I hate this time of year, even with the combine and NFL draft heating up. I dont follow NCAA basketball outside of March Madness, a time where I have to buy in to feel a part of the herd, despite my feelings on basketball. I dont follow the NBA period. I hate hockey. Dont even talk to me about soccer. Its all over, and even baseball is getting boring again. The NFL is over until the fall, and I am bummed out.

Eli Manning is the darling of the sports world after his second win and MVP in as many tries, but I still believe he has a lot to prove to be an Elite QB in the history of this league. Even though rings drive a lot of chatter, as they do in every sport, Eli is not even close to the room in the office building that houses the list of the greatest QBs of his era. He is on the same floor, but still waiting in reception for Tom Brady and his brother to come and get him.

Check out some of his cards since the victory. Rings do crazy things for card values:

Eli Manning SP Authentic Rookie Patch Auto Gold /25

Eli Manning Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto

Eli Manning Ultimate Collection NFL Logo Patch Auto 1/1

Brady played well enough for the Patriots to win, and if he had any semblence of a defense, or even half a gronk, he would have. Sure Welker dropped a pass, and the safety was a ridiculous call, but the Giants are no slouches when it comes to locking it down. To hold the Pats balls to the walls offense to 17 points is a task in itself, and they deserve the credit for making it happen.

More importantly, there has been a lot of discussion among the talking heads about how Eli has surpassed Peyton as the QB that defines the Manning name. Bull. Aside from being the smiling face of the NFL, Peyton was everything to his team in each of their Super Bowl apperences. In fact, we saw just how much of a difference Mr. Cut That Meat can be, as without him, a 11-5 Colts team went 2-14. That is just ridiculous in every way. With the parity present in this league, no team should face that. Without Eli, the Giants defense can still be a force to be recokoned with. They dont make the playoffs, but they dont go 2-14. Hell, they only ended up in the playoffs because the Dallas Cowboys are incompetant, not to mention how they ended up in the Super Bowl. This wasnt the march march march that the Packers had the year before, it was basically two muffed punts leading to a Lombardi win.

I have a lack of respect for Eli Manning after his draft day stunt back in 2004, as no player should be able to dictate which team they play for in that situation. I dont care who you are. If LeBron James can play in Cleveland for as long as he did, Eli can play in San Diego and not bitch about it. Regardless if the choice he made has paid off, that is bush league, and I wish New York had stuck to their guns with Phillip Rivers.

For the record, Eli definitely has a place in history, but when it is all over, he wont be up on the modern era QB mount rushmore with Peyton, Favre, Brady, Rodgers, and Brees. Its just not going to happen. Super Bowl wins does not a QB make, right Terry Bradshaw? HOF yes. One of the greatest at his position ever? No.

Although Belichick has been known to take liberties with videotaping, and has been accused of being the devil incarnate, the results are the results. Its similarly surprising to believe that anything he has done does not have a single bit of effect on anything card related. In fact, he might be the most valuable signature for a coach not named Lombardi ever. He has been featured on a few cards here and there, and collectors pay through the nose to get his autographs.

Check out these astronomical prices:

2004 Playoff Prime Signatures Bill Belichick Auto /125

2004 Donruss Classics Bill Belichick/Bill Walsh Dual Auto

2004 Fleer Authentix Bill Belichick Auto /250

I think the inclusion of everyday head coach autographs SHOULD NEVER BE EXPLORED in a normal product. Belechick, or Bill Walsh for that matter, are not everyday head coaches. I just want to make both of these points clear, because I am sure that there are a lot of people reading who are screaming at me for even bringing this up out of fear of what could happen as a result. That being said, are there some coaches who should be used as fodder for an insert set? I definitely think so. Look at HOF coaches like Shula, and company, as well as guys like Parcells, Cowher and Jimmy Johnson. Hell, after today, Coughlin may need to be in that group.

On the other hand, coaches themselves do not need a bunch of cards. In the NFL, or any sport if you really think about it, head coaches are expendable. They are the first to go when things get bad, and that isnt even a question. So, without any major accomplishments like Belichick has and could add to, there is no reason to go around blowing up the market. There is a good reason why the autographs are worth what they are, but a flood would not be beneficial in the long term. It would be cool just to see one last hurrah, maybe in a set like base Topps and chrome or even Finest.

That is not a bad thing, especially if the card is Belechick in a hoodie in the blustering wind and snow.

Last week, 2011 Topps Precision hit shelves, using much of the same formula that was successful with Inception. Because the players had game photos at this point in the year, Topps’ airbrushing was not as necessary to fulfill the need for the pictures on the cards. The hard signed signatures for Precision were done in a very similar fashion, including the ones mirrored after the incredibly popular silver signature series. The cards are absolutely tremendous in their presentation, so the question remains, who did it better? I would bring the silver rookie patch autos from Gold Standard into this discussion, but it would be like putting a high school quarterback up against the Giants’ defensive line.

