Practice. Yup, they're talking about practice. Jerseys that is.

I caught a post from profootballtalk.com (PFT), which was referencing a blog entry by Jim Colbert of USA Today (what, you think I have time to actually report this stuff myself?) saying the NFL was expanding their sponsorship horizons in terms of adding corporate logos to practice jerseys.

I guess the basic idea is to put patches, apparently no more obtrusive then the Pro Bowl patches we see, on uniforms so businesses get exposure when images of  players come across your media of choice. I can see it now; David Carr, taking a majority of snaps because Eli has a tweaked hammy, is pulled aside for a riveting interview. All of a sudden, I feel the urge to sign up for a Visa card because of a patch I see on his jersey sleeve.  Everywhere you want to be indeed.

This certainly shows the lengths to which the NFL thinks they need to go in response to this economic crisis everyone seems so wrapped up in.  But it definitely feels like the "NASCARization" of the NFL. I suppose you're going to tell me next that Sportscenter is going to have segments sponsored by alcohol proprietors. And if the king of the sports mountain is doing this, you can bet the rest of the sports world will be looking for more "growth opportunities" more so than they already are.

Again, Mike Florio of PFT sums it up best.

A bad economy coupled with the ongoing permeation of corporate sponsorships in the world of sports makes the move a no-brainer, in our view. And, frankly, we're not troubled by it. Or maybe we're just numb to it."