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Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. — Even though Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. has not signed the NFLPA’s group licensing agreement, which would allow the players’ association to market his name, image and likeness to more than 80 companies, the star wide receiver has a separate, individual memorabilia deal in place with Fanatics, a source told ESPN on Friday.
That deal, which Harrison signed before his last season at Ohio State, is worth more than $1 million and is for autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel and other marketing opportunities, the source said.
However, Harrison is trying to renegotiate the deal for more money and is trying to use the fact that he has not yet signed the group licensing agreement as leverage, the source added. By not signing the NFLPA agreement, Harrison cannot be part of a large number of marketing deals. For example, he can’t have Nike produce his Cardinals jersey — which would then be sold at various outlets including Fanatics — and he can’t be in the Madden NFL video game.
On Wednesday, Pat McAfee said on his show that Harrison turned down an offer for “a card deal” from Fanatics as a sophomore in college.
“So, it goes all the way into your second year of the NFL,” McAfee said. “Marvin Harrison, who doesn’t need the money, said, ‘We’re not taking that deal. We’re not signing the deal.’ What we have been told is the price of Marvin Harrison Jr. as a rookie and second-year in the NFL is not the same as when he was a sophomore in college.
“And there’s a lot of people that signed that deal, and hopefully this will all get worked out.”
Harrison is, however, selling signed memorabilia on his own website, which is called The Official Harrison Collection. Items include photos ranging from $99.99 to $149, a jersey at $299.99 and a helmet for as much as $399.99. The site, which says, “Cardinals memorabilia coming soon,” states that it is “the ONLY website to purchase signed Harrison memorabilia.”
In addition to his deal with Fanatics, Harrison has an endorsement agreement with New Balance and recently appeared in a Head and Shoulders advertisement.