Topps Inception Silver Signatures /25

If you have been reading my blog, you know I love the painted filter that is an option when editing pictures in photoshop. However, I know this was used as a way to hide the airbrushing that was necessary to turn college photos into pro photos. Regardless of its usage, the cards look awesome, and this led to HUGE prices on eBay that still remain, even this many months later. Its pretty much unprecedented for pre-season products to hold value this late in the season, but Topps’ ingenuity definitely served them well with inception.

I love the vertical orientation of these cards, especially in the sharp pens that Topps had the players use to sign. The signature POPS off the background, and I think that if you have a target this year, these cards are already in your collection.

As for drawbacks, the chipping was a major problem. Of course, with any card on thick black stock, its going to be impossible to maintain mint status through the signing process and pack out, but people complained none-the-less.

Examples:

Cam Newton Inception Silver Signature /25

Jake Locker Inception Silver Signature /25

Topps Precision Silver Signatures /25

I love the way Topps used the blur of the game photo behind the player to add context to the picture. Its not just a guy on a white or black background, and that adds a dynamic nature to the card. Like Inception, the signature draws the eye right away, and the huge area for the player to sign is a huge plus. Having the actual shots from the field instead of ones from the photo shoot adds a lot of collectability to these cards. Usually we have to wait for a long time to have cards with game action hard signed by the rookies of the class, but companies are understanding how important it is to speed up the process these days.

Drawbacks are that the cards didnt have the artistic appeal that the Inception cards did. It wasnt the nature of the product, but I think it was where Inception was incredibly successful. I am much more likely to display the Inception cards, but the Precision cards are still awesome.

Examples:

Mark Ingram Precision Silver Signature /25

Christian Ponder Precision Silver Signature /25

WINNER: Topps Inception

Although Inception came out on top in this review, it doesnt mean that the Precision cards are not on a level by themselves. I think the way that Topps has used these types of cards is a novel idea that collectors have latched onto. Hopefully we will see major leaps next year with no lockout to hold companies back.

This year’s variations, more importantly the ones of Jose Reyes and Albert Pujols have made huge news as the first “in uniform” examples of the newly minted Marlins and Angels players. They are so ridiculously sought after for the huge fan bases of both players/teams that they would be expensive regardless of how short printed they are.

I dont think anyone expected them to hit this level:

2012 Topps Albert Pujols Angels Variation SSP

2012 Topps Jose Reyes Marlins Variation SSP

From the analysis of @brentandbecca, probably the most famous mass case breaker on Twitter, his guess is that both are limited to under 225 copies, probably even closer to 100 copies. In a set with a production run as big as base Topps has, that is like finding a dropped screw on your silver carpet. As a result, the cards have maintained huge value on ebay, value that the more common rally squirrel card should lose as more are found.

As far as I know, these might be some of the most expensive modern cards of this type ever created. Non-rookie, non-numbered, non-error, non-recalled cards without an autograph or swatch.

When you think about it, that is pretty remarkable when looking at the landscape of today’s hobby. Contrived scarcity due to serial numbering has prevented rarity of normal, non autograph/relic cards from being valuable in most cases, and yet, in both Baseball and Football, Topps has found ways of making it happen.

Here is a Cam Newton from the football set.

I know there is a lot of venom surrounding the release of 2012 Topps baseball, but it is mostly from collectors who have spent their hobby lives collecting the base set. They are not the same type of collector like me, one who loves the high end chase over any other type of chase. I understand their point of view, being what Topps used to be and what it is, but I disagree that it is bad. Any time you can give people more opportunity to get a return on investment without adding cost to a pack/box, I will applaud the addition. If it looks like crap, well, that might hinder my own personal excitement.

What I think people fail to remember is that the industry has changed since the advent of the auto/relic card. It has permeated every facet of the product base for every sport, and personally, I think its a great thing. It makes people like me (and there is a ton of people like me out there) from leaving. I am not a card collector, but I do collect cards, as stupid as that sounds. I collect autographs, as well as a few other things here and there, and cards happen to be the best vehicle for accomplishing that. Like many humans, I am ultra competitve and steeped in vanity, so I have to have the best collection. The high end cards are what accomplish this feat, and the more of them that exist, the more fun I will have obtaining them for my growing collection.

Ten months, or even ten years from now, these cards will be lost in the overall progression of the years that pass. However, their inclusion and existence continue to drive a shockingly positive result that I never expected. That, my friends, will never be negative.

My main complaint with P&P is the final design around the rookie autographs. There is so little space for the rookies to sign that many of them are forced to squeeze in their signature to space smaller than a sticker would offer. Not only does it look disproportionate, but it has shown that Panini doesn’t know their ass from their elbow when it comes to card construction. Something as small as moving the window up on the design of the card would have provided a balanced design that actually fits into the normal paradigm most collectors assign to hard signed autographs.

