Archive for nfl
Brag Photo: 2011 Upper Deck Exquisite Football Cards Continue to Arrive
Posted by: | CommentsWhen we first announced that there would be a 2011 Upper Deck Exquisite Football set at the 2012 Las Vegas Industry Summit, the room buzzed with excitement. And there was plenty to be excited about as Certified Diamond Dealers in attendance enjoyed seeing the return of UD Black and the new Exquisite Dimensions autograph cards. And now as we get closer to launch, more and more hard-signed autograph cards are arriving here each week. Take a look at a small portion of cards recently received in.
We are bringing out the best patches of the year to use with the ultra-premium Exquisite Football set.
Patch swatches are significantly larger than the 2010 Upper Deck Exquisite Football product.
And with bigger patches, come more colorful swatches!
Look for autographs of legendary players like Jerry Rice!
Charles White has a particularly beautiful signature. Fight on!
And this Rocket Ismail Book Mark card features a beautiful painted image of the playmaker for Notre Dame in action.
Gold paint pen on some of the rookie autographs really make the hard-signed signatures "pop!"
The inclusion of inscription autographs help provide for some compelling chase for collectors.
As more autograph content arrives, we look forward to sharing a release date for this product in the near future. Look for more galleries on 2011 Upper Deck Exquisite Football in the future leading up to the pack out of the product where we will share a HUGE preview on the UD Facebook page.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Draft 2012 Rookie Football Stars in Your Living Room!
Posted by: | CommentsI can’t wait to see all the activity going on around Radio City Music Hall tonight and throughout the weekend as my favorite college football stars join the professional ranks. Some people think it has gotten out of hand considering these are still just young men who have not done anything yet in the NFL, but I love seeing all the wheeling and dealing as teams decide their futures. It is one of the few times a team change the fate of the franchise just by putting a name on a draft card.
As a collector, the fun of watching the draft is even more captivating. Finally all these hyped prospects will have a home in the pros. We can finally start predicting and investing as we guess which players are set up for short-term stardom, long-term legacies or the 99 cent bargain bin at your local card shop. Like many collectors I like to pick a couple guys I think will be the next Cam Newton and pick up some of their cards. With 2012 Upper Deck Football in stores now, the timing couldn’t be better. In a few days we will know where everyone has landed and who is in the right position to be the next big thing. Here are some rookies I feel have the potential to be the next big thing as they jump to the next level:
ANDREW LUCK, QB, STANFORD: The next John Elway. The next Peyton Manning. Everything has been said about Luck in the months leading up to the draft, and the hype machine has reached critical mass levels. Luck is commanding mainstream and hobby attention like no prospect we have seen in years, so you have to give him some attention as a collector. All the tools are there, but we can’t see inside Luck’s head. How is he handling the pressure? Will he break under the strain of having to follow in Manning’s footsteps and be the savior of a downtrodden franchise? These questions won’t be answered on draft night as it will be all smiles, but as the season begins we will learn a lot about Luck.
From a collecting standpoint it’s hard to justify the prices he commands right now only because he hasn’t proven anything. College success does not guarantee professional success, and Luck will need to be as good as advertised to justify his current card prices. Of course big risk yields big reward, if he becomes a legend he’ll take his place among the likes of Honus Wagner, Michael Jordan, and others among hobby royalty and investors will look very smart. I think he’s reached a point however where I need to see him perform at the highest level to be a believer. We’ll see if the pressure is too much or if he rises to the occasion, we’re just hours away from the Andrew Luck Colts saga getting underway.
ROBERT GRIFFIN III, QB, BAYLOR: There was a time not really that long ago when Andrew Luck was a sure bet. Considered one of the greatest prospects of all time, there was no way anyone else was going number one overall in 2012. It got so crazy people spent last offseason predicting which teams would go on a “Suck for Luck” campaign to get the number one pick. But the fact that people have spent the last few months debating Griffin vs. Luck tells you how far “RG3” has come. Luck has gone from a can’t-miss superstar to the point where legitimate analysts think the Colts may be making a mistake taking Luck over the talented prospect from Baylor. He seems to be every bit the elite dual threat QB as we have seen with Michael Vick or Cam Newton. The thing is, many believe he might be even better.
Griffin autos will be a very tough pull, but they could pay off big for collectors.
The downside is that as a collector you are going to have to pay for RG3’s trading cards at a premium level right out of the gate. He should be less expensive than Luck however and if you think he might make a bigger splash performing in the nation’s capital, that’s not a bad deal. The chance of hitting a Griffin makes it well worth the chance on busting some packs in search of him. It certainly worked out well for this collector as he pulled one of my favorite cards of RG3. The Griffin autographs are limited and sure to be very hot one he is officially a member of the Redskins.
