AMERICAN NEEDLE SUES THE NFL

American Needle started out making green office visors in 1918 and eventually became the first company to manufacture licensed headwear for pro ball teams.

American Needle is known today for another reason – they’re suing the National Football League for antitrust practices. The reason is because the NFL chose Reebok to become the official supplier of apparel in 2000.

Experts say this decision could alter the entire landscape of sports. It has the potential to impact everything from player salaries to what you pay for a logo sweatshirt.

The NFL said it was acting as a single entity, not 32 separate teams, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals agreed. American Needle appealed to the Supreme Court. 

"There's the concern of letting an already powerful organization become more powerful," said Gary Blackman, of Levenfeld Pearlstein, who is a member of the firm's sports law group.   

If the NFL wins, the league could decide it will have only one supplier, instead of contracts negotiated by individual teams. The end result could be higher prices.

Since Reebok became the exclusive supplier of NFL apparel in 2000, prices for some products have gone up as much as 60 percent.  American Needle contends the public is being hurt by the lack of competition.