In recent years, NFL team marketing departments have increasingly focused on generating excitement around the annual schedule release. However, the team responsible for the bowling-themed video unveiled by the Cleveland Browns on Thursday has faced accusations of plagiarism.
Traditionally, the unveiling of NFL schedules wasn’t a particularly elaborate event. However, franchises soon recognized the opportunity to capitalize on this offseason lull by creating attention-grabbing announcements that could go viral, thus garnering free publicity.
Consequently, it has become commonplace for teams to produce rather elaborate videos to build anticipation for their schedule of games. While the Chargers notably shifted away from their previous anime format and instead utilized The Sims to take playful jabs at other teams, there were many other notable highlights across the league.
While the bowling video chosen by the Cleveland Browns may not have been universally praised, it was noteworthy for featuring the legendary figure in the bowling world, Pete Weber, making an appearance towards the conclusion.
It appears that the Browns may have been preempted in their creative endeavor. On Thursday, Mugsy Jeans made a strong implication that the Browns had plagiarized an advertisement they had released the previous year. This ad featured Weber and showcased him striking an identical pose while lying in front of a lane at the same bowling alley where the brand’s spot was filmed.
Weber also famously delivered his iconic catchphrase, “Who do you think you are? I am!” in both videos. However, it’s a bit challenging to claim plagiarism in this instance, considering that such a phrase is inherently associated with him whenever he’s involved in filming.
Ultimately, neither the Browns nor Mugsy Jeans were pushing the envelope with their respective videos. While I’m inclined to view it as more of a coincidence, I understand why the latter might take issue with the former.