Michael Vick has reached another milestone in his comeback to the NFL: He’s found a company willing to take him on as an endorser.
Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal broke the surprising news Wednesday that Vick has teamed up again with Nike.
“Mike has had a great relationship with Nike and is excited to be part of the Nike team again,” Vick’s agent Joel Segal said.
Segal wouldn’t discuss the terms, per the agreement between Vick and the shoe company. Vick will wear Nike shoes and apparel. (Perhaps that’s all it amounts to.) Now we are hardly sports business experts, but there are “endorsement” deals with players of all statures, even backup/Wildcat quarterbacks.
To put it another way: Don’t expect another ad campaign based around the Michael Vick Experience. (Must . . . avoid . . . inappropriate . . . joke.)
Still, a deal of any sort is a risk by Nike. Is it worth the negative headlines just to get the word Nike mentioned in articles like this one? (Five times thus far.)
Then again, doubting Nike’s instincts when it comes to marketing is like doubting Drew Brees’ ability to read a defense. (Or Wade Phillips’ ability to react to missed field goals.)
Nike may have determined that consumers buying their products aren’t nearly as hung up with Vick’s past as the people writing about him.