Cleveland Browns new quarterback Johnny Manziel hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL, and he may not even be his team’s starter when the season kicks off, but that hasn’t stopped fans from snapping up his jersey. In fact, Johnny Football’s No. 2 Browns jersey is the highest selling of any player through the first quarter of the league’s financial year, according to the NFL.
The sales tally is from the league’s online shop and Manziel’s haul is made even more impressive by the fact that the sales period ran from April 1 through July 17 and the former Texas A&M star was only drafted on May 8. “Manziel’s spot atop the jersey-sales list is the highest a Browns player has been since the league has kept track of individual players’ sales (2001),” ESPN reports. “Thanks to Manziel, the Browns are now the third-most popular team in the league from a merchandise standpoint.”
Also making the list is St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam, whose jersey is the league’s sixth bestseller. Despite fears that NFL locker rooms aren’t ready for an openly gay player, NFL fans seem to be raring for Sam-era to get started. Here are the top 10 bestsellers via NBC Sports:
1. QB Johnny Manziel, Cleveland
2. QB Russell Wilson, Seattle
3. QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco
4. QB Peyton Manning, Denver
5. CB Richard Sherman, Seattle
6. DE Michael Sam, St. Louis
7. QB Tom Brady, New England
8. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
9. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
10. 12th Man, Seattle
