Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have more in common than just Super Bowl rings and NFL most valuable player awards.
More than any other football players in this generation, these three have been able to transcend the game and become their own highly marketable brands.
Manning is corporate America’s favorite pitchman, shilling for DirecTV, MasterCard and Sprint, among others. Favre is on the cover of the popular Madden NFL 09 video game, has his own slew of endorsements, including Wrangler, and made a famous cameo in the movie “There’s Something About Mary.” Brady is dating Giselle Bundchen, one of the world’s most famous models, has been featured on the cover of GQ magazine and appeared in his underwear on “Saturday Night Live.”
Yes, this is certainly a quarterback’s world, and Manning, Brady and Favre are poised to join the ranks of John Elway, Dan Marino and Joe Montana, whose fame long exceeds their playing careers.
“It’s one of those ‘it’ factors that you can’t put your finger on,” former Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth said. “There’s a swagger to every one of those guys that they just have, a confidence that they just have.”
And it pays.
Not only do quarterbacks often receive larger paychecks from their franchises, they demand a higher value in the business world, oftentimes costing double what a top defensive player does. That’s because quarterbacks often top the wish list for corporations who are seeking pitchmen, said Darin David, an account director at Millsport, a national sports marketing agency.
“Kids from a young age, they want to pattern themselves after the quarterback,” David said. “It’s such a visible, high-profile position, and that’s what you want for your product.”
Manning, Brady and Favre are considered the top tier of active quarterbacks, trailed by a group that includes young stars such as Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo and Drew Brees. David said Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is at the top of the third tier, but if he continues to outpace the other quarterbacks of the 2006 draft class, Vince Young and Matt Leinart, his stock will continue to climb nationally.
“He’s up-and-coming, for sure,” David said.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
Quarterbacks rule
Five of the past nine players to grace the cover of the Madden NFL video game were quarterbacks. Before 2001, John Madden appeared on the cover:
2009 Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
2008 Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans
2007 Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle Seahawks
2006 Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
2005 Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
2004 Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta Falcons
2003 Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis Rams
2002 Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota Vikings
2001 Eddie George, RB, Tennessee Titans
Note: These covers reflect the U.S. version. Multiple players have appeared on the covers of foreign versions.
Signal-callers not hard sells
The top-selling NFL jerseys on NFLshop.com from April 1-July 31:
1. Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
2. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
3. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
4. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
5. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
6. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
7. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
8. Marion Barber, RB, Dallas Cowboys
9. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
10. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Also: 23. Jay Cutler, QB, Denver Broncos
