Nike has been slowly taking over the world of sports since Michael Jordan signed with them in 1984 and in 2012, they expanded into the realm of NFL game jerseys.
After 10 years using Reebok as the official jersey outfitter, the NFL switched over to Nike this season and with that switch, came jerseys with what the company calls a “body-contoured fit.” While players like DeMarcus Ware, Marshawn Lynch and Larry Fitzgerald fill out these new jerseys well, the big fellas in the NFL are not very happy with the look and feel.
“I hate them. They are built for thin guys,” said 49ers guard Alex Boone in the Wall Street Journal report. “It makes me look
like I have big old love handles.
“It makes me look fat, and I’m not fat.”
Boone, who weighs in at 300 pounds, is just one of many NFL players who come in at over three bills. Even Boone’s wife had an opinion.
“She said, ‘It looks like you ate a small baby.'”
Nike has said that they believe their jerseys offer players a better chance at reaching peak performance. They have done similar things with many of their other sponsors with many Division I basketball teams like Ohio State, Michigan State and Syracuse wearing their slim Nike ELITE jersey.
However, unlike the basketball players who might push 240 if they’re big — I’m looking at you Dexter Pittman — an average NFL lineman weighs over 300 pounds.
Check out some photos of what the big guys are talking about.
Greg Jennings (left) looks great, while T.J. Lang looks like he could go up a size.
Jared Gaither of the Chargers probably wishes he could have the Reebok jerseys back.
The Seahawks lineman are probably letting Pete Carrol know how they feel about the jerseys.
