reebok tebow jersey
Reebok has also been ordered by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel to recall all unauthorized Tebow apparel already in the company’s distribution channels and stop accepting Tebow-related orders.
Nike filed suit on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New York accusing Reebok of improperly using the name and presumed number of the New York Jets quarterback, who was traded from the Broncos last week. The company fears the moves will eat into its ability to capitalize on the huge public demand for anything Tebow related.
Nike claims Reebok is selling Tebow-related apparel even though Reebok’s exclusive deal with the NFL Players Association to produce such apparel expired before March 1.
Further, Nike said its efforts to sell Tebow-apparel to retailers have been rejected because they have pending orders with Reebok that they want to unload first.
As Reebok’s 10-year, $250 million apparel deal with the NFL expires, it paves the way for Nike’s five-year exclusive deal that is reportedly worth $1.1 billion.
It’s easy to see why Nike has become territorial over Tebow, who is one of the most popular players in the NFL and had the No. 2 selling jersey last season. Jersey and other Tebow-related apparel are likely to bring in a serious stream of revenue for Nike and the Jets.
“Reebok has sought to take advantage of this unique, short-lived opportunity by supplying, without authorization or license, Tebow-identified New York Jets apparel to retailers in New York and elsewhere around the country," the lawsuit said.
The federal judge granted Nike a temporary restraining over in the Tebow dispute on Thursday and set a hearing for April 4 on the matter.
Reebok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tebow signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 2010 that reportedly pays the former Heisman Trophy winner a minimum of just under $300,000 a year.
"Tebow's high-profile trade to the New York Jets has garnered around-the-clock national news media coverage, and generated an immediate and short-lived intense consumer demand for" Tebow-branded Jets apparel, the lawsuit said.
In the lawsuit, Nike claimed it, not Reebok, has rights to use Tebow’s name. The judge scheduled a hearing for April 4 in Manhattan federal court.
Tebow, 24, helped lead the Broncos to the NFL playoffs after taking over as the team’s starting quarterback last year. He was traded to the Jets on March 21.
Tebow, a Christian who prays on the field after his team wins, was named the most popular professional athlete in the U.S. in an ESPN poll this year. His Broncos jersey was the second-highest selling of all NFL players last season, Nike said in the complaint. Public reaction to Tebow’s sudden popularity has been called “Tebow mania.”
Nike said it plans to introduce its new line of uniforms for all 32 NFL teams at an event in New York April 3.
Lauren Lamkin, an Adidas spokeswoman, didn’t immediately return a call yesterday seeking comment on the ruling. Mary Remuzzi, a Nike spokeswoman, declined to comment.
The case is Nike Inc. (NKE) v. Reebok International Ltd., 12- cv-2275, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
Nike filed a lawsuit against Reebok in federal court in New York on Wednesday for selling Tim Tebow Jets’ jerseys without permission.
“We have filed a complaint relating to unauthorized use of Tim Tebow’s name on New York Jets related apparel,” Nike said in a statement. “Nike is authorized and licensed to use Tim Tebow’s name on products. We have no further comment at this stage.”
Nike is scheduled to introduce official NFL apparel on April 3. According to CNBC, Reebok’s right to put names on new jerseys expired last week.
The league’s official merchandising website – NFLShop.com – is selling Tebow Jets’ jerseys produced by Reebok.
Tebow’s arrival has created plenty of buzz in the past week. Jockey, one of Tebow’s marketing sponsors, put up a billboard with the quarterback’s image in front of the Lincoln Tunnel. Tebow has already had a sandwich named after him at Carnegie Deli.
Despite all of the hoopla, Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan have maintained that marketing benefits weren’t a consideration when the team traded with the Broncos to land Tebow last week