NFL Marketplace Roundup: Eli Manning Deal To Be Samsung's Last?

Eli Manning Inks Two-Year Deal To Endorse Samsung TVs

In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Terry Lefton reports Giants QB Eli Manning has "signed a two-year contract to endorse Samsung's large-screen TVs." Manning will "appear in print and TV ads that also include" Giants RB Brandon Jacobs that should break later this month. However, sources said that the use of Manning as an endorser "marks the beginning of the end of Samsung as an NFL corporate sponsor." Samsung has been a corporate NFL sponsor since '05 and pays "about $6[M] annually for those rights," but sources said that the company "could not justify continuing to pay a premium price for the NFL when margins on its top-tier sets have been shrinking to infinitesimal levels." Lefton: "Unless something drastic happens, Manning is Samsung's exit strategy from its NFL sponsorship." The deal is Manning's "first endorsement that conflicts with older brother" Colts QB Peyton Manning, "who has been tied to rival TV maker Sony since 2005" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/7 issue).

CALLING CARD: The Dolphins Wednesday began wearing an AT&T logo on their practice jerseys. AT&T this year is a new "official partner" of the team, and the deal includes advertising, promotions and technology in addition to the practice jersey patch. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said, "We felt they were an ideal partner to place on our practice jersey and they agreed that the opportunity was worthy of their investment." Meanwhile, the Dolphins also announced a multi-year partnership with Best Buy, designating the company as the official consumer electronics retail partner of the team and Land Shark Stadium. Best Buy will receive entitlement of the franchise’s new technology initiatives, as well as category exclusivity and rights to the stadium and team marks (THE DAILY).

ANNOUNCED NFL PRACTICE JERSEY SPONSORSHIP DEALS
TEAM	SPONSOR
Bears	NorthShore Univ. Health System
Bengals	SpongeTech
Bills	Sanyo
Colts	Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance*
Dolphins	AT&T
Giants	Timex*
Jets	Atlantic Health*
Patriots	Gillette**
Rams	American Airlines
Titans	Baptist Sports Medicine*
NOTES: * = Company also has naming-rights to team's practice facility. ** = company also has naming rights to stadium

MAKING A DEPOSIT: The Bengals yesterday announced a deal with Fifth Third Bank that makes Fifth Third the club's official bank. The bank as part of the deal will have a presence at Paul Brown Stadium, including ATM service and signage on the stadium's interior and exterior, and also will be featured in TV, radio and print advertising, online media through Bengals.com and other initiatives (Bengals).

MONSTER'S BALL: In conjunction with today's NFL Kickoff event at Heinz Field, Monster.com's Fandemonium office -- including flatscreen TVs, full furnishings, surround sound audio systems and other NFL accessories -- will be given away as a prize to one fan. Fans can stop by the Monster.com space to enter to win via random drawing but are also eligible for other prizes such as tickets and NFL merchandise (Monster).