Update: The card went to auction again, but the seller did not get paid a second time. He decided to do it as a BIN on eBay, and the card sold for $7,500 and was paid for this time.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor | Commentary

Whenever you open a pack of cards, how many times do you wish to pull the big one – the mega item that could solve all of your financial woes?

We’ve all done it from time to time, slowing peeking at a potential hit card to see if it’s the pull everyone wants.

Recently, Wisconsin collector Derek Reiter got that card. He pulled an autographed 2012 Contenders Championship Ticket of Andrew Luck, a 1-of-1, probably the top card in the product.

Reiter listed the card on eBay and in just a couple of days the price had shot to five figures. By the time the auction was over, the card sold for $42,300 on Feb. 20.

But that word “sold” is a funny one. An auction ends, but money doesn’t actually change hands just yet. So many things could go wrong with buyers who are not prepared to actually buy.

That’s what happened in this case.

Reiter didn’t get paid. He was told by the top bidder “his kids bid on it.”

Ouch.

As Reiter put it: “I didn’t think a $40,000 joke was appropriate.”

He decided to relist the card.

Getting that big card is something a lot of collectors hope to happen, but once it’s pulled comes many decision and potential issues. First, you have to decide if you want to sell the card. Once you choose to part with it, you have to figure out how to do it.

Plenty of people put it on eBay, but is that really the best choice?

Many high-profile auctions have resulted in exactly the same outcome as Reiter’s Luck auction: no sale.

During last year’s Linsanity craze, a 2010-11 Panini National Treasures Century Materials Prime Signatures numbered 17/25 (Jeremy Lin’s jersey number), graded BGS 9.5 sold for $21,580. But seller Yair Rozmaryn never got paid.

“I had a bad feeling soon after the auction ended,” Rozmaryn said in a recent interview with Beckett. “About an hour passed, and the bidder still hadn’t contacted me. Eventually they claimed that their son had logged on at the last minute and placed the winning bid.

“I didn’t believe it, but what can you do? It definitely left a sour taste in my mouth.”

Rozmaryn relisted the card, but by the close of the second auction Lin’s popularity had crested. The card ended up selling for about $4,000, more than $17,000 less than his initial sale price.

Rozmaryn wishes eBay would establish some sort of pre-approval system for high-profile and high-end bidding, giving sellers piece of mind – and hopefully the fully realized price for their biggest hits.

And people say “kids” don’t collect cards anymore!

Dan Good contributed to this report.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

Panini America picked a rookie of the week throughout the NFL season, featuring them on cards in the virtual world.

One week, the top rookies would be showcased on the National Treasures design, the next they would be on a Score design. Panini is now bringing those cards into the physical realm.

The cards will be inserted into the retail version of 2012 Contenders, exclusively at Target. The product is expected to come out toward the end of February in retail outlets.

The 17-card set highlights the weekly winners of players such as Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Alfred Morris.

Panini also included 2012 Prizm Football Red Prizm Die-Cuts of the five Pepsi Max Rookie of the Year finalists: Luck, RG3, Morris, Russell Wilson and Doug Martin. These examples will be limited to fewer than 35 copies.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

One question collectors always ask after opening a box of Contenders Football is ‘Who are the short prints?’

Panini America announced an incomplete list of short prints for 2012 Contenders with print runs.

Need to know more? Well, the company did give collectors a little hint to find your own SPs – look at the backs of the cards. Base versions include the player’s draft position, college, height, weight and birthday in the box at the bottom, right of the card. The variations do not.

Here’s a list of the SPs and print runs from Panini’s website. Keep checking back as the list will be updated as Panini releases more info.

In the meantime, go check your tickets.

