Jones is co-author of "Say it Loud: An Illustrated History of the Black Athlete." (CNN) A couple of weeks before Super Bowl XLII in 2008, when Barack Obama was running for president, I was on assignment for ESPN in Milan, covering Men's Fashion Week. With me were two professional athletes -- former NFL superstar Terrell Owens and an NBA rookie, Al Horford -- both fashionistas in their own right. In a league where contracts are not guaranteed , your biggest payday likely comes from sponsors. And nothing scares away NFL endorsement deals quicker than a man with strong opinions.

Source: CNN February 04, 2017 17:14 UTC