If Goodell is so principled, why is he selling Vick’s jersey?
This was the homepage for NFLshop.com for part of Sunday. But . . .
. . . Later in the day I checked and a Vick jersey was replaced by a guy in a Ravens hat.
So I went to NFLshop.com — the league’s mondo-lucrative merchandising portal, which helps pay for Roger Goodell’s private jet – early Sunday. Imagine my surprise when the home page pictured a Philadelphia Eagles jersey with the No. 7 and Michael Vick’s name on the back.
Now, I know the NFL is quite adept at merchandising. But what I can’t figure out is why the league is so quick to merchandise an athlete that it still doesn’t see fit to reinstate. Doesn’t this seem just a tad hypocritical?
I dunno. Maybe Goodell’s conscience got the better of 
him later in the day. Because when I checked the website again Sunday night, the Vick quadrant of the cover page was replaced by some dude wearing a Baltimore Ravens hat. But you could still navigate to the Vick jerseys without much effort.
OK. I’m confused. I’m never surprised when somebody in power turns out to be a money-grubbing corporate weasel. And I have nothing against money-grubbing corporate weasels because they don’t need to have a Mega Millions ticket as their exit strategy like the rest of us.
But, gosh, darn, Goodell has just sounded so earnest throughout this Vick thing. On July 27, when the commissioner “conditionally reinstated” Vick — and that’s Latin for, “He’s still suspended” — he said: “I have said repeatedly, and many times before, that playing in the NFL is a privilege, we are held to a higher standard and it is not a right to be an NFL player.”
I can’t disagree with that. If Goodell wants to reserve judgment until possibly six weeks into the regular season, that’s fine. But how can a league not be ready to accept a player back with open arms and yet be ready to open the cash drawer right away? The NFL is not ready for Vick to be a face of the league — but it is ready for Vick to be a face on the ledger?
They’re selling Vick jerseys in green. They’re selling Vick jerseys in white. They’re selling Vick jerseys in black. They’re selling them for $79.99, $109.99 and $259.99 (and for $259.99, I assume that one comes with a microwave). They’re selling them in youth sizes and female sizes, and they’re also selling one called the “Michael Vick Women’s Be Luv’d Pink Fashion Jersey” (although I presume they’re still being manufactured because there’s no image available).
Vick is a marketing centerpiece again.
Funny. Goodell opted not to “conditionally reinstate” revenue.
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193 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
August 16th, 2009
9:33 pm
Of course it’s hypocritical, Jeff. The NFL can profit off of him … but he still has a price to pay. I’m all for Roger Goodell cleaning up the image of the NFL, but this isn’t doing the league any favors.
On a separate note, which color did you order?
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2009
9:46 pm
Reid — I dunno. The green is cool but the black is slimming. Definitely not the white.
Susan Calantone
August 16th, 2009
10:03 pm
If he was a pedophile, what then. My 3 year old grandson wouldn;t even think of hurting an animal. Evil is Evil.
Susan Calantone
August 16th, 2009
10:05 pm
I will never buy a single thing that the Eagles endorse and by the way, they are endorsing their image of being animals in the worste sense of the word.
Saints Fan
August 16th, 2009
10:06 pm
Jeff, controversy sells. Right now this is the Biggest story in the nation. Old women who dont even watch football know who Michael Vick is. He’s practically a “Rock Star” at this present time. Alot of people feel that PETA and these Animal Activist are going over-board with their protesting of Vick and think they’re in it for other reasons. So people will counter PETA’S actions and show them that we are willing to give this guy a 2nd chance, and we’re going to show you by buying out all of his jerseys… Im not even a Eagles fan, Im a Saints Fan, but I will go and buy all 3 colors of his jersey to show my support….And you should too, Jeff….
honest_abe
August 16th, 2009
10:16 pm
dog fighting = pedophilia? wtf? some people are are just too stupid to describe.
good point jeff. the nfl “trying” to clean up their image is soley tied to generating more revenue. it has nothing to do with principles or standards.
Ken Stallings
August 16th, 2009
10:21 pm
Stuff a sock in it, Jeff!
