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An Exquisite Football Retrospective
Posted by: | CommentsI have always referred to Exquisite Collection as “the granddaddy of them all,” when it comes to super-premium products. It is often imitated, never duplicated despite many tries. Exquisite Collection is one of the only products in its price bracket to feature completely hard-signed signatures for all of its autograph cards, and this coming year’s set looks to be no exception.
Because Exquisite Collection has become such a favorite among collectors, I wanted to take a look back at its run from 2005-2009 and put together a retrospective. You don’t know where you are going until you know where you have been, right?
2005 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Aaron Rodgers, Ronnie Brown
This set is widely remembered for being the first of its kind in football. The rookie cards are rare and tough to come by, and with so many rookie cards featuring elite players, it is a very valuable beginning to the Exquisite Football brand. The staples of Exquisite, the rookie auto-patch cards, are here featured with dual swatches for the only time in the brand’s history. In tother subsets of the product, signed memorabilia was a focus and are some of the most sought after modern cards in history. My personal favorite was the signed helmet-and-shoulder-pad cards, a concept that has yet to be repeated anywhere in the hobby.
2006 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Maurice Jones-Drew
2006 had the help of one of the biggest hype clouds of any draft class I have ever experienced. Each player drafted in the first round was destined to be hall of fame bound, and the prices of the Exquisite cards upon release reflected that completely. The rookie auto-patches started using humongous patch swatches while still maintaining a great design and look, while the rest of the set became more indicative of the cards we are accustomed to now. For the first time, Exquisite collectors hunted for “gold boxes,” where each card in the 7-card pack was a 1-of-1. There was also the introduction of single-, dual-, and quad-NFL logo cards, which are still heralded today as some of the best ever produced. Though some of the rookies may not have filled the shoes they were supposed to have, the values on this set remain very high regardless.
2007 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Brady Quinn, Patrick Willis
When March of 2008 rolled around and Exquisite hit shelves, people clamored for their shot at a big hit in a draft class that had been one of the best in years. Adrian Peterson had put up monster numbers in his first season, and his Exquisite cards were expected to be some of the most expensive non-1-of-1 cards in a long time. All of the favorite features of the 2006 cards were back, including the dual- and quad-logo cards that were the chases of the previous set. My favorite cards in this set were probably the newly designed, rare-materials cards, which featured up to three NFL logo patches coupled with a hard-signed autograph. These cards were part of the gold boxes that again made their appearance, and many collectors broke double-digits worth of cases to pull one. Even today, the Adrian Peterson Rookie auto patch sells for over $1,200, and I don’t see the price coming down any time soon.
2008 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Chris Johnson
If I had one word to describe 2008 Exquisite, it would be “regal.” An ornate design graced the cards of a great draft class, which featured some of the biggest and craziest patches of all time. This time, it wasn’t just 7 cards per box, as a new “gold pack” was created to bring extra value to each box. This new pack was filled with all kinds of amazing cards, including hard-signed autographs on each card. There were also new concepts from favorite sets like rare materials, which turned into a subset that many collectors tried to complete. Instead of just one card per player, these cards now were numbered to 50 and 10, creating a feeding frenzy for the people who were going for the set. There were still single- and dual-logo cards for people to chase, and many of them are still out there. The biggest addition to Exquisite was Tiger Woods, who had his first Exquisite card inserted into the packs. These cards were expected to top $10K in value, and some garnered even more.
2009 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Mark Sanchez, Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno, Matt Stafford
Over the last few weeks, we have gotten our first taste of what 2009 Exquisite is going to be all about. All the favorite cards are back including the dual- and quad-logos, as well as some new ones that should be utterly ridiculous. Now, there is a possibility of pulling hinged cards out of this year’s product, some with multiple autos from multiple players. Signed swatches are making their return, as well as the gold packs that people loved so much in the last set. A new focus of this set is the inscription cards which are looking to make a big splash. Instead of a plain auto, many of the cards will feature any number of inscriptions from both rookies and veteran stars. With Mark Sanchez and Percy Harvin making it all the way to the conference championship games this season, it may be one of the most valuable draft classes ever. Look for Exquisite Collection soon!
I’m beyond excited for one of my favorite products of the year, and I can definitely say that it looks more packed with content than ever. The design looks great this time around, and we haven’t even seen the full extent.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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What’s Next for The Vikings and Favre?