RYAN TANNEHIL, QB, TEXAS A&M: Quarterbacks tend to drive the football card hobby and every year there are guys with huge potential that rise up the charts because of the importance of the position. This year is no different with Luck and RG3 hysteria overshadowing really all the other quarterback prospects in the draft. The consensus best of the rest is Tannehill; who like RG3 has seen his stock shoot up as the draft approaches. Where it was once Luck, RG3 and then a huge gap in the rankings; Tannehill has been rumored to be going as high as within the first five picks. If he slips it will create some draft day excitement as a number of teams may try to trade up to get him.
Tannehill could compete with Luck and Griffin for top rookie quarterback.
Like Griffin the downside is that the hype will push Tannehill’s card prices up very high, much higher than if he had managed to stay in the shadows behind Luck and RG3 a little longer. However, he will still be a huge bargain compared to the “Big Two.” You’ll likely be able to get 2-3 Tannehill rookies for the price of a similar Luck or Griffin card. I think a solid comparison is Christian Ponder. His cards have always sold for much cheaper than Cam Newton, but he is looking like a very solid QB. Tannehill should find a team ready to have him starting sometime this season, and he should develop quickly. If you don’t have the big bucks to spend on Luck and Griffin this is the guy for you.
BRANDON WEEDEN, QB, OKLAHOMA STATE: If Tannehill was a bargain, then Weeden is the unexpected surprise you find at the bottom of a bargain bin at the local card shop or card show. When you see it you know it should not be in the bargain bin, but there it is and you are going to get a heck of a price as a result. Weeden’s age is probably the biggest thing pushing him down the draft rankings, but he should still be a high draft pick. He will probably be one of the last QB’s drafted that has a real chance of starting this season. A lot will depend on where he lands. Rumors have him going to Cleveland which would be a decent spot to learn. Colt McCoy is very beatable for the starting job and it’s a young team that will likely have added Trent Richardson by the time they take Weeden. In terms of his future values, it will really depend on the situation he finds himself in with the new team.
Despite being older than some veterans, Weeden could be a future franchise cornerstone.
TRENT RICHARDSON, RB, ALABAMA: Call him Mark Ingram version 2.0. Ingram was the one elite running back prospect from Alabama in an otherwise weak draft class at the position. It’s a different year, but the same story. We have an Alabama running back at the top of the class, a big gap and then everyone else. However unlike Ingram, I think Richardson will have a much bigger immediate impact. Ingram got lost on a dynamic offense and may never become an elite lead running back. Richardson on the other hand is built to be that guy and will go to a team ready to hand him that role, likely the Browns. The Browns are perfect because their passing game will be just good enough to be a distraction, but not enough to take away from a run-first mentality. With Peyton Hillis gone it will be all about Richardson and his young legs should help make him the man in Cleveland. You’ll have to pay for him because of the lack of other quality running backs, but unlike Ingram who I thought was overpriced, Richardson should be worth it.
Richardson's immediate impact will help make up for a weak overall running back draft class.
RONNIE HILLMAN, RB, SAN DIEGO STATE: With Richardson so far ahead of the other running backs, best to take a wait and see approach with the rest of the prospects. If you’re looking for another RB to invest in, you’re looking for a dynamic player who can do different things for a team and find playing time as a backup. If you want a name to watch for in the later rounds, I love Hillman. He has durability, quickness and elusiveness. He is built to be a Darren Sproles type of player and those guys tend to get a lot of attention even in a crowded backfield. If he finds a team looking for a change of pace back or a return man he is golden and he should be drafted high enough where a team isn’t just taking him for depth.
Hillman could emerge as a versatile and valuable backup with the right team.
JUSTIN BLACKMON, WR, OKLAHOMA STATE: Blackmon going to the Rams has to have a lot of people salivating; both Rams fans and collectors alike. He’s a dynamic playmaker who should make an immediate impact similar to A.J. Green and Julio Jones last year. It really helps that he is being dropped into a perfect situation. Jeff Fisher is a great coach, Sam Bradford is a great young QB and Steven Jackson is an elite RB that can keep a defense busy. Blackmon could bring that whole offense together in a big way. Remember the Rams were a playoff team Bradford’s rookie year, so the talent is there. We could see a Detroit Lions type of rise from mediocrity to success thanks to a plethora of young talent led by Blackmon.
With elite talent and some appealing landing spots, Blackmon could break out right away.
In the past I’ve stayed away from collecting wide receivers because they don’t tend to hold their value even when they are really good. However recent examples like Green, Jones, and even further back like Calvin Johnson are bucking that trend. If there was a guy who could continue the trend it’s Blackmon, and he is certainly worth a look. Wide receivers tend to sell for less than quarterbacks and running backs anyway, so it’s not a bad strategy to go all in on the best WR available.
