Local Blogger Still Catching Up after weeklong vacation

OK, so it's a bit of an oldie (2 weeks) but no one else commented on it, and I just recently found out about it, so I'll throw my oversized 7 & 5/8ths hat into the ring.

Jerry Porter got fined $210,000 by the NFL for changing his number from 84 to 81.
The NFL's justification is that the fine is needed to reimburse the team and Reebok for unsold #84 Porter Jerseys.

First of all, does the NFL really need the money?

Secondly, what's the logical extreme of this? If a player gets traded, will they have to pay the NFL for all those jerseys? Whatever happened to all those Randy Moss Raiders jerseys? What if a player picks a new team via free agency? Will they have to reimburse Reebok in a similar manner?

Thirdly, NFL spokesman Steve Alic said Porter could wait until next year, when the supply of unsold shirts would be depleted and the cost would be less, before making the change.
Why would anyone buy a jersey that's only going to be relevant for a year? OK, aside from jersey hounds, memorabilia-seekers, Zuch, and everyone at Wrigley Field wearing a Gary Gaetti jersey?

This is just an asinine move by the NFL.

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