The NFL Network started an interesting series back in 2011 called NFL 100. The network polled NFL players and asked them to rank the 100 best players in the league. This year, two Green Bay Packers players ranked in the top ten. Aaron Rodgers was ranked third, and Mayfield Sports Marketing partner Davante Adams was ranked sixth. Additionally, our partners Aaron Jones (30) Jaire Alexander (41) were voted onto the list by their peers.
In addition to current Packers, we at Mayfield Sports Marketing partner with Packers’ legends. Many of these players are Super Bowl XXXI Champions and were top players in the NFL during their careers. As we looked at the NFL 100 list this year, we inserted the Super Bowl XXXI players who partnered with us using stats from the best season of their careers.
Dorsey Levens remains an immensely popular Green Bay Packers legend. In 1997, Levens had one of the most productive seasons in the history of Packers running backs with over 1,800 all-purpose yards. In this year’s NFL 100, the 26th ranked player was Cleveland’s, Nick Chubb. While many may believe this is too high to rank Levens, consider how his numbers in 1997 compared to Chubb’s in 2020.
| Dorsey Levens | Nick Chubb | |
| Rushing Attempts | 329 | 190 |
| Rushing Yards | 1,435 | 1,067 |
| Rushing Yards per Game | 89.7 | 88.9 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 7 | 12 |
| Receptions | 53 | 16 |
| Receiving Yards | 370 | 150 |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 5 | 0 |
| Catch Percentage | 79.1% | 88.9% |
| Total Yards | 1,805 | 1,117 |
It should be noted that Chubb played 12 games in 2020 whereas Levens played 16 in 1997. Nevertheless, Levens’ production still should have placed him higher than Chubb on this list.
Between 1997 and 1999, Antonio Freeman put up three straight 1,000 yard seasons. In the middle of this run, his 1998 season, Freeman put up one of the best receiving seasons in Packers history. That year, in 15 games, Freeman led the NFL in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game. His production would have been good enough in 2020 to supplant Minnesota rookie Justin Jefferson for 53rd on the NFL 100 list.
| Antonio Freeman | Justin Jefferson | |
| Receptions | 84 | 88 |
| Receiving Yards | 1,424 | 1,400 |
| Touchdowns | 14 | 7 |
| Receiving Yards per Game | 94.9 | 87.5 |
| Catch Percentage | 54.9% | 70.4% |
As seen above, Freeman had more yards, yards per game, and touchdowns in one less game than Jefferson played in 2020. Had Freeman played in the 16th game, he surely would have had more receptions too. Jefferson is a young star on the rise. However, if 1998 Antonio Freeman had been in the NFL last year, he would have been ranked higher than the Vikings’ rookie.
The “Gravedigger” is one of the most iconic Packers players in recent memory. A force on the defensive line, he did not always need to rack up the stats to make an impact. His massive frame plugged up holes disallowing running backs from making big gains. His best season came in 1996 when he helped the Packers win Super Bowl XXXI.
During that season, Gilbert recorded a single sack. Research of the number of tackles he recorded that season did not render any results. However, his dominance in stuffing runners would have led him to rank 78th on the list. Of special note, Gilbert’s plugging of running lanes helped the Packers hold Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin to just 42 rushing yards in the Super Bowl.
Unlike the lost stats for Gilbert Brown’s 1996 season, the stats for Santana Dotson’s 1997 campaign are readily available. 1997 was, arguably, his best for the Green Bay Packers. Though he did not make the Pro Bowl that season, his numbers in many ways surpass those of Fletcher Cox. Cox has been named to the Pro Bowl six years in a row.
| Santana Dotson | Fletcher Cox | |
| Tackles | 71 | 41 |
| Sacks | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Forced Fumbles | 2 | 1 |
| Fumbles Recovered | 0 | 0 |
The signing of Dotson in 1996 is one of the most underrated free-agent signings in Packers history. Additionally, he is one of the most underappreciated players from that Super Bowl team. As seen by his 1997 numbers, he was an absolute monster on the defensive line.
This may be a bit of a stretch. After all, no one on the NFL 100 is a punt or kick returner by trade. This is why we have put Desmond Howard at the 100th rank on the list.
That being said, if there was an NFL 100 list in 1997, the year after Howard’s astounding season with the Packers, he surely would have been on it. 1996 was the only full season in which Howard played with the Packers. During that campaign, he led the NFL in the following categories:
| Punt Returns | 58 |
| Punt Return Yards | 875 |
| Touchdowns | 3 |
| Yards per Return | 15.1 |
After dominating special teams all season, Howard did it again in the Super Bowl. In the Packers’ victory over the Patriots, Howard gained 154 kick return yards, returned a punt 90 yards (a record at that point), and became the first special teams player to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule a Packers Legend for your corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your desired sports speaker.