Posted by: | CommentsThe epic run of Brett Favre started in August and ended in disappointment during Championship Weekend. Although Favre was brought in by the Vikings to get to and win the Super Bowl, the team only reached as far as they did thanks to his leadership. Whether it was the amazing finish to the week three match-up with San Fransisco, or the divisional round stomping of the hottest team in the NFL, Favre accomplished everything BUT reaching the actual Super Bowl. He may not have ended his last game on top, but he is going out with a bang like no 40-year old player ever has.
Now, the retirement dance begins again, as it has for the last three years. However, unlike previous years, coach Brad Childress is not worried. Favre may have said that his return is “highly unlikely,” but from him, that statement basically means maybe. It’s tough to think that he wouldn’t try at least one more time, given the success he had in Minnesota this year, especially with the Vikings not being shy about telling the press they are happy to have him back.
It’s also hard to believe that a competitor like Favre would want to end his career after one of the craziest games he has ever played. Fumbles galore, interceptions, and a horrible decision late in the game brought the Vikings’ season to an end, something many detractors had been predicting since the preseason. The blame may lie squarely on Favre’s shoulders for the last drive, but it wasn’t like Peterson, Harvin, and Berrian didn’t also contribute to the loss with their comedy of errors.
That game may have been the second overtime championship loss for the Vikings in the last 3 tries, but it was far different from the 1998 loss to the Falcons that crushed my dreams as kid. This time, the Purple were away at a stadium booming with noise and not favored to win, unlike the previous team that lost at home while being favored by a touchdown. The 2009 team fumbled their way to a loss that should have been a win if played mistake free; the 1998 team blew it on a missed kick by a perfect kicker.
Don’t get me wrong – the Vikings have the tools and the resources to get back to the NFC Championship next year, with or without Favre. Backup QB Tarvaris Jackson has shown in minimal time on the field that he has improved enough to be considered for the starting job should Favre not come back, and the draft is ripe with promising QBs to build on for the future. The Vikings are still without a franchise player in that respect, but they may not need one if Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin continue to play at an elite level.
I also don’t want to discount a Saints team who looked to be in Super Bowl form during the game. The defense played like vultures, circling the Vikings players looking for places to punch the ball out. Tracy Porter and company also did their job in the secondary, playing a great game against a Pro-Bowl level receiving corps. Drew Brees has grown into a player on the same level as Brett Favre in his prime, tearing up a Vikings secondary that wasn’t able to stop his huge plays.
Lastly, as a Vikings fan, it’s just another disappointment to add to the list of horrible breaks that never seem to go our way in the playoffs. I was on cloud nine for almost the entire season and look to be back there come 2010. With the salary cap lifted due to issues with the collective bargaining agreement, hopefully the Vikings can find a way to stack the deck even more in their favor. They have a few players that may not be joining them for the ride in Favre, Pat Williams, and Cedric Griffin, but those holes can be filled from their deep bench and a loaded 2010 draft.
Brett Favre may have only played one year for the Vikings, but it was one for the books, and I am satisfied with the whole result despite the individual let-downs. I will wait patiently to see what he decides and will be raring to go regardless of his decision. The Vikings will bounce back, and I will be there with horns on.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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Peyton Manning: NFL and Hobby MVP
Posted by: | CommentsPeyton Manning never needs an introduction, especially now that he holds the NFL record for MVPs won. After recently winning his fourth regular season MVP, he tops a list that includes Walter Payton, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and more. He captured 39 percent of the vote in a season that included a record number of 4,000 yard passers with 30 TDs or more, a 2,000 yard rusher, and a player who covered year long for his NFL return after retirement. Despite all of those great seasons, Peyton reigns supreme again.
Funny enough, coming into the 2009 season, Manning wasn’t necessarily the odds-on favorite to have a good year. He had a brand new coach after legendary Tony Dungy retired, he was without Marvin Harrison for the first time in a decade, and the rest of the team was young and inexperienced. Two constants remained in Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne, and both were poised to take over the NFL with Manning behind them. However, three pieces does not a football team make, which came into play when players like Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon stepped up to fill the roles needed for a winning team.
