By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor

With Panini America’s 2011 Playoff Contenders Football product now live and flowing on the secondary market, some collectors have managed to glean which cards are short-printed and which cards are not. Today, the company put speculation to rest by revealing the entire list of those coveted, short-printed Rookie Cards that seem to fuel the chase year after year.

Offering good reason to go after certain short-print Rookie Ticket cards, the manufacturer pointed out a Tyron Smith card that recently sold for $475.  “Quick: When’s the last time a Rookie Card of an offensive lineman sold for more than $450?” Panini’s Tracy Hackler rhetorically pondered. “The fact of the matter is that Smith’s is the shortest RC in the set with a print run of just 23 total copies.”

Current anecdote aside, it’s no secret that these cards have a history of selling well. Check out the lottery-like list of cards limited to 400 or less after the jump.

2011 Playoff Contenders Rookie Tickets

#185 Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys — 23
#140 Jeremy Kerley, New York Jets — 82
#102 Aaron williams, Buffalo Bills — 99
#115 Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers — 99
#116 Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints — 99
#118 Cecil Shorts III, Jacksonville Jaguars — 99
#119 Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins — 99
#128 DeMarco Sampson, Arizona Cardinals — 99
#146 Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos — 99
#155 Jake Ballard, New York Giants — 99
#160 Nathan Enderle, Chicago Bears — 99
#162 Owen Marecic, Cleveland Browns — 99
#187 Weslye Saunders, Pittsburgh Steelers — 99
#196 Jacquian Williams, New York Giants — 99
#106 Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers — 102
#103 Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 114
#148 Kealoha Pilares, Carolina Panthers — 127
#157 Martez Wilson, New Orleans Saints — 134
#179 Stephen Burton, Minnesota Vikings — 140
#161 Niles Paul, Washington Redskins — 152
#122 D.J. Williams, Green Bay Packers — 171
#141 Jimmy Smith, Baltimore Ravens — 173
#105 Akeem Ayers, Tennessee Titans — 188
#171 Ronald Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles — 192
#183 Tyler Sash, New York Giants — 193
#135 Greg McElroy, New York Jets — 204
#165 Prince Amukamara, New York Giants — 213
#130 Dion Lewis, Philadelphia Eagles — 224
#151 Lance Kendricks, St. Louis Rams — 298
#167 Rahim Moore, Denver Broncos — 316
#199 Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals — 343
#163 Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns — 371

* Bolded lines indicate cards were inserted as redemptions

2011 Playoff Contenders Football Rookie Ink

A.J. Green — 25
Alex Green — 100
Andy Dalton — 100
Austin Pettis — 50
Bilal Powell — 25
Blaine Gabbert — 25
Cam Newton — 25
Christian Ponder — 50
Clyde Gates — 50
Colin Kaepernick — 100
Daniel Thomas — 100
Delone Carter — 100
DeMarco Murray — 100
Greg Little — 50
Jake Locker — 50
Jamie Harper — 100
Jerrel Jernigan — 50
Jonathan Baldwin — 100
Jordan Todman — 100
Julio Jones — 100
Kendall Hunter — 100
Kyle Rudolph — 100
Leonard Hankerson — 100
Marcell Dareus — 50
Mark Ingram — 100
Mikel Leshoure — 100
Randall Cobb — 100
Ryan Mallett — 25
Ryan Williams — 100
Shane Vereen — 100
Stevan Ridley — 50
Taiwan Jones — 25
Titus Young — 100
Torrey Smith — 100
Vincent Brown — 100
Von Miller — 100

2011 Playoff Contenders Football Rookie Ticket Photo Variation

A.J. Green — 25
Alex Green — 100
Andy Dalton — 100
Austin Pettis — 50
Bilal Powell — 25
Blaine Gabbert — 25
Cam Newton — 25
Christian Ponder — 50
Clyde Gates — 50
Colin Kaepernick — 250
Daniel Thomas — 100
Delone Carter — 100
DeMarco Murray — 250
Greg Little — 50
Jake Locker — 50
Jamie Harper — 250
Jerrel Jernigan — 50
Jonathan Baldwin — 250
Jordan Todman — 250
Julio Jones — 250
Kendall Hunter — 100
Kyle Rudolph — 100
Leonard Hankerson — 100
Marcell Dareus — 50
Mark Ingram — 100
Mikel Leshoure — 250
Randall Cobb — 250
Ryan Mallett — 25
Ryan Williams — 250
Shane Vereen — 250
Stevan Ridley — 50
Taiwan Jones — 25
Titus Young — 250
Torrey Smith — 250
Vincent Brown — 250
Von Miller — 100

By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor

The collecting world typically doesn’t  get a glimpse of Panini America’s historically successful Playoff Contenders line until later, if not, toward the latter part of any given football season. This year, the company’s sneak peek at the January-releasing 2011 Playoff Contenders Football Rookie Tickets offers a welcomed exception.

Even incomplete, without the ink, Panini’s autographed Rookie Ticket cards are consistent hot commodities in the hobby.

As the manufacturer mentioned, “For just the fourth time since 1998 (but the second time in three years), one of football’s flagship brands will utilize a horizontal format and perhaps its most vibrant color schemes ever.” Moving away from full-body photography on vertically oriented, darker color schemes, the coming release could be a key evolution point for these coveted Rookie Cards.

Take a look at the previews below and scroll back up to let us know what you think.