Mayfield Sports Marketing has earned a reputation of being the one to call for booking top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers Legends' appearance cost and booking fee, please call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.
The "Gravedigger Tailgate Party" is returning to Stadium View Sports Bar and Banquet Hall for the 2021 NFL Season featuring Packers Legend and Super Bowl Champ, Gilbert "The Gravedigger" Brown! Gilbert is excited to be back in Green Bay and Stadium View to party with fans before each Packer home game.
Join Gilbert and special guests at every Packers home game throughout the season at the BEST TAILGATE LOCATION IN GREEN BAY! They will be taking photos and signing autographs at each home game. Autograph rates will vary for each player.
Few establishments as large as Stadium View have remained in a single family for as long as they have, entering their 29th Packer season as the favorite local “Mom & Pop” sports bar to meet up with friends and catch the game. Mayfield Sports Marketing and Gilbert Brown were honored when second-generation owners Bob and Amanda Watson approached them about teaming up to host the Exclusive Gilbert “The Gravedigger” Brown Tailgate Party before each Packer home game. With a full staff that is second to none when it comes to cold drinks, delicious food, and fun there is no better place to start the game day experience than at Stadium View Sports Bar and Banquet Hall.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading speakers bureau and sports marketing agency helping large and small companies book celebrity athletes for speaking events, athlete appearances, and autograph sessions. Interested in bringing Gilbert Brown, Eugene Robinson, Ahman Green, or another celebrity athlete to your next event? Contact The Mayfield Sports Marketing team at 262-366-8188 or by completing our online form requesting a quote.
The Green Bay Packers have a plethora of talent on their team this year. Many players who would be locks for other team’s rosters may end up getting cut from the Packers’ final roster. Of the players who are locks, Packers Wide Receivers Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, two players whom we at Mayfield Sports have worked with in the past, are in an interesting competition. Both players are entering contract seasons. Additionally, both are candidates for the Packers’ second wide receiver position.
Of course, Davante Adams is the Packers’ number one wide receiver. After him, though, there is a battle for which player will take the second guaranteed starting spot. Both Lazard and Valdes-Scantling (MVS) had opportunities to be the second starter last season. Both had some fantastic games, but also had their separate struggles. Coming into camp, there was no clear-cut number two option at wide receiver. Undoubtedly, however, it will be one of these two players.
The decision of which of the two players will start at the second wide receiver position is very difficult. Each brings unique strengths to the offense. The question is which one is better or has the most potential to be a number two option. What complicates it further is that their stats from last season do not lend much help.
| Lazard | MVS | |
| Games | 10 | 16 |
| Receptions | 33 | 33 |
| Yards | 451 | 690 |
| Touchdowns | 3 | 6 |
| Catch % | 71.7 % | 52.4 % |
| Drop % | 10.9 % | 11.1 % |
| Yards/Game | 45.1 | 43.1 |
| Yards/Rec. | 13.7 | 20.9 |
From the stats above, it would appear that MVS had a much better season than Allen Lazard. However, it should be taken into consideration that Lazard missed six games due to a core muscle injury that required surgery. Additionally, he came back midseason and was still hampered by the injury. Taking that into consideration, one would assume that had the two played the same amount of games, it would have been Lazard with better statistics. After all, Lazard had a higher catch percentage and lower drop rate than MVS. That being said, “what ifs” do not help answer the question.
The Green Bay Packers played two playoff games last season. As the number one seed, they were able to sit out of the Wild Card round before facing the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. Here is how MVS and Lazard compared in that game:
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
| MVS | 4 | 33 | 0 |
| Lazard | 4 | 96 | 1 |
After defeating the Rams, the Packers hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship. Again, here is how the two receivers faired in that contest:
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
| MVS | 4 | 115 | 1 |
| Lazard | 3 | 62 | 0 |
Based on these games, the two receivers combined for roughly the same stats. In other words, they were equally productive. Clearly, the answer to the question must come from training camp and preseason games.
As head coach Matt LaFleur stated, no player that he deems valuable to the Packers’ preparation from Week One of the regular season will play a snap of any preseason games. That means that neither MVS nor Allen Lazard will be on the field in any of the team’s remaining preseason games. The answer to our question of who will be the number two receiver, then, will be determined in training camp.
The case for Allen Lazard to be the team’s number two wide receiver is that he is a reliable target. He had a 71.7% catch percentage last season, which was second on the team (behind Davante Adams). Additionally, Aaron Rodgers had a 124.5 passer rating when targeting Lazard. By comparison, he had a 109.9 passer rating when targeting MVS.
