Purchasing an NFL Jersey is a great way to pay tribute to your favorite player. There are generally three types of NFL jerseys available--authentic, twill, and replica. Authentic jerseys feature sewn on numbers and higher quality material. Of course, authentic jerseys tend to be rather pricey, and you may not able to find a jersey from your favorite player.

Twill jerseys are the next best thing. Twill is a comfortable, durable material, and these jerseys can endure real league play. Some twills feature sewn on numbers while others feature print screened numbers. Again, the price for twill jerseys can be astronomical. Moreover, the NFL doesn't always produce twill jerseys for its minor players.

The cheapest way to go is to get a replica jersey. You can find a more diverse selection, and it's far easier to get the player numbers you really want. However, cheap print screened numbers tend to come off in the wash and/or wear out quickly. Replica jerseys typically cost around $50. Of course, you can find used replica jerseys for far less than that.

The NFL pays tribute to its greatest heroes by retiring their numbers. Each team gets to delegate its numbers as it sees fit. An authentic jersey worn by an NFL Hall of Famer can sell at auction for thousands of dollars--more, if it's autographed. A fun way to invest in football jerseys is to scout the 'greats of tomorrow' and purchase their jerseys--or twill replicas of these jerseys. At the very least, these jerseys will wear well and provide comfortable clothing for years to come.