Patriots’ Tom Brady leads all NFL players in merchandise sales

New England Patriots fans seem to be rallying behind Tom Brady like never before in the midst of the Deflategate scandal.

The NFL Players Assn. announced Thursday that Brady sold more licensed merchandise than any other NFL player from March 1 through May 31, a period during which the Patriots quarterback was suspended four games for being “generally aware” the team was playing with underinflated balls during the AFC Championship game.

Brady has appealed the suspension and is awaiting the league’s decision.

Unbelievably, the four-time Super Bowl champion has never topped the retail list. His No. 3 ranking from the previous sales quarter was the highest he’d ever charted until now.

According to the players association, Brady dominated in sales for such items as mini-figures, bobbleheads, Fatheads and custom player headwear. He finished second to San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick in sales of jerseys and women’s apparel.

Brady, however, didn’t even rank in the top five for children’s items. Seattle’s Russell Wilson is the kiddie king.

In overall sales, Kaepernick finished second to Brady, followed by Wilson, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Denver’s Peyton Manning, Houston’s J.J. Watt, Seattle’s Richard Sherman, the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr., Tennessee rookie Marcus Mariota and Tampa Bay rookie Jameis Winston.

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