Lazard showcased his potential last season in the game in which he actually injured his core. Against the Saints in Week Three, Lazard had six receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. For a brief moment, it appeared as if he had locked up the second receiver position for good.
Few wide receivers in the NFL last season were criticized as much as MVS was. That being said, few wide receivers are as fast as MVS is. While the drops were a problem last season, reports from training camp state that he is using his body less to catch passes, a technique that led to drops last season. If MVS can cut those dropped passes in half, the Packers will have a second 1,000 receiver on the team.
The reason why MVS put up the numbers he did was because of his speed. He is a lethal downfield weapon who can blow by most defenders. His 20.9 yards per reception last season led not only the Packers, but the entire NFL.
There is no clear answer to this question, and with limited eyes on the practice field it will be difficult to guess what Matt LaFleur is going to do. One thing is for sure, though: both players are highly qualified and will be key contributors to the Packers’ 2021 season, and hopefully their Super Bowl run.
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule or Packers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and / or Packers Allen Lazard for your corporate appearance or product endorsement. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your desired sports speaker.
Mayfield Sports Marketing has earned a reputation of being the one to call for booking top Wisconsin and National Athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about MVS or Allen Lazard appearances cost and booking fee, please call us today at 262.366.8188. www.MayfieldSports.com.
The NFL is stocked with talented cornerbacks. Xavien Howard, for example, in Miami has grabbed many headlines over the past year with his ridiculous numbers. Last season, he led the NFL with 10 interceptions and 20 pass deflections. The Dolphins think so highly of him, that they restructured his contract just two years into the deal. However, as dominant as Howard is, there is an argument to be made that Jaire Alexander, cornerback for Green Bay is easily the NFL's best corner.
When Jaire Alexander declared for the NFL Draft, many experts tabbed him as one of the best in the class. According to walterfootball.com, his strengths include:
According to the same report, Alexander’s weaknesses were:
The Packers selected Jaire Alexander with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In order to get him, they worked out a trade to move up seven spots. At the time, cornerback was a dire need for the team. The Packers taking him was a very popular move by many who cover the team.
Jaire Alexander was an immediate success in Green Bay. In his rookie season, he played in 13 games, starting 11 of them. He had just one interception but also had 11 pass deflections. Those 11 deflections were the most on the team. Only Josh Jackson came close to that total with 10.
There were some bumps in the road, though. Alexander gave up a 100.0 passer rating when targeted and had a missed tackle percentage of 10.8. Despite these shortcomings, the Packers knew they had a bonified number one corner on their hands.
In 2019, Alexander was even better. He stopped worrying about being a flashy player and instead focused on taking the receiver he was covering out of the action with intense coverage. As a result, he notched two interceptions and 17 pass deflections. His 17 deflections again led the Packers (Kevin King had 15). Alexander’s missed tackle percentage jumped to 12.1% in 2019, but his overall coverage improved. Quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 85.8 when targeting Jaire. His completion percentage allowed dropped from 64.8% to 53.6%. Clearly, he was getting even better.
Last season, Jaire Alexander stormed into the discussion as one of the NFL’s best corners. He made a name for himself by shutting down opponents’ number one receivers week after week. However, he did this with sticky coverage as opposed to coming up with flashy interceptions. Alexander only had one interception last year, which diminished the media’s coverage of him. However, he was even better than he had been in 2019.
Alexander had 13 pass deflections in 2020, which again led the team. His missed tackling percentage dropped significantly to 8.9%, and opposing quarterbacks completed just 51.3% of their passes when targeting him. Additionally, they only had a 67.4 rating when throwing his way.
In order to better compare Jaire Alexander and Xavien Howard, take a look at how they stacked up against each other in 2020.
| Jaire Alexander | Xavien Howard | |
| Interceptions | 1 | 10 |
| Pass Deflections | 13 | 20 |
| Opponents QB Rating | 67.4 | 48.3 |
| Completion Percentage | 51.3% | 51.5% |
| Yards Given Up | 375 | 719 |
| TD’s Allowed | 2 | 4 |
Upon first glance, it appears that Xavien Howard has every advantage over Jaire Alexander. However, the yards given up is a very telling stat. Howard was targeted 101 times last season; Alexander just 80. While there is no doubt that Xavien Howard is one of the best in the NFL, Alexander was so elite that opposing quarterbacks would not even throw his way! Of course, Alexander is not going to have the flashiest stats. How can he get them when the offense will not throw his way?
