Interesting story. The New England Patriots are offering to take back Aaron Hernandez No. 81 jerseys. That would be the Aaron Hernandez who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

At first blush, it seems like an upright and decent thing for the Patriots to do. If anyone brings in a Hernandez jersey, the Patriots will issue another jersey of comparable value. So, if you got the $200 version of Hernandez, you can get the $200 version of someone else on the team.

Understandably, fans may not want to wear “Hernandez” replica jerseys, given his current legal issues.

But, think about it some more … and the Patriots offer doesn’t seem quite as generous.

Aaron Hernandez is radioactive, at the moment. An ongoing investigation just seems to turn up more scary stuff pertaining to the tight end.

The Patriots probably (certainly?) would be happy to have every Aaron Hernandez jersey disappear from the public realm.

Questions will be asked about what the Patriots knew about his pre-NFL character, which was not stellar, and some might reasonably decide they knew he was a risky pick — which is why they were able to get him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft.

Given the Patriots’ self-interest in removing “Hernandez 81” gear … I think the club should throw in a little something else to anyone willing to turn in a Hernandez jersey.

An alternate jersey … and maybe a Patriots hoodie, like Bill Belichick wears. Or a Patriots coffee mug. Or at least a key chain, in addition to that “Brady” jersey.

The Patriots and the NFL want Hernandez gear off the streets and out of stadiums. The Patriots should do better than a straight trade to get his stuff out of circulation.