-
Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. — Fanatics filed a lawsuit against Arizona Cardinals rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. on Saturday night in New York Supreme Court for breaching a contract the wide receiver signed with the retailer in May 2023.
In the suit, Fanatics says Harrison has refused to fulfill his obligations to the deal while he also “publicly asserted” that the contract does not exist.
Details of what Harrison’s contract with Fanatics required from the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft were redacted, as were the details of the financial agreement between the two. However, a source told ESPN earlier this month that the deal was for at least $1 million and that the contract was for autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel and other marketing opportunities.
The suit also sites “The Official Harrison Collection LLC” as a defendant. Harrison is selling signed memorabilia through The Official Harrison Collection’s website. Items include photos ranging from $99.99 to $149, a jersey at $299.99 and a helmet for as much as $549.99. The site, which says, “Cardinals memorabilia coming soon,” states that it is “the ONLY website to purchase signed Harrison memorabilia.”
In the suit, Fanatics claims that Harrison told the retailer that a “larger competitor” had made an offer to him while other trading card companies have made “competing” offers, as well. The suit claims that Harrison has “demanded” Fanatics meet or exceed the other alleged offers. However, the suit also claims that Harrison has refused to provide Fanatics with the competing offers.
Fanatics also claims in the suit that Harrison has “already begun negotiating competing agreements with other collectible or sports trading card companies.”
According to the suit, Fanatics and Harrison’s relationship began in 2023, when Harrison, then at Ohio State, was one of “several top-tier student athletes, including many NFL prospects,” whom Fanatics signed to a multiyear licensing agreement. In March 2023, Fanatics signed Harrison to a limited promotion and license agreement that was non-exclusive and ended in April 2024, before last month’s NFL draft.
In the suit, Fanatics claims that after recognizing Harrison Jr.’s “potentially bright future and the limitations of the promotion and license agreement,” it approached Harrison Jr. again about a long-term, “more substantive” deal. The two sides began talking about a new deal in April 2023 and the negotiations were “heavily negotiated,” according to the suit. Harrison Jr., who does not have an agent, was represented by his father, Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. The two sides agreed to a binding term sheet on May 16th, 2023, and it was finalized two days later.
Terms of the agreement were redacted in the suit, however, the suit states that the payment to Harrison Jr. was “significant.”
Fanatics said in the suit that it paid Harrison Jr. in August and October of 2023, but claims Harrison Jr. “has refused to fulfill his obligations” despite “several requests” from Fanatics over the last few months. The suit claims that Harrison Jr. has “rejected or ignored every request.”
Fanatics also claims in the suit that Harrison Jr. disclosed confidential information about his contract to ESPN.
The suit also states that on April 23, 2024, Harrison Sr. asked Fanatics for a copy of the binding term sheet for his son. After Harrison Sr. received it, the suit said he told the company that the Harrisons do not have a deal with Fanatics.
Fanatics, which hopes the suit will compel Harrison Jr. to fulfill his obligations, according to the suit, requested a jury trial and estimated damages to be in the “millions of dollars.”
Harrison Jr. has also still yet to sign the NFLPA’s group licensing agreement, which would allow the player’s association to market his name, image and likeness to 85 companies.
Source: www.espn.com