Black and Blue Review
(UPDATE, Sun. Oct. 12, 11:15 a.m.): The ban against wearing headphones with logos other than Bose does not extend into the pre, pre-game. Example: When Panthers quarterback Cam Newton first comes out to do his pre-game ritual that includes a prayer near the goalpost, he is allowed to wear his Beats by Dre headphones. But when the team later comes out to warm up in pads, the non-Bose ban is in effect. The rule is mostly aimed at discouraging players from wearing other brands of headphones in postgame interviews, like 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did last week.
There’s a headphones controversy in the NFL.
While that may sound trivial — especially for a league dealing with much more important issues — the headphone industry has grown into a $2.3 billion market over the last five years.
Earlier this year, the league dumped former headset sponsor Motorola, who reportedly offered to increase its annual rights fee to $50 million. The NFL instead accepted a new deal with Bose.
Then last Saturday, the league announced a ban forbidding its players from appearing on camera while wearing headphones that show logos other than Bose. That’s a problem for the handfuls of players on each team who prefer the more-popular Beats by Dre headphones, including Cam Newton.
The Panthers quarterback, who is in his third season of an endorsement deal with Beats, wears a new style while warming up before every game. And last Christmas, he gave a pair of Beats headphones to each of his teammates.
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first player to publicly violate the new rule when he wore a pair to his postgame press conference on Sunday. Incredibly, his $10,000 fine was more than what Broncos tight end Julius Thomas was docked for his chop-block that injured Cardinals DE Calais Campbell.
Coincidentally — or not — every Panthers player found a new pair of Bose headphones at their lockers when they came into work on Friday. But how many guys will actually want to wear something the league is now strong-arming upon them?
HEADPHONES TIMELINE
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Sept. 13, 2012
Panthers QB Cam Newton appears in his first spot for new sponsor Beats by Dre.
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Dec. 24, 2013
Newton gives each of his Panthers teammates a pair of Beats headphones as a Christmas gift.
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Mar. 24, 2014
Bose replaces Motorola as the official headphone and headset of the NFL.
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June 17, 2014
Players at the World Cup are banned from wearing Beats headphones inside stadiums or to media events. The official sponsor of FIFA’s World Cup is Sony.
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Aug. 17, 2014
Panthers LB Luke Kuechly is named a new Bose spokesman.
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Oct. 4, 2014
The NFL bans its players from wearing headphones showing any logos other than Bose while they’re on camera during practices or games. The ban will be enforced from pregame until 90 minutes after the game.
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Oct. 5, 2014
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, who has an endorsement deal with Beats, wears a pair of those headphones to his postgame press conference.
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Oct. 9, 2014
Kaepernick is fined $10,000 by the NFL.
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Oct. 10, 2014
Every Panthers player is given a pair of Bose headphones.
PANTHERS REACT: THURSDAY
So guys are being fined for wearing non @Bose headphones huh? Maybe @Bose will hook every player up to help out with that... 😎😎😎 #WorthAShot
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 9, 2014
What do you mean I can't wear my @beatsbydre?
— Colin Cole (@ColinCole91) October 9, 2014
Cam gave us all @beatsbydre headphones last year for Christmas. I wonder if we could just put tape over the logo. #OnlyOnesIOwn
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 9, 2014
Bose needs to be sending me some free stuff if they putting fines out for people wearing Beats by Dre #Illbewaiting
— charles johnson (@randywattson) October 9, 2014
PANTHERS REACT: FRIDAY
Every #Panthers player will return from this morning's meetings to find headphones from @Bose in their locker. pic.twitter.com/vHmRSDLhug
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 10, 2014
Hey hey hey check this out! Shout out to @Bose for hooking me and my teammates up with these awesome headphones! 😎 pic.twitter.com/wFgWA47lsW
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano) October 10, 2014
Love the new Bose headphones. Thanks @Bose and @PanthersPR
— Richie Brockel (@RichieBrockel) October 10, 2014
Didn't have to wait long pic.twitter.com/831eFs3ru3
— charles johnson (@randywattson) October 10, 2014