While Panthers QB Cam Newton "easily is the most visible athlete in Charlotte, he also has a strong national presence, especially on the marketing front," and that presence grew "even stronger" yesterday after he signed a new five-year, $103.8 million extension with the team, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. IMG VP Carlos Fleming, who reps Newton, said that his client's portfolio is the "strongest of anybody in the NFL" outside Broncos QB Peyton Manning. A source said that Newton "will approach" $11M in endorsements in '15. He also should "become the highest-paid NFL player not named Manning." Newton "transcends from a marketing standpoint in that he's not a top-tier quarterback, but he endorses like one." Fleming said, "Whether he will become one of the greatest, we don't know. But brands recognize the uniqueness." ESPN.com's Newton noted among the "reasons for Newton's surge, sales for his signature Under Armour C1N Highlight cleats doubled this year." He earlier this year also "replaced actor John Stamos as the national spokesperson for Oikos," and most recently, IMG "reached a development deal with Nickelodeon in which Newton will be executive producer for a children's television concept." In September, Newton was "rated the most attractive NFL player by Vogue," and he also has "appeared in Women's Wear Magazine, Glamour and Vanity Fair." But Fleming and Newton "have been selective," as the idea "isn't to oversaturate the market or take on obligations that will take Newton's focus from football." Marketing Arm Managing Dir Matt Delzell said that the numbers "still indicate Newton is far from the level" of Manning or Patriots QB Tom Brady. DBI numbers show that he is "particularly lagging in terms of trust and appeal." But ESPN.com's Newton wrote the Panthers QB "has many of the attributes companies look for in a representative" (ESPN.com, 6/2).