I’ve disagreed with you sometimes in the past. But, this column was too much! You have shamed yourself highly! Goodell doesn’t need your personal endorsement. He’s one of the few sports commissioners who tries hard to maintain the image of his league.
All player jerseys for any team are marketed. You know that and so do I. When Goodell made Vick eligible to be signed, the merchandising came with it. Vick is suspended for the first eight games of the regular season. You supported that. He’s being paid. You supported that. Your “offense” is patently phony.
So, who’s being the hypocrite here?
You praised his reinstatement but now condemn in a sidebar manner all the ramifications of that reinstatement. I strongly suspect your protests are false as you’d write a column condemning Goodell for being “vengeful and petty” if he suspended jersey sales!
This is a perfect example of a scribe creating his own “outrage” and in the processing trying to tarnish a man with a job 20 times more demanding than any you’ve held in your life! And one wonders why members of the media are held in such poor esteem by society!
AC in Boulder
August 16th, 2009
10:22 pm
Wow saints fan! That is one of the most ignorant posts i’ve seen in, well, ever. Vick is the antithesis of a “rock star”. He is neither revered nor glamorized any more. He does deserve a second chance, but he is starting from scratch in rebuilding his life and from less than scratch in rebuilding his public image. PETA and animal activist groups are based on the humane treatment of animals so it’s not going “over-board” for them to express outrage when a public figure is convicted of torturing and murdering ANIMALS!
also… the phrase “a lot” is two words
Herschel Talker
August 16th, 2009
10:26 pm
Reid Adair likes men
woodie
August 16th, 2009
10:26 pm
I think you answered your question Jeff.
Falcons_Hero_Zero
August 16th, 2009
10:39 pm
Jeff,
Ask Steve Wyche to set-up a meeting with Goodell. Ask him why he is selling Vick’s jerseys, and tell us the result of your conversation with The NFL Commissioner.
I am interested to see what he says.
long time falcon
August 16th, 2009
10:39 pm
Great article. I couldn’t agree more as this scenerio with Vick’s jersey sales is seething with hypocrisy. Don’t sell the jersey until he is fully reinstated. Why? Even Eagles owner Jeff Lurie said vick is walking on a thin sheet of ice with his franchise and that he better fufill every promise and commitment he made to the team. Some of which is community service that he is obligated to perform. Plus Vick’s contract this season is not guaranteed until week one. If something happens and Vick is cut then the jersey sales are going to make the NFL look quite stupid.
DOG
August 16th, 2009
10:53 pm
you know something is wrong when people think more of dogs than people,,and bye the way some of my asian friend say they tast good
Sonny Clusters
August 16th, 2009
10:56 pm
We was thinking those might be trick jerseys since they cost so much. Like that water bottle that had a hidden compartment maybe these jerseys have a drawer in them or something so Mike can carry some Rolexes and stuff in it. We was always taught to think about things like that instead of just thinking something bad when we see something stupid.
Jay
August 16th, 2009
10:59 pm
I’m going to buy all three colors of his jersey. Go Mike Vick, prove the haters wrong.
Roger Goodell
August 16th, 2009
11:03 pm
OK Schultz,
So you wanna play hardball, huh? You don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you? You are suspended for the year….NO PAY….NO PLAY
Capish?
Hey Michael,
Get back out there and pick some more cotton! Or you’re suspended
another 6 weeks!I know the jerseys aren’t made of cotton….that’s for the #7 Vick/Eagle pajamas we’re selling next .
Saints Fan
August 16th, 2009
11:08 pm
First of all AC in Boulder:::::: You’re correcting the spelling of the word alot-a lot, well Im typing on an internet blog, not a College Turn Paper!! And 2nd, like I said PETA is going over-board with this situation. Why is’nt PETA, protesting against the guy who KILLS Deer to hang his antlers on his wall??? Why is’nt PETA protesting the guy who shoots Grizzly Bears so he can take a pictures with his son in front the dead animal??? Why is’nt PETA protesting the Shrimper’s or craber’s, when they drag a net thats over a mile wide in the ocean, pulling not only shrimp or crabs out the water, but thousands of other species. Hmmm.. Let me guess, none of those people are as Famous or such a hot-topic as Michael Vick. They’re not going to go after the foreign shrimper, who cant speak english. They’re not going to go after the dad who’s an unknown average Joe who’s taking pictures with his son over the dead Bear’s body. And they’re not going to go after the guy who kills Deer for they’re antlers. PETA loves the spotlight, they thrive off of attention. PETA wont go after those people, ahn, ahn, they want the “Big Fish” (no pun intended) Famous Household Name Millionaire ,Michael Vick…So AC, if you still dont understand my point, you are the ignorant one.
