Vick Jersey Back On Shelves For First Time Since July 2007

Vick Jerseys In High Demand Since Going On Sale Friday

Eagles QB Michael Vick’s No. 7 jersey went on sale Friday on the NFL and Eagles Web sites, marking the “first time in more than two years that the NFL and Reebok officially sold a Vick jersey,” according to Matt Gelb of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Reebok “yanked Vick jerseys from its retail stores and Web site on July 27, 2007, before Vick was charged with conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation.” Reebok Corporate Communications Manager Dan Sarro “did not immediately have figures on the number of Vick jerseys ordered through the league’s Web sites.” Modell’s Sporting Goods Regional Marketing Manager Derrick Morgan said that two local Modell’s stores had the Vick jerseys in stock after the company “received a high demand for the product” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/15). Modell’s salesman T.J. Beck said that with “more than 300 jerseys and T-shirts on the racks, the store sold $1,200 worth of merchandise on Saturday and about $1,700 more by late yesterday afternoon.” Modell’s salesman Raphael Castro: “Before we even opened, four or five customers were lined up (Saturday) morning” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17). In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tamari noted several customers at Modell’s “marveled at how quickly the merchandise got to the floor” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/15). Penn Financial Group President Matt McCall: "I got about 10 texts last night looking for Vick jerseys" (Fox Business, 8/17). CNBC's Darren Rovell predicted Vick's jersey will be in the "top-20 best-selling jerseys in the next three weeks, I really do think that" ("Closing Bell," CNBC, 8/14).

IN THE STORES, OFF THE FIELD: In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz wrote, “I know the NFL is quite adept at merchandising. But what I can’t figure out is why the league is so quick to merchandise an athlete that it still doesn’t see fit to reinstate. Doesn’t this seem just a tad hypocritical?” Schultz added if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell “wants to reserve judgment until possibly six weeks into the regular season, that’s fine. But how can a league not be ready to accept a player back with open arms and yet be ready to open the cash drawer right away? The NFL is not ready for Vick to be a face of the league -- but it is ready for Vick to be a face on the ledger?” (AJC.com, 8/16).

CORPORATE BACKLASH? In Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann writes one way in which the Eagles signing Vick can fail is if the “opponents of this move put so much public pressure on the Eagles’ corporate sponsors that the financial implications are such that the team decides it cannot afford to continue.” The Eagles’ Web site lists 44 corporate partners, and Eagles President Joe Banner said, “I would say that about a half-dozen sponsors called on Friday." Banner: "One thing they wanted to do was find out what our thinking was.” He added, “We will continue to talk to our corporate sponsors. We will reach back out to them. … As far as I know, nobody was angry and nobody threatened to cancel. But some did want to understand our thinking, and we spent some time with them” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17). MGP & Associates President Mike Paul noted one of the things "at-risk is not only Vick's sponsors that he had in the past, … (but) the team has sponsors, the stadium has sponsors." Paul: "They're having meetings right now saying, 'Gosh, what if this guy is wearing our logo and he doesn't have a deal with us, we have a deal with the team and the stadium and the league? We've got some concerns'" ("Power Lunch," CNBC, 8/14). But ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports, "I have yet to find one single sponsor of the Philadelphia Eagles that has pulled out as a result of their relationship with Michael Vick" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/17).

Web Site Organizing Protest Of Eagles' Signing Of Vick

BOYCOTT BEING CALLED FOR: In Philadelphia, Mike Jensen noted an online campaign on www.sackvick.net is “asking like-minded people, unhappy with the Eagles’ decision to sign Michael Vick, to ‘protest Vick’s new sponsors.’” The Web site listed the team's sponsors and “many of their CEOs and their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.” Philadelphia native Jan Garber said she called the team’s sponsors “but only Budweiser said anything of substance" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/15). Also in Philadelphia, Stu Bykofsky writes, "While intellectually I can accept Vick's hiring, it sickens me. I will not buy nor wear Eagles green as long as Vick wears Eagles green." Bykofsky notes other former Eagles fans are "selling their tickets on eBay and organizing boycotts of Eagles' sponsors." Bykofsky: "Fine with me" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17).