As sideshows go, whatever apparel company ultimately signs Johnny Manziel for an endorsement is a far cry from the drama surrounding which NFL club will choose him in the NFL draft, but at least this race is easier to handicap.
Manziel met with Nike officials this week at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Ore., likely to discuss an endorsement deal, according to bizjournals.com. By far the most culturally popular prospect available in the draft, Manziel, with his 752,000 Twitter followers, no doubt is the No. 1 pick of Nike, Under Armour, adidas, and any other apparel giant looking to pick up a high-profile endorsement from this year's crop of NFL prospects.
And there are certainly more football teams in need of a quarterback than there are apparel suitors with a shot at Johnny Football. According to the report, Nike gobbles 69 percent of the football cleat business, followed by Under Armour at 26 percent and adidas at 4 percent.
Manziel already has been to Baltimore-based Under Armour.
As for outward signs of Manziel's preference, there are few, although close friend LeBron James, with whom Manziel already is planning business dealings, is a Nike man.
Brace yourself -- the Manziel commercial onslaught is coming. The only question is what logo will be on the sleeve.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