Sarah Palin
August 16th, 2009
11:11 pm
This disgusts me to see the NFL profit at the expense of those poor defenseless dogs….Hold on a minute! THERE’S ANOTHER WOLF!!! Fly closer so I can get a better shot, you *&^%**&!!!! DIE WOLF DIE!!!
Now, where was I again? Oh look, I can see Putin rearing his head again…I can see into his soul too , Georgie!
FALCONS SORRY
August 16th, 2009
11:15 pm
ROGER NO GOODELL! YOU MAY BE A SELF RIGHTEOUS HIPPOCRIT BUT EVEN YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THAT MIKE VICK BRING THE NFL LEAGUE MONEY AND MAKE ALL THE OWNERS RICH AND MAKE YOU AND THAT SORRY AUTHUR BLANK RICH TOO! VICK BRING ALL KIND OF PEOPLE TO THE NFL THAT PROBABLY DONT EVEN LIKE FOOTBALL BUT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE WITNESS TO A GREAT HUMAN BEING AND THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER TO EVER STEP ON A FIELD! AND EVERBODY WANT TO BE AROUND AND WITNESS AND TOUCH GREATNESS! VICK IS GOING TO SELL OUT EVER STADIUM THE EAGELS PLAY IN THIS YEAR AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD! VICK COULD SELL OUT EVER GAME FOR THE NO GOOD DETROT LIONS TOO AND THE NFL KNOWS IT! VICK IS BIGGER THAN THE NFL AND THEY NEED TO RECKANIZE THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS MAKE MORE MONEY MV7 THAN WITH OUT HIM! MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND RACES AND BACK GROUNDS LOVE MIKE VICK AND WANT TO BE EXCITED WHEN THEY SEEM HIM DO GOOD! THAT IS WHY THE SORRY FALCONS COULD NEVER SELL ENOUGH TICKETS WHEN VICK PLAYED HERE BECAUSE EVER SINGLE PERSON THAT COULD BREATH WANTED IN THE DOME TO SEE VICK! NOW THAT VICK IS NO LONGER A SLAVE ON THAT SORRY BACK STABBER BLANKS PLANTATION THE FALCONS CANNOT EVEN GIVE THEIR SORRY TICKET AWAY AS TOLET PAPER! EVEN IF HE WIN 10 SUPPER BOWLS IN A ROW MATTY HOPELESS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PACK THE WAY VICK COULD DO ON EVEN AN 0-16 TEAM! PEOPLE WANTED TO TAKE AWAY VICKS WHOLE LIKE OVER SORRY WORTHLESS DOGS THAT THEM PETA HATERS LOVE MORE THAN HUMANS! NO BODY SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER THE WAY VICK HAS DONE OVER NO ACCOUNT DOGS! I HOPE YOU RUN OVER 10 OF THEM SORRY DOGS AND DRAG EACH ONE A MILE EVER DAY ON YOUR WAY TO EAGELS PRACTICE MIKE!
Sarah Palin
August 16th, 2009
11:16 pm
I don’t want Obama’s death panel to kill granny and my retarded grandchild ….Err, Downs Syndrome child…Well you know the liberal media and their gotcha journalism…Out of my cold dead hands, go my wolf-hunting AK-47 and Trig
PaulVA
August 16th, 2009
11:16 pm
I’m buying all three jersey GO VICK
Scooby Doo
August 16th, 2009
11:19 pm
Ruh roh…he’s back!