As stated, there are numerous talented cornerbacks in the NFL. Xavien Howard gets the most press coverage because of the insane numbers that he is able to put up. It is time, though, to put some respect on the name of Jaire Alexander. He may not get the stats, but that is because he is better at his job in coverage than any other player out there, and it shouldn't minimize his place as the NFL's best corner. There is little doubt that he will be First-Team All-Pro this season.
Interested in booking Jaire Alexander? As a booking agent for Jaire Alexander, contact Mayfield Sports Marketing for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with athlete appearance. Call 262.366.8188 for Packers Jaire Alexander Booking Agent.
A product endorsement from a celebrity athlete can bring notoriety to the brands they represent due to their large fan bases. Athletes remain major celebrities in modern media. This innovative marketing technique can be a great way to capture the attention of your target audience.
An athlete endorsement provides a credible athlete to promote your product or service. This exposure is especially useful in today's modern market. The use of social media and network marketing have proven to be excellent ways of boosting your customer base. Consumers are spending more time than ever online and you can use that to your advantage. With the proper promotion of your product by these athletes, you should see a rise in views and increased sales.
Mayfield Marketing works to connect your brand with one of the high profile athletes within our network. Their already established success will work to your benefit to boost your brand’s equity, resulting in more sales and validating your product. This new level of awareness will help your brand stand out in a competitive market. An athlete endorsement can give your brand not only a stronger personality but also reach out to a larger demographic.
Sports play a major role in our country's media. Athletes naturally have an attention-demanding presence that attracts the attention of their viewers. Network marketing and social media are major forums for companies to connect with potential clients. By having a credible athlete with an established fan base endorse your product or business, you widen your audience by tens of thousands, even millions of viewers.
In addition to being a standout NFL cornerback with the Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander has fans anxious to experience his enthusiasm and swag when he steps onto the football field. Known for his colorful and stylish sunglasses, there was no question he was the right athlete to wear the iconic brand Oakley.
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most well-known basketball players in the history of the sport. He has recently partnered with Papa John’s Pizza, and along with creating his own pizza, he has agreed to promote the business on his personal social media sites. His endorsement of Papa John’s has proven to be a rewarding experience for both parties involved.
Davante Adams is a collegiate award-winning wide receiver and Green Bay Packer star. His partnership with the Jordan Brand has also been a reward for both parties. His quick rise to stardom on the field and love for the Jumpman brand made the endorsement a no-brainer. Mayfield Marketing can connect you with hard-working athletes such as Davante Adams.
The NFL Hall of Famer and former Packers player, Brett Favre, has recently joined with a CBD company called Green Eagle. As a result, this endorsement fits both Favre’s and Green Eagle’s mission and ethics perfectly. Generating awareness for an effective, THC pain relief option was important to Favre and the endorsement gives him that opportunity. Mayfield Marketing can also help you align a partnership with an athlete who mirrors the beliefs of your company.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker. We will work on your behalf to select an athlete for a corporate event, private event, and/or speaking engagement. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency. We represent organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
If you’re looking for a way to increase sales and improve overall brand awareness, prominent sports figures are attractive options. Their athletic prowess gives them instant credibility to any product, particularly anything related to those geared towards athletes. With that being said, their celebrity alone will influence fans to want to be like them and be associated with the same products or services. Your business would most likely benefit from this association, and this is true whether it’s a big name or not and for pretty much any type of product, service, or business.
While the actual influence celebrity athletes have regarding advertising is a matter of debate, a Harvard University professor and Barclays Capital conducted a study that indicated sales growth compared to their previous numbers and overall placement in the market as well. The study showed an average increase of around 4%, with more considerable gains from those with higher status. Fans of a particular team or specific athlete will be more inclined to purchase a product or use a service endorsed by them.
One key aspect of growing your brand is making people aware of your brand. Attaching a local or national athlete quickly raises awareness for anyone who’s a fan of that individual or the team for which they play. Once people are aware of your brand’s products or services, they would be more likely to purchase from you. A potential customer’s favorable feelings towards the celebrity athlete can and often will translate to your company. Aaron Rodger's State Farm commercials and Brett Favre's Wrangler commercials are just a couple of examples.
Social media promotion by an athlete can increase that awareness even more. According to Opendorse, athletes on social media drive 4.8 times the engagement of media accounts, 3.6 times the engagement of league accounts, 2.4 times the engagement of team accounts, and 2.1 times the engagement of influencer accounts. It just goes to show how associating your brand with an athlete can push awareness and engagement through the roof.
