Real Fans, Fake Jerseys

There's no more aggressive pro sports league than the NFL... And not just on the field. When it comes to marketing, the game gets real.

Agents patrol cities looking for bar promotions. They screen local advertising to ensure sponsor sales tied into "the big game" don't use the words "Super Bowl." And most of all they're on the lookout for non-licensed lookalikes that siphon sales away from official NFL gear.

One brand protection company estimates 800,000 counterfeit sports jerseys are sold online each year. Experts say it's a lucrative business that's hard to shut down. They say gear can look authentic on a website, but dedicated jersey collectors say they aren't fooled.

Love The Game, Buy The Gear Audio Embed: All Things Considered 2/6/11, Reporter: Nathan Rott.

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Mean Joe Green's Was Real


2011 USA TODAY Super Bowl Ad Meter

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