Eli Manning, Giants sued over fake 'game-worn' memorabelia

Over the past seven years the New York Giants and their quarterback Eli Manning have won 2 Super Bowls (2007, 2011). So having them in the news during Super Bowl week is not a rare occurrence. However this Super Bowl week has them in the news for all the wrong reasons.

On Wednesday, January 29th, 2014, a lawsuit filed by New Jersey resident Eric Inselberg, claims that the Giants and Eli Manning created fake “Game-Worn” football gear to sell off as authentic items, according to theNew York Post. The charges that were filed in Bergen County, NJ superior court include malicious prosecution, breach of contract, trade libel and civil racketeering. It also claims that Manning participated because he wanted to keep those “Game-Worn” items.

The item that has received most attention has been the supposed Super Bowl XLII Eli Manning “Game-Worn” helmet that is currently housed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The lawsuit accuses the Giants of fraud as it relates to several items.

The hard truth about Super Bowl week is that stories will come. It’s obvious to see the advantages of sitting on a lawsuit like this for months before going forward with it during football’s biggest week of the year. Because of that notion skepticism is always high as it relates to stories like this. Adding on to that is the fact that Inselberg was involved in some hot water himself three years ago as he was indicted of memorabilia fraud. But In 2013 those charges were dropped because it was explained in a Rockford, Illinois court that Giants employees had lied to the grand jury which created his the issue in the first place, CBS Sports.

So needless to say, Inselberg and the Giants have some history.

Regardless of how this lawsuit turns out, it is easy to say this: The sports memorabilia business is a tricky one. While letters of authenticity do re-assure some people, in the end sports memorabilia always comes with a universal “Buyer Beware” understanding.