Keep it local, and consider using a celebrity athlete from your home team. A small business that uses a local athlete of any profile brings much-wanted attention and awareness to your brand and business. For example, in Green Bay or anywhere in the state of Wisconsin, having any member of the Green Bay Packers at your event or endorsing your product will generate interest and get more eyes on you. Sticking to someone who is known and admired or associated with a known and admired team, locally and with your target market, pays huge dividends.
Once you’ve decided to utilize a celebrity athlete to help market your product or service, you need to know how to utilize a celebrity athlete. There are various ways to do so, and whichever way you choose will depend on what’s the best fit for your business and your products or services. The first way would be to have them endorse your brand. An endorsement could be digital, radio, print, television, etc., advertising depending on where you’re most likely to find your target market.
If you have an event coming up, having a celebrity appearance will bring more attention and most likely increase attendance. You can add an autograph signing session as part of your event or even have the signing be the event that you’re hosting. Either way, associating the celebrity athlete with your brand is the key. You can also sponsor a celebrity athlete to do a motivational speech for a local school or organization. Approaching your relationship this way gives the double whammy of giving back to the community as well as associating you with the athlete.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker for corporate events, private events, and speaking engagements. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency representing organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, much of what we do today has gone virtual. Whether it is working from home, meetings, ordering food and supplies, viewing webinars, etc. many things we used to do in person are now done virtually. With social distancing, quarantines, and safer at home measures one cannot simply host events like conventions. However, like most other things you can do this virtually as well, and doing so can provide many of the same benefits as does an in-person convention. And like many other things that have gone virtual, even after the pandemic is over, are virtual conventions the wave of the future? They may indeed be so here are some of the hows, whys, benefits, and pitfalls of doing a virtual convention.
First thing you should probably do is set up your virtual conference website. Depending on which platform(s) you ultimately use (discussed below) this could merely be a registration form on your current website. This is a good way to get people registered and provide a survey so you can get to know your attendees a bit better. This form should include attendee contact information, demographics, employment, or whatever pertinent information you need. Also on this form should be convention information such as speakers, schedule, and your social media links.
Now choose the platform you wish to use that offers the features and capabilities you need. Some popular examples include Zoom, BlueJeans Events, EasyWebinar, WebinarJam, and GoToWebinar.
This part is relatively simple and will be handled by the platform you choose to host your virtual convention on. Your attendees will be given a link to the event and will simply login in order to participate. For security and logistical reasons, make sure to add a waiting room in order to verify the attendees, as well as muting them upon entrance so there is no background noise. Offer a way to “raise their hands” so that they can be unmuted to contribute or ask questions. Either of these will be available in the settings of the platform you choose. Most platforms either offer or integrate with various chat clients so you can engage with the attendees in real-time.
One of the greatest benefits of a virtual convention, besides possibly being the only way to have conventions during the pandemic, is cost. With far lower overhead costs, you can reduce the price to attend your convention thereby increasing the potential number of attendees. In addition to the lower ticket price, people from all over the world can attend without having to incur travel expenses of their own. A virtual convention also makes it easier to get speakers as they do not have to travel themselves and commit as much time to their appearance. You could even use a pre-taped video presentation if that is what is preferable to yourself and the speaker. Also, the recording of the virtual convention becomes a product in and of itself that you could sell or use as a marketing tool.
One downside to the virtual convention is that the networking opportunities suffer a bit. You cannot meet up in person and make a connection like you can at a physical conference. This can be mitigated by offering breakout sessions where all participants are on the screen and communicating with each other or even a simple chat room where attendees can engage in group or individual discussions. Distractions can be more prevalent when attending a virtual convention due to the fact they are most likely at home where a myriad of things could vie for their attention. With so many ways on the various platforms to engage and include the attendees in discussions, and activities and having interesting content and speakers will help alleviate this as well.
With numerous partnerships with athletes, company peers, and speakers across the country, contact Mayfield Sports Marketing and ask about speakers such as Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Jerry Kramer, Charles Woodson, and Brett Favre, Mayfield Sports Marketing can connect you with the perfect individual for your virtual convention.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker for corporate events, private events, and speaking engagements. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency representing organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
Celebrity autographs have been sought by sports fans since pretty much the dawn of professional sports. Over the years, this has evolved into a big business, including certified signed memorabilia. It’s no longer just kids waiting outside after a game or a chance meetup in public. Recently, the sports memorabilia industry has hit a boom period so let’s look at why that might be and how this can benefit your memorabilia business.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s spending habits changed. Bars, restaurants, movie theaters, etc., all took a hit financially. Some people may have had disposable income that no longer had a destination. As a result, other businesses thrived during the pandemic. Sports memorabilia, specifically autographed sports memorabilia, is one of those industries that hit a boom.