Like many of the great quarterbacks who have come and gone, Manning makes people around him that much better. He made stars out of his new role players and made his past role players into new league leaders and Pro Bowlers. That wasn’t all, however, as the Colts started the year 14-0 thanks to Manning’s amazing play, a feat that earned him initial consideration for league MVP. What put him over the top were his 4,500 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and leadership that emanated from his pores. Numbers like Manning’s make the Colts’ finish pretty easy to fathom when reviewing the final stat sheet.
Yet, not all is said and done quite yet: the Colts still have an opponent in Baltimore this week that could spell defeat in Manningville, USA. Coming off a huge victory in New England, the Ravens have started to show how fearsome their team can be, even against a juggernaut that spent the last two weeks of the season resting up. Veteran Ray Lewis and sophomore Ray Rice lead the menacing defense and high-powered offense into Indianapolis, and it may be a test of what the MVP can do to overcome a team like Baltimore. Last year, many of the bye teams were not able to stave off the surging Wild Card winners, and with those two weeks of rest under his belt, Manning may have issues finding a true rhythm. However, if the regular season is any indication of what will happen, Manning will have no trouble at all.
Rather than going through the must-have cards of Manning’s long career, I want to discuss a few newer cards that caught my eye. His cards are usually so iconic that to list off his SP Authentic rookie, his first Exquisite autograph, and any of his extremely valuable 1/1s would be too easy. Here are a few you may have missed that I find incredibly interesting.
First, out of 2007 Goudey Baseball, Manning was featured as part of the highly collected and highly valuable Sports Royalty set. The card has an on-card autograph and is wonderfully reminiscent of the baseball cards they were modeled after. It’s rare that you see a football player in a baseball set, but this works well. Manning is definitely sports royalty, and this card is a great addition to your Manning collection that has everything.
Manning was also a part of the ‘09-‘10 Exquisite Basketball Retro Rookie Patch Autograph set, and seeing him with that type of card is awesome. The ‘03-‘04 Exquisite Basketball set is iconic on its own thanks to the likes of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, but to see some football players and baseball players make their rookie patch debut is something to behold. Because of the iconic nature and rarity of the set, these cards go for a ton, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a look. Exquisite Basketball may not be back for the foreseeable future, so this is a great sendoff to a fan favorite product.
Lastly, I love the Peyton Manning / Eli Manning dual on-card autograph out of 2009 Upper Deck Football Heroes. Its one of the only cards that features a hard signed signature of both Manning brothers on the same card, and the painted art makes it one of the better looking Manning cards produced in a long time. If you are a fan of both of the Mannings, this card is a great one to chase.
Although this year was nothing out of the ordinary for a player who seems to scoff at mediocre play, it goes without saying that Peyton is quickly cementing himself as one of the best NFL players of all time. Considering that he is still relatively young and injury free, he may still have years worth of records left in him. Favre may have recently broken Dan Marino’s touchdown record, but the Manning name is the one that I expect to be on that record in the coming years. When you also factor in that he is one of football’s nice guys, with a great ability to laugh at himself, it’s easy to see why collectors and fans love him as much as they do. Then again, how can you hate a guy whose catch-phrase was “CUT THAT MEAT!” for a good two seasons?
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin
Posted by: | CommentsPer NFL.com, Percy Harvin will be named offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2009 season. Much like yesterday’s announcement of Brian Cushing’s award, Harvin was also expected to walk away with top honors, so there were no surprises when the award was determined. He has truly been one of the more important additions to a team that desperately needed some receiver help, and thanks to Brett Favre’s tutelage, he has exceeded expectations to the fullest.
Without question, Harvin had some demons coming out of college, and was not expected to be a top pick once the draft rolled around. He tested positive for a banned substance at the combine, which led teams to drop him on their boards out of fear for repeat abuses. Vikings coach Brad Childress visited him in Florida before the draft, and became determined to have him on his team. The Vikings drafted him at number 22, and the rest is history.
This year, Harvin caught 60 passes for 750 yards with six touchdowns, including over 125 yards on the ground as well. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, leading him to a season average of 27 yards per return that put him at number two all time for the Vikings. He was recently named to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s kick returner, being the only offensive rookie to earn his way onto the team.
For Vikings collectors like me, it’s become tougher to collect Harvin’s stuff because his value has spiked so much due to his production. Considering that the Purple already have a large fan base, it also creates a lot of competition among people who want his cards. I have done pretty well, regardless of the other collectors, and here are a few of my favorites for the year.
