Nike tells players to stop customizing cleats, threatens endorsement deals
Nike has told its players to stop wearing customized cleats during games or it will terminate their endorsement deals, TMZ Sports reports.
Several players have received letters from Nike warning them that customizing their cleats violates their endorsement deals with the sportswear giant.
Players such as Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, Terrell Suggs and Reggie Bush have been having so much extra work done on their cleats that the swoosh is being obscured or, in some cases, covered up all together.
The letter reads in part:
“Your Nike Football Contract requires that you wear ‘Nike’ products that have been designated by Nike Sports Marketing for such use.
“Nike views third-party customization (or post-embellishment) of Nike footwear to be a violation of the contract, triggering Nike’s right to immediately terminate the contract.”
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The company is giving the players the benefit of the doubt, stating in the letter that it “presumes you were unfamiliar” with the provisions of the contract.
Nike didn't return a request for comment from TMZ.
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