Seahawks QB Russell Wilson finished the NFL Players Inc.'s fiscal year ranked No. 1 on the top 50 players sales list, based on total overall sales from March 1, 2013, through February 28, 2014. He jumped 18 spots from No. 19 in FY '13 to the top spot, passing Broncos QB Peyton Manning, who is now ranked second (NFLPI).
NEW BALANCE OF POWER: The AP reported New Balance is "getting a big boost from the U.S. Defense Department," which announced plans to buy $180M worth of sneakers for military recruits. New Balance Dir of Public Affairs Matt LeBretton said that the company is "one of the few" that makes a shoe meeting all federal requirements. Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox on Friday announced that the agency "will provide military recruits with the American-made footwear, rather than giving them a stipend to buy their own training shoes" (AP, 4/27).
SLIPPERY SLOPE: In Tampa, Marc Topkin reported Rays manager Joe Maddon "received a letter of reprimand from MLB saying he shouldn't wear a ski cap to the mound as he did on the last road trip." Maddon said that he "would consider wearing the ski cap in the dugout and switching to the other hat when he headed to the mound" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/26).
