Phillip Knight’s Shoes Are Ruining Darren McFadden’s Rookie Season

Rookie running back Darren McFadden has been limited in recent weeks due to a lingering turf toe issue on his right foot. This week, the problem is occurring on his left foot as well. What's causing these injuries, you ask? Simple. Nike doesn't know how to make shoes. Or something. From David White of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Egg Phil Knight's mansion, if you like. His Nike company is the one making the shoes that are undermining McFadden's rookie season. "There's some thought that it's the support of the shoe, so we're working on that," Raiders coach Tom Cable said after McFadden missed practice Wednesday in Alameda.

According to White, McFadden never had this problem with Nike shoes in college because Arkansas had a deal with Adidas. The Raiders -- and McFadden -- each have deals with Nike at the present time.

I realize it's blasphemy in today's corporate sports world, where endorsements are sometimes worth more than a players contract with their team, but one of the comments at the bottom of White's article makes quite a bit of sense: "That's why you go with the shoe that fits, and not the company that will pay you."

I know. I know. There's a buck to be made, but if the shoes don't fit, why keep wearing them?

Phillip Knight's Shoes Are Ruining Darren McFadden's Rookie Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.