Jalen Ramsey wanted No. 23, but couldn’t buy it off a teammate
How much is a jersey number worth? For Jalen Ramsey, $30,000 sounded about right. For James Sample, that wasn’t enough for the No. 23 he has and Ramsey wanted. Sample made it clear his number was not for sale.
This week Ramsey, the cornerback who was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick a couple months ago, happily announced on Twitter that he’s going to wear No. 20. That’s not really his number of choice, but he was happy to give up No. 38, which was assigned to him when he found out the No. 23 he wanted was already taken by Sample.
His dislike of No. 38 apparently became a running joke among the Jaguars, because both Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson acknowledged on Twitter how happy Ramsey is to be done with No. 38.
Ramsey wanted No. 23 though, so what happened? Sample had already squatted on it and wouldn’t give it up. Not even for a sum that, for many people, is a ton of money.
According to ESPN.com (h/t to CBS’ Eye on Football), the rumor is that Ramsey’s offer to Sample for No. 23 “surpassed $30,000.” Ramsey has signed an endorsement deal with Nike’s Jordan brand, and of course Michael Jordan wore No. 23. Ramsey has a four-year deal worth a little more than $23 million, all guaranteed, so he could afford to pay for the number. And Sample, a second-year player who appeared in four games last year and is set to make $525,000 this season, said no.
“No offer he could give me [could make him part with 23],” Sample told ESPN.com. “Money isn’t the issue.”
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According to ESPN, Sample didn’t elaborate on the reason he has such an attachment to No. 23 (it’s not Jordan, he said), but said that it goes back to his community in North Sacramento, California.
Sample is keeping No. 23. Ramsey said he plans to wear No. 20 his entire career, and he’s saving at least $30,000 in the process. And we all found out that for some players, a jersey number isn’t for sale no matter how much is offered.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
