Report: Eli Manning involved in fake game-used memorabilia scheme
Eli Manning is allegedly a part of a memorabilia scheme with the New York Giants, supposedly providing fake “game-used” items to collectors.
On the same day his brother Peyton made NFL waves for revealing the meaning behind his “Omaha” audible, Eli Manning is in the news for allegedly giving away fake “game-used” apparel.
According to a report from the New York Post, Manning was asked by his marketing agent, Alan Zucker, to send over “2 game used helmets and 2 game used jerseys” in an email to the New York Giants quarterback.
Giants equipment manager Joe Skiba sent Manning an email about the request, responding, “Let me know what your looking for I’ll try to get something down for you…,” according to court documents retrieved by the Post.
Manning then reportedly replied to the equipment manager’s email, stating he had “2 helmets that can pass as game used” in an email filed in New Jersey’s Bergen County Superior Court on Tuesday. The issue came about in a lawsuit from three memorabilia collectors against the Giants, Manning, the equipment manager, team co-owner/CEO John Mara, and others involved in the scheme.
Another big issue coming with the email chain is the Giants’ apparent attempt at covering up the situation, with the team allegedly failing to produce the emails when asked originally. Manning reportedly didn’t want to give up any of his real possessions, and attempted to pass off his items as game-used items.
The accusations began back in January of 2014, when Manning was accused of supplying a fake “game-worn” helmet from the Giants’ infamous Super Bowl XLII upset over the Patriots. That helmet is also found in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Giants were also accused of giving former star defensive lineman Michael Strahan his “game-used” jersey from the same Super Bowl, which was also supposedly a fake.
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In the case from 2014, the Post reported that other items involved in the incident included some of Manning’s jerseys, Super Bowl XLVI helmets, and a helmet from his rookie year.