Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is reportedly ready to take
"another megabucks leap forward with Nike" in an attempt to lure
Deion Sanders to sign with the Cowboys, according to Will
McDonough of the BOSTON GLOBE. Jones has said he would "maneuver
himself into position to land Sanders, and the Nike connection
might put him over the top." McDonough: "Who is to say that
Nike, as a partner with the Cowboys, wouldn't sweeten the deal it
has with Deion? Any money that Sanders gets from Dallas would
count under the team's salary cap; but money from Nike would
not." Sega has reportedly offered Sanders a deal that would pay
him an additional $1M if he signs with the 49ers. McDonough, who
broke the report during NBC's NFL coverage over the weekend,
writes that the league will monitor this deal closely (BOSTON
GLOBE, 8/27). Since Apex outfitted the Cowboys, NFL officials
"are worried that Jones will sign with an apparel company not
licensed by the NFL, such as Nike" (Baltimore SUN, 8/27).
Sanders' agent, Eugene Parker, said he is negotiating with a
cereal maker, apparel line, and soft-drink maker and predicts
that by year's end, Sanders will earn $7-10M in endorsement deals
(USA TODAY, 8/27).
