Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robin McKay on January 2, 2012 at 9:12am

Do signature comparisons to known real examples and make your own mind up - you can consult an expert, too, for a second opinion, too!

Know who you're buying from, is my advice. Ask around who the good companies are before you make a purchase.

Good Luck,

Robin

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Permalink Reply by Rich on January 20, 2012 at 9:05am

Looks like that photo of Rodgers on the COA was from last year, though I'm not sure which signing it was from (other than it is definitely not the Februrary one).  It may have been from April, but I'm not 100% sure off the top of my head.

The main problem I would have with this is that I have never heard of this seller.  The fact their website seems to have zero information is especially problematic, too. 

The signature actually doesn't look bad and is consistent with the way he signs official footballs.  But Rodgers has such a simplistic signature that competent fakes can sometimes be difficult to weed out.

Here's an idea:  You can contact a dealer who was actually at this signing to see if they have any idea who this seller is.  I'm fairly certain that Denver Autographs and Waukesha Sports Cards were at all the Rodgers private signings last year.  Jeff's Sports in Brookfield, WI was also involved in at least a couple.  I'm not sure how many signings they went to, but MM and Steiner were definitely involved in at least the first one.  These signings tended to be pretty darned huge, and many dealers were usually involved. 

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 22, 2012 at 5:39am

Richard is correct in that Rodgers recent signatures are so simple, it would appear to be easy to forge.  In the case of this one, I don't think it has the flow of an authentic Rodgers autograph, it looks too deliberate.  

But in a case like this (and I would put Brady in this category also), the only way to ensure that you have a legitimate autograph from Rodgers is to buy it from a legitimate, unquestionable source. 

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Permalink Reply by Carl Cox on January 23, 2012 at 1:29am

Wow, you guys are hardcore skeptics.  I am guessing you did not buy the ball yourself.  You were given what i think is a very nice little COA with a hologram, which is the system that was set up by companies to help take care of fakes.  If you have so many doubts that your going to look at the ball and wonder if it is real send it to JSA ,but then again they could be in on the fix too. Man oh man wouldn't we be in trouble then.  Most people buy autographs because they cannot be there to get them themselves, and the only way to know 100% for sure is to watch the individual autograph the item right in front of you.  But guess what after that no matter if you have a video of you getting it autographed everybody after you will have that question "is it real".  Well you know it was real cause you was there. 

All I am saying is, if you feel like you got ripped off then send it back or to JSA (link provided above), If your not sure and your looking for some other opinions then I would say it looks fine man.  In the pictures it shows about 5000 items he is signing i would probably use the shortest signature i had and the strokes in the pen just might look a tad different but I don't even see that. 

Extra note:

One of the first things I learned in forensics was when matching handwriting you check the letters.  Duh no brainer right, but as soon as the letters pass the eyes test the next thing you should check is the actual space between the letters.  Most people could copy the way somebody writes a letter after lots of practice but just like lying we all have natural things that we do that cannot be changed, that give us away.  The spaces between the letters are like lying in autographs.  Pull up several autographs from the individual (that you feel are real) and study the shaped between letters.  You will often find triangles and all sorts of shapes and lines that you normally wouldn't recognize.  Being able to match the shapes between each letter is almost impossible to copy because those shapes happen naturally.  People making a fake auto are focusing so much on the letters they will move one letter either .0001 to the left or .0001 to the right causing the shapes between the letters to be different.  If it is a long signature by the time you get to the end of the name the shapes will jump out like a needle in a box of needles. 

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 23, 2012 at 4:34am

take a look at this signature, and compare it to all of the Steiners on ebay.  Not one of them has the R i Rodgers in two strokes, like this one.  I would not buy this even if it happened to carry a JSA or PSA sticker.  Here is an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aaron-Rodgers-Signed-8X10-Photo-STEINER-COA...

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Permalink Reply by Rich on January 23, 2012 at 5:50am

Actually, he does sign footballs differently than he signs photos and helmets.  The R actually does usually have that 2 stroke look.

http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/sports-products/aaron-rodgers-sign...

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Permalink Reply by terrier8HOF on January 23, 2012 at 9:22am

those are very nice examples and I was not aware that he signed footballs differently.  that is an excellent point.  But I still do not like this signature when compared to the ones you referenced.  there is just something off about it. I would not buy it.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on January 23, 2012 at 9:36am

Whoops - I think I forgot to post the link originally!

WSC Rodgers Autographs

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Permalink Reply by Rich on January 23, 2012 at 8:54am

Here's a nice selection of Rodgers autographs from Waukesha Sports Cards, one of the absolute best places for Packers autographs.  These are from the post Super Bowl signings.  You can see that his R is usually different on footballs than it is on photos, jerseys or helmets.

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on January 23, 2012 at 6:49am

You are right Carl. The only way to know for sure is to know you got an item signed, right in front of you. But I'm not buying it. Everybody and their brother got everything signed right in front of them. You want to sell them you've got to send to have authenticated. The more COA stickers it has the better I like it. Terrier I agree.

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