There's a huge difference between accepting payment for work (ie promoting something) and accepting an appearance fee to go back to your prevoius place of work to hold up a trophy. Come on. It's a joke that he demanded one (if he did) and a bigger joke they paid it. I think Montana didn't go back to the Super Bowl in Detroit (40) because he demanded an appearance fee the NFL wouldn't pay (rightfully by the way). It was some sort of Super Bowl MVP reunion.
Not really. Strahan appearing at the Giants pre-game celebration netted them far more memorabilia cash-flow than the measly 75k they payed Michael to participate in the event. Jersey sales, free media coverage and post-event photo sales will be through the roof! How many Strahan jerseys do you think the Giants sold nationally after his heart warming appearance to celebrate the super bowl that he helped them win? Hats, Pictures, Jerseys, mugs, bobble heads - etc,etc. The NFL is BIG business brother, and the days of doing promotions for the love of the game is over. Why should the Giants make millions from the Strahan brand, and not compensate him in some form? He is no longer an active player, so he has the right to demand a small fee (in comparison to the dollars the Giants rake in over a fiscal year). The Giants make hundreds of millions of dollars per year.....75k is nothing to them.
Michael Strahan is a brand, and he is smart to charge for his services. He knows full well that the Giants will make hundreds of thousands of dollars from him appearing at their post-game celebration. Nothing gets fans to open their wallets faster than a heartfelt speech from a team superstar to commemorate a super bowl title.
In regards to Montana....he had every right to charge a fee for appearing at a super bowl MVP reunion. Montana adds instant credibility to the event, and would cause a huge number of fans to tune in, and buy NFL product to celebrate his (and others) sb achievements. More viewers tuning in = higher ad sales down the road. The NFL makes BILLIONS of dollars because of their players, and any smart superstar charges a fee for his image to be used if he is no longer playing in the NFL. Why should the NFL make money off a player’s accomplishment, and give them nothing in return? Did the NFL sweat and bleed to make them a superstar?
In both cases Montana and Strahan are certainly promoting something. They are letting the NFL use their star power to increase memorabilia sales, and spike coverage + participation in the events they were asked to participate in.
I know you will counter this post by telling me that Strahan has made millions over his career.....but, the NFL has made tens of billions over the same period, because of players like Michael.