When 2009 Upper Deck football came out early in the year, I was immediately excited for the chance to pull the Premier cards seeded at one per case. Harvin’s card is absolutely amazing, and still one of the most valuable cards of the year so far. It is also extremely rare at forty copies, which makes one of the rarest of the year as well. The card features an autograph, four swatches of player worn jersey, and a great design that fits well with the awesome picture.
I also love his National Chicle mini out of 2009 Philadelphia, as the painted look of the card is beyond awesome. If you are fortunate enough to get an autographed parallel, I envy you very much. The auto versions are hard signed by Percy on the card, and he has even included some creative inscriptions like “Wildcat” and “See you next year Tebow!” on a few selected ones.
Lastly, I would check out his rookie card out of 2009 Upper Deck, as it is one of the better pictures of the year. It is shot from an angle that you don’t usually see on a card, which is why this card looks so awesome. When the set was first released, I immediately jumped on this card, as I was enthralled by the way it looks. It may not feature an autograph or a jersey swatch, but it is still one of my favorite cards of the entire year.
If this year is any indication, Percy Harvin will be a star in the NFL for years to come. I was skeptical at first about him wearing a Vikings uniform, but he has earned my respect without a doubt. He plays each down with ferocious tenacity, punishing defenders who try to stop him at every turn. Teammate Adrian Peterson has already dubbed him “Little Phenom” for his ability on the field, though I don’t think Peterson is even prepared for the potential Harvin has. Peterson was named Rookie of the Year in 2007 himself, and I would think he has a pretty good grasp of what it takes to be successful. Fortunately for Vikings fans like me, we are going to get to see what he is talking about for many more seasons to come.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing
Posted by: | CommentsPer a number of league sources, Brian Cushing has been named the defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2009 season (an award he was expected to win). He becomes the seventh linebacker in a row to win it, with Jerod Mayo winning last year and Patrick Willis in 2007. Cushing was absolutely ridiculous for the Texans this season, racking up an AFC leading 135 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions, proving he is definitely worthy of the honor.
He is also the second Texans player to win it since 2006, when DeMeco Ryans was the honoree after a similar season. Cushing has been flying around the ball all year, putting up stats usually reserved for players like Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. He was also recently named to the AFC Pro Bowl team, something that doesn’t usually happen for rookies in this league. Aside from Jarius Byrd of the Buffalo Bills (also a Rookie of the Year contender), he was the only first year player to be named.
Although Cushing’s cards have not brought the same value as some of the quarterbacks and receivers this year, collectors have embraced his potential head on. His cards have been some of the most valuable from the defensive side of the ball, and should be for a long time to come. Cushing did not attend the NFL rookie premiere, but has many cards and autographs I would definitely take a look at regardless if you are a USC team collector, or a Texans fan.
The first I would go after is his recent rookie autograph out of 2009 UD Black. The card is hard signed by the player and looks absolutely stunning. Cushing is pictured in his USC jersey, which should make this card even more attractive to the many people out there who chase players from the Linebacker factory in Southern California.
Secondly, his rookie card out of 2009 Upper Deck is a perfect one to go after if you are looking for Cushing in his Texans jersey. The picture is exactly what I would expect from a guy like him, mainly his look of focused and frightening execution.
Lastly, I would not hesitate to pick up his rookie autograph out of 2009 SPx, as it will surely be one of the more expensive ones as time moves on. SPx has long been known for its rookie card checklist, and Cushing’s card does not disappoint. It is both serial numbered and rare, and features him again in his Texans uniform. It won’t cost you more than the price of a DVD, which is why it is an affordable way to get in on the ground floor for a player with tremendous potential.
As a person who appreciates what the Linebackers bring to the team, I can assure you that Cushing has what it takes to be a star for years to come. Teams have already started directing the ball away from him, despite the fact that he was a rookie this year. His size and speed will make it difficult to accomplish that avoidance, and with DeMeco Ryans playing along side him, this will not be the only winning season for the Texans franchise.
Check back for further announcements on the NFL regular season awards, as unlike Major League Baseball, they are usually announced very quickly after the season is done. The MVP and Offensive Rookie of the Year should be tight races, especially with the way certain guys have stepped up or down in the last weeks of the season.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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