Joe Flacco Signs Endorsement Deal With Baltimore's Haribo Gummy Bear Brand

Flacco also endorses Nike and Marine Midland Bank

Ravens QB Joe Flacco on Monday agreed to take a photo "holding a package of Haribo Gold Bears," which will be used "in various marketing materials for the brand," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. The candy manufacturer paid Flacco "an undisclosed amount and obviously will give him the gummy product he demands." Haribo's HQs have been in Baltimore since '82 and its advertising is "done by a Baltimore firm called TBC." Also, TBC Chair & Creative Dir Allan Charles is the father of actor Josh Charles, a "die-hard Ravens fan." Haribo of America President Christian Jegen said, "We don't do typical sponsorships. We'll only do something with an athlete if we hear he really enjoys our products." He added that the only other athlete the company "ever did a deal with" was former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace. Rovell noted Flacco also "has endorsement deals with Nike and Marine Midland Bank" (ESPN.com, 1/29).

FISHING FOR DEALS: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited a source as saying that reps of former Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o were "attempting aggressively to nail down marketing deals before the story broke" about his fictitious girlfriend. Te'o's associates were pursuing deals with "among other things major shoe and apparel companies." There was "reluctance to proceed, given Te’o's struggles in the BCS national title game and the uncertainty as to whether he’ll be playing for a high-profile team or a franchise that is an NFL afterthought" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/29).