Earlier this year, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III defied the league’s apparel agreement by covering up the Nike logo on his pregame warmups. Twice. The NFL didn’t fine him for those relatively minor transgressions.
After a Week 14 win over the Ravens, however, Griffin arrived at his post-game press conference wearing an Adidas T-shirt and sweatsuit. The NFL has reacted by fining Griffin $10,000, according to CSNWashington.com.
The problem is obvious. Griffin has an individual endorsement deal with Adidas. The NFL has an exclusive apparel deal with Nike.
Players are prohibited from wearing apparel or hats or other stuff that conflicts with NFL sponsorship agreements. For example, Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 for wearing a VitaminWater hat to a Super Bowl press conference in early 2007.