Jets Fans Make Mark Sanchez NFL's Best Selling Rookie Jersey

Say this for Jets fans: When they're excited about their quarterback, they don't hesitate to put his name and number on their backs.

Nine months ago, Jets fans bought 20,000 Brett Favre Jets jerseys in the first couple of days after he was traded from the Packers, making his jerseys by far the best seller in the league at the time. But now the Jets have drafted quarterback Mark Sanchez, and Sanchez jerseys (which sell for $80) have become the best-selling rookie jerseys on the market.

Judy Battista writes at the New York Times' Fifth Down blog:

According to Reebok and the Jets, Sanchez's No. 6 jersey is the top seller of all N.F.L. rookies drafted this year – ahead of even the first overall pick, Matthew Stafford of the Lions. Reebok doesn't release specific sales statistics, but it said he was ahead of the pace set last year by running back Darren McFadden, the top seller in the 2008 draft class, who was picked by the Oakland Raiders.

I know a little something about impulse purchases of quarterbacks' jerseys, so I can't say I'm surprised that Jets fans would be so quick to purchase the jerseys of Favre and Sanchez. I have a feeling, though, that most of those 20,000 who bought Favre jerseys nine months ago would say now that they could find a better use for their $80.