You would either buy a ticket or line up to have your item signed or purchase an item to have signed in normal times. Sometimes only one or the other, although at times both were acceptable. Things have evolved a bit with social distancing, and so many of these have moved to virtual events. This can often be done very similarly, just an online meet in which the athlete signs your item while in a virtual conference with you, and the item is shipped to you. The types of items can vary from pictures, mini-helmets, footballs/baseballs/basketballs (depending on the athlete’s sport), jerseys, t-shirts, and so on.
During in-person events, you often have an option to purchase something on-site or bring a personal item from home. The neat thing about bringing a personal item with you to the signing is that sometimes it can spark a conversation about the item if it has a special meaning or a cool story behind it, adding a little something extra to the experience. Also, in-person events will often allow selfies to be taken with the player, which, in essence, becomes like an autograph in and of itself.
If you are in the sports memorabilia industry yourself and are interested in doing your own autograph session, Mayfield Sports Marketing can help! For several years now, MSM has contracted athletes for big and small businesses both locally and nationally.
Some of the athletes we have contracted include:
We have had the pleasure of working with numerous clients such as Radtke Sports, FanDuel, Oakley, Citgo, Cousins Subs, ESPN, Kohler Companies, Waukesha SportCards, Legends of the Field, E5 Sports, Jeff’s Sports, and Great Sports, among others. Contact us today to get a quote, get your autograph session planned, and see how it can help your business!
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker for corporate events, private events, and speaking engagements. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency representing organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
Throughout most of its 100-year history, success was the norm for the Green Bay Packers. After a solid trouncing of rival Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in the 2020 season finale, the Packers not only earned another trip to the playoffs but the first overall seed as well. Meaning the road to the Lombardi Trophy goes through the Hallowed Frozen Tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Here’s a look at the playoff history of the Green Bay Packers.
While the NFL was established in 1920, there was no postseason until 1933 as the championship was decided exclusively by win-loss record. The Green Bay Packers still managed to acquire their first three NFL championships in consecutive years 1929-1931 with records of 12-0-1, 10-3-1, and 12-2-0, respectively. They also finished as runners up in 1927 and 1932. From 1933 - 1969 the NFL split into two divisions with the two best records in each division playing each other for the championship.
In this era, the Packers won 8 NFL Championships in 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961-1962, and then finally the 1965 season. They also played in two other NFL Championship games in 1938 and 1960 seasons, coming up on the short end. In this pre-Super Bowl era, the tenure of the legendary Vince Lombardi began, starting in 1959.
Prior to the full AFL/NFL merger in 1970, from 1966-1969, the AFL Champion played the NFL Champion in what was called the Super Bowl. With three NFL Championships with Lombardi at the helm, he would keep his winning ways, defeating the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL Championship. The Packers then faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I becoming the first-ever Super Bowl champions with a 35-10 victory.
The following year they beat Los Angeles in the conference championship and the Dallas Cowboys in the infamous Ice Bowl for the NFL Championship. The Packers won Super Bowl II over the Oakland Raiders, marking the end of the Lombardi era and the beginning of an extended dry spot.
They didn’t make an appearance in the postseason until 1972, losing the divisional playoff game. A decade would pass before making another appearance winning their first-round game and then losing in the second round to Dallas. Another decade plus one year until their next postseason appearance after the 1993 season, winning the wildcard game against Detroit and losing, again, to Dallas in the Divisional playoff. The Packers finally put together consecutive trips to the postseason but suffered the same results as the prior year, beating the Lions in the Wildcard and losing to Dallas in the Divisional round.
After the 1995 season, the playoffs saw the Packers build upon their successes of the prior two years by beating Atlanta in the Wild Card round, the 49ers in the divisional round, and losing the NFC championship to (yep, you guessed it) the Dallas Cowboys. The next season would see the Brett Favre-led Packers continue to build upon previous success, defeating the 49ers in the Divisional round, Carolina in the NFC Championship, culminating in ending the Super Bowl drought by winning Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots.
After victories over Tampa Bay and winning the NFC Championship at San Francisco, a repeat as Super Bowl Champions was not in the cards, losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII.
After the 1998 season, they would make the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year but lost in the opening round at San Francisco. After a three-year absence from the playoffs, they made the playoffs for four consecutive years. In 2001, beating San Francisco at home in the wildcard game and losing at St. Louis. Then again, in 2002, they saw a home loss to Atlanta in the Wild Card round. 2003 brought about a Wild Card home victory over Seattle and ended with a loss at Philadelphia. Finally, 2004 was an early exit with a rare home loss to the Vikings in the Wild Card round.
