Seahawks Russell Wilson Tops All N.F.L. Players in Merchandise Sales

Years ago, I decided to quit buying jerseys and swag depicting individual players. No sooner would I finally save up enough scratch to get my favorite player's number and - poof! - they'd get cut or traded.

The last straw was Shaun Alexander of the Seahawks. Back in 2005, my lovely, thoughtful wife Carrie bought me a #37 Seahawks replica jersey. Within two seasons after his M.V.P. year, Shaun was not only no longer a Seahawk, but out of the league altogether. Never again.

I am now the proud owner of TWO #12 jerseys (damn them for changing their colors/logo!) as the number twelve is retired in honor of the FANS - not an individual player. To my way of thinking, I will ALWAYS be a fan and therefore never have to worry about putting my jersey in mothballs.

That said, apparently I am in the minority as fans are purchasing Seahawks swag at an alarming rate with QB Russell Wilson leading ALL players in the N.F.L. for individual sales.
According to the National Football League Players Association:

Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks finished the NFL Players Inc. (NFLPI) fiscal year ranked #1 on the Top 50 Player Sales list, based on total overall sales from March 1, 2013, through February 28, 2014. Wilson jumped 18 spots from #19 in FY13 to claim the top position from the Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning, who maintained his retail sales power and is ranked second. NFLPI licensees generated retail sales exceeding $1 billion during the year.

Wilson is joined on the list by his teammates, running back Marshawn Lynch (#7) and cornerback Richard Sherman (#12). Lynch, the only non-quarterback in the top 10, jumped 22 spots from #29. Sherman, a player not in the top 50 even at the start of the fiscal year, made his debut at #12.