Blake Martinez played seven years in the NFL, but he ditched a dream career for many people because he found a even more lucrative opportunity away from the game.
Martinez created a business selling Pokémon cards on WhatNot, a platform that allows users to buy and sell cards. He reportedly made $11.5 million in sales, prompting him to announce his retirement from the NFL late last year at the age of 28.
But Martinez has left WhatNot after the company conducted an investigation on him and found misconduct on his part when it came to selling cards. The former NFL linebacker is now attempting to make a return to professional football.
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A report by The Action Network on Nov. 1 said that Martinez had a scheme that would get buyers to purchase Pokémon packs worth $3 for hundreds of dollars. He would entice sales by playing “Guess The Energy” games that would have buyers attempt to guess the energy card in a pack. A correct guess who net the buyer prizes worth thousands.
Users theoretically had a one-in-eight shot to guess the energy card. However, the packs were reportedly not vetted properly, giving Martinez the opportunity to mess with the contents before the actual game.
Martinez did not comment on the report, only saying publicly that he “never wanted to make this feel like a scam.”
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The 2016 fourth-round pick made just under $29 million in seven years in the NFL, playing for teams like the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders. His quest to make an return to the NFL began last week when he tried out for the Carolina Panthers.
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