Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

[MallCopKJ]

Hey everyone,

Been a lurker for a while and envy a lot of you guys collections'. I bought this from a guy who's mother works with Dante Scarneccia's (Patriots offensive line coach) wife at an elementary school in Mansfield, Mass. He just had a baby and was selling an incredible collection of Boston sports items. A seat from the last season at Foxboro stadium and a seat from the first season at Gillette Stadium, tons of autographed jerseys, auto'd pictures, a Ray Bourque signed gamer,etc.

Anyways, the Scarneccia family and his family got pretty close and Susan Scarneccia gave this to him as a Christmas present a few years back.

It's got all the proper tagging IMO, the "XL VSR4" stamp (fakes seem to be a regular sized "Proline" Riddell and Brady is one of only a few players who has always worn the "XL" VSR4). The NFL Bolt radio sticker on the back has the "right" epoxy vinyl feel to it. There is a small, circular "worn" spot which does look like it could have had the radio piece stuck to it next to the ear hole, which I took a picture of and added below.

I would appreciate any thoughts. I will basically take a bunch of pictures from different angles and see what you guys think.

[coyot51]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Every detail seems to be on the right place... everything just looks authentic.
Seems you have a nice one here, man!

[bgakladd]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Every detail seems to be on the right place... everything just looks authentic.
Seems you have a nice one here, man!

I disagree. It looks like somebody's tampered with the helmet's padding inside. The xl bumper pad has a medium one installed and look at the outside air valves. It clearly shows the padding has been taken out and not properly installed if it was replaced. That's just for starters.....

[paul457]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Some things I noticed:

* I don’t remember the Pats ever having a thin font Patriots front bumper decal during Brady’s time. It was a riddell logo up through like 2014?
* the American flag doesn’t have thick white border
* the red side shock blockers were used for almost a decade before they switched to the newer style

Questions:
* are there any reconditioning stickers inside?
* are the back number decals metallic or solid navy? It’s a very faint flake so look in the bright light
* same question on the side logos
* is there a number code on the face mask?

I have some pictures of Pats helmets from their HOF That i could post for reference, to check the decals and such. But I’m seeing a few red flags.

[MallCopKJ]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Some things I noticed:

* I don’t remember the Pats ever having a thin font Patriots front bumper decal during Brady’s time. It was a riddell logo up through like 2014?
* the American flag doesn’t have thick white border
* the red side shock blockers were used for almost a decade before they switched to the newer style

Questions:
* are there any reconditioning stickers inside?
* are the back number decals metallic or solid navy? It’s a very faint flake so look in the bright light
* same question on the side logos
* is there a number code on the face mask?

I have some pictures of Pats helmets from their HOF That i could post for reference, to check the decals and such. But I’m seeing a few red flags.

Thanks for the post! What exactly does the reconditioning sticker look like? There is a sticker inside near the ear hole that looks painted over. I will have to check the back numbers but the side logo's almost look like they have a sparkle/shimmer to/in them. I will check the face mask as well. I think there are "04" and "07" numbers on them.


I did find this online by the way:




The font looks like it matches and you can see a small, what almost looks like a divot in the paint which also looks the same on the helmet I have. The color of the clips is also clear.

[NYRangers]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Could you take a photo of your helmet at close to same angle as seen in the photo posted of TB? Thanks and best of luck!

[MallCopKJ]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Could you take a photo of your helmet at close to same angle as seen in the photo posted of TB? Thanks and best of luck!

Hey! Here you go:

[ivo610]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Hey! Here you go:

Not even close

[helmets]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Font isnt the same on the nose bumper decals. Check out the S at the end.

Additionally, Paul asked some great questions, which I don't believe you have answered. Are the numbers (#12) on the rear of the helmet metallic or plain blue? Please post a close up picture of them.

Just like most of the HND-9 Rawlings Ridge helmet out there becomes a Terry Bradshaw helmet, many, many XL Silver VSR4 helmets become Tom Brady's.

Nice helmet to display but certainly not Tom Brady's.

[paul457]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

If you believe your source is legit I’d go back through the channels to see if you can get more of a backstory.

If it has reconditioning labels inside, and authentic side logos and number decals, the story gets even more intriguing.

I wouldn’t write it off yet, but as helmets said there are a lot of copies out there.

Recon labels are usually white and green, pasted on the inside (sometimes under the padding), and are dated.

[bgakladd]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Here is a close up of a Brady game worn helmet with the proper green dot decal on back. Was the other style ever used in the NFL?

[MallCopKJ]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Here is a close up of a Brady game worn helmet with the proper green dot decal on back. Was the other style ever used in the NFL?

Thanks for posting! Is that certified as real? To me, that looks like the fake stickers which sell on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-NFL-Football-Radio-Helmet-Decal-Green-Lightning/231874428763?epid=528341305&hash=item35fccaff5b:g:rl8AAOSw5dNWlmSs

Someone that had looked at the helmet I bought said the sticker on it was correct because of the "rubbery" feeling it had, as the NFL helmet stickers are sprayed with apoxy. The one in the image you posted looks like a regular sticker and not one that appears to have the apoxy on it.

The thickness on the one you posted also appears the same as the one's found on Ebay.

[bgakladd]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

Thanks for posting! Is that certified as real? To me, that looks like the fake stickers which sell on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-NFL-Football-Radio-Helmet-Decal-Green-Lightning/231874428763?epid=528341305&hash=item35fccaff5b:g:rl8AAOSw5dNWlmSs

Someone that had looked at the helmet I bought said the sticker on it was correct because of the "rubbery" feeling it had, as the NFL helmet stickers are sprayed with apoxy. The one in the image you posted looks like a regular sticker and not one that appears to have the apoxy on it.

The thickness on the one you posted also appears the same as the one's found on Ebay.

MallCopKJ ..... The top photo is a cropped photo of Tom Brady's game worn helmet. I was comparing it to yours and the green dot that is on your helmet. Hope I wasnt confusing you by just showing a section of it. I will put the game worn helmet of Brady's in full view.

[MallCopKJ]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

UPDATE:

So from what I have been told, the NFLPA and Tristar do not allow Tom to inscribe, "Game Used" on items. With that said, he did sign the helmet and gave it a "unique" inscription which is cool.

[ivo610]

Re: Tom Brady Game Worn Helmet?

UPDATE:

So from what I have been told, the NFLPA and Tristar do not allow Tom to inscribe, "Game Used" on items. With that said, he did sign the helmet and gave it a "unique" inscription which is cool.

I’ve never heard of the NFLPA banning players from inscribing game used before. That’s interesting someone told you that.