Outside of the rookie patch autos, this set is nothing but a metric ton of donkey crap, and that is putting it lightly. There are so few redeeming factors in regards to any of these cards, that it is pretty shocking to say the least. I would expect some type of wow factor in one minor part of the product, but it is so flat and uninspired, that I cannot even say I would buy a single card from it.

Not only is Panini moronically continuing with the use of the white box behind the stickers on every card, but the backwards construction that leads to incomplete looking cards continues for the 250th set in a row. I am convinced as to how little effort Panini puts into conceiving new product ideas each year, and these ones that blur together with the rest of their junk is a perfect example.

Where Precision, Supreme and eventually Five Star succeed is that they offer things that are unique from any other product on the calendar. They are not perfect products, but they present something worth pursuing outside of what has already been released. I want Panini to consider next time they are sitting around the conference table, “is this something that is different from what we have already done?” Im guessing the answer will be a resounding negative, and this is where collectors are continually boredom stricken with the release calendar. It’s a bad situation, and I don’t think there is a plan or a commitment to improve in the football arena. I think people should be very concerned.

Christian Ponder Rookie Patch Auto /199

John Elway Signal Callers Auto /10

Vincent Brown Jumbo Patch Auto /25

Peyton Manning Jersey Auto 1/1

In my two boxes, I didn’t have much luck, but I definitely believe that the cards were high above the quality we saw in any of Panini’s offerings this year. The stock is similar to Inception, and the on card autographs that are paired with game photos look incredible. They made good use of the Gaussian blur on photoshop, and I think the results speak for themselves. The players have absolutely enormous spaces to sign, and the huge autographs are really cool.

The patch and jersey autograph cards succeed where Inception’s failed, as the border has been ditched around the sticker. As a result, the card looks much more complete and visually appealing, especially with a stark white background to the card. There are also a lot of multi-signed cards and books (as usual), and for the most part, it’s a great idea to add more of these types of cards to supplement the huge price point.

I kind of feel like Bowman Sterling and Topps Inception got drunk and hooked up, and this is the result of the night of passionate love making. Sterling has a ridiculous price per pack for sticker autographs, and this product builds on that part of it with more hard signed signatures. Inception was void of veteran autograph content, and had some issues with checklist, but Precision is a huge improvement for 70 extra dollars per box. Not only will you get 3 autos and an auto relic, but you will also get at least one hard signed card.

The signed veteran base cards are pretty impressive looking for stickers, but it is truly unfortunate that this could not function more like SP Authentic of 2009 and previous. The cards would rival content like we saw in Upper Deck’s last licensed run through the calendar, and I am wholly disappointed it didn’t happen.

Here are some of the big hits so far:

Andy Dalton On Card Red Ink Auto /75

Drew Brees, Colston, Mark Ingram Triple Auto

Eric Dickerson Base Auto – Definitely a welcome return for Dickerson.

Jimmy Graham Base Auto – About time Graham got a good looking auto like this.

For what this box costs, there is definitely a lot to expect, most of which it will deliver. With pack price delivering a guaranteed auto, I think there is good reason to try at least one or two. Like Tier One in baseball, the format may be prohibitive to buy a whole bunch of packs, so it may be just as good wait for singles. I was definitely impressed with the look of the cards, even though my boxes were lackluster in terms of players.

I will definitely be waiting for more to be posted to start buying, however. Without a doubt, it will soften the fix I need before Five Star hits in late February.

Check out the auction here.

Lets take a time machine back to 2007, with the release of Derek Jeter’s Mickey Mantle/GW BUsh card that was “slipped accidentally” into the base set. The card got national media attention, and like this rally squirrel card, soared to astroniomical prices on the secondary market.

Fast forward to today, here.

Bottom line, this card will no doubt be on the level where some of these gimmicks are for now, but later it will be much different. Does that mean I dont like that these cards are included in the set? Not at all. I think its a great idea to have them as a way to drive value above and beyond normal. However, these prices will not be reflective of what is going to happen in the long run. If you happen to pull one, obviously get it up NOW.

This year, Topps took the idea for Magic last year, and combined it with some of the ideas that Panini put into the Rated Rookies box set. It was only being offered online through their site, and as we can expect, its going to take a miracle to get any money back on the 20 dollar pack price. Even at 1 autograph per box, the good autographed rookies must come at ridiculous odds. They are so uncommon that I have to believe some of these prices wont seem out of sorts because of how SPed these cards are:

2011 Magic Cam Newton SSP Auto RC – Sticker Version – A lot of Newton collectors will be looking for this card, and frankly there will not be many of these.