Snoopy
August 16th, 2009
11:20 pm
Falcons sorry,
Dog, you’re cold
McGruff
August 16th, 2009
11:21 pm
Take a bite out of crime…keep Vick suspended
Snoop Dogg
August 16th, 2009
11:22 pm
What’s the dizzle? for rizzle FALCONS SORRY is the shizzle
Lassie
August 16th, 2009
11:22 pm
I am rolling over in my grave
Jeff Schultz
August 16th, 2009
11:23 pm
Roger – sorry for doubting you. I take it all back. Can I borrow your jet? Your New York penthouse? Can I just least your hair for the weekend?
Sarah – you’re hot. A nut, but hot.
PaulVa – I think you get 10 percent off if you by all three.
UGA VI
August 16th, 2009
11:23 pm
I’m gonna come back and bite Goodell in the a$$….and that no count
FALCONS SORRY too
Michael Vick
August 16th, 2009
11:26 pm
Thanks for the love, ATL…like I said no matter what I do….people always gonna love Mike Vick
George Jetson
August 16th, 2009
11:30 pm
Jeff,
Stop this crazy thing!!
Charlie
August 16th, 2009
11:30 pm
I think the Eagles have about the same measure of respect for the intellect of that a typical Vick fan as I do.
Sarah Palin
August 16th, 2009
11:33 pm
Thanks Jeff,
When I get done tea-bagging Newt Gingrich, I’ll give you an exclusive
“interview” (wink,wink) You know like the one I had with the Maverick himself….you betcha….I love to tea-bag
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 16th, 2009
11:46 pm
HA HA………. A SO-CALLED GLORIFIED RUNNING BACK ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NFL WEBSITE
I TOLD “YOU” PEOPLE THE COMMISSIONER WAS NOT GOING TO LET THE NFL CASH COW STRAY TO THE UFL
HEY JEFF HOW MUCH DOES A RYAN JERSEY SELL FOR?
VICK SUPPORTER 2
August 16th, 2009
11:52 pm
THE FALCONS FIRE VICK AND HIS PUNISHMENT:
- SUPERBOWL BOUND TEAM
- REAL RECEIVERS
- REAL RUNNING BACKS
- REAL COACHES
- RESUME AS THE “FACE” OF THE NFL
AND THE FALCONS THOUGHT THEY DIS’D VICK
stendec
August 16th, 2009
11:55 pm
Loss to 0-Forever Detroit Lions unacceptable under any circumstances! Horrible choke job by Falcons in American sewer known as Michigan. Completely nauseating. Nothing good from this debacle. Flat F- grades all the way around. Lowest available. Oh yeah. (CENSORED) Mike Sick! At least dog population in Philly will not be a problem. (CENSORED) Eagles.
Saints Fan
August 17th, 2009
12:04 am
GO VICK!!!!!!! EAGLES AND SAINTS= NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
REALITY
August 17th, 2009
12:10 am
VS 2…
Yes and Vick was rewarded with a HUGE contract…from 130 million to bankruptcy and one million…Vick has been humbled….and rightly so
Volman
August 17th, 2009
12:22 am
Mr Schultz, I’ll take the black one. Do I need to email you my mailing address?
Volman
August 17th, 2009
12:23 am
Vick Supporter 2: What do you mean…. YOU people?
Tknowsbest!
August 17th, 2009
12:23 am
Mike Vick is back and guess what? If Vick wasn’t as good as advertised there wouldn’t be all this hate!….Most people in this country only saw Vick on national televised games and at some of those games that were nationally televised, either he or his team didnt always play well. But the games that were regionally televised or people had direct tv’s nfl’s ticket they had a chance to see Vicks totally body of work throughout the years watching him throw with pin point accruracy or a sixty to eighty yard bomb or watched him move the chains towards the end zone…..True Vick fans have seen if not most all of his games and know when he has protection he is dangerous from the pocket…Just ask Pittsburg and Cinncinnati whom he threw four touchdowns games back to back the last season he played….Don’t forget all of his receivers also made him look bad his last year…Roddy White, Jenkins and Crumpler dropped all kinds of passes even in the end zone….I predicted if McNabb stalls somewhat or goes down and Vick shows his flashes of QB brilliance McNabb will get traded next year…Truth be told they didnt acquire Vick just for pure gimmicktry…The coaches around the league have watched film on him for years and they know what he can do with the right pass protection and offensive coaching….Vick will become the most dangerous QB again and not just for his running…To Vicks advantage he hasn’t played in 2 yrs so his body is prolonged from injury for 2 yrs which might given him 2 extra yrs of longevity in this league…Remember Jeff Schultz when Vick threw for over 300 yds against Denver and ran for over 100 yds against the broncos….There were many good games where Vick passed exemely well and because they were regional televised games these haters never saw the passing skill set of Vick when he had protection in the pocket…These haters forget Vick had to scramble for his life most of the time because the linemen on offensive were undersize. Schultz in philly his linemen won’t be undersized….Philly was thinking 4yrs ahead when they sign Vick….When the rest of teams that didnt snatch vick when they had a chance are going to REGRET THE FACT THEY GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE HATER’S FOOLISHNESS HYPE OF THE NON FORGIVING SPIRIT OF HATRED AND BIGOTRY AND DOWN RIGHT SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS ATTITUDES, FALCONS SORRY, IM HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR,….GO VICKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!
