The NFL GOAT, Tom Brady, often attended San Francisco 49ers games. Brady watched his hero and idol, Joe Montana, in those games. In the future, the Tampa Bay QB eventually got compared to the star 49ers passer. And now, Joe Cool is making rounds in the news. For which reason? The ball with which the legendary quarterback threw his first touchdown pass is up for auction. The scruffy football can pull anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000. But there’s a catch. A former tight end of the 49ers questioned the authenticity of the pigskin.

Bob Bruer is the man who caught the memorable fling. And he was the tight end of the San Francisco 49ers. And the same athlete who claimed that the ball is not the real one. The way in which he can differentiate the actual ball from the one which is up for auction is simple. The real deal is sitting at Bruer’s Texas house. Also, another mark on the veritable ball is an “adult beverage stain.”

Joe Montana and his legacy sit in his former teammate’s house

Bruer challenged the provenance of the ball. However, SCP Auctions, the company arranging the auction, denies the pleas of the TE. The value decided on the ball is $150,000. And they claim that the NFL oblong is legitimate.

Read more: “I Always Hated Football….until Colin Kaepernick Knelt”: NFL Fans Intensely Debate Deshaun Watson Playing & Earning Millions Even After Major Controversy, While Tim Tebow & Kap’s Future Was Jeopardized in One Single Night

In contrast to the decision SCP Auctions made, the former Vikings TE shared a picture of the old ball. It had the NFL insignia on one side. And on the other, a splotch of what looked like a coaster.

Bruer and his ex-wife released a notarized letter, the ex-wife wrote: “This was the first touchdown pass of Joe Montana’s Hall of Fame career.” Her ex-husband caught the historic pass from the Comeback Kid, who was then a rookie, in the fourth quarter.

What happens next about the ball?

Even though the San Francisco 49ers lost the game by 38-28 to Denver Broncos, Bruer remembers the day vividly. Because he caught a one-handed catch.

“They put Joe in the game,” Bruer said. “We were getting beat, I think. He threw the ball, I caught it, scored a touchdown. It became a big deal, years later.” 

“We stand firmly behind it as Joe Montana’s first touchdown football,” SCP Auction stands on their decision that the ball they acquired is truly the original. However, the company that is arranging the sale removed the ball from the auction block.

Watch this story: Tom Brady Went to The Same High School As This Controversial MLB Hall of Famer Who Was Also A 14x All-Star