New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's popularity remains as strong as ever, even with his legal fight with the NFL over Deflategate.
Brady was No. 1 on the NFL Players Association Top 50 sales list from March 1, 2015, to Feb. 29, 2016, according to a list released Monday by NFL Players Inc., the marketing arm of the players' union. The list is based on overall sales of all licensed products from online and traditional retail outlets.
On Monday, a federal appeals court ruled that Brady must serve a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL after its Deflategate investigation, overturning a lower judge and siding with the league in a battle with the players' union.
Brady is followed in the top 10 by retired Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Houston Texans quarterback J.J. Watt, and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
The list is released quarterly, and Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, the Super Bowl MVP, was part of the top 50 at No. 24 for the first time since total sales data was first collected in 2013. Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (No. 29) and defensive end Khalil Mack (No. 41) also made their debuts in the top 50.
Players who rose the most places on the season-ending list were Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, up 25 spots from last year's season-ending list, Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (23 spots), Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (19 spots), New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman (18 spots), Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (17 spots) and Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (14 spots).
Players seeing the biggest falls included former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, who dropped off the list after finishing last season at No. 10. Other big falls were by Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (down 35 spots), Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (21 spots) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (13 spots).
The Seahawks had the most players in the top 50 with Wilson (No. 3), cornerback Richard Sherman (No. 14), now-retired running back Marshawn Lynch (No. 15), tight end Jimmy Graham (No. 22), safety Kam Chancellor (No. 40) and Thomas (No. 50).
ESPN senior writer Darren Rovell contributed to this report.