Talalay: Nike and Reebok suspend Vick
Nike suspended its contract with Michael Vick on Friday afternoon, and Reebok has stopped selling his jerseys at retail or through its Web site.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback, who has been barred from training camp, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal dogfighting charges.
Nike stopped short of terminating the partnership altogether while the legal process plays out, issuing the following statement:
"Nike has suspended Michael Vick’s contract without pay, and will not sell any more Michael Vick product at Nike owned retail at this time. As we’ve said before, Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship."
Reebok doesn’t have a contract with Vick, but produces NFL uniforms and equipment. Reebok’s statement reads:
"Although Reebok does not have an individual endorsement or marketing relationship with Michael Vick, we are the official supplier of apparel and equipment to all 32 NFL teams and the league’s 1,800 active players. While we respect the legal process we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore, therefore, we have decided to immediately suspend selling Vick NFL product, both at retail and on-line through the Reebok website. In addition, Reebok has honored retail cancellations of Vick NFL jerseys."
In addition, CNBC Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell reports the NFL has also suspended sales of Vick merchandise at NFLShop.com.
CRAIG DAVIS In more than 33 years at the Sun Sentinel, Craig Davis has written about a wide variety of sports topics from baseball to yachting, fishing to triathlons, and also worked as a copy editor and page designer. Recently he reported on local sports, including running, swimming, cycling, equestrian and beach volleyball. He enjoys sports as a participant as well as a spectator, is active in the South Florida running scene plays in the curling club at Saveology Iceplex. This blog offers a glimpse at the business side of sports in the interest of enhancing enjoyment of the games and sporting options as a spectator as well as a participant.