ROOKIE TICKET SPs
Card  # Player              Team              Pos.   Qty.
167 Michael Brockers St. Louis Rams DT 38
131 Dont’a Hightower New England Patriots LB 47
120 Courtney Upshaw Baltimore Ravens LB 57
135 Jeff Demps New England Patriots RB 99
168 Michael Smith Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB 99
137 Fletcher Cox Philadelphia Eagles DT 112
132 Dontari Poe Kansas City Chiefs DT 134
196 Whitney Mercilus Houston Texans LB 150
151 Kellen Moore Detroit Lions QB 198
200 Brandon Bolden New England Patriots RB 202
111 Bryce Brown Philadelphia Eagles RB 205
138 George Iloka Cincinnati Bengals S 206
143 James Hanna Dallas Cowboys TE 227
179 Riley Reiff Detroit Lions OT 231
159 Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers LB 235
191 Tommy Streeter Baltimore Ravens WR 238
202 Robert Griffin III Washington Redskins QB 238
104 B.J. Coleman Green Bay Packers QB 242
124 David DeCastro Pittsburgh Steelers G 259
133 Dre Kirkpatrick Cincinnati Bengals CB 259
186 T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts WR 260
157 LaVon Brazill Indianapolis Colts WR 262
181 Ronnell Lewis Detroit Lions DE 266
147 Jerel Worthy Green Bay Packers DE 269
237 Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens K 275
239 Evan Rodriguez Chicago Bears TE 275
240 Kris Adams Indianapolis Colts WR 275
241 Daryl Richardson St. Louis Rams RB 275
242 Lance Dunbar Dallas Cowboys RB 275
243 Blair Walsh Minnesota Vikings K 275
162 Jorvorskie Lane Miami Dolphins FB 276
117 Chris Rainey Pittsburgh Steelers RB 288
107 Bobby Wagner Seattle Seahawks LB 290
141 Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings S 290
144 Janoris Jenkins St. Louis Rams CB 292
128 Derek Wolfe Denver Broncos DT 294
161 Mark Barron Tampa Bay Buccaneers S 295
163 Marvin Jones Cincinnati Bengals WR 313
187 Greg Zuerlein St. Louis Rams K 454
101 Alfred Morris Washington Redskins RB 456
156 Ladarius Green San Diego Chargers TE 468
129 Devon Still Cincinnati Bengals DT 500
103 Andre Branch Jacksonville Jaguars DE 500
118 Josh Gordon Cleveland Browns WR 500
171 Mychal Kendricks Philadelphia Eagles LB 500
170 Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys CB 500
150 Juron Criner Oakland Raiders WR 500
213 Isaiah Pead St. Louis Rams RB 500
225 Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks QB 550
126 Deangelo Peterson Washington Redskins TE 550
177 Quinton Coples New York Jets DE 550
216 Mohamed Sanu Cincinnati Bengals WR 550
204 Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins QB 550
218 Nick Foles Philadelphia Eagles QB 550
236 Deonte Thompson Baltimore Ravens WR 550
245 Josh Norman Carolina Panthers CB 550
201 Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts QB 550
203 Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns RB 550
205 Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars WR 550
206 Brandon Weeden Cleveland Browns QB 550
211 Doug Martin Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB 550

