If the Jets’ goal in bringing Tim Tebow on board was to boost merchandise sales, their owner certainly isn’t going to admit it. We all know Tebow has the Midas touch. Since the Jets announced the trade, No. 15 jerseys have been flying off the shelves. We don’t need a sports business investigation launched around the New York/New Jersey area to reveal that. Jets owner Woody Johnson would like us to believe otherwise. When asked if merchandise sales have spiked since New York landed the NFL’s most popular player, Johnson played dumb.
“Not really,” he said according to Newsday. “Jerseys aren’t really our main line of business. Our main line of business is winning games. I expect if we do well, we will continue to sell. We’re pretty well sold out on PSLs despite what you read about.”
The Jets have a pretty rabid fan base and have gained popularity since Rex Ryan came aboard, so I’m buying the part about Gang Green already having been all set with their PSLs. However, there’s no way Tebow hasn’t given jersey sales a little boost. Anytime you make a big splash via free agency or a trade, jersey sales increase — let alone when that big splash is someone that is believed to win games with the help of divine intervention.
New York may have acquired Tebow with football motives, but there’s no way they haven’t been reaping the benefits of his popularity. It’s okay, Woody — we aren’t mad at you.
Photo credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE
