Brewers LF Ryan Braun has "agreed to his first endorsement deal since he was suspended for 65 games last season" for violating MLB's anti-drug agreement, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Baseball cleat manufacturer 3N2 said that it will "pay Braun a fraction of the price he was getting from Nike, which terminated his deal on Aug. 2, though specific terms were not disclosed." 3N2 President Marty Graham said, "We've all made mistakes and we're all human beings. Our country is about second chances." The Marketing Arm Managing Dir Matt Delzell said, "With this being Ryan's first announced endorsement since all of the negative publicity hit, it better be airtight and really authentic." Graham "doesn't think there's any risk for his company in backing Braun." Graham: "We're very honest. We're not Nike or Under Armour. ... This is who we are. Once Ryan has the year we think he is going to have, much of the past will be water under the bridge." Meanwhile, Nike's termination "not only opened up the chance to get a new shoe brand, but also a new batting glove." A Franklin official said that Braun "will get paid to wear the company's 'Natural II' line this season" (ESPN.com, 3/12).
