NFL Rumors: Marvin Harrison Jr. Cardinals Jerseys Still Not Permitted to Be Sold
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVAugust 3, 2024
The NFLPA reportedly has told the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals and sporting apparel company Fanatics that the representatives of Marvin Harrison Jr. do not wish for his jersey to be sold and such sales are not permitted, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Fantatics and Harrison have been embroiled in a legal showdown since May, when the company sued him for an alleged breach of contract.
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss and Adam Schefter reported at the time that the deal between the parties "was for at least $1 million and that the contract was for autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel and other marketing opportunities," with Fanatics saying in the lawsuit that the wideout didn't meet his obligations and publicly denied having any such agreement.
The term sheet between the parties was later unsealed by the New York State Supreme Court in July, confirming that there were two phases to the agreement between the parties but also that "promptly" after agreeing to the terms of the agreement, the parties would "work together in good faith to negotiate an agreement to combine, amend and restate" the original pact.
Regardless of Harrison's dispute with Fanatics, it was expected that Harrison's jersey would be available for purchase after he signed his rookie deal with the Cardinals, since that automatically included him in the NFLPA group licensing agreement.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheetMarvin Harrison Jr has signed his rookie contract, and his jersey will now be for sale, sources say. <br><br>With the signing of his standard player contract, Harrison is part of the NFLPA's group licensing agreement and his jersey can be sold — as outlined in paragraph 4 of the deal. <a href="https://t.co/ceE2maWiTJ">https://t.co/ceE2maWiTJ</a>
Harrison, 21, was the No. 4 overall pick by the Cardinals in this year's NFL draft, and is expected to immediately be Kyler Murray's top option in the passing game.
His NFL career has gotten off to a unique start, however, after he completely skipped the NFL Scouting Combine and Ohio State's pro day. Both he and his father, NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harris Sr., were confident that his body of work in college would land him near the top of the first round regardless of the pre-draft process.
"Do we take this precious time in January and February to relax and get ready for a 22-week season, or do you wanna go and beat yourself up, and the best you're gonna do anyway is go four?" Harrison Sr. told Weinfuss in May. "So, we just weighed those options as a family. It's like no matter what you do in this combine or a pro day, what's the best can happen? And it was four."