No Nike Reunion For Vick After All

NFL News - October 1st, 2009 - Written by John

Part of the problem, some NFL analysts will tell you, is that sometimes athletes just have too much money to blow. Grown up with -- ideals, and that money can go to a murky place. Such is the case with Michael Vick, with a huge contract with the Falcons, teamed with lucrative sponsorship deals that left him anchoring an illegal dogfighting ring on his Virginia acreage. What he spent a majority on that money put him in prison for two years and left him at the podium begging for compassion.

The NFL inevidably granted it to him and, now back in the league, Vick signed a moderate two-year deal with the Eagles.

But now reports have been swirling that Vick is on the track back to financial prominance when it was suggested that the re-signed with Nike on a sponsorship deal on Wednesday. His agent even let out a comment that the camp is "excited to be part of the Nike team again."

Today, however, Nike began refuting the claims, saying they never offered Vick any kind of contract and do not feel comfortable with becoming financially obligated with the quarterback who still has mud left on his name.

Per ProFootballTalk, Nike rep Kejuan Wilkins told CNBC's Darren Rovell that the shoe company is simply giving Vick some of their equipment with no contractual obligation.

"Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick," Wilkins told Rovell. "We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike."

The bottom line for Vick is that fans want to see him stick to football. Maybe charity work. But for now, not striking lucrative deals that can leave him with money to blow. Nobody quite knows what they're getting into with him, and we've seen a lot of athletes give the scout's honor with their fingers crossed. It's why the Eagles only inked him to one year with a team option for a second.

He has only played one game and spoken to Philadelphia area anti-dogfighting communities once publicly. He is still a big risk and it would be a surprise if any company signs him before at least half of the season is gone without incident.

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