New Nike Jersey Photos

Here's some pictures I took of my new Nike Elite Ray Lewis jersey. I'm around 5'11^1/2" to 6'0" and weight roughly 175-180lbs. I purchased a size 40 and a size 44 to compare. Here are the pictures.... It's going to be a long post, so I hope it's not an issue.

Size 40

Size 40

Size 40

Size 44

Size 44

Size 44

Size 44

Jerseys

Jerseys

Jerseys

The size 40 fits me quite snugly, but the 44 seems a bit more loose/comfortable. Not sure which one I'm going to keep. I'll probably keep the 44, but who knows. Hope the pictures help...

Think I'll get 44s, I like football jerseys to be more loose than my baseball shirts/jerseys (which I buy in 40).

Looks really cool!!!

Thanks for the pictures, what are the numbers like? Can you stretch them?

I don't know the best way to describe the numbers, but they don't stretch. I'm not too impressed with the stitching used to place them on the jersey, however.

Hmmmm.....that's not good. Do you know what it's like compared to the replicas at all? I mean, is the extra money worth it?

Well, I feel that the old Reebok replica jerseys were more form fitting as they were a mesh material and screen printed numbers. Honestly, I don't feel that much of a difference between the weights of the reebok replicas versus this new Nike Elite authentic...but that's just me. That being said, I texted my brother after I opened my mail package and I told him I'm never buying a replica ever again. In all honesty, I probably will down the road...but for a franchise Ravens player who will always be considered a Raven or will retire a Raven (Rice, Suggs, Reed all come to mind) - I will only buy an authentic with their name on it. If that makes sense..

cry_minarets458 wrote:

I don't know the best way to describe the numbers, but they don't stretch. I'm not too impressed with the stitching used to place them on the jersey, however.

Hmmmm well that doesn't sound too good then. They are supposed to be water repellent as well, is that just a gimmick or does it work?

Billsfan wrote:

cry_minarets458 wrote:

I don't know the best way to describe the numbers, but they don't stretch. I'm not too impressed with the stitching used to place them on the jersey, however.

Hmmmm well that doesn't sound too good then. They are supposed to be water repellent as well, is that just a gimmick or does it work?

Yeah, I mean I grabbed the numbers and carefully tugged and it didn't seem like the numbers themselves stretch. The jersey does a bit, but that's expected. As for the water repellent -- I'm not sure. I'm not about to put water on them and have them not repel it seeing as I have to return one of my jerseys when I decide on which one I'm going to keep...

And I just noticed two thread pulls on my size 44. Also, on both jerseys, the RAVENS under the collar has some loose threads, too. Bummer.

What's it like in comparison to the 'Game' jerseys? I mean, one of those is $100 and the Elite is nearly 3 times that, so is there a big enough difference to warrant this? Obviously with the Reeboks the difference was huge; is it the same with the Nikes or more subtle? Maybe it depends on the team - anyone??

Mr_Raider wrote:

Wonder how long it will take the counterfeiter to produce their pile of manure??

Ha! NOT LONG at all chief! I saw some counterfeit Saints jerseys, and they ARE pee-uuuw!!!! So yea, the manure business has commenced unfortunately Mr_Raider...

cry_minarets458 wrote:

Here's some pictures I took of my new Nike Elite Ray Lewis jersey. I'm around 5'11^1/2" to 6'0" and weight roughly 175-180lbs. I purchased a size 40 and a size 44 to compare. Here are the pictures.... It's going to be a long post, so I hope it's not an issue.

Size 40

Size 40

Size 40

@cry_minarets458 - REALLY nice pick-up there man...I'm envious, lol! I'm kinda stocky @ 5'8", 185 lbs., and was wondering IF I should purchase a size 40 b/c I've BEEN wanting a jersey to fit snug on me. I was ONLY able to find the Reebok authentic jerseys in a size 48, and could never find a sz 46. The 48 was still TOO BIG for my liking, but I had to get what Reebok offered.

So I appreciate VERY MUCH you posting how a size 40 looks on you along with your pedigree info...now I have a MUCH BETTER idea! Thanks bro, now I'm gonna get dat size 40!

NawlinsSaints504 wrote:

@cry_minarets458 - REALLY nice pick-up there man...I'm envious, lol! I'm kinda stocky @ 5'8", 185 lbs., and was wondering IF I should purchase a size 40 b/c I've BEEN wanting a jersey to fit snug on me. I was ONLY able to find the Reebok authentic jerseys in a size 48, and could never find a sz 46. The 48 was still TOO BIG for my liking, but I had to get what Reebok offered.

So I appreciate VERY MUCH you posting how a size 40 looks on you along with your pedigree info...now I have a MUCH BETTER idea! Thanks bro, now I'm gonna get dat size 40!