ROOKIE TICKET VARIATION SPs
Card # Player Team Pos. Qty.
124 David DeCastro Pittsburgh Steelers G 10
131 Dont’a Hightower New England Patriots LB 10
132 Dontari Poe Kansas City Chiefs DT 25
135 Jeff Demps New England Patriots RB 25
137 Fletcher Cox Philadelphia Eagles DT 25
138 George Iloka Cincinnati Bengals S 25
141 Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings S 25
157 LaVon Brazill Indianapolis Colts WR 25
159 Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers LB 25
163 Marvin Jones Cincinnati Bengals WR 25
167 Michael Brockers St. Louis Rams DT 25
168 Michael Smith Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB 25
179 Riley Reiff Detroit Lions OT 25
196 Whitney Mercilus Houston Texans LB 25
225 Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks QB 25
107 Bobby Wagner Seattle Seahawks LB 49
101 Alfred Morris Washington Redskins RB 50
104 B.J. Coleman Green Bay Packers QB 50
117 Chris Rainey Pittsburgh Steelers RB 50
128 Derek Wolfe Denver Broncos DT 50
133 Dre Kirkpatrick Cincinnati Bengals CB 50
143 James Hanna Dallas Cowboys TE 50
144 Janoris Jenkins St. Louis Rams CB 50
147 Jerel Worthy Green Bay Packers DE 50
151 Kellen Moore Detroit Lions QB 50
161 Mark Barron Tampa Bay Buccaneers S 50
162 Jorvorskie Lane Miami Dolphins FB 50
181 Ronnell Lewis Detroit Lions DE 50
185 Stephon Gilmore Buffalo Bills CB 50
186 T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts WR 50
191 Tommy Streeter Baltimore Ravens WR 50
200 Brandon Bolden New England Patriots RB 50
202 Robert Griffin III Washington Redskins QB 50
103 Andre Branch Jacksonville Jaguars DE 75
111 Bryce Brown Philadelphia Eagles RB 75
129 Devon Still Cincinnati Bengals DT 75
145 Jared Crick Houston Texans DT 75
170 Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys CB 75
201 Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts QB 75
171 Mychal Kendricks Philadelphia Eagles LB 99
118 Josh Gordon Cleveland Browns WR 100
165 Matt Kalil Minnesota Vikings OT 100
184 Shea McClellin Chicago Bears DE 100
219 LaMichael James San Francisco 49ers RB 100
177 Quinton Coples New York Jets DE 115
203 Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns RB 125
205 Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars WR 125
206 Brandon Weeden Cleveland Browns QB 125
207 Brock Osweiler Denver Broncos QB 125
208 Michael Floyd Arizona Cardinals WR 125
209 Kendall Wright Tennessee Titans WR 125
211 Doug Martin Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB 125
212 Lamar Miller Miami Dolphins RB 125
235 Alshon Jeffery Chicago Bears WR 145
155 Kirk Cousins Washington Redskins QB 175
187 Greg Zuerlein St. Louis Rams K 175
120 Courtney Upshaw Baltimore Ravens LB 200
125 Nigel Bradham Buffalo Bills LB 200
140 Rod Streater Oakland Raiders WR 200
150 Juron Criner Oakland Raiders WR 200
189 Terrance Ganaway St. Louis Rams RB 200
210 A.J. Jenkins San Francisco 49ers WR 200
213 Isaiah Pead St. Louis Rams RB 200
214 David Wilson New York Giants RB 200
215 Stephen Hill New York Jets WR 200
216 Mohamed Sanu Cincinnati Bengals WR 200
217 Bernard Pierce Baltimore Ravens RB 200
218 Nick Foles Philadelphia Eagles QB 200
220 Rueben Randle New York Giants WR 200
221 Coby Fleener Indianapolis Colts TE 200
222 Ryan Broyles Detroit Lions WR 200
223 Dwayne Allen Indianapolis Colts TE 200
224 Ronnie Hillman Denver Broncos RB 200
226 Michael Egnew Miami Dolphins TE 200
227 Chris Givens St. Louis Rams WR 200
228 Joe Adams Carolina Panthers WR 200
229 Robert Turbin Seattle Seahawks RB 200
230 Nick Toon New Orleans Saints WR 200
231 T.J. Graham Buffalo Bills WR 200
232 Brian Quick St. Louis Rams WR 200
233 DeVier Posey Houston Texans WR 200
234 Jarius Wright Minnesota Vikings WR 200
204 Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins QB 200
102 Adrien Robinson New York Giants TE 200
105 B.J. Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles WR 200
110 Bruce Irvin Seattle Seahawks DE 200
121 Cyrus Gray Kansas City Chiefs RB 200
130 Devon Wylie Kansas City Chiefs WR 200
136 Josh Cooper Cleveland Browns WR 200
173 Nick Perry Green Bay Packers LB 200
176 Orson Charles Cincinnati Bengals TE 200
180 Rishard Matthews Miami Dolphins WR 200
192 Travis Benjamin Cleveland Browns WR 200

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here. Follow Beckett Media on Facebook.

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

Contenders is celebrating a big birthday this season. The now-Panini product is turning the big 2-0!

That’s right, Contenders has been a part of the football trading cards since 1993. And it’s still going strong.

The next edition of Contenders (24 five-card packs) is scheduled for a January release with the product showing off its history.

Contenders, a 235-card set, will start by revisiting the 1998 Rookie Ticket design. That year is significant because it was the debut of autographed Rookie Cards in Contenders.

Contenders brought autographed Rookie Cards into the product in 1998 and have been a mainstay ever since.

Collectors can expect six autographs in every box along with three Rookie Stallions (throwback to 1996 Contenders), three Legendary Contenders, three Rookie of the Year Contenders and three MVP Contenders.

Susan Lulgjuraj is an editor of Beckett Football. You can email her here with questions, comments or ideas. Follow her on Twitter here.