Craig Engels: "as soon as Nike said I had the option of doing NOP, I was in"

Anyone else read the thread title as "as soon as Nike said I had the option of doping in NOP, I was in"?

It is tainted in the eyes of some prospective athletes, fans and consumers, and is not considered tainted by others. One runner's opinion on that doesn't really help quantify how many people fall on each side.

Engels knows that he will be paid well above his market value if he chooses NOP. He isn't doping now and believes he can reject anything doping related without consequence. That's not how it works with Alberto.

I mean only pros that have been offered and declined can answer that but guessing on the women's side the NOP would've liked Flanagan, Huddle, Simpson. You also didn't include "fellow athletes" not currently in the NOP.

Man Overboard wrote:

Anyone else read the thread title as "as soon as Nike said I had the option of doping in NOP, I was in"?

I suggest for you to get counseling.

Man Overboard wrote:

Anyone else read the thread title as "as soon as Nike said I had the option of doping in NOP, I was in"?

Yeah, doing is quite close to doping.

Especially when the p from option was close by.

Easy choice wrote:

...and I don't blame him, and I would have done the same thing, and so would the vast majority of collegiate runners. My point in posting this is to demonstrate how ludicrous it is when people here claim that the NOP brand is "tainted" in the eyes of prospective athletes, fans, and/or consumers. It is not.

http://www.flotrack.org/article/58669-meet-craig-engels-the-newest-mulleted-member-of-the-nike-oregon-project#.WWUMgeIpCEc

Whoa whoa whoa...who do you think you are posting this crap on Letsrun? Everyone thinks the same as the 30 people that post on Letsrun. Especially the top runners in the world. They come on here first to see what we think of NOP and then they make their decision.

Easy choice wrote:

...and I don't blame him, and I would have done the same thing, and so would the vast majority of collegiate runners. My point in posting this is to demonstrate how ludicrous it is when people here claim that the NOP brand is "tainted" in the eyes of prospective athletes, fans, and/or consumers. It is not.

It is tainted to people with ethics.

You "demonstrate" nothing with your post, except on Engels's character.

NOP is tainted but I am sure they pay a lot better than other groups and they don't make you work at the running store.

what are these runners out of college really getting paid? Is it worth it? Really..10-20-30 years down the road.. People if you really want to improve the salary in the sport, don't be afraid to just post how much you make etc... All other job sites post them so why not?

The only reason I can think of for why it isn't public, has to do with so many athletes having their hat with so many sponsors. A lot of times, these are paid sponsorships other times simply just free stuff from that company. I suppose when an athlete signs on with a new sponsor you could include a blurb on what they are getting.

But then the other problem I see is athletes using that as leverage, because running is solely individual performance based. Imagine athlete A saying I beat Athlete B in 6 races this year, but Athlete A ends up making the OLY team.

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the more veteran athletes like Symmonds, Goucher, and Flanagan make over 6 figures.

They make over 6 figures on their marketing themselves not on running. But of course they can market themselves because they're really good at running. It's a tough nut to crack.

But any athlete going to NOP is lame. Most know it's not clean and guilt by association is real.

Or maybe Craig Engels was already doping and this is going to make it easier for him to do so.

or maybe you're a moron, nvm no maybe about it

lol who are these so called "people with ethics," whatever that means?

Just LRCers

Engels got $80k.

3-4 yr deal, not sure on how many option years. Usually it's 2 option years with Nike and something at Engels level.

Normal Nike reductions that we saw with Berian's contract. Though, NOP athletes are mostly immune to reductions since it's a tainted group and they do not want bitter athletes coming from a dirty group floating around. So as long as they stay there or say they publicly they are still with the NOP (Cain, Ulrey, Levins etc), Capriotti doesn't activate the reduction clauses (it says in contracts reductions are at the discretion of Nike, so there are examples of some non-NOP athletes not being reduced when they could have been)

Engel's had ZERO offers from other companies in front of him. ZERO.

That should tell you something about the character of his agent Ray Flynn.

Testosterone Boost wrote:

Engel's had ZERO offers from other companies in front of him. ZERO.

That should tell you something about the character of his agent Ray Flynn.

Sounds like Engels turned your team down :((((

I'd love to see what he could run an 800 in right now. He's only really run a few this year and given that he just ran under 3:36, I could see him in the low 1:45 range (although he probably could have hit 1:45 last year being 4th at the trials). Tbh I thought he was gonna choose NJNY before he signed w Nike.

Yes. Money usually trumps unproved allegations and rumors in the real world. Any real proof of a doping conspiracy and Nike's support of NOP would disappear instantly.

My problem with Nike is, they seem to dominate and control pro track and field, especially in the USA. Yet under their leadership the sport remains a minor one in terms of popularity and prestige for the American general public.