If Chad Ocho Cinco wants his official name change to be reflected on the back of his jersey he's going to have to pay Reebok.
Reebok has a contract with the NFL and the Player's Association that requires any player wishing to change his name or number to pay Reebok for all unsold jerseys.
Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter inquired about changing his number to 81 from 84, but was told it would cost him $210,000 and he said "thanks, but no thanks."
Because Ocho Cinco is even more popular than Porter, it's likely his switch would cost him much more.
Personally, I think this is another draconian rule enforced on the players by the league and accepted by the union. Not that this is an issue worth fighting over during collective bargaining but teams change the styles of their uniforms every few years, and I doubt the organizations have to make restitution to Reebok for this.
If I were Ocho Cinco I would offer Reebok half a million dollars to make the change to Ocho Cinco but demand that the copy hand over every single "Johnson" jersey so they could be given to disadvantaged children.
Even better negotiate an agreement by which Johnson gets a percentage of every Ocho Cinco jersey sold over and above the number of Johnson's jersey sold last year. Clearly this is a double boon for Reebok, they get to sell out all of their stock of Johnson jerseys and every johnson fan is now buying an ocho cinco jersey, all to the benefit of Reebok and to the detriment of Johnson. What if Johnson changed his named to Mohammed Abdul Abadallah- the liberal media would be claiming discrimination. Perhaps Johnson should start his own clothing line called "Ocho Cinco" and get a trademark on the name Ocho Cinco for sporting goods. The interesting trademark question is whether Reebox and/or the NFL would have the ability to use Ocho Cinco on a jersey or be precluded from doing so. Johnson can corner the market.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled with this to be honest. Ocho Cinco on the back of this idiot's jersey would be kind of ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteHis mama called him Clay, i'm a call him Clay
ReplyDeleteConcierge - great idea. Does anyone know a good lawyer that deal with patents and trademarks?
ReplyDeleteConch, I don't know all the specifics but I think the Players' Union agreement precludes Ocho Cinco from entering into the business ventures you suggest.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is the union that splits proceeds from merchandise sales equally among the players without regard for which particular individual sold the most jerseys.
I also believe either his team contract or his union agreement includes a clause allowing the league/union to sell officially licensed merchandise featuring his name and likeness.
Perhaps if he HADN'T legally changed his name to Ocho Cinco he would have been able to do what you are suggesting.
Here's a good question for you Paul: If the NFL doesn't allow him to put "Ocho Cinco" on the back of his jersey without ponying up over a millon dollars, will he then change his name back to Johnson? I think this whole ridiculous escapade happened so he could wear that jersey. All the other issues you pointed out will inconvenience his life without rendering him the benefit he was looking for.
ReplyDeleteif the league and the players union split the profits, why should he have to individually pay to buy all the unsold jersey's.
ReplyDeleteReebook signs a marketing deal with the league and the union. Evidently they negotiated a clause requiring any player changing his name or number to pay for any unsold jerseys.
ReplyDeleteWhy should Reebok have to eat unsaleable merchandise due to the frivolous whims of Chad Ocho Cinco?
And why should the other members of the union have their shares of licensing revenue be reduced?
This seems like a perfectly sensible business arrangment to me. The only one who suffers here is the player who elects to change his name or number.