5 NFL Players Who Paid Dearly to Obtain Original Jersey Numbers

Jersey numbers are quite coveted possessions for some football players. And sometimes players are forced to give up their jersey number when they switch teams. Whether it’s a karma thing or just a sentimental attachment to a favorite number, some players have gone all out to obtain their original jersey number when they switch teams.

1. Eli Manning Traded Vacation for No. 10

Want to finagle a one-week paid vacation to Florida? That is apparently what former punter Jeff Feagles did when he traded his jersey number to Eli Manning in 2004. Manning, who wore No. 10 at Mississippi, has had that very same number since he entered the NFL as a rookie more than a decade ago.

Feagles didn’t stop making deals there. He later traded No. 17 to wide receiver Plaxico Burress for a sparkling outdoor kitchen for his home.

Feagles could have made quite the business out of wheeling and dealing the jerseys he wore throughout the years.

2. Former Quarterback Donovan McNabb Ponied up Cash to Charity to Snag No. 5

McNabb had worn No. 5 since his draft into the NFL in 1999 by the Philadelphia Eagles. That didn’t stop him from wanting to wear it for his final season in Minnesota in 2011. In order to secure his favorite number, McNabb had to fork over $5,000 to former punter Chris Kluwe’s favorite charity. Oddly, McNabb was also required to promote Kluwe’s band five times and take the punter out for ice cream. How cute.

It is reported that McNabb made partial good on the pieces of the deal with the exception of buying Kluwe his ice cream and omitting two shout outs for his band.

3. Deion Sanders Surprised with a Sports Car in Exchange for No. 21.

When Sanders arrived to the the Cowboys in 1995, he wanted the No. 21 that he had worn since 1989. This was a problem because that jersey belonged to defensive back Alundis Brice. Reportedly, Sanders found out that Brice was going to purchase a BMW. Therefore Sanders beat him to the bunch. Purchasing the brand new Beemer, Sanders put the keys to the car in Brice’s locker and left this note:

“Now give me my damn jersey!”

Needless to say, Brice was flabbergasted to see his “dream car,” a metallic blue BMW 325i loaded to the max sitting in the facility parking lot.

4. Darrelle Revis Forked Over Major Cash to Wear No. 24 for One Season

Was $50,000 worth the price to pay to wear jersey No. 24 for one season while playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Apparently Revis thought so because he handed over $50,000 to safety Mark Barron in 2013 in order to obtain his original jersey number.

Considering the big bucks the New York Jets just paid Revis, the $50k was mere pocket change.

5. Eric Decker Sweetened Cash Offer with a Steak Dinner to Buy No. 87

When Decker was signed by the New York Jets in 2014, he was without the jersey number he had worn in Denver. That jersey belonged to tight end Jeff Cumberland, who we’re not even sure plays with the team at times considering his scarce presence on the field. Offering him some cash to go with a steak dinner did the trick.

Cumberland apparently doesn’t care what jersey number he wears because he has worn three different numbers over the past five seasons with the Jets. If anyone wants his current No. 85, I’m sure Cumberland would be up for some more bribery gifts.

Photo: USA Today Sports