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Seahawks' New Threads Dominate Talk As Nike Unveils New NFL Jerseys Today

Nike and the NFL today unveiled the new jerseys for the '12 season, and the majority of the talk seems to be about the Seahawks' uniforms. The SEATTLE TIMES' Danny O'Neil writes there is "feather trim involved," though it is "more subtle than you'd expect, part of the trim down the side of the pants and at the collar of the jerseys." O'Neil: "Even the number of feathers is significant, though. There are 12 feathers down each leg and on each side of the collar." There is a "little more of the neon green involved" than in the previous Reebok jerseys. The "biggest change" is the helmet, which is "two different tones, and the logo now connects in the back" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 4/3). ESPN.com's Paul Lukas writes, "They just showed a little video with a glimpse of the new Seahawks uni... It is SERIOUSLY ugly.” SB Nation's Scott Enyeart wrote, "The new Seahawks unis look like the ones you make in 'create a team' on a video game. Blah." NFL.com's Albert Breer writes, "Nike's very clearly making the Seahawks the closest thing they'll have to Oregon in the NFL. Not that outrageous. But different." The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta: “So the Seahawks new uniforms should really help them in recruiting, right?” (TWITTER.com, 4/3). Seahawks CB Walter Thurmond saw the new uniforms prior to today's unveiling, and he called them "new age.” He said, “It’s transitioning from where we are as an organization and where the league is going” (SEAHAWKS.com, 4/2).

NOT CHANGING TOO MUCH: SI.com's Dennis Dillon reported the new jerseys “won't be as innovative as what Nike has done with some college uniforms." Since the NFL announced in October ‘10 that Nike would replace Reebok as the league's “exclusive maker of licensed on-field apparel, fans have stretched their imaginations guessing what their favorite team's new unis would look like.” Dillon wrote fans should not "expect a revolutionary new look." Dillon: "No team will have a bazillion different helmet and jersey combinations like the University of Oregon does.” More likely, the change “will be in fabric composition rather than aesthetics” as the jerseys “are expected to be more performance driven” (SI.com, 4/2). NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “What we'll try to do is create our own look and try to create something that makes sense for our partners, including Nike." Goodell added that he was “satisfied with Reebok's decade-long performance” with the league, but that Nike “will be expected to bring more to the field.” Without giving details of what changes Nike "had wrought on the league's uniforms," Goodell said, "I think this is more of a focus on performance and trying to make sure the athletes on the field have that great quality, high performance gear” (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/3).

SNEAK PEEKS: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler noted the NFL Panthers on their website have “started to offer Nike apparel featuring new T-shirts that include Carolina's new logo and the Nike swoosh” (CHARLOTTE.com, 4/2).  In Philadelphia, Tom Mahon notes the “Midnight Green” on the Eagles jerseys “has been renamed Nike Green, and it was difficult to tell if it’s a different shade” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/3).

NEW ADDITIONS: New Era also is unveiling its new NFL caps today, and in Buffalo, David Bertola notes there are “three lines of caps in New Era’s draft collection: A 5950, which is the same model worn by Major League Baseball players; a stretch-fit (3930); and a snap back (950).” When DE Mario Williams joined the Bills, fans “got a preview of a new 3930 training camp cap” that is “white with the Bills logo on the front, which was bordered by hashmarks.” Williams’ 3930 will be worn “only by players at training camp, not on sidelines during games.” That hat “won’t ship until around April 15 and won’t be in stores until the end of April or early May.” Bertola also notes that New Era is renovating its HQs building "to accommodate more employees.” Renovations are being made “to the first and fourth floors.” When construction is complete, Bills DT Marcell Dareus “will have an office on the fourth floor.” New Era Senior Manager of NFL Marketing Braden Dahl said that Dareus is “one of four NFL players to be featured in company advertising.” The three others have not been announced. Dahl said, “He also will work with our product group to develop products for future advertising. He will be involved in all aspects of our football business.” New Era Corporate Communications Coordinator Michelle McNamara said that “50 people have been added to the staff there to accommodate growth related to NFL and other product lines.” That includes a “six-person global marketing team, which was formed within the past year” (BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST, 3/30 issue).

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