Reminds me of this (via Orlando Sentinel)
Matthews has the inside track to start the Sept. 8 season opener against Arizona at FedEx Field. Being the favorite, though, doesn't automatically make him a fan favorite -- something Matthews learned his first few days in town when he asked for his lucky No. 9, the number he had donned since his Pop Warner days in Mississippi.
The No. 9, though not officially retired by the team, had not been worn since 1974, Jurgensen's final season in the NFL (when he led the league in passing efficiency at the age of 40). A longtime equipment manager had ceased to issue the digit.
Management suggested Matthews call Jurgensen and request the honor to wear it. So Matthews, with his 19 career touchdown passes and 15 NFL starts, made the call and the pitch to Jurgensen, who has 255 career touchdown passes and a bronze bust in Canton, Ohio.
"It's OK with me, kid," Jurgensen told him. "But you'll be opening a can of worms with some people in Washington."
Within hours, word had spread. By the afternoon, Matthews was being crushed on the airwaves for daring to take on a legend. The next day, stories and columns appeared in local papers detailing and commenting on the events of the day before, all of which culminated with Matthews saying, "Enough!"
This season, Matthews will wear No. 6. An upside-down "9," he figures, is the next-best thing. "I'm beginning to understand the tradition around here," he says. "Hopefully, I can add something to it."
Sonny handled that pretty well IMO, basically saying you shouldn't without actually saying that.