After another three-year dry spell, the 2007 Packers advanced to the NFC Championship game, losing at home again, this time to the Giants. After an ugly divorce from star QB Brett Favre, the 2008 Packers led by Aaron Rodgers would miss the playoffs. 2009 Packers traveled to Arizona for a Wild Card matchup, losing that game in a shootout in another overtime contest. After narrowly making the playoffs, the 2010 Packers became road warriors, winning at Philly, at Atlanta, at Chicago, and culminating with another Lombardi trophy defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
That would mark the last time the Packers would make it to the Super Bowl. They would continue to make the playoffs each year through the 2016 season, giving them eight consecutive postseason trips. In that span, the Packers would reach the NFC Championship game in 2014 and 2016. After a two year drought that led to Mike McCarthy’s ousting, the Packers would again make the playoff last year under rookie head coach Matt LaFleur, culminating in a loss at San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.
After the questionable decision to pass on more weapons for the aging Hall-of-Famer, Aaron Rodgers, and instead of drafting for the future, the Packers went on a tear in the 2020 season. The “declining” Aaron Rodgers responded to the perceived slight with vigor putting together what’s likely to be his third MVP season leading the league in completion percentage. The 2020 Packers finished 13-3 to clinch the lone bye in the NFC playoffs. The team’s 509 points and 66 touchdowns were both league leaders and the second-highest in team history.
There were some more phenomenal stats from this season. Rodgers threw more touchdown passes (48) than JK Scott punted (47), only the fourth team in the history of the NFL to do so. Also, 47 punts is the least ever in franchise history. Along those lines, Davante Adams caught more touchdowns (18) than Mason Crosby kicked field goals (16), leading the receiver to outscore the kicker 108 to 107, which is extremely rare. Oh, and Crosby was also 100% on field-goal (16/16) tries.
Performance in the red zone is crucial to any team’s success, and the Packers converted 60 red-zone trips (gold zone as the team now refers to it) into 48 touchdowns, giving them an 80% conversion rate, which is a whole 5% better than the second-place team. No team has had a higher percentage of red-zone touchdown conversions in the last 40 years. Rodgers set new team records with 48 TD passes and 51 total touchdowns on the topic of touchdowns. He also tied for third-most in NFL history with seven games of four touchdowns.
More records fall for Rodgers with a passer rating of 100.0 or more with fourteen, games with 3+ TDs, and a minimum rating of 100.0 (10).
Among other records was Robert Tonyan’s 11 TD receptions, tying for the lead in the NFL among tight ends and tying the team record for tight ends. In spite of some highly publicized drops, Marquez Valdez-Scantling led the NFL in yards per catch at 20.9, hauling in 33 catches for 620 yards. He tied for most in the NFL with six catches of forty or more yards and averaged 43.7 yards per catch on his touchdown receptions.
In a season in history, the two best passer ratings now belong to Aaron Rodgers after finishing with a season rating of 121.5, just one point behind his own record of 122.5 set in 2011. Davante Adams also put up impressive numbers this year, breaking the team record for receptions with 115 (formerly 112 held by Sterling Sharpe and set in 1993), tied the season touchdown reception record (18 set in 1994 also by Sharpe), and fell just short of Jordy Nelson’s reception yardage record of 1519 (2014) with 1374 yards. All after missing almost three full games.
With team chemistry at an incredible high, and Rodgers and Adams, and Rodgers and LeFleur, all being perfectly in sync, this is the best chance the Packers have had to make a run and bring the Lombardi trophy home. The elite play by the Hall-of-Fame quarterback and his all-world receiver bolstered by excellent offense line play and a defense that has become stalwart over the last half of the season certainly fits the recipe for a championship. Let’s hope that comes to fruition, and we can add another championship to the legendary and storied history of the Green Bay Packers.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker for corporate events, private events, and speaking engagements. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency representing organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
We all heard it at the draft prior to the 2020 season-what on earth are the Green Bay Packers THINKING? The first ballot hall-of-fame quarterback is beginning to decline; they should’ve drafted more weapons in one of the deepest receiver classes in recent history. It was a huge mistake to draft Rodgers’s eventual replacement and a running back when we already have a stacked backfield. They’re wasting his talent and giving up on the present to plan for the future...or were they paving the road to Super Bowl 2021?
With the benefit of hindsight being 20/20, perhaps the Packers’ staff knew what they were doing all along? Maybe they knew just what they had already and knew they could plan for the future AND win now. That’s precisely what they’ve done and done so in a dominant fashion. Heading into the bye week, after one of the best seasons in franchise history in which records were approached, met, or outright broken, what appeared to be foolhardy turned out to be genius.
