Beef jerky brand Jack Link's "did a deal" with Missouri DE Charles Harris prior to Thursday night's NFL Draft that included the company's Sasquatch mascot appearing at his "draft party," according to ESPN's Darren Rovell. Harris was wearing a Jack Link's T-shirt when he was drafted by the Dolphins with the No. 22 pick. Sasquatch was sitting directly behind Harris at his Draft watch party at K.C.-based Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, where Harris attended high school. Rovell cited Michigan-based Apex Marketing Group as saying that Jack Link's got $36,000 "in equivalent advertising exposure" from Harris' live-look in during ESPN's coverage (TWITTER.com, 4/28). ESPN's Trey Wingo during the Draft mistakenly referred to Sasquatch as "Star Wars" character Chewbacca. SECCOUNTRY.com's Rolando Rosa noted reactions online were "awesome in response to Wingo’s blunder" (SECCOUNTRY.com, 4/27). Meanwhile, YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee reported Jack Link's also has a deal with Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer, who was "sporting a lavendar suit with a sasquatch sewn into the lining" on Thursday night. The company as part of the deal "helped with a donation to the Andrew Weishar Foundation, an organization devoted to aiding 'families with adolescents or young adults stricken with cancer.'” Kizer’s former girlfriend was "diagnosed with cancer." Kizer was not selected on Thursday but is expected to be taken during the 2nd or 3rd rounds on Friday (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/27).
READY TO ROCK: The Browns took Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick Thursday night, just hours after Adidas announced it had signed Garrett to a multiyear endorsement deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed (THE DAILY). In Ft. Worth, Charean Williams notes Garrett was wearing an Adidas T-shirt during his Draft party at his home in Arlington, Texas. After being selected, Garrett "pulled off his Adidas T-shirt to reveal another T-shirt underneath: 'The Heart of Rock and Roll. Cleveland'" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/28).
THE NAME GAME: In K.C., Pete Grathoff notes Lamps Plus Inc., which "touts itself as the nation’s largest specialty lighting retailer, struck a deal" with Western Kentucky G Forrest Lamp ahead of the Draft (K.C. STAR, 4/28). NFL.com's Kevin Patra wrote Lamp, who is expected to be picked on Friday, was "born with a built-in marketing opportunity in his last name." Lamps Plus CEO Dennis Swanson had some fun in the press release, saying Lamp will "shine at the professional level" (NFL.com, 4/27). Meanwhile, in DC, Cindy Boren noted Michigan TE Jake Butt ahead of the Draft "landed a sweet, sweet deal" with Charmin. Butt "couldn’t help but laugh a little when a 'dump truck' plopped about 1,000 rolls of TP in front of him earlier this week" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/28).
