By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

Football fans and collectors going to New Orleans for this year’s Super Bowl will get a chance to get exclusive promo cards of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

Panini America is producing is 26-card set filled with Super Bowl XLVII’s top stars such as Colin Kaepernick, Joe Flacco and Ray Lewis, with eight cards dedicated to the hometown team New Orleans Saints.

Panini also produced two limited edition patch cards for the big game – one dedicated to the Super Bowl and the other to New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

The only way to get these cards is at the Panini booth at the NFL Experience area at the Super Bowl. Of course, there’s always eBay the next day.

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

The Baltimore Ravens tasted Super Bowl glory in 2000 – the only year the franchise in its current form won the big game.

The Ravens haven’t been around very long, they moved from Cleveland in 1995. However, Baltimore is enjoying its success with a core group of young stars and leadership of its tantalizing veterans.

Here’s a look at Baltimore Ravens on cards as they head to the Super Bowl.

Joe Flacco

The Ravens quarterback faced questions early this season as some wondered if Baltimore could win it all with him. The Ravens closed out the regular season with a 1-4 record. But during the playoffs, Flacco has been great.

He completed 3,817 yards had 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during the regular season. In the playoffs, he has thrown eight interceptions and no picks.

Key Joe Flacco Rookie Cards
2008 Exquisite Collection #170 JSY AU /99
2008 Playoff National Treasures #112 JSY AU /99
2008 Playoff Contenders #151 AU /220
2008 SP Authentic #295 /999
2008 Leaf Rookies and Stars #230 /99

Ray Rice

The Rutgers graduate is Baltimore’s top running back. He had 1,143 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. In the playoffs, he’s added 247 yard and two TDs in two games.

Key Ray Rice Rookie Cards
2008 Exquisite Collection #162 JSY AU /199
2008 Exquisite Collection #162 JSY AU /199
2008 SP Authentic #285 JSY AU /999
2008 Donruss Threads #263 AU /100
2008 SP Rookie Threads #RR8 AU /252

Anquan Boldin

The longtime veteran has been a good presence in the receiving corps for Baltimore. He led the Ravens with 921 receiving yards and added four touchdowns in the regular season. In two postseason games, Boldin has 276 yards and three touchdowns.

Key Anquan Boldin Rookie Cards
2003 Leaf Limited #147 AU
2003 Playoff Contenders #146 AU /524
2003 SPx #191 JSY AU /1100
2003 SkyBox LE #118 /99
2003 Ultimate Collection #81 /250

Ray Lewis

The unequivocal leader of the Ravens missed a good portion of the regular season with a triceps tears and was unsure if he would come back. Not only is Lewis back for the final playoff run of his career, but he leads Baltimore with 44 tackles on defense in the postseason.

Key Ray Lewis Rookie Cards
1996 Bowman’s