Collectors are fuming following a conference’s $3,600 photo-op and signing with Tom Brady. They say the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback did a rush job on his signatures, leading to subpar autographs on rare items.
Brady was a guest speaker at a conference for EXMA, a marketing and leadership platform in Latin America. The conference was held at the University of Miami’s Watsco Center on Saturday, April 20. On top of the photo and autograph from Brady, those who paid $3,600 also received:
- first-row tickets
- three-hour yacht ride with a view of the Miami skyline
- VIP lunch
- VIP party
Following Brady’s speech, people who shelled out thousands to meet Brady and get his autograph were thoroughly disappointed with the experience.
Brad Jarrett brought his 2000 NFL Draft ticket to get signed by the future Hall of Famer. That ticket holds historical significance as Brady was drafted in the sixth round, 199th overall, by the New England Patriots in 2000.
“Prior to meeting Tom and getting our items we got to hear an incredible speech by him. He talked a lot about energy and effort, and how when he was at Michigan he went to a sports psychologist that turned him around mentally to put effort in on every single snap in practice even as he was practicing as a 4th string QB. How you should only focus on the things that you can control and putting in effort and hard work all the time, even if people are saying you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career,” Jarrett wrote in a Facebook post. “Well Tom these words were motivational until we saw the lack of effort that you put in on the signatures we paid a lot of money for. $3600 isn’t cheap and to hear you preach one thing and then act completely opposite really loses a lot of credibility with your fans and the people that spent their hard earned money for this experience.”
Jarrett shared photos on Facebook of items Brady signed at the event and the quality of his signature is clearly lacking. Compared to a Brady autographed football for sale on Fanatics, the items he signed following the conference seem scribbled, in what collectors have previously referred to as “Tornado Tom.”
Jarrett feels he lucked out with Brady’s signature on his 2000 NFL Draft ticket compared to others.
“Reflecting on the words of Tom and focusing on what I can control, I’m grateful that I wasn’t one of the people that received a worse quality signature than what I got, I’m grateful I’m one of the people that actually got my item signed but Tom you owe better effort to those that paid you their hard earned money expecting better from you,” wrote Jarrett.
Greg Nazareth also shared a similar experience.
“First and foremost, in my opinion, what happened today was simply inexcusable!!” Nazareth wrote in a Facebook post. “Now don’t get me wrong, Tom’s interview and talk was simply amazing….he exuded poise, cursed quite a bit making him feel like one of us, and was incredibly humble…if only that would have translated to what he did just an hour earlier when he signed our items.”
Both Jarrett and Nazareth says Brady was supposed to sign around 100 items and they were told there were no restrictions to what could be signed. However, that didn’t appear to be the case.
According to a report from cllct.com’s Darren Rovell, the only items that were preapproved were photos and copies of Brady’s book “The TB12 Method.” A source told cllct.com that Brady was “uncomfortable” after seeing the items he was asked to sign.
“He was completely blindsided,” the source explained to Rovell. “This was supposed to be signatures for VIPs of the conference — not a signing for his biggest collectors.”
Tom Brady collectors are livid after they got awful autographs.
Turns out there's a lot of blame to go around.
The organizer didn't stick to the contract.
The person marketing autographs never read the contract.https://t.co/GZLbVorbT6
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 22, 2024
Fernando Anzures, founder and CEO of EXMA, tells cllct.com that he “misunderstood that all the items for Brady to sign were required to be purchased by him and says he knows nothing about the autograph space.”
“EXMA should have been more explicit in our communication with ticket holders regarding what items were permitted at the event,” Anzures told cllct.com, adding that Brady fulfilled his obligations for the conference.
Rovell also reports that Fernando Regato, a memorabilia dealer in Mexico, approached Anzures following a similar EXMA event with Brady in Mexico. Regato reportedly marketed the Miami Brady autograph appearance to high-end Brady collectors and telling them he was partnered with EXMA. According to Rovell, Regato told collectors Brady wasn’t prohibited to signing specific pieces of memorabilia, including cards — even though Brady’s contract with Fanatics doesn’t allow it.
Regato was also allegedly in the room where Brady signed the rushed items. Anzures says Regato was never affiliated with EXMA.
Fanatics said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that they were not part of the event.