Nike, Under Armour Preparing New Ads Around NFL Draft Picks

Quinn Expected To Have Best Endorsement Portfolio Coming Out Of Draft

NFL Draft prospect Brady Quinn is the “odds-on favorite to come away with the most money in endorsements” among players selected in this weekend’s NFL Draft, according to CNBC’s Darren Rovell. Quinn currently has deals with Nike, Sprint, Xbox, Subway, EAS and Hummer. Quinn said, “It’s stuff that I believe in, stuff that I use.” Howard Skull, Quinn’s marketing agent, said that Corporate America “is comfortable with him because of the practice he received in college.” Skull: “If you look at his Notre Dame experience, Notre Dame football is a brand. So he’s had that position and been in that position where he’s been the face of that brand” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 4/27). Quinn and fellow draft prospects JaMarcus Russell, Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson and Gaines Adams appeared on CBS’ “The Early Show” this morning in a three-minute in-studio interview (THE DAILY).

NIKE: CNBC’s Rovell spoke to several players in Nike’s “NFL Rookie Class” ad campaign, quizzing them on aspects of the Nike business. Rovell asked Adams, “What is Nike’s stock ticker symbol?” Adams: “The swoosh sign, the Nike sign, the check.” Rovell then asked Adams, “If I wanted to buy ten shares of Nike stock, how much would it cost me?” Adams guessed $1M, $500,000, $100,000, $5,000 and $1,000 before reaching the correct $500. Noting Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan, Rovell asked Peterson what his new slogan would be for the company. Peterson: “Don’t Just Do It, Do It All Day.” Russell said his slogan would be, “Do It Again.” Later in the studio, Rovell said, “I think the guys at Nike are actually trademarking some of those slogans” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 4/27).

UNDER ARMOUR: Under Armour is debuting a new ad during NFL Draft coverage on both ESPN and NFL Network as part of the company’s “Click-Clack” campaign. The spot, which was created in-house, will feature several projected first-day draft picks, including OT Joe Thomas, LB Patrick Willis and DE Victor Abiamiri, performing training routines on a football field and in a weight room. 49ers TE Vernon Davis, who appeared in last year’s NFL Draft spot, will return for the new ad. Under Armour’s ’07 “Draft Class” also includes RB Kenny Irons, CB Eric Weddle and LBs Prescott Burgess and Buster Davis, as well as Univ. of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, Ravens DE Terrell Suggs, Colts S Bob Sanders, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs, Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, Jets LB Jonathan Vilma and Cowboys RB Julius Jones (Under Armour).