Oh, When the Bandwagon Comes Rolling In

The Saints have cracked the top 10 in NFL merchandise sales for the first time since the numbers were tracked starting 30 years ago, marking an increase of 60 percent over last year. Quarterback Drew Brees’s jersey was the sixth-highest selling during November, while only the 12th most popular overall from the beginning of April through the end of November.

What all these economic indices are screaming at you is that bandwagon fans are scrambling to get on the Drew Brees Saints Mardi Gras float as quickly as their disloyal little legs will carry them. And why not? The Saints are an undefeated team with a high-octane offense and an exciting style of play. It happens to every emerging good team, and it was inevitable that it would befall this one as well.

You could argue that the surge is from already established Saints fans buying up merchandise in a fit of excitement caused by a rare playoff appearance. This accounts for some of the jump, no doubt. But Brees has been on that team for a number of years now. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume a lot of those purchases are by people who just find them exciting and momentarily sympathetic. Which, on its face, doesn’t seem so bad. But then sports fans have a code about that kind of thing.

What sucks is that the bandwagon could ruin what is otherwise a highly sympathetic team. The Saints have a small and loyal fan base. Other than Jeremy Shockey and perhaps Reggie Bush, the roster is full of likable guys. The oft-repeated plight of New Orleans itself burnishes their image further. Alas, bandwagon fans can foil all of that in a hurry, and that makes me feel for legit Saints fans. Soon they’ll have to defend themselves against the onslaught of insults that they didn’t like the team before, just because the bandwagon fan swarm has overwhelmed their ranks.

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