) could give some jack to the city so they can keep their beautiful stadium out of hock.