Ed-Covington
August 17th, 2009
12:35 am
Speaking of Sarah Palin, tonight on Squidbillies(a rerun on Adult Swim on Cartoon) Early wore a cap with her picture and “VPILF” on the front.
Gerard Smith
August 17th, 2009
12:39 am
I will make this very simple for you. I believe in priciples too, but evidently there is a demand for them. It’s called SUPPLY AND DEMAND. Everyone is not claiming to be perfect like you Mr. Schultz!!!!!!
Gerard Smith
August 17th, 2009
12:50 am
To long time Falcon Fan. If people want to buy them why should they listen to you? By the way I am a 20 year season ticket holder. It is a difference in a FAN and a SEASON TICKET HOLDER.
Ted Striker
August 17th, 2009
2:32 am
I wonder how much Goodell would charge for a #7 Eagles jersey if Megan Fox slept in it.
jj
August 17th, 2009
3:43 am
Enter your comments here
tbhawksfan
August 17th, 2009
3:52 am
I love sports, but I see no reason to contribute financially to the business. I find the people that think that you can only be a fan if you financially support the team are totally mis-guided (well guided actually). I loved sports before it became a major economy and a mini nation. The mentalities that have arisen out of the “success” of the of sports is all the reason I need to not be a fan.
If only people could care so much about personal responsibility and character. These are things that used to be considered the measure of a person; today, the measure of a person is either how successful they are at contributing to the benefit of a capital institution (business) or how many idiots think they’re special.
I think Vick would be more recalcitrant if he didn’t have the prospect of NFL million$ in perspective.
Vick chose to be a crimminal. He chose to be immoral and he chose to be a liar, cheater and hater. Did Vick change or did the law merely impose change on a man incapable of individual responsibility? My guess is that if he hadn’t have been caught, he’d still be doing it.
jj
August 17th, 2009
3:55 am
The comish and the Owners are businessmen and they are all about the money.MV7 is a cash product that they see as a moneymaker and we the public are the PAWNS.I believe T.Dungy believes in Vicks redemption and also Mr Blank has love for Vick,but the others can only see the potential for more money.I hope i’m wrong about The Boys,but bizness is bizness and it ain’t personal.We the public make it personel and that hurts everybody because we should want the better good for everyone.I pray Mike is in tune to what Mr.Dungy is putting down and don’t forget who gave him his gifts.I pray that there would be less anger in this country because a house divided against itself cannot stand.I hope we learn from Mike and don’t forget The Lord. i
Ted Striker
August 17th, 2009
4:52 am
Just finished a 9 mile jog, 300 push ups, 400 sit-ups, and am getting ready to read the Good Book. I suppose everyone else waits till 5 a.m. to get started but I like to get things out of the way early so I can get a jump on work.
Iowahorse
August 17th, 2009
5:15 am
Susan, what in the heck are you actually talking about? Seriously. Go get your kid a PETA Unhappy Meal and try to re-evaluate what comes out of your mouth before it actually does next time, ok? Dumb is dumb.
tbhawksfan
August 17th, 2009
5:24 am
Ted Striker; you’re either very funny or nuts.