Nike Pro Combat NFL in 2012

[tBBP]

The solution to the price woes? I'm pretty well positive nfl.com and Reebok are going to have a fire sale after the end of this season, to clean out current stock in advance of ushering in the new stuff. My advice: STOCK UP ON YOUR TEAM GEAR THEN. Forget about the manufacturer logo that adorns it--it'll probably only be the lil' Nike fanboys that'll rush to drop guap on all the latest and greatest Swoosh attire, anyway. I personally couldn't care less.

[pokecat12]

The solution to the price woes? I'm pretty well positive nfl.com and Reebok are going to have a fire sale after the end of this season, to clean out current stock in advance of ushering in the new stuff. My advice: STOCK UP ON YOUR TEAM GEAR THEN. Forget about the manufacturer logo that adorns it--it'll probably only be the lil' Nike fanboys that'll rush to drop guap on all the latest and greatest Swoosh attire, anyway. I personally couldn't care less.

That's what I am waiting for. Day After Super Bowl....CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!!

[texfischer]

I'm hoping Steelers get a black alternate jersey with Oregon's old uni design with the yellow helmet and yellow pants. That would be sick. I also think the Eagles might get the wings from the helmet onto the shoulders (a-la-Oregon). Also hoping the Seahawks bring back silver helmets.

That would make me sick, bring back block and gray facemasks and NOTHING more.

[JStamper]

the people dumb enough to wear jerseys would be dumb enough to pay $100 for a replica.

So wearing a Jersey of your favorite team makes you dumb? Why exactly is that?

[guest23]

That's rediculous. With this economy, they need to make the jersey prices lower. Nike already makes enough money, and just wants to get richer.

Douche bags.

As much as I'd love to be able to buy a Falcons jersey for less than $80 or $90, you have to realize a few things. First off, jerseys are not necessity items, they're luxury items. No one "needs" or has a right to own a jersey. Secondly, everything about the NFL is a business. The tickets they sell, the concessions fans buy, the jerseys we wear, the TV rights they award to stations- all done with one purpose in mind: increasing revenue and earning a profit. The NFL is entitled to price its products however it pleases. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the NFL and always watch the Falcons, but it's always going to be a business. Nike is a business, the NFL is a business. That's just the way it is, and because you (not specifically you) or anyone else wants a jersey doesn't mean you have a right to one cheap. The NFL knows what it is doing. It's simply supply and demand. They're obviously making a killing, otherwise they'd be selling them at $20 to entice buyers.

I disagree...economics is never as simple as elementary supply and demand...what the nfl has essentially created over the last 2 decades is a 2 tiered class system of fans: the top tier being the upper income/corporate fans or die hards that are not price sensitive to rising costs of fan gear or cost of attending a game (especially season tickets and PSL BS)...this is the demographic that the nfl has been targeting and (in my opinion gouging)since the early '90s...coincidentally this group fits nicely within the target market of nike...individuals that are willing to absorb rising costs and willing to pay a premium for a label.

what nike and the nfl are potentially risking is long term growth of the league's popularity by pricing out the middle to lower class fan that will never be able to attend a game in their life or afford a $100 replica jersey...I think it's safe to assume that jersey sales are the nfl's #1 selling product in terms of $ and units...if the lower end fan can't afford the core piece of fan merchandise the league runs the risk of potentially alienating this 2nd tier of fans and runs the risk of attracting new fans to the game as the league gains the reputation of being a rich man's sport (see golf as an extreme example)...in addition as I typed earlier nike and the nfl are creating a huge void at the lower end that counterfeiters will gladly fill...living in socal you can go to any swap meet or tienda and find just about any soccer jersey you can imagine...it's at the point where the fakes outnumber the officially licensed gear by at least a 5:1 margin.

so do nike and the nfl have the right to maximize profit for immediate gain?..they do but they may be risking long term profits in doing so.

[Chawls]

I'm hoping Steelers get a black alternate jersey with Oregon's old uni design with the yellow helmet and yellow pants. That would be sick. I also think the Eagles might get the wings from the helmet onto the shoulders (a-la-Oregon). Also hoping the Seahawks bring back silver helmets.

That would make me sick, bring back block and gray facemasks and NOTHING more.

I asked you this before, but you never responded. Why bring those features back?

[texfischer]

Oh, sorry. I honestly hate the font used right now, the block font is just so much more Steeleresque, and I just live gray facemasks on classic helmets.

[sonny]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

[GangGr33n FTW]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

I think that they will have a NFL combat template, different than the Pro Combat unis. The technology will be implemented, but the uni looks will stay similar, with some corrections and tweaks. I agree with your overhaul picks, but I'll add:

OAKLAND

NEW ENGLAND

DALLAS

MINNISOTA

[aawagner011]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

I think that they will have a NFL combat template, different than the Pro Combat unis. The technology will be implemented, but the uni looks will stay similar, with some corrections and tweaks. I agree with your overhaul picks, but I'll add:

OAKLAND

NEW ENGLAND

DALLAS

MINNISOTA

Oakland and Dallas, two of the most tradition rich teams, are not changing. That's just purely a wish list.

[GangGr33n FTW]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

I think that they will have a NFL combat template, different than the Pro Combat unis. The technology will be implemented, but the uni looks will stay similar, with some corrections and tweaks. I agree with your overhaul picks, but I'll add:

OAKLAND

NEW ENGLAND

DALLAS

MINNISOTA

Oakland and Dallas, two of the most tradition rich teams, are not changing. That's just purely a wish list.

