Starter Brand Looks To Sign $10M Deal With Cowboys QB Romo

Romo Nearing Endorsement Deal With Starter That Could Be Worth As Much As $10M

Starter is nearing a five-year deal with Cowboys QB Tony Romo worth up to $10M, which "would make him the highest-paid athletic footwear and apparel endorser in the NFL," according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Iconix Brand Group, which bought Starter from Nike last year, has "publicly stated a strategy to reinvigorate the brand by signing major sports stars to endorsement deals and building its league and team sponsorship and licensing business." Iconix VP/Business Development Neal Seideman said that there was "no deal completed between the company and Romo." But sources said that Reebok, which "previously had an apparel and footwear contract with Romo, has passed on its right to match the Iconix deal." The record for an NFL apparel and shoe agreement is thought to be Saints RB Reggie Bush's five-year, $5M deal with adidas. NFL VP/Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy said that Starter "does not have a license with the NFL that would allow Romo ... to wear Starter on the field, and the company has not held any talks with the league about acquiring such a license." Mullen notes the "lack of relationship with the NFL also means that Starter could not use images of Romo in an NFL uniform in advertising" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/23 issue).