- The Washington Times - Monday, July 1, 2013

The flip side of former New England Patriots’ star Aaron Hernandez’s arrest for first-degree murder: His football jersey is rocking the sales on eBay.

The National Football League has stopped selling his jersey, No. 81, in the wake of his arrest, murder charge and drop from the Patriots’ roster. But that falling inventory combined with the star’s newfound notoriety has pushed up shirt values. The former $100 online jersey price is now pushing twice that, in eBay bids, CNN Money reported.

Ben Kent of Virginia Beach is one such entrepreneur. He didn’t want to set a bad example for his kids by keeping his Hernandez jersey around the house, so he headed to auction, CNN Money reported. He opened bids at $50 — and by Monday, bidders had pushed the price to more than $227.

Collectors are likely driving the sales, he guessed, in CNN Monday. But he’s hardly the only surprised auctioneer.

Officials Hernandez jerseys made by Nike are passing original sale prices of $100, to $130 and more, CNN Monday reported. And news of the bidding is only prompting more bidding.

One eBay hopeful started the bidding for his white unsigned Hernandez jersey at $4,000, just hours after the Boston Globe posted a story about the unusual auction activity. So far, no takers on that one, CNN Monday reported.


SEE ALSO: Aaron Hernandez’s name sparks brawl at Connecticut diner


• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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