NFL Auctions PSA/DNA Problem

[Made in Motown]

After hearing that there were a lot of pro-cut/nongame-issued and fake pro bowl jerseys floating around I wanted to double check the Shawn Andrews 2007 Pro Bowl jersey I purchased from NFL auctions. I noticed 2 things: 1) there was no NFL equipment shield on my jersey, and 2) the receipt said it was a Shane Andrews jersey. I logged on to the PSA/DNA site and plugged in the certification # - and up popped a verification that it was indeed a SHANE Andrews jersey???? I called PSA/DNA and expressed my concerns re: the missing shield, the name, and whether the jersey really came from the pro bowl lockerroom. The customer service employee took the cert # and told me the name issue was just a typo and that the IT department will fix it. (They did.) She also told me that since PSA/DNA only authenticated the autograph, she could not assure me that the jersey came from the pro bowl lockerroom. After a stunned silence I informed her that the jersey was not signed, and was sold as game issued. I was immediately put on hold. When she returned she informed me that PSA/DNA does not actually handle the NFL auction jerseys. They are tagged as they come off the playing field and sent directly to the NFL. I had no idea how to respond to that, thanked her and hung up.

Right now I am kind of disgusted by the whole process. Do you think I am justified in asking for a refund? Has anyone tried to return an NFL auction purchase?

Here are pics of the jersey:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_Apex.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/Apex.jpg)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_Apex009.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/Apex009.jpg)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_Apex008.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/Apex008.jpg)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_jerseys018-1.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/jerseys018-1.jpg)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_jerseys017-1.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/jerseys017-1.jpg)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/th_jerseys016.jpg (http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/akafunk2/jerseys016.jpg)

[Jags Fan Dan]

For me to keep that jersey, I would need a plausible and specific explanation of why there is no NFL shield on the jersey from someone who knows what the deal is. Who is the equipment manager at the Pro Bowl? That's who I would want to talk to. Good luck!

[commando]

Finding a copy of that game would be helpful... Or a photo of him wearing the jersey? There's always a chance that his game-worn jersey was issued without the NFL shield.

[mvandor]

First, Getty Images verifies that they did indeed wear the NFL shield on the neckline, that's a real oddity not to have it. HOWEVER, see http://cgi.ebay.com/Peyton-Manning-Game-Issued-Pro-Bowl-2007-Jersey-Used_W0QQitemZ300196004010QQihZ020QQcategoryZ24959 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem and you'll see this one lacks the logo as well.

I understand that the NFL sells a limited number of pro bowl GAME CUT jerseys at the venue, perhaps someone can confirm that. Also, my experience is that the guys that run NFL Auctions are VERY sloppy about use of proper titles to describe items. They'll call pro-cut jerseys "authentics" or sometimes "game issued".

My guess is yours was not an extra from the locker room but one of the limited edition pro-cuts sold like the one on ebay above.

[Made in Motown]

First, Getty Images verifies that they did indeed wear the NFL shield on the neckline, that's a real oddity not to have it. HOWEVER, see http://cgi.ebay.com/Peyton-Manning-Game-Issued-Pro-Bowl-2007-Jersey-Used_W0QQitemZ300196004010QQihZ020QQcategoryZ24959 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem and you'll see this one lacks the logo as well.

I understand that the NFL sells a limited number of pro bowl GAME CUT jerseys at the venue, perhaps someone can confirm that. Also, my experience is that the guys that run NFL Auctions are VERY sloppy about use of proper titles to describe items. They'll call pro-cut jerseys "authentics" or sometimes "game issued".

My guess is yours was not an extra from the locker room but one of the limited edition pro-cuts sold like the one on ebay above.

The exact words they used in the auction was "back-up jersey". If it is just a retail pro-cut what did PSA/DNA authenticate????? That it really came from the retail vendor?

[mvandor]

The exact words they used in the auction was "back-up jersey". If it is just a retail pro-cut what did PSA/DNA authenticate????? That it really came from the retail vendor?

Hmm, that's pretty explicit language.

You can view Getty Images to see if any of the jerseys worn lack the NFL shield, I guess. I certainly believe players are issued at least one backup but I doubt more than one for a single game. I would think the manufacturer ships them with shields already on, and I'd suspect it might be a manufacturing error except for the Manning on ebay.

I would think the backup jerseys are gifted to the players though, not retained by the NFL for auction.

Given my experience that the NFL auction people are pretty clueless, and the match with the ebay Manning, I'd have trouble believing personally that this was in fact a locker room backup. Not with that shield missing.

[Made in Motown]

Now I kind of feel like an idiot. I went to look for game photos to see what the jersey he wore in the game looked like . . . . and then I realized he didn't even go to the pro bowl that year. He was injured.

I guess it is important to do your homework, even if you think you have an impeccable source.

[mvandor]

Now I kind of feel like an idiot. I went to look for game photos to see what the jersey he wore in the game looked like . . . . and then I realized he didn't even go to the pro bowl that year. He was injured.

I guess it is important to do your homework, even if you think you have an impeccable source.

Well, he was named to the 2007 Pro Bowl but marked as injured and replaced by an injury replacement. Had jerseys already been made before he was hurt? Do they make jerseys for injured Pro Bowlers anyway for ceremonial purposes if they come as spectators? As momentos? Possibilities.

Only the missing shield bothers me... interested to hear from our more experienced NFL jersey guys.