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Bortles signs Audi endorsement deal ; Automotive group's CEO says his business sees 'potential with Blake' [Florida Times Union](Florida Times Union Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has scored his first local endorsement deal that will add to the $20.6-million, four-year deal he signed with the NFL franchise this year. Jack Hanania, CEO of Hanania Automotive Group in Jacksonville, announced Monday that the company has signed an endorsement agreement with Bortles where the third overall pick in this year's NFL draft will pitch cars. Hanania said Bortles will endorse Audi of Jacksonville and the A8 luxury car. "Blake is a very great guy and he's a great ballplayer. We see a lot of potential with Blake and we did a sponsorship deal with him," Hanania said. "The good thing about Blake is he's driving an A8 and he loves the car. "We'll get with our advertising agency and we'll do some great spots for our company," said Hanania, though he declined to disclose the terms of the endorsement deal. While Bortles was the first quarterback selected in this year's draft, high draft picks are not always a guarantee of success. The Jaguars just jettisoned from the roster Blaine Gabbert who was a first-round, 10th overall draft pick by the Jaguars in 2011. But Gabbert has struggled this preseason as a San Francisco 49er where he's trying to resurrect his career as a backup to starter Colin Kaepernick. Hanania said he "doesn't see a whole lot of risk" in teaming up with Bortles in the endorsement deal. Hanania said the former University of Central Florida Knight has already added excitement to Jaguars football in just the two preseason appearances he's made against the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "We got to see him in two games and in the first home game he got a standing ovation," Hanania said. "I like what I saw with the Jaguars. I like what I saw as a team. They are playing to a higher tempo. "How many games are they going to win? I don't know. But they are heading in the right direction and I think Blake is going to add to that success," Hanania said. Bortles is, for the moment, slated to be the backup to starter Chad Henne. But in the two preseason games, Bortles has thrown for a combined 18 of 28 for 277 yards. In another sponsorship development related to the Jaguars, the franchise announced Monday that Firehouse Subs has agreed to a major sponsorship deal with the team. The sandwich retailer has agreed to offer their food to Jags fans in a variety of in-stadium, radio and television programs. The news release from the Jaguars also said that Jags fans will be eligible to win free sandwiches in "field goals for Firehouse" through various programs if the Jaguars kick a field goal in excess of 40 yards during a game. Details of the sponsorship stipulations and monetary value of the deal were not disclosed.Drew Dixon: (904) 359-4098 (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |