San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Fined $10k for Defying No Beats Headphones Rule

[69Mustang]

That's why this is so "crooked". The NFL signs contracts for everything, down to underwear and socks. Beats obviously found a spot where headphones were not being locked down and paid the players directly. NFL responds by finding a counter sponsor since "headphones on players" is SO valuable now and they DESERVE a share. Players are supposed to honor the NFL contract "on the clock" which gets absurdly stupid in situations like this where Beats was clever enough to find something the NFL hadn't whored out completely first.

What if I told you this Bose deal was primarily about getting the Bose logo on the headsets that coaches and other personnel wear on the sideline? Motorola had that contract for 13 years. Bose was already the official home audio company for the NFL. They simply tacked on to that contract to become the official headset and headphone company for the NFL.

I hope you aren't one of the people who are under the incorrect impression that players have to wear Bose. That's not the case.

 

[HiRez]

So Apple is going to continue to pay them when they get kicked out of the NFL? We all see what Apple gets out of it. What do the players get? Unemployment checks?

You really think the NFL is going to kick all their best players out of the league? They would have no product left to sell. That would never happen, the star players have leverage.

 

[InfoTime]

I'm also a little bit bothered by Apple punking the NFL. Sure, it's clever marketing... sticking it to the man... guerrilla marketing, etc. You might expect it from some small startup or juvenile delinquent company. But Apple? They're better than that.

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The deal is that Bose is late to the headphone sponsorship game.

No they're not. They may be the new sponsor. But for years I remember seeing Motorola headsets worn by all the coaches. It was not an accident. Now they're all sporting Bose headsets. Same deal, just someone else has it now.

 

[Judas1]

What are these rights you talk about? I think it may be you who doesn't understand. Players collectively bargain for the things they want and what they will accept. This is one of those things. It's not new. The NFL has had this right for a number of years. If they players disagreed with it they could have made it a point of contention in their negotiations. They never have.

And the NFL has gotten away with having this control all this time. That does not mean they were entitled to it in the first place. Collective bargaining is just a means to get players what they want most. It doesn't mean that the NFL has absolute rights over things that wasn't specifically argued for.

 

[69Mustang]

You really think the NFL is going to kick all their best players out of the league? They would have no product left to sell. That would never happen, the star players have leverage.

No I don't think the NFL would kick the best players out of the league. I was just playing along with your hyperbolic quote by being just as hyperbolic.

Seriously, why would any player go along with that idea? They agreed to restrictions in the CBA. Besides, what you're talking about has no benefit to anyone but Apple. I don't know the players personally, but I can pretty much guarantee they don't give a crap about Apple.

 

[B2k1977]

Also the fatal flaw of communism strangely.

No worries. 20 years from now USA will be a communist country.

 

[Judas1]

No worries. 20 years from now USA will be a communist country.

If we're lucky. By the looks of it, it'll be a corporate autocracy. Oops wait....

 

[AdonisSMU]

No bud, you're wrong. Nothing in that deal says players have to wear Bose. It does say, when representing the NFL players will not wear display competing company logos. The NFL can restrict what a player wears in front of a camera because the players agreed to it in their collective bargaining. And no, that's definitely not how business works.

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I know you're joking but players can do this. It doesn't even have to be a Bose sticker. Players aren't required to wear Bose. I don't understand why that idea is permeating this thread. All a player has to is cover the Beats, Sony, Grado, AT, Senn logo and they are golden. They never have to remove them from their head or neck.

Headphones likely not a consideration in the past. The nfl needs to renegotiate the contracts and be explicit this time. They dont get blanket control.

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I'm also a little bit bothered by Apple punking the NFL. Sure, it's clever marketing... sticking it to the man... guerrilla marketing, etc. You might expect it from some small startup or juvenile delinquent company. But Apple? They're better than that.

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No they're not. They may be the new sponsor. But for years I remember seeing Motorola headsets worn by all the coaches. It was not an accident. Now they're all sporting Bose headsets. Same deal, just someone else has it now.

Beats may have had contracts with the players beforehand. Why would the nfl get payment and not the players getting anything out of the deal.

 

[69Mustang]

And the NFL has gotten away with having this control all this time. That does not mean they were entitled to it in the first place. Collective bargaining is just a means to get players what they want most. It doesn't mean that the NFL has absolute rights over things that wasn't specifically argued for.

