NFL Hard Knocks 2013 - Recycling of Cincinnati Bengals game jerseys.

[scottishcowboy41]

I just watched the final episode of this year’s NFL Hard Knocks with the Cincinnati Bengals. It showed footage of nameplates being removed from all the game jerseys of the players who didn’t make the team during the final cuts to make the 53 man roster. As a collector of Cowboys game jerseys myself, this was uncomfortable viewing.

I know teams do this plate-change now and again and more commonly issue players with unused jerseys from previous years. For example a player could have worn a 08 tagged jersey in 2011. But in this Hard Knocks episode every jersey for every cut player had the nameplate removed so the jerseys could be recycled and used for future players that join the team.

Now these weren’t star players by any means, but surely you Bengals fans would have loved to have bought those game jerseys for your collections, even though they were just game used or game issued pre-season jerseys of the bottom tier players on the roster. Fullback John “The Terminator” Conner was cut from the team, but his game jersey would have been a nice addition to any collector of Bengals gamers. Or what about Aaron Maybin, an 11th overall pick by the Bills a couple of years ago, and a huge bust. I’m sure collectors of NFL gamers of former Penn State players would have snapped that one up. I sure did wince a bit as those CONNOR and MAYBIN nameplates were unstitched.

With the way the economy is these days, all businesses want to save money. So will this extreme recycling of game jerseys by the Bengals and other NFL teams become more prevalent in the future? I sure hope not! I know these were bottom tier players, but a game used jersey is still a game used jersey. I would have thought the teams would make more money selling these jerseys on via NFL Auctions, auction houses, companies like Steiner, the team Proshop or the team tent sale etc, than Nike would charge them to make new one’s etc.

[Anabolicollege17]

I understand what your saying but there was no evidence of the jerseys being given to current players, or new players once removed. The jerseys could be one day auctioned with no name plates or given to season ticket holders for autographs.

[scottishcowboy41]

I understand what your saying but there was no evidence of the jerseys being given to current players, or new players once removed. The jerseys could be one day auctioned with no name plates or given to season ticket holders for autographs.

I think it is more than likely the jerseys had the nameplates removed to be used again for future players. The jerseys would have much more value for auctioning or be much more appealing to season ticket holders with the nameplate on, so why remove the nameplate if your theory is true? I wouldn't have a game jersey in my collection with a nameplate removed. That would ruin the appeal of the jersey to me totally. So I would strongly suggest the recycling theory is much more realistic.

[ivo610]

I just watched the final episode of this year’s NFL Hard Knocks with the Cincinnati Bengals. It showed footage of nameplates being removed from all the game jerseys of the players who didn’t make the team during the final cuts to make the 53 man roster. As a collector of Cowboys game jerseys myself, this was uncomfortable viewing.

I know teams do this plate-change now and again and more commonly issue players with unused jerseys from previous years. For example a player could have worn a 08 tagged jersey in 2011. But in this Hard Knocks episode every jersey for every cut player had the nameplate removed so the jerseys could be recycled and used for future players that join the team.

Now these weren’t star players by any means, but surely you Bengals fans would have loved to have bought those game jerseys for your collections, even though they were just game used or game issued pre-season jerseys of the bottom tier players on the roster. Fullback John “The Terminator” Conner was cut from the team, but his game jersey would have been a nice addition to any collector of Bengals gamers. Or what about Aaron Maybin, an 11th overall pick by the Bills a couple of years ago, and a huge bust. I’m sure collectors of NFL gamers of former Penn State players would have snapped that one up. I sure did wince a bit as those CONNOR and MAYBIN nameplates were unstitched.

With the way the economy is these days, all businesses want to save money. So will this extreme recycling of game jerseys by the Bengals and other NFL teams become more prevalent in the future? I sure hope not! I know these were bottom tier players, but a game used jersey is still a game used jersey. I would have thought the teams would make more money selling these jerseys on via NFL Auctions, auction houses, companies like Steiner, the team Proshop or the team tent sale etc, than Nike would charge them to make new one’s etc.

NFL auctions is for charity. They dont make money off of things there to my knowledge.
What auction house is going to want a bunch of players who never played in a regular season game? What, sell every teams leftovers? So 700-1200 jerseys? That will drastically lower the profile of any auction house. The cost to put a $50 item up for auction? yeah its not going to be worth the $20 they would get out of the few that sold. It would be a mess. The labor involved would be crazy.
Steiner terminated their deal with the cowboys because they couldnt sell lower tier players that actually played in games. The business model doesnt work.
Tent sale or Team store? Maybe but I already see NFL teams with game jerseys from no name players that are sitting on their website with no interest. Ebay is cluttered with them too, last week it was a bunch of panthers jerseys. Cowboys are one of the biggest fan bases in the league and their jerseys from no name players are a dime a dozen.
Teams recycling jerseys is the best for business, its quick and easy, and doesnt cost them anything other than the few moments of labor.

[Anabolicollege17]

Scottish those jerseys have very little value. They are all bumbs. And John Connor is the biggest imo... I don't think its worth the Bengals time to sell them.