STEPHEN HILL, WR, GEORGIA TECH: Stephen Hill is a big and powerful wide receiver from Georgia Tech. Remind you of anyone? If you said Calvin Johnson, you are absolutely right. He’s built to potentially be a number one receiver. Now I’m not saying he can step in and immediately be a Calvin Johnson, but depending on where he lands he could become a number one option. Even if he’s stuck behind an elite number one, he can be a dynamic number two option when the top receiver is double teamed. Remember Julio Jones putting up big numbers thanks to Roddy White taking attention away from him. There are a number of near-elite prospects behind Blackmon who could help keep Hill under the radar and make his cards a good bargain.
Hill could follow fellow Georgia Tech star Calvin Johnson into the elite WR ranks.
QUINTON COPLES, DE, NORTH CAROLINA: Unfortunately after the big three offensive positions, we all know it’s tough to make a mark in the hobby no matter how good you are. For a defensive player everything has to come together for a guy to be a hot commodity. There are some solid names at the top of the draft, but unfortunately they are probably going to less than popular teams. Coples is appealing because he is a top pass rusher in the class and may be going to the always popular Philadelphia Eagles. If Coples becomes an elite rusher and starts racking up the sacks in Philadelphia for a very talented team, he could prove to be a popular guy among collectors. Wherever he goes he should find plenty of playing time to terrorize quarterbacks.
Coples has the elite ability to make collectors take note of a defensive star.
COBY FLEENER, TE, STANFORD: Traditionally tight ends just don’t get enough love in card collecting. That trend has been changing a bit with many teams relying more on the position and names like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham becoming household names. There always seems to be one or two solid tight ends that emerge from each draft as popular options; and Fleener seems to be a very solid prospect. He’s built to be a solid pass catching TE and should find catches wherever he goes. If he ends up reunited with Andrew Luck in Indianapolis he should do extremely well. His cards should be very affordable and he has the potential to become an elite TE.
Fleener will be out to prove he is more than one of Andrew Luck's favorite targets.
Enjoy the draft this weekend and make sure to grab some packs of 2012 Upper Deck Football to help enhance your draft experience. Who knows, you may just pull a rookie card of the next Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Why I Transitioned My Collection from the NFL to College
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s your favorite NFL team? Now who’s your favorite player on this team? These were easy questions to answer for me five years ago. I loved the Packers so I had a pretty awesome personal collection of Brett Favre at the time. When Favre left the Packers in 2007 I was at a loss of what to do from a collecting standpoint. Do I continue to collect Brett Favre even though he is no longer part of the Packers? Or do I get rid of all of my Favre cards for Aaron Rodgers cards and stay true to my team? As most collectors would agree, these are very difficult questions when you find yourself at a crossroads in your collecting.
Most Favre fans want to forget that he even played here, so a collectible capturing that moment is not very desirable, even if it is cool.
Many other collectors have been faced with this problem when Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Michael Vick, Vince Young and many other great players have been traded or moved in the NFL. I started thinking how this kind of problem could be avoided from a collecting standpoint. There had to be a different way to collect where my investment wouldn’t be harmed if and when the players I was collecting switched teams. And then it dawned on me that you can protect yourself by collecting collegiate cards.
Most Randy Moss fans get sick to their stomach when they see him as a member of the Raiders where his career really suffered.
You may ask why a college team? And the answer is simple. No matter what Brett Favre will always be a Golden Eagle. And even though his legacy was a bit tainted in the pros, you generally don’t feel that way about his collegiate cards.
For all of you Titans fans out there, do you still want to collect Vince Young? The answer is likely a resounding, “NO.” Now if we asked Texas Longhorns fans out there if they still collect Vince Young even though he was traded the answer would likely be a resounding, “YES!” He will always be a Longhorn. He bleeds burnt orange. There is no taking away the amazing memories you have of him as a member of the Texas Longhorns, no matter where the NFL may take him.
Nobody can ever take away from Vince Young's monumental moments with the Texas Longhorns.
And you can see that value differential frequently in the pricing for certain the cards. A Matt Leinart card with the Arizona Cardinals likely won’t be worth much. But with the USC Trojans, you’re looking at a very viable collectible that fans want of a Heisman Trophy winner. Even cards of players who never panned out in the NFL are in demand to college collectors. Jason White for example on a University of Oklahoma card will always be collectible to Sooners fans.
To Sooners fans, Jason White is still the man even if he didn't go on to have success in the pros.
Then there are cards of players who perform well in the pros, but there is just a greater demand for their college collectibles because of the rabid fan bases for the program. Take a look at Ndamukong Suh for example. His Detroit Lions cards sell okay, but there seems to be a much greater demand for his Nebraska cards because of how passionate Cornhusker fans are. In more than a few instances, if a player comes from the right program, his college cards will have more value than his NFL cards.
