Seahawks fan turns down $20K for game-winning TD ball

The Seattle Seahawks are headed back to the Super Bowl, thanks to Jermaine Kearse's 35-yard game-winning touchdown catch in overtime to knock off the Green Bay

The Seattle Seahawks are headed back to the Super Bowl, thanks to Jermaine Kearse's 35-yard game-winning touchdown catch in overtime to knock off the Green Bay Packers. After scoring, Kearse launched the ball into the stands, where it landed in the hands of Seahawks fan Scott Shelton.

Shelton, who is unemployed, turned down a $20,000 offer for the ball. He is currently negotiating with Kearse about a deal for the ball, Jeff Burnside of KOMOnews.com reports.

"My phone rings, and it was Jermaine! Jermaine Kearse, you know? The Man!" Shelton said incredulously. "We were just talking about the game. He told me he wanted to trade his game helmet signed by the team and his jersey, for the ball. And then he asked me what (else) I wanted for the ball. And I said 'honestly, it would be nice to go see you guys whip New England in the Super Bowl.' So he's going to see what he can do about that. But I told him I wouldn't give it up unless it was going to him. I wouldn't want anyone else to have it."

• Kearse's clutch catch lands on SI's Super Bowl cover

You can maybe see, though, why he would want the once-in-a-lifetime experience of going to a Super Bowl, because the day after the biggest game of the year, Shelton is required to begin serving a jail sentence, according to his mother. 

If Shelton does end up going to the Super Bowl, he'll need to hurry back to Western Washington because at 2 p.m. the next day, his mother says a judge will take him into custody to start serving several months in jail.

• Rob Gronkowski's perfect explanation for deflated footballs

(h/t For the Win)

- Jack Jorgensen