Help to ID a game used browns jersey

[perlman9]

I am looking to buy a couple of eric metcalf game-used jerseys, one falcons and one browns. The owner sent a photo of the Tag for the browns jersey, and says Tailored Exclusively for Authentic Proline by Wilson with NFL shield. Is that a retail tag? Jersey also has 75th Anniversary Patch. He also has a Chargers Eric Moten I am looking to get but has the lineman flap thing so am assuming that has to be a real gamer. No real tell-tale items to look at on the Falcons jersey, but if Browns is real and Chargers will assume Falcons is as well. Thanks for any help!

Jason

[dcgreg25]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Jason, it would probably be helpful if you posted the pic of the tagging and/or the jersey. Armed with that information, you are likely to get a number of responses and opinions. Sounds like a great find if its real as I have been looking to buy a Metcalf for some time now especially from his Browns years.

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Here are some photos. I am skeptical now as it seems Eric Metcalf had fitted sleeves, but here is hoping! Thanks for the help!!

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

[JasonBanz]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

I have a Dolphins jersey with the Authentic Proline tagging on it. They are retail jerseys. Also in 1994 the Browns did not screen on their numbers. They were stitched and made by Russell not Wilson. Also the sleeves are different from what he wore. The Falcons one looks good in my opinion.

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Thanks Jason
Nothing about the Browns looked right, so I just wasn't sure if they did a throwback thing or something that year. I thought the Falcons looked good except for the fitted sleeves. But it has what looks like a game-cut look to it. So in your opinion, the Falcons looks good but Browns not-so? I am also wondering why even the retail jersey looks off from the game jersey of that year.. I wonder if someone added the patch to an older retail jersey to give it more credibility... I may just go for the Metcalf Falcons and Chargers Moten

[JasonBanz]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

I really couldn't tell with the sleeves on the Falcons jersey. I thought at first glance they could have been fitted. But then again maybe now. I also thought I saw hit marks on the Falcons jersey, but then again who knows what it was. Sometimes its hard to judge a gamer without looking at it and sometimes you get screwed . As to the patch being added, I believe it was. Infact I found a 75th anniversary patch and put it on my Dolphins Authentic proline. Hope this helped!

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

It does and think I will go with the Falcons, more pics added, and the Moten Chargers jersey.

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

I also found this photo of the correct jersey but cannot tell if sewn numbers or silk screen. Again, any help would be great! I am really hoping these are true. Thanks again!

[G1X]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Hi Jason,

I'm a long-time Falcons collector so perhaps I can assist. Metcalf played for the Falcons in 1995 and 1996. The Falcons wore screened-on numbers during those two seasons, and had been wearing screened-on numbers for the previous 30+ years. They did not wear sewn-on numbers until the 1997 season when they switched styles and manufacturers (Reebok).

In 1995, the jerseys had a separate year tag in the tail with the number 95 screen-printed on the tag. There was a 100% nylon flag tag attached to the bottom of the Russell tail tag. Most jerseys also had an extra length flag tag attached to the bottom of the Russell tag.

In 1996, there was a small Russell tag in the neck (much like a retail jersey tagging) and no Russell tail tag. If a 1996 jersey has extra length, there will be a small extra length tag directly under the Russell neck tag.

The next-to-last jersey on the left side of the first attached photo is a 1995 Falcons jersey. It's difficult to see the 95 printed on the tag, but it is a good example of a jersey that also has extra length tagging. Also note the 100% nylon tag on all the jerseys with year tagging in the 1990s.

The second photo shows the font style of the #2 that the Falcons wore during the years they wore Russell. This paticular jersey is from the 1994 season and should give you a good example of the type of #2 you should find on a Metcalf Falcons jersey (or any Russell Falcons jersey).

I hope that you find this information helpful. Please feel free to contact me at gixc@verizon.net if you need to discuss further.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for Atlanta Falcons and WFL jerseys.

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Thanks Mark! So you think the Falcons is bad as well? Shoot, I was hoping I found a minor gem with these two. I do think the Moten is good as it has the crotch flap. Is your guess this Falcons is store purchased and made to look game used or a later game used to look like a metcalf? thanks again Mark and Jason!

[G1X]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Jason,

The Falcons last wore Russell in 1996. They switched to Reebok in 1997, Nike in 1999, and back to Reebok in 2001. Also, the Falcons sleeve logo was sewn-on starting in 1997. The style of the #2 remained basically the same font style as the Russell jerseys.

Strictly speaking in terms of style matching, collecting modern era jerseys is a bit easier as there are a lot of photos available via the internet (Getty Images, etc.). I recommend viewing as many photos as possible and asking questions in this Forum before making a purchase whenever you have doubts.

Hope this information is helpful. Feel free to contact me at gixc@verizon.net if you need to discuss further.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for Atlanta Falcons and WFL jerseys.

[Eric]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

Thanks Mark! So you think the Falcons is bad as well? Shoot, I was hoping I found a minor gem with these two. I do think the Moten is good as it has the crotch flap. Is your guess this Falcons is store purchased and made to look game used or a later game used to look like a metcalf? thanks again Mark and Jason!

From the photos, the Moten looks like the real deal. Correct supplier, proper tagging, lineman sleeves, crotchpiece. What's the source on it?

[perlman9]

Re: Help to ID a game used browns jersey

a novice collector in toronto, so no real COAs or anything. He wasn't asking much for any, at least I thought fair pricing, but didn't want to get stuck with store-boughts. I appreciate all the help and may just get the Moten since that seems the onyl real deal