McFarlane Toys To Release Figures Of NFL Stars In College Gear
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Manning Will Be In First Batch Of
Figurines Released By McFarlane |
Phoenix-based McFarlane Toys later this year will release "six action figures that portray NFL stars in their college gear," according to Michael Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. McFarlane Toys has licenses with the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL and has been "producing action figures of professional athletes for more than a decade, but never before has the company tapped the college market." The first six players that will have a college-themed action figure are Patriots QB Tom Brady (Michigan), Ravens LB Ray Lewis (Miami), Colts QB Peyton Manning (Tennessee), Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma), Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell (LSU) and Steelers WR Hines Ward (Georgia). The players were chosen "based on a combination of their professional success and the popularity of their college." McFarlane Toys Founder Todd McFarlane said that he "wanted to create a geographical balance, as well as a mix of established stars and up-and-comers." Smith reports to obtain the license, McFarlane went through IMG's Collegiate Licensing Co. (CLC), and will also "pay the players a royalty." The 6-inch-tall figures will retail around $10 and "hit stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Toys 'R' Us, as well as the local specialty stores that sell collectibles, by August." If the action figures sell well, McFarlane said that he would "like to expand and possibly look at players from more schools in CLC's stable, as well as others like Ohio State." Meanwhile, Fathead also is "thought to be considering a line of posters that would feature NFL stars in their college uniforms" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/27 issue).
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