#MyCauseMyCleats NFL Week 13

Public Relations & The NFL About reputation Refers to any activity designed to create goodwill toward a business “The NFL has taken a big public relations hit this year with their archaic approach to individual expression from their players.”

What Is #MyCauseMyCleats The NFL is planning to relent on its notoriously strict uniform policy this season, but only for Week 13. The NFL will allow players to promote a charitable cause of their choice during the Dec. 3 weekend and a separate league source indicated that plan will go beyond cleats. There are some regulations, though: Players must have the charity or cause approved by the league prior to Week 13, as the league will still determine the legitimacy of the cause. The players must also auction off the cleats after use and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to that charity or cause. Nearly 500 players supported causes during the “My Cleats, My Cause” campaign last year A league source indicated that no fewer than 1,300 players have expressed interest in the campaign this season.

Past NFL Fines Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson was fined over $6,000 for wearing cleats with images of caution tape during the team's Week 4 win over the Browns. Some players wore 9/11-inspired cleats this past weekend that did not adhere to the policy despite the possibility of a fine. The biggest controversy came last season when Pittsburgh Running Back DeAngelo Williams (widely credited for starting the league’s pink initiative in October to promote breast cancer awareness) was fined $5,787 for writing “Find the Cure” on his eye black. Former Bears receiver Brandon Marshall wore green cleats in 2013 to promote mental health awareness. He was fined $10,500 by the league. One of the most prominent early examples was in 2004 when Jake Plummer wore a helmet decal of his former teammate, Pat Tillman, one extra week. The NFL eventually withdrew the fine after Plummer took the decal off the following week.

https://youtu.be/MOjhJrOLQKw Players Reasoning 2017 https://youtu.be/MOjhJrOLQKw

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017 https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/928667685713350656

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

#MyCauseMyCleats Sample 2017

Student Activity – Part 1 1. List each player on your Fantasy Football Team 2. Research which of your players are participating in #MyCauseMyCleats 3. Identify the Cause each player on your FF Team is supporting 4. Research more about their selected Cause: What does the Cause support? How can you donate/support the Cause? Why did the player choose to support that Cause? 4. Find photos of their #MyCauseMyCleats shoes (make sure it’s 2017)

Student Activity – Part 2 1. Create a PowerPoint from your findings on the previous slide 2. Be sure to include the following in your PowerPoint Presentation: Cover Slide Agenda Slide Information Slides** Conclusion Slide Citation slide Photographs 3. Ensure that all student members of your FF Team are active in conducting research and creating the PowerPoint for this project 4. Email your completed PowerPoint to your teacher for future class presentations **some Fantasy Football Teams may have multiple players participating in the 2017 #MyCauseMyCleats project, but other Fantasy Footballs Teams may only have 1 or 2 players participating – the amount of players participating will determine how many information slides you have!

#8175 Competencies Covered** #3, 7: Demonstrating Workplace Readiness Skills: Personal Qualities and People Skills #37: Understanding the Importance of Sports and Entertainment Marketing #89-93: Using Social Media #94-97: Exploring Public Relations/Publicity #100-101: Exploring Sponsorship and Endorsements Local BWHS: B-What? B-TRUE! & CTE “Stay Humble & Kind” **competencies may not be covered in full & extent of how much information is taught is based on teacher-lead discussion in class. This activity will be used to link classroom discussion, curriculum topics, and the use of Fantasy Football to current events in the Sports Industry.