Ndamukong Suh's trading cards where he is featured as a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers tend to perform better than cards of him featured as a member of the Detroit Lions.
There are a couple other benefits to collecting college. There will never be a labor dispute that will jeopardize the season where we see that happen in the pros all the time. Also, collegiate cards are not as mass produced as NFL cards so because they are scarcer, that should also help their value over time. So much of collecting is all about supply and demand and with a short supply, the demand increases.
I have come to the realization that by focusing my collection on a college program instead of on the professional organization, I can build and experience a much more enjoyable and more stable collection!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Upper Deck’s new 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football set is out live today for collectors to enjoy. Behind the scenes, Upper Deck staffers were busy making moves to get all the top rookies in the set. That includes Terrelle Pryor who is currently in “football limbo” where it is uncertain whether or not he will have to opportunity to play in the NFL this season. Upper Deck was able to secure a deal with Pryor for image rights and even autographs. Collectors can find his short-printed “Sweet Beginnings” rookie card (#101) and even rare “Sweet Beginnings” autograph rookie card in 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football.
You can find "Sweet Beginnings" rookie and autograph rookie cards of Terrelle Pryor in packs of 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football.
It is extremely difficult to add a player to a product late in the game, but the opportunity to include a playmaker the caliber of Pryor made it worth the extra work. Upper Deck had to print Pryor’s “Sweet Beginnings” rookie cards on seperate forms and add them to the product mix so they could be inserted into packs. Since it was such a late addition we couldn’t produce as many as we would have liked to. Collectors should know that Pryor’s “Sweet Beginnings” rookie cards should be considered very rare. In fact, you could open an entire case of 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football and not find one.
Just including rookie cards wasn’t good enough for Upper Deck. To really make an impact we knew we had to get some signed rookie cards into the product as well. Upper Deck tracked Terrelle down where he was training with Chad Ochocinco and Antonio Brown in South Florida and had him sign for the 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football set and those cards were also rushed to be added into the product mix as well. Again, we were unable to get too many of these cards signed given the tight time constraints so collectors should know that Pryor’s “Sweet Beginnings” autograph rookies are some of the most limited autograph cards in the entire set. Below is an image of the card:
If you open a pack of 2011 NCAA Sweet Spot Football and find this card, you've found a very limited signed collectible indeed!
It is unsure what the future holds for Terrelle Pryor, but his talent is undeniable as you can see from watching his workout with Chad and Antonio in South Florida. Word on the street is that the Miami Dolphins would love to pick him up and if that happens he could position himself as their franchise quarterback fairly quickly given how badly in need they are for a competent signal caller. We wish him the best and fully expect to see him starting on Sundays soon.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Brag Photo: EVOLUTION – The First-Ever Video Trading Card
Posted by: | CommentsOne question people frequently ask me in this industry is, “What do you think trading cards are going to look like ten years from now?” It’s fun to speculate, but the truth is you just never know. If you would have asked me in 2001 if I thought there would be video trading cards by 2011, I would have probably laughed at you. But here we are today, where I am looking at the first-ever collection of video trading cards at our Upper Deck headquarters.
Here it is, the first-ever video trading card. These are the actual cards packing out right now in 2011 Upper Deck Football.
When I saw the final Upper Deck “EVOLUTION” cards this week I was blown away for a few reasons. First, it wasn’t like we just put some cardboard around a dvd player, this is a trading card first. Once you open up the booklet part of it, the card comes to life and I found myself lost in this new technology. While I loved the PowerDeck concept we came out with before, that was basically a compact disc; “EVOLUTION” is an actual trading card.
Next, I found it cool how the cards have a little port to recharge. The battery life on these is actually pretty long, but it is good to know there is a way to juice it up when it gets low. I also loved how the booklet portion closes. There are actually small magnets embedded in the cover to keep it closed so it doesn’t just lay hanging open.
Upper Deck is bringing football cards to life like never before with EVOLUTION!
I just loved watching the highlights of players like Tony Romo, Adrian Peterson, DeSean Jackson and Patrick Willis. We were able to get some really great footage and the quality is amazing.
But mostly it reminded me a lot of when I first started working for Upper Deck in 1997 when I saw the first game-used trading card. I marveled at those, just in awe of how groundbreaking they were. In that same innovative spirit, Upper Deck has done it again.
I am really excited for fans to see what I’m talking about as these start to get discovered on April 12 when 2011 Upper Deck Football hits shelves. It really is a card you have to see to believe and at Upper Deck, we are thrilled to be the company to bring you the first video trading card.
Popularity: 1% [?]
