Cowboys QB Dak Prescott this offseason "leveraged his performance, storybook rise and relatable charisma to ink more than a half-dozen endorsement deals," according to Pete Thamel of YAHOO SPORTS. Those included Pepsi, AT&T, Frito-Lay, Beats by Dre, Campbell’s Chunky Soup and 7-Eleven. Adidas, one of his few sponsors prior to his rookie year, "ripped up his deal and gave him a new one." Prescott will make "more than 10 times his playing salary in endorsements this year." A dinner with PepsiCo North America CEO Al Carey is "emblematic of the new paradigms Prescott entered this offseason." Prescott "told Carey his post-NFL career plans include getting a doctorate in psychology, as he wants to work to help athletes reach their potential." Carey "walked away from dinner impressed enough that he compared Prescott" to longtime PepsiCo partners Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter. Prescott will "star in national Pepsi commercials starting in October, will be featured in the brand’s social media and also be in the supermarket aisles." Thamel notes star Cowboys players dealing with "off-field trouble has long been part of franchise lore," which is why team officials "note Prescott’s ability to handle the crucible of Dallas so deftly." He is the "face of the Cowboys’ future," especially with RB Ezekiel Elliott suspended for domestic abuse. Prescott could become a face of the entire NFL "if postseason victories and Super Bowl appearances follow his star-kissed rookie season" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/5).
PUNCHING HIS TICKET: In K.C., James Dornbrook reported Tickets For Less has "signed a multiyear sponsorship deal" with rookie Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who will become the be the "radio voice" of the K.C.-based company's marketing campaigns. Mahomes also will "support the Team Little Owl Foundation, attending as many of its charitable functions as possible." Tickets for Less was founded in '04 and is a "private broker that buys and sells tickets on the secondary market for nationwide sporting events, concerts and theaters" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/1).
