Nike re-signs Michael Vick

[Tonus]

Terms of the contract were not released. (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Nike-re-signs-Michael-Vick-to-endorsement-deal-four-years-after-dropping-him-070111)

I'm kind of curious about this. Since his conviction and jail term for running a dog-fighting ring and mistreating and killing dogs, Vick has managed to keep a clean profile. He hasn't said or done anything to further damage his reputation and seems to be working at saying the right things. He got another shot at being a starting QB in the NFL and played very well. Combined with his lack of image-hurting actions in the meantime, his marketability has probably gotten a bit of a boost.

But still, Nike is paying him (and considering what they have paid athletes in the past, even a 'damaged' player like Vick is probably going to get seven figures) and I'm wondering if they feel that his on-field performance and public perceptions will continue to be positive enough to make it worth the while. Even though he's played it smart so far, there is still quite a bit of anger at him for his actions, and Nike is bound to feel at least some of that as a result.

[Reserv*ir]

He was second in the running for the Madden '12 cover 'vote' to Cleveland's Peyton Hillis, and Cleveland's fan base went nuts about that (to the point of 'we must get this').
The actual sports fans want to forgive. He has been imprisoned far longer than a typical animal abuse convict would (that is to say, he has served his time). He has won back much of Philadelphia with his good play (and I imagine that'd be hard to do).

Yes, Nike will probably be biting a little bit of a bullet with this (and they've already been in hot water for all those sweatshop warehouses in the past...). They must have weighed out the pros and cons of this deal, and figured that this will end up working out for them.

From what I can tell, this won't really hurt Nike. I haven't heard of any critically loud outrage to the deal, and Vick will only be hearing it from the public for a few more years if all goes well.

[Grunthos]

Maybe Nike's Korean plant is going to start using dog leather for their "Hush Puppies" reboot, and thought, "Hmmmm.... who for a spokesman? Hey! Let's ask Mikey!"