2011 Magic Mark Ingram SSP Auto RC – Inception Cut Version

2011 Magic Christian Ponder SSP Auto RC

One of the best parts of this set should have been explored a lot further, possibly as a way to give collectors more for their money at no extra cost. There are a list of SP variation cards that are inserted randomly into packs, and these cards feature painted versions of the game photos instead of ones from the premiere. I have always supported SSP base card variation, and I think a product like Magic should focus completely on this component of the set.

The cards do look very similar to last year, but there are two specific things that are DEFINITELY bothering me.

First is the colors Topps used for the borders around the pictures. Although I understand they were trying to create a retro styling, I dont like the colors or the way it looks. They should have used team colors or normal production colors instead of the pastel pinks, more to create a good looking card over one that defies normal color schemes.

Second is the use of cut up inception cards for some of the autographs. Bottom line, this should never happen. I can tell that Topps has to know this isnt kosher, because I get that feeling in talking with them. Not only do the cards look ridiculous, but I dont understand why they would be done this way. We know that some of the Inception cards had chipping problems, and were probably sent back for replacement, so this could be the only way to get further use out of them. Regardless of the reasoning, when pulling one of these autos I kind of feel like I know the present I just got is re-gifted. Lets hope they give up on this awful idea.

Magic will be a non-factor this year in more ways that it will be successful. I know they will get orders because of the promise of one auto at 20 bucks, but I have to say that I miss the cool cards from last year. The Chrome refractor autographs were awesome, and I am still chasing the Peterson to this day. This stuff? Ill pass.

This year, Topps is creating a new set that is going to go head to head with Contenders, even though the configuration is a bit different. With 2011 Topps Precision, they are pairing hard signed content, with the normal cards that have been a successful staple of the recent calendar. I would say that Precision’s feel will be like Ineception with added veteran content, and with how awesome Inception was, this is NOT a bad thing.

As a self confessed card photography snob, I love seeing the game pics on cards that have hard signed autographs. As good as it is to have photo shoot pics earlier in the season, at this point in the year, the game shots add a level of collectability. There are only so many shots they can use from their time at the shoot, and action on the field during an actual game is always going to trump that.

More importantly, for Precision, Topps correctly decided to give the players maximum space to sign their autograph, something Panini has wrongly decided on with Contenders, Plates and Patches and National Treasures. Because sports signatures are known for being dynamic and beautiful, why limit that expression? Not only does it give room for some of the inscriptions that I love and chase, but it also gives the player the optimum place to make the card unique.

I still dont understand why companies continually opt for the cookie cutter approach rather than giving collectors a reason to buy one product over another. If each product cannot bring something new and unique over another product on the calendar, why have both? It makes no sense. Panini has opted time and time again, to make each of their products EXACTLY like the others, and as a result, I wont buy any of their junk.

For 2011 Contenders, you have a product that not only looks awful, but no longer has any reason to exist. The complexity of the rookie autograph checklist is now forced into every product of the year. Scrub autos dominate so many of the checklists these days, that Contenders is no longer special in that way. It can only function on its name and its design. This year, the design is so terrible, that Panini better hope that they can make it work. Last year’s ticket design was probably one of the best ever, a definite need after 2009 was probably the worst. 2011 looks to be somewhere in between disgusting and horrendous, and that is not good with a product like Precision delivering 4 great looking autos per box at a similar price.

Here is a gallery of the visual train wreck from Panini’s site.

I completely understand that Contenders could be signed notecards and it would still sell, but I have to have faith that eventually people will figure out how much design and composition means to cards and growth of the hobby. When cards look like ones I could create on MS Paint, it takes away from being worthy of display. If you cant display, I dont buy. With disposable income no longer being spent on stuff like this due to the recession, it may take something drastic, and they better have something up their sleeve other than video cards.

When 2010-11 Totally Certified Basketball was released, it was a popular product for the main chase of the first Panini video cards. Since that time, the product has severely cooled off, only to start back up with the resurgence of the low numbered parallels selling like crazy on eBay. In fact, they are selling at such ridiculous prices, that I don’t even have an explanation as to why.

Check out some of these prices:

Blake Griffin Totally Certified Emerald Base Card /5

LeBron James Totally Certified Emerald Base Card /5

Kobe Bryant Totally Certified Gold Base Card /25

With so many cards being numbered these days, including some products where EVERY card is numbered, I don’t get the appeal. I understand that the cards remind people of ones like the Precious Metal Gems, but the fact that so many things have changed should negate that situation. Numbered cards don’t mean anything anymore, and it is completely shocking how much these cards are on fire.

Usually, it will take a low numbered Chrome refractor to be a valuable non-autographed card, but these basketball cards are succeeding where EVERY other has failed. This is all despite a terrible name for the set, a terrible design, and nothing more than collector nostalgia and contrived rarity to drive price.

Maybe someone who knows more about basketball can fill me in. Is it that so few people bought this product? Color me stumped.