I think that Dallas will line up their colors, and that Oakland will get a little more interesting with the primarys (Stripes, silver away numbers).

NE and MIN are still up for grabs.

[RedSox44]

I'm crossing my fingers that the Pats get a huge overhaul. I may be wearing one of the current Flying Elvis jerseys now, but I hate the current sets and at least want to see a red home uniform and white instead of silver.

Just my view on things.

Likewise. I've never liked these uniforms, and I'll be disappointed if there's only minimal or no changes.

[guest23]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

I think that they will have a NFL combat template, different than the Pro Combat unis. The technology will be implemented, but the uni looks will stay similar, with some corrections and tweaks. I agree with your overhaul picks, but I'll add:

OAKLAND

NEW ENGLAND

DALLAS

MINNISOTA

Oakland and Dallas, two of the most tradition rich teams, are not changing. That's just purely a wish list.

I think that Dallas will line up their colors, and that Oakland will get a little more interesting with the primarys (Stripes, silver away numbers).

NE and MIN are still up for grabs.

as long as the davis family owns the team you'll never see any noticeable changes to the raiders.

[WSU151]

I disagree...economics is never as simple as elementary supply and demand...what the nfl has essentially created over the last 2 decades is a 2 tiered class system of fans: the top tier being the upper income/corporate fans or die hards that are not price sensitive to rising costs of fan gear or cost of attending a game (especially season tickets and PSL BS)...this is the demographic that the nfl has been targeting and (in my opinion gouging)since the early '90s...coincidentally this group fits nicely within the target market of nike...individuals that are willing to absorb rising costs and willing to pay a premium for a label.

what nike and the nfl are potentially risking is long term growth of the league's popularity by pricing out the middle to lower class fan that will never be able to attend a game in their life or afford a $100 replica jersey...I think it's safe to assume that jersey sales are the nfl's #1 selling product in terms of $ and units...if the lower end fan can't afford the core piece of fan merchandise the league runs the risk of potentially alienating this 2nd tier of fans and runs the risk of attracting new fans to the game as the league gains the reputation of being a rich man's sport (see golf as an extreme example)...in addition as I typed earlier nike and the nfl are creating a huge void at the lower end that counterfeiters will gladly fill...living in socal you can go to any swap meet or tienda and find just about any soccer jersey you can imagine...it's at the point where the fakes outnumber the officially licensed gear by at least a 5:1 margin.

so do nike and the nfl have the right to maximize profit for immediate gain?..they do but they may be risking long term profits in doing so.

As long as the NFL is free to watch on the largest networks, the NFL really doesn't risk losing any of the middle-to-lower class. The best part of sports is you can be a huge fan without spending a dime on the team. As long as games are available to watch at no cost, anyone can be a fan. Merchandise purchases are not mandated by the league or the networks.

I'd say hat sales outnumber jersey sales by a wide margin, and t-shirts/sweatshirts outnumber jersey sales as well. Jersey sales are just a good way to determine player popularity. With that said, the cheaper merchandise (such as hats, t-shirts, and counterfeits) sells way more than $75-100 replicas. But like I mentioned earlier, you can still be a fan without buying a jersey; I don't think anyone in Denver says "Man, I'd love to be a Broncos fan, but I just can't afford a jersey, so therefore, I'm going to stay away from the NFL." As someone noted, a jersey is not a mandatory item to be a fan, it's a luxury item. I am a huge fan and I'd rather buy t-shirts and hats than jerseys, and I don't think I'm alone.

[andrewharrington]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

Allegedly, teams have already been sent prototypes in the Pro Combat-style uniform. No word on whether or not that will be the norm, but it's certainly within the realm of possibility.

[Gothamite]

If the Packers are making minor tweaks, as they reportedly are, then no team is safe from at least small Nike changes.

[Lights Out]

The Patriots, Bengals, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Cardinals, Redskins, and Giants all desperately need a major overhaul... and if the Chargers finally ditch the navy for powder blue and bring back yellow pants, I'll be a happy camper.

[TBGKon]

Who says they are even using the Pro Combat template? Most Nike collegiate programs do not use it, so why make such a sweeping change for the pros? I doubt we'll see sweeping changes, perhaps some "technology" touting, but the VAST majority of people won't even notice. I could however see the Seahawks, Titans, Bengals and Broncos get new looks since their uniforms arent traditionally, well, traditional.

Allegedly, teams have already been sent prototypes in the Pro Combat-style uniform. No word on whether or not that will be the norm, but it's certainly within the realm of possibility.

True. Reebok Edge was implemented across the NHL. It's not like you see some teams wearing old school unis and some wearing the Edge sweaters.

[FiddySicks]

The solution to the price woes? I'm pretty well positive nfl.com and Reebok are going to have a fire sale after the end of this season, to clean out current stock in advance of ushering in the new stuff. My advice: STOCK UP ON YOUR TEAM GEAR THEN. Forget about the manufacturer logo that adorns it--it'll probably only be the lil' Nike fanboys that'll rush to drop guap on all the latest and greatest Swoosh attire, anyway. I personally couldn't care less.

If I can get an authentic Bucs jersey for around $100, I'll be in heaven.

Even if I am on "vacation" from them right now

[_RH_]

I've heard that the Chiefs' TV numbers will move farther up the shoulder and the yellow and white stripe will be moved up the sleeve (not really sure how to imagine that one)