Come on Judas. The NFL hasn't gotten away with anything. That right was bargained and agreed to in the CBA. Bolded from your comment: you are categorically wrong. Sorry, but you are. That right was explicitly bargained for. The NFL CBA is readily available online. It's a huge document so I will save you some time and point you to the relevant section: Article 51, Sections 1 & 2 cover Endorsements and Attire. If you choose to look, most relevant for you would be Section 2(b), which covers the issue we're discussing. It's on page 215 of the CBA, but actually on page 232 of the searchable .pdf

 

[macduke]

I'm not sure if the NFL realizes this, but it's kind of a big deal when players get fined. ESPN and everyone else starts talking about it. This is bringing massive amounts of attention to Beats, makes the NFL look bad by associating them with fining a player for showing support for breast cancer awareness, and makes people notice even more when players wear the headphones. This almost seems like a clever ploy by Beats and the NFL to promote Beats over competing brands because their players are willing to pay $10K fines just to wear them in public every day. You don't get a bigger endorsement than that. The NFL is clueless, lol.

 

[jozeppy26]

Seriously? ******* the NFL. It's beyond me that any cooperation can tell any individual what brand he or she can wear without consent from the individual.

 

[69Mustang]

Headphones likely not a consideration in the past. The nfl needs to renegotiate the contracts and be explicit this time. They dont get blanket control.

Yeah Adonis, they (the NFL) do get blanket control. Players agreed to it in the CBA. That CBA is a 10 year contract so it is not going to be renegotiated anytime soon. Even when it is, I seriously doubt this issue will change. It doesn't affect player money at all.

 

[Judas1]

Come on Judas. The NFL hasn't gotten away with anything. That right was bargained and agreed to in the CBA. Bolded from your comment: you are categorically wrong. Sorry, but you are. That right was explicitly bargained for. The NFL CBA is readily available online. It's a huge document so I will save you some time and point you to the relevant section: Article 51, Sections 1 & 2 cover Endorsements and Attire. If you choose to look, most relevant for you would be Section 2(b), which covers the issue we're discussing. It's on page 215 of the CBA, but actually on page 232 of the searchable .pdf

You still don't get it. Whats covered in the CBA is not inclusive of all the rights players have. The CBA is just a contract. Contracts are NOT all powerful and all inclusive. Some contracts can be voided. A contract that says that a player can't represent their own headphone brand during their own time is voidable even if its not in the CBA. The NFL can claim that TV interview time their time, and not the player's time, but they'd still be wrong.
edit: If a player wanted to, they can rightly claim freedom of speech. What do you think supersedes what? Freedom of speech or a contract?

 

[gco212]

You still don't get it. Whats covered in the CBA is not inclusive of all the rights players have. The CBA is just a contract. Contracts are NOT all powerful and all inclusive. Some contracts can be voided. A contract that says that a player can't represent their own headphone brand during their own time is voidable even if its not in the CBA. The NFL can claim that TV interview time their time, and not the player's time, but they'd still be wrong.

What on earth are you on about? What right does this violate. Just name the right and I can explain why you're wrong.

 

[69Mustang]

I'm not sure if the NFL realizes this, but it's kind of a big deal when players get fined. ESPN and everyone else starts talking about it. This is bringing massive amounts of attention to Beats, makes the NFL look bad by associating them with fining a player for showing support for breast cancer awareness, and makes people notice even more when players wear the headphones. This almost seems like a clever ploy by Beats and the NFL to promote Beats over competing brands because their players are willing to pay $10K fines just to wear them in public every day. You don't get a bigger endorsement than that. The NFL is clueless, lol.

No it's not a big deal. Players get fined all the time. Some we hear about, most we don't. For anyone who follows football this is nothing. I do agree this seems like guerrilla marketing from Beats, but if you think Kap paid that fine...
Most assuredly, that was paid by Beats. I completely disagree about the NFL being clueless (this issue specifically, not on everything). They know fans don't give a bleep about this. It's the most popular sport in America by a wide margin and Beats/Apple ain't gonna change that. The NFL loves making money. A little guerrilla marketing by Beats doesn't really move the money needle. $50-100 from Bose does move the needle.

 

[Mackie924]

This thread reinforces the nerd/jock stereotype like no other. It's quite comical the responses some of us are giving. The funnier thing, most of the heartache is less about the players or Beats. It's about an Apple property being deprived.

It's pretty simple. Collective bargaining covers everything we're discussing. Collective, as in the NFLPA and the NFL mutually agreed to the rules covering everything from salary and player conduct to endorsements and uniform requirements. It also covers a whole host of other things, including fines for breaking the rules in the NFL.

Joining the NFL means joining the NFL union, which means agreeing to the CBA. There is no violation of rights, of ancillary (endorsement) contracts, or any other issue we can come up with.

Beats can do nothing. Apple can do nothing. It is what it is. Players like Steve Smith Sr. and Chris Johnson endorse Powerade. On that sideline and at that podium, they may actually drink Powerade but it will be in a Gatorade cup or Gatorade bottle. Just like they can continue to wear Beats but must cover the logo when representing the NFL. When they represent themselves they can wear whatever they like.

