Jokes like these were a norm in August 2007, when Michael Vick was convicted of federal felony charges for instigating an illegal interstate dog fighting ring. Vick plead guilty to these charges and was sentenced to 21 months in prison at Leavenworth, a Federal Penetentiary, followed by two months of house arrest. Following his stay in prison, Vick was released by the Atlanta Falcons, as owner Arthur Blank had no interest in keeping him around. Vick then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before the start of the 2009 NFL season and was reinstated in Week 3 of that season by Commissioner Roger Goodell. His role expanded from that of a back-up, distraction, and running threat in 2009 to arguably one of the top quarterback's in the NFL in 2010, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFC East Division title and earning himself a spot in the Pro Bowl as the starting quarterback for the NFC.
Clearly Michael Vick's talent on the football field never left during his hiatus from the game, but will his sponsorships ever return? Before his dog fighting scandal with Bad Newz Kennels, Vick was endorsed by Nike, Coca-Cola, Kraft, and even graced the cover of an EA Sports Madden NFL video game. Today? His first television appearance for a product occurred last month when he appeared in a commercial for a Nissan car dealership. But today, Michael Vick signed his first official endorsement deal since his return from prison. The company? Unequal Technologies, a provider of football pads Vick wore throughout the season. When Vick missed time with a rib injury in the middle of the season, his return to the field coincided with a protective vest designed by Unequal. Later in the year he began wearing shoulder and thigh pads made by the company.
I strongly believe that Michael Vick can follow this endorsement with more prestigious ones in the future. He may not win back top companies such as Nike and Coca-Cola, but Vick is working to reestablish his image off the field, and has already showed improvements on the field from last season. In December 2009, Vick became the Ed Block Courage Award recipient for the Eagles, an award voted by teammates. The award honors players who "exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage." Vick said of the award, "It means a great deal to me. I was voted unanimously by my teammates. They know what I've been through. I've been through a lot. It's been great to come back and have an opportunity to play and be with a great group of guys. I'm just ecstatic about that and I enjoy every day." Judging from that statement, Vick clearly understands how fortunate he is to be back on the field, and to be labeled in a positive light. This self-recognition is the first step toward rebranding himself.
Scandals such as the one Vick through will stick for a while, but I think people in today's society are more forgiving toward such actions. Many people forgive Bill Clinton for being unfaithful to his wife, as he is still revered in many circles for his accomplishments during his presidency and highly sought after for fundraisers and events to the tune of millions of dollars. Tiger Woods is redefining his image by simply focusing on the game of golf and staying out of the media spotlight. Doing that alone will help his image down the road, even if some of his bigger sponsors never return. Michael Vick's accomplishments on the football field will eventually over shadow his actions in his dog fighting ring. Surely organizations like PETA will never support him, but if he just goes to work everyday and performs on the field, endorsements will keep coming his way. Rebranding takes determination and hard work, and keeping a clean image off the field coupled with strong performances on the field will get Vick back to the top.
Keep playing solid football Mr. Vick and keep working on turning your life around. Your teammates, coaches, friends, sponsors, and me, believe in you.
His sponsorship history will end up being like Kobe's. High, low after scandal hit, and steadily rising back up.
ReplyDeleteAnd that joke you began with isn't very funny =(