Hey, no problem. I'm just trying to be nice and fit in here, plus I'd like to be as helpful as possible. Welcome to my world, a world I call OSD - Obsessive SIZING Disorder haha. I want to keep the 44, but I'm worried that I won't put on a few extra lean pounds to fill it in a little more. Also, the thread pulls on it are bothering me. I also want to keep the 40.......but I'm worried I'll outgrow it quickly. I'd like to just keep both of them.........but $250 vs $500 is a big difference. Sigh. Just...sigh.

rmcc wrote:

What's it like in comparison to the 'Game' jerseys? I mean, one of those is $100 and the Elite is nearly 3 times that, so is there a big enough difference to warrant this? Obviously with the Reeboks the difference was huge; is it the same with the Nikes or more subtle? Maybe it depends on the team - anyone??

I'd imagine it's a huge difference just as the Reebok jerseys were. From a quick glance at the specs, it looks like the $100 Game jeresys are screen printed numbers and names...so I assume it's exactly like the Reebok ones...

Just found a pretty good comparison here on Nike's help section

http://help-us.nike.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22889/~/what's-the-difference-between-the-game,-limited-and-elite-nfl-jerseys%3F

Actually, just letting you know that the numbers do kind of stretch.

Thanks for sharing the photos, cry_minarets. It's definitely helpful to see the jerseys on a human being, rather than the photoshop mock-ups they've provided to date. I'd definitely be looking at a 44, but I want to see the jerseys up close before dropping that kind of money on an elite.

Don't know if it's just the change in material or whatever, but the purple looks a shade lighter than the Reeboks to me. Either way, it's a nice looking jersey - congrats.

RJ3000 wrote:

Thanks for sharing the photos, cry_minarets. It's definitely helpful to see the jerseys on a human being, rather than the photoshop mock-ups they've provided to date. I'd definitely be looking at a 44, but I want to see the jerseys up close before dropping that kind of money on an elite.

Don't know if it's just the change in material or whatever, but the purple looks a shade lighter than the Reeboks to me. Either way, it's a nice looking jersey - congrats.

I can try to take some close-up pictures if that'll help. As for the color, my camera is extremely old (about 6 years), but the purple honestly looks exactly the same to me as the old jerseys. And thanks for the congrats!

cry_minarets458 wrote:

I can try to take some close-up pictures if that'll help. As for the color, my camera is extremely old (about 6 years), but the purple honestly looks exactly the same to me as the old jerseys. And thanks for the congrats!

It could just be the lighting as well. Here is the only purple Ravens jersey I've ever owned (from 2001), which just seems much darker:

Oh my lanta, that is absolutely gorgeous. Can you do me a favor -- if times ever get tough for you or if you just feel like moving that jersey, please, please, please let me know? haha

Anywho, here is a side by side with my Rice replica. Granted, different material so it reflects some of the flash...but side by side to the naked eye, it looks pretty much identical in color. If anything, the old purple doesn't look darker -- it looks more blue (has a blueish tint to it).

Yeah, okay - I think it's just down to lighting in the room in that case. I've always been a fan of the Ravens jerseys. Love the purple / black / gold / white combo, and the number font is one of the best.

I actually missed out on a Nike authentic Ray Lewis from the late 90s - when they had the Raven as the logo on the shoulders. I regret not going higher, as it was a beauty.

I know. I have a youth Testaverde jersey...so old it didn't have sleeve numbers. I found a '96 Testaverde authentic a few months ago, but it wasn't my size so I didn't pursue it. I should have just gotten it to have it for the collection. My goal is a '96 Testaverde (original font with birds on sleeves), a '97 R. Lewis (current font with birds on sleeves), a '00 Nike Jermaine Lewis, and then any black Matt Stover jersey. Sigh. Lots to catch up on.

I actually didn't think Nike made a Ravens jersey with the birds on the sleeves. Russel in 96 and Starter in 97...I thought that we only had the birds for two years, but I can be misremembering..

So, just keeping you all updated. I decided I'm going to keep both of these jerseys as I'm comfortable in both. However, I do want to exchange them out for two new ones because of the thread pulls. The NFL shop was extremely easy and enjoyable to work with, as well as extremely understanding. I just called them in regard to the thread pulls on my jersey. They're sending me shipping labels for exchanges and returns. They are exchanging my size 40 and are returning my size 44 (as they are currently out of stock of the size 44). They don't have an idea of when they're getting more 44's in, but I assume it'll have to be relatively soon ... if not, before the season, at least. So, I will just place a new order for a 44 when they are stocked in size 44.

That's kind of worrying that both had defects - hopefully it's just a case of really bad luck, and not a reflection of shoddy workmanship. I hope the replacements are more acceptable.

I'm sure you have been through all this already, but if I were in your shoes and were getting two jerseys for the same team in different sizes, I'd be getting different players and different colours.

I see they currently only have purple Lewis', but I believe the alts are expected in July, if you are able to wait that long and NFLshop.com would give you a refund or credit. Then at least you could have the Lewis in different colours.

Yeah,sounds like a good suggestion to get diffrent jerseys. Are alts for all teams coming in July?

Upon further inspection - as I've had the new Ravens nikes sitting on my chair getting ready to get shipped out for exchanges/returns, the purple does look lighter/brighter. I actually prefer it to the old purple for the sake of the jersey. It's pretty bad ass, IMO.