Another Smart Quarterback Decision

Tom Brady is now the highest profile endorser of Under Armour. Seems like everybody universally agrees that this is a good thing for Under Armour. Off the field he’s no Peyton Manning, but considering who he is, there should be plenty of creative options for the advertising agency. Brady is a handsome winner with a high Q Score and an adequate amount of acting talent (for an athlete).

But it seems like nobody has voiced an opinion whether or not it’s a good move for Tom Brady to leave the behemoth known as Nike. Well, I’m here to say it’s a great move for him. Here’s why:

MONEY: Yes, of course this was a financial decision. But there’s more to this story.

OWNERSHIP: He was given a small piece of the company, so this is really just another way of saying A LOT of money. But now he’s personally invested. If Under Armour were to ever opens a new flagship store on Michigan Avenue, guess who’d be there at the Grand Opening signing autographs and tossing the ball to an adoring crowd? Everybody wins with this one.

LOST IN THE SHUFFLE: Until this week I didn’t know that one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time was even on Nike’s roster of athlete endorsers. It’s Tiger, LeBron and a bunch of other great athletes. Brady is bigger than all the other athletes, but he’d never eclipse Tiger and LeBron when it comes to moving Nike merchandise. So if you can’t join ‘em, go somewhere else and beat ‘em.

PAST HIS PRIME: Technically, he’s still in his prime, but it seems like Tommy Boy is starting to think about the next phase of his career. Most of our greatest athletes fall off the face of the earth after they retire. And those still ekeing out endorsement money, are slumming it compared to their heyday (I’m looking at you Joe Montana). Tom Brady just started doing Xfinity commercials this season, and I think it’s the first time he’s shown his personality on camera, rather than just being a pretty face associated with the brand. I expect more of the same once we start seeing his Under Armour creative. As Jules from “Pulp Fiction” said, “Personality goes a long way.”

UNDERDOG STATUS: Hard for a handsome, 3-time Super Bowl champion who’s married to a Victoria’s Secret supermodel to claim underdog status. But in my opinion, switching from Nike to the underdog Under Armour brand, helps makes him seem more likable and relatable. It evokes the imagery and reputation that he had when he first burst on the scene.

Add it all up, and Tom Brady is definitely thinking about his future He sees a great life beyond the football field, which may help explain why he begs the referees for Roughing the Passer penalties every time one of his opponents breathes on him.

Top 5 Freelancer Seating Arrangements

I’ve freelanced at all sorts of advertising agencies: big and small, hip and stodgy, spacious and cramped. I’ve found that these are the Top 5 locations where freelance creatives get seated (in no particular order):

Next to the Copy Machine: It’s loud and noisy, so it’s tough to concentrate. There’s plenty of foot traffic, so you’ll meet everybody you’re seated near. And obviously the copy machine breaks down constantly, so you’ll learn to make small talk with the repair guy. But the biggest downside is you could eventually become this guy.

Near the Bathroom: Why not put the “temp” where nobody wants to sit. This is another location where you can meet just about everybody in the office. This spot brings out the Sociologist in me. I keep an eye on who are the most frequent visitors and who spends the most time inside. These people rarely make eye contact with me. When I’m seated here, I make sure to keep handy my old school track coach’s stopwatch.

Out in the Open: When things are going well for an agency, they start running out of space. This usually leads to lengthier freelance assignments, but includes longer stays at undesirable work stations. When you’re out in the open, you’re usually set up with a makeshift desk, second-rate chair, and no cubicle walls. You are basically an exhibit at the zoo, only it’s more like a petting zoo. People can sneak up on you from any direction, and your every movement along with your computer monitor is on display for the world at all times. This location has killed many a freelancer’s fantasy football team.

Corner Office: Everybody in every company wants to sit in a corner office. You’ve got privacy, great views and Feng Shui up the ying yang. So when a bigwig retires or an agency trims some excess fat salaries, the corner office rarely gets filled immediately. It’s so valuable it requires consideration from the Executive Committee. In the meantime, it’s the most logical place to seat a freelancer when they come in. Warning: this seems like a freelancers paradise, but it actually makes it more difficult to ingratiate yourself with the team.

The Edge of Somebody Else’s Desk: Truly the last resort. Nobody wants to share a desk with you. If you find yourself in this situation, I’d recommend bringing your own pens, paperclips and other supplies. And for the love of all things decent, if this is your situation, don’t ever eat a tuna sandwich at your workstation.

Good luck freelancers. Be safe out there.