Tebow Broncos' jersey sales set rookie record

NFL fans may not see Tim Tebow's No. 15 Denver Broncos jersey on the field much this season, but they'll see it most everywhere else.

Tebow jerseys were the top seller during draft weekend, more than any other NFL rookie or current player. Volume surpassed last year's top seller, Mark Sanchez's No. 5, according to Bloomberg.

Sanchez, a quarterback from Southern California, was picked fifth overall last April by New York Jets. Tebow, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from the University of Florida, was picked 25th overall by Denver last week.

The NFL did not disclose sales totals, but Tebow's jersey was the most ordered since 2006, the first year NFLShop.com joined with GSI Commerce Inc. to expand its online store, Bloomberg reported.

"It's a pretty substantial difference between him (Tebow) and the next guy," NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter told Bloomberg.

No. 2 would be defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, taken second by the Detroit Lions.

Quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick of the St. Louis Rams, was third in rookie jersey sales, followed by Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Tebow has also topped the initial jersey sales of popular 2006 rookies Reggie Bush and Vince Young.

"Tebow trumped all of them," Hunter told Bloomberg in a telephone interview. "So he's off to a strong start."

The Tebow factor is in play at local retail sporting goods stores. Anthony Cantu, an employee at the Sports Fan-Attic at Tampa's WestShore Plaza, said Wednesday that the ex-Gator's jersey is by far the most requested by customers.

"To give you an idea," Cantu said," there were people waiting at the door when we opened" seeking Tebow shirts after he was drafted.

"The amount of attention he's receiving is absurd, but we're in Gator country."

Cantu said customers are also asking for Gerald McCoy jerseys. But Tebow requests far outweigh those for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first-round pick or any other player.

The store won't have any of the rookie jerseys in stock until "probably early June."

The replica jerseys, made by Reebok, come in white, blue and the alternate orange colors. They cost from $79.99 to $94.99.

Tebow plans to wear No. 15 with the Broncos, although photo ops to this point have shown him holding up Nos. 1 and 10. Tebow wore No. 15 at Florida.