Just like your job has governance over a certain portion of your time, their job does as well. Moreover they agree to it as part of being in the NFL.

A sensible post at last.

 

[C DM]

Also the fatal flaw of communism strangely.

Because it's a flaw when it comes to anything basically.

 

[69Mustang]

You still don't get it. Whats covered in the CBA is not inclusive of all the rights players have. The CBA is just a contract. Contracts are NOT all powerful and all inclusive. Some contracts can be voided. A contract that says that a player can't represent their own headphone brand during their own time is voidable even if its not in the CBA. The NFL can claim that TV interview time their time, and not the player's time, but they'd still be wrong.
edit: If a player wanted to, they can rightly claim freedom of speech. What do you think supersedes what? Freedom of speech or a contract?

I don't think anyone can help you. That CBA is a 10 year contract that governs all things football. That interview you're talking about? That is purely the purview of the NFL. That is not personal time. What don't you get about that? I think you need a civics lesson. That has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

 

[i-John]

I hope this whole thing blows up in the NFL's face. I would never buy beats, but to tell people what headphones they can wear is ridiculous.

The NFL isn't telling them what headphones they can wear. They mandated what can and can't be worn at public events sanctioned by the NFL.

 

[malman89]

These players are dumber than I thought...but it's Sherman and Kaep so not really a surprise.

You sounds pretty jealous of a smart, eloquent, an Stanford educated multi-millionaire, at least in Sherman's case. Not sure about Kaep personally, but I'm sure he's a solid guy too.

Beats might get more play out of this thing that Bose does.... love it.

I was going to say something, but macduke covered it perfectly. This is by far a boon for Beats, a negative for the NFL, and the average consumer doesn't give a dang about Bose in this situation.

I'm not sure if the NFL realizes this, but it's kind of a big deal when players get fined. ESPN and everyone else starts talking about it. This is bringing massive amounts of attention to Beats, makes the NFL look bad by associating them with fining a player for showing support for breast cancer awareness, and makes people notice even more when players wear the headphones. This almost seems like a clever ploy by Beats and the NFL to promote Beats over competing brands because their players are willing to pay $10K fines just to wear them in public every day. You don't get a bigger endorsement than that. The NFL is clueless, lol.

 

[kahkityoong]

I've never seen a batch of more clueless responses than I'm seeing here. It's called advertising, marketing, promotion, sponsorship, brand awareness. All companies big and small engage in those activities. It's what drives our economy. Nothing works until something gets sold.

Bose has a deal with the NFL to promote it's products. If you have individual employees actively displaying competing products you've got a problem.

And that problem is with the employees. In this case Kapernick. He's effectively giving his bosses the middle finger by doing this. And they're punishing him. Its the way the world works. Get used to it. Oh, and the Easter Bunny isn't real.

You can add your response to the clueless list. When the marketing benefits the opposition as much as the brand that's being advertised it might be time to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign.

 

[Judas1]

I don't think anyone can help you. That CBA is a 10 year contract that governs all things football. That interview you're talking about? That is purely the purview of the NFL. That is not personal time. What don't you get about that? I think you need a civics lesson. That has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

Huh? So football supersedes their individual rights? Again, the CBA is a contract. A contract is just an agreement. It does not absolve players of whatever rights they are entitled to.

 

[69Mustang]

the day before this advertising deal between NFL & Bose was announced, BEATS sent the entire Ravens organization Beats Headphones. and the players went to Twitter to thank Beats.

This is ONE time I am on Kaep (sp?) side. He has a deal with Beats. it probably says to wear when on camera. suddenly NFL signs a new deal with Bose.

I wonder if he could wear BOSE but put BEATS stickers on them?

No he can not. But he can wear Beats and cover the logo. He doesn't have to put a Bose sticker on the them. Players aren't mandated to wear Bose. He could have put a pink ribbon sticker over the 'b' and nothing would have been said. They are just prohibited from displaying logos of competition of their official sponsors. You can drink Powerade in an interview as long as it's in a Gatorade container or a nondescript container.

 

[a0me]

Yay, it cost him 1 minute of work!

He should have done like Julius Thomas and get away with a $8,268 fine for brutal chop block at the knees of another player.
With the NFL, wearing the wrong headphones will cost you more than almost ending another player's season.

 

[69Mustang]

Huh? So football supersedes their individual rights? Again, the CBA is a contract. A contract is just an agreement. It does not absolve players of whatever rights they are entitled to.

More than one person has asked you to specify which rights you're talking about yet you continue to speak in generalities. So I will ask directly... again. What rights do you see being violated? Please don't say freedom of speech because that ain't it.

Just saying "rights" doesn't make it all encompassing. This is MR, not the Yahoo comment section. Just kidding But seriously, what rights?