McFadden close to Nike deal
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden did not formalize his plans for professional representation Saturday, but a deal is imminent, a source close to the family said.
As a true junior, McFadden could not officially decide on an agent before Saturday because of a new NFL Players Association rule.
There is considerable speculation in football circles that McFadden is also on the brink of negotiating an endorsement deal with Nike.
Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal reported this week that McFadden’s training tab in preparation for the scouting combine will be picked up by Nike as part of Nike’s sponsorship of the Michael Johnson Performance Center. Mini Muhammad, McFadden’s mother, said her son probably will wind up with a Nike deal, but she indicated that talks were not likely to conclude until early next week.
Johnson opened the Nikesponsored training center last year in McKinney, Texas, after previously training several NFL Draft prospects at IMG Academies, the Sports Business Journal reported.
“As an official training center for Nike athletes, they will send us athletes year in and year out,” Johnson told the publication. “They have been in discussions with Darren... so he came in on their allotment.” McFadden, who became the second-leading rusher in SEC history and a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2007, is projected as a top-five NFL Draft pick. The Little Rock native will be in position to command a lucrative signing bonus and initial contract after the April draft. Last year’s No. 5 pick, Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Levi Brown, signed a six-year, $ 62 million deal with around $ 18 million believed to be guaranteed.
Former LSU quarterback Ja-Marcus Russell, the first pick of last year’s draft, held out until Sept. 10 last year before agreeing to a six-year deal worth more than $ 60 million, with more than $ 32 million guaranteed.
Former Razorback track and field All-American Mike Conley, who is serving as an adviser to McFadden and his family, has a chance to land the job as McFadden’s marketing agent. He could not be reached for comment Saturday.
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