The Seahawks in the wake of their Super Bowl title are "now at the top of the NFL in merchandise sales," and QB Russell Wilson "now has the top-selling jersey," according to Bob Condotta of the SEATTLE TIMES. The Seahawks "ranked fourth in merchandise sales on Dec. 31," but "more Seahawks merchandise has been sold in a period from April 1, 2013 to Feb. 28, 2014 than that of any other team." The Seahawks are followed by the Broncos, 49ers and Cowboys. An NFL official said that it is the "first time the Seahawks have been at the top of merchandise sales and that Wilson has had the top-selling jersey." Wilson was third on Dec. 31 behind 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and Broncos QB Peyton Manning. Manning is "now second to Wilson and Kaepernick third." NFL Senior VP/Consumer Products Leo Kane said the spike in purchases of Seahawks merchandise and jerseys “is one of the best we’ve ever had, if not the best ever." Condotta notes not only is Wilson "first among players," but Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is fifth and CB Richard Sherman sixth. Lynch ranked 11th on Dec. 31, and Sherman 19th (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/5).
| NFLSHOP.COM TOP 25 PLAYER JERSEY SALES RANKINGS |
| RK | PLAYER | RK | PLAYER |
| 1 | Seahawks QB Russell Wilson | 14 | Eagles RB LeSean McCoy
|
| 2 | Broncos QB Peyton Manning
| 15 | Panthers QB Cam Newton
|
| 3 | 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
| 16 | Colts QB Andrew Luck
|
| 4 | Patriots QB Tom Brady | 17 | Cowboys TE Jason Witten
|
| 5 | Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch | 18 | Texans DE J.J. Watt
|
| 6 | Seahawks CB Richard Sherman | 19 | Broncos WR Wes Welker
|
| 7 | Saints QB Drew Brees
| 20 | Packers LB Clay Matthews
|
| 8 | Vikings QB Adrian Peterson
| 21 | Giants QB Eli Manning
|
| 9 | Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
| 22 | Giants WR Victor Cruz
|
| 10 | Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill
| 23 | Cowboys QB Tony Romo
|
| 11 | Redskins QB Robert Griffin III | 24 | Steelers S Troy Polamalu
|
| 12 | Lions WR Calvin Johnson
| 25 | Broncos WR Eric Decker
|
| 13 | Cowboys WR Dez Bryant
|
| |
WILSON, TEXAS RANGER: L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said Wilson visiting the MLB Rangers' Spring Training outfit earlier this week was a "nice PR thing, and they sold a lot of jerseys." Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw said there was "nothing wrong with having him there for a motivational speech and to sell a lot of jerseys." ESPN's Tony Reali noted the Rangers "sold out of T-shirts in about 10 minutes." ESPN's Bomani Jones: "They sold a lot of shirts, everybody made a lot of money" (
"Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/4).
