Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the NFC Championship Game, celebrated by throwing the football into the stands. That’s against NFL rules, and the NFL has fined him $5,512 for it.
But the good news for Kearse is that he got the football back. Scott Shelton, the fan who caught it, gave it back to Kearse on Friday. Kearse gave him a signed jersey as thanks, but Shelton wasn’t doing it for that: Shelton said he turned down offers from collectors of up to $25,000, but he always wanted Kearse to have it.
Shelton himself has become a story this week, as reports have surfaced that he’s headed to prison. Shelton confirmed that he is about to begin serving a 26-month term for unlawful possession of a firearm after nine guns were found when police executed a search warrant on his home. Shelton had a prior criminal record which made it illegal for him to possess guns.
“It’s really been hard knowing that I’m going to have to be away from my babies and miss birthdays and holidays and just watching them grow up,” Shelton told MyNorthwest.com of his prison sentence. “I have nothing to hide about my past. I’ve made some mistakes and I’m paying for them.”
Shelton’s last day as a free man will be Super Bowl Sunday.