[scottishcowboy41]

NFL auctions is for charity. They dont make money off of things there to my knowledge.
What auction house is going to want a bunch of players who never played in a regular season game? What, sell every teams leftovers? So 700-1200 jerseys? That will drastically lower the profile of any auction house. The cost to put a $50 item up for auction? yeah its not going to be worth the $20 they would get out of the few that sold. It would be a mess. The labor involved would be crazy.
Steiner terminated their deal with the cowboys because they couldnt sell lower tier players that actually played in games. The business model doesnt work.
Tent sale or Team store? Maybe but I already see NFL teams with game jerseys from no name players that are sitting on their website with no interest. Ebay is cluttered with them too, last week it was a bunch of panthers jerseys. Cowboys are one of the biggest fan bases in the league and their jerseys from no name players are a dime a dozen.
Teams recycling jerseys is the best for business, its quick and easy, and doesnt cost them anything other than the few moments of labor.

$50 for a 2012 Nike game used NFL jersey? Really?! I don't think many of us NFL game used jersey collectors have a Nike gamer in our collections yet. I collect Cowboys game used jerseys but I can't afford 4 figures for a Nike gamer. I'd be happy to have a pre-season Nike gamer of a long-shot player I liked and whose progress I followed throughout training camp but got cut at the last minute. I take on board what you are saying about the logistics of how and where to shift all the jerseys, but at the moment I would say there would be a high demand for these jerseys because of the move to Nike jerseys.

My main point however was I didn't like to see game used jerseys taken apart for re-use. As a game used collector and a fan fan, I thought it was a real shame. I have a game used Cowboys helmet, 5 Cowboys practice used jerseys, 10 Cowboys game used jerseys , 1 pair of Cowboys game used gloves and a Cowboys game used equipment bag. I consider myself very fortunate to own and cherish these items. Many football fans don't own any game used items and would dearly love to own a real game used jersey NFL, no matter how low a tier the player. Not everyone is as lucky as us. Something to consider for the average joe football fan...

[scottishcowboy41]

Scottish those jerseys have very little value. They are all bumbs. And John Connor is the biggest imo... I don't think its worth the Bengals time to sell them.

I think any 2013 Nike game used jersey would have some decent value because of the recent move from Reebok. I don't see any 2012 or 2013 Nike gamers anywhere for sale for next to nothing.

We all have opinions on players. Not quite sure I agree Connor is a bum. He just joined the league 10 years too late, where real fullbacks are becoming extinct.

[Texans]

Dont the team pay Nike for the jersey? If that is the case I can see why teams recycle jersey. Why waste there money if they can reuse it. Not worth it to sale a player cut from the roster for $100

[ivo610]

$50 for a 2012 Nike game used NFL jersey? Really?! I don't think many of us NFL game used jersey collectors have a Nike gamer in our collections yet. I collect Cowboys game used jerseys but I can't afford 4 figures for a Nike gamer. I'd be happy to have a pre-season Nike gamer of a long-shot player I liked and whose progress I followed throughout training camp but got cut at the last minute. I take on board what you are saying about the logistics of how and where to shift all the jerseys, but at the moment I would say there would be a high demand for these jerseys because of the move to Nike jerseys.

My main point however was I didn't like to see game used jerseys taken apart for re-use. As a game used collector and a fan fan, I thought it was a real shame. I have a game used Cowboys helmet, 5 Cowboys practice used jerseys, 10 Cowboys game used jerseys , 1 pair of Cowboys game used gloves and a Cowboys game used equipment bag. I consider myself very fortunate to own and cherish these items. Many football fans don't own any game used items and would dearly love to own a real game used jersey NFL, no matter how low a tier the player. Not everyone is as lucky as us. Something to consider for the average joe football fan...

Sorry to disappoint you but most football fans don't get a sh*t about game used items. You know what they get excited about? Autographs. Show your $15,000 jersey and they shrug because it isn't autographed. Common jerseys are plentiful on eBay yet all these fans you talk about don't buy them. Packers have a tent sale, some of the best game used jerseys in decades are available. You know the big item was? Old seats. Most fans want nicknacks. If there was a demand for bum player jerseys then Steiner would have renewed their contract with the cowboys.

You should be able to get a conners jersey for a $100-$200 if you look around I'm sure. But you want the 2012 Nike one, which at the moment isn't as plentiful, but if all teams sold them they wouldn't sell all of them even at the dirt price of $50. Teams need the jerseys, the business model doesn't work to please a few fans. Unless you are willing to pay several hundred dollars you won't get a Nike jersey today. I'm sure they will be very plentiful in a couple seasons.

[commando]

It's about time memorabilia resellers finally realized that newer common player jerseys ain't worth much on the resale market... Same goes for common player helmets, too (you can find a buyer for them, but not for the $800 to $1,200 that is asked). These resellers may have sold a few jerseys and helmets to hardcore collectors for high retail prices, and if and when these collectors try to move these items they'll get a small fraction back of what they originally paid.

Some of us may not realize how small the GU collecting community really is. In my dealings, I seem to cross paths with a handful of people over and over. And those collectors have limited funds to spend as they search the world over for their next treasure!