Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. holding out on signing NFLPA agreement

After being drafted on April 25, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is getting even more buzz around him now for what he is doing off the field than what he has done at Ohio State on it.

Unlike most rookies heading into their first season in the NFL, John Weinfuss of ESPN.com reported that Harrison Jr. has yet to sign the NFLPA’s group licensing agreement. This pact is normally signed so it would “allow the players’ association to market the name, image and likeness” of each player to numerous companies.

While this holdout may seem uncalled for, the reason he is doing so is that he is reportedly trying to renegotiate a previously signed deal with sports merchandise retailer Fanatics. Harrison Jr. signed the deal before last season began at Ohio State, worth over $1 million.

In the contract, it includes him signing autographs and trading cards, making his game-worn apparel sellable and creating other marketing avenues.

By not signing the NFLPA agreement, Harrison’s marketing opportunities will be slim. A Cardinals jersey with his name on it cannot be produced by Nike and sold by retailers like Fanatics. Harrison Jr. would also be unable to be in EA Sports’ Madden football video games.