We know all about Rodgers and Davante Adams, they were a given, but this season’s success comes down to those players who were discounted at draft time and became hidden gems that were not so hidden after all.
In a season somewhat plagued by injuries, Kevin King finished strong. When you have All-Pro shutdown corner Jaire Alexander, on the other side of the field, you have to expect a lot of attention your way. The final game against the Bears was a good microcosm of that sentiment as they stayed away from Alexander, focusing their attention on King’s side of the field. He stepped up with a career-high ten tackles, seven solo, and had two pass deflections as well.
While not a flawless day, he did not allow a reception longer than 23 yards while hitting double-digit tackles for the first time in his professional career. King showed he cannot be taken lightly and will not go quietly into the night if teams choose to avoid Alexander.
Darnell Savage, along with the defense in general, took about half the season to find his groove, but find it he did. The 2019 first-round free safety clicked midway through the season, culminating in a career-high eight solo tackles and two assists in the season finale. This was a fitting end to a November and December in which he made an immense impact, garnering 43 tackles (34 solo), one sack, four picks, and 10 pass deflections in the final eight games. Quite a groove indeed.
The other half of the impressive safety duo, strong safety Adrian Amos, followed a similar trajectory as his safety brethren. In the first half of the season, Amos registered 35 tackles (27 solo), one pass deflected, and no interceptions. Over the final eight games, however, was a much different story with 48 tackles (39 solo), eight pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Not that an NFL player needs motivation, but playing against the team who essentially didn’t see your value can certainly spark the fire. Playing against his former team, the Bears, in the final frame, he hit season highs with nine tackles, seven solo tackles, and one interception. If the Bears hadn’t regretted their decision at the time, they certainly do now. The defense grew in leaps and bounds over the latter half of the season. Amos and Savage are very big reasons for that growth.
While Pro-Bowler Aaron Jones gets a lot of deserved attention, Jamaal Williams’s impact cannot be dismissed. Whether playing a backup role when Jones is healthy or taking over in his absence, the offense never misses a beat. Williams could easily start on most teams in the league and makes the most of every opportunity he is given.
The energy he brings to the team, whether it’s his pre-game dancing or his energetic celebrations on big plays, gets the team going. No matter what his role is or what is asked of him, the man brings it to the maximum each and every time. Having him back from injury going into the playoffs certainly bolsters the Packers’ chances.
Drops. Unfortunately, that’s what stands out most to the general public when it comes to Marquez Valdez Scantling, and that’s a shame. His occasional drops have overshadowed the incredibly positive impact he has on the offense. A big-play threat that can spread the field wide open, making far more big catches for significant gains than he misses. He doesn’t bring a polished overall game like Adams or fellow receiver Allen Lazard, finding his niche as a deep threat, but what a niche it is.
MVS ranks ninth in the league in deep passing yards (over 20 yards in the air), and with three deep touchdowns, he is tied for third in the league. However, in week 14 versus the Lions, MVS hauled in all six targets in more low and mid-range areas, indicating a potential beyond the deep threat. His missteps may garner more attention, but the Packers are by far a better team with him.
It all boils down to an improbable run by a team that didn’t have the weapons, didn’t have the coaching, didn’t have whatever to be a Super Bowl contender. Yet, here we are at the end of the season, with the Packers clinching the number one seed, making sure the road to the Super Bowl 2021 goes through Lambeau. Almost like the Packers’ staff knew what they were doing all along.
Mayfield Sports Marketing is a leading sports marketing agency and speaker bureau. Whether your company is small or large, our team can search our network of current and retired celebrity athletes available based on appearance fees, team, location, or sport. With access to hundreds of athletes available for corporate appearances, keynote or motivational speeches, and product endorsements, we work within your budget to match your goals with an athlete’s appearance.
By working with the player directly, player agent, marketing agency, and more, Mayfield Sports Marketing has negotiated deals for numerous current and retired sports figures for speaking engagements, VIP Meet & Greets, autograph signings, product endorsement deals, and media opportunities.
Disclaimer:
Mayfield Sports Marketing acts only as an athlete broker for corporate events, private events, and speaking engagements. Mayfield Sports Marketing does not claim or represent itself as the athlete’s agent, speakers bureau, manager, publicist, assistant, PR firm, or management company. Mayfield Sports Marketing is a full-service player and athlete booking agency representing organizations and groups seeking to hire athletes for motivational speakers, athletes for private corporate events, athlete endorsements, personal athlete appearances, spokesperson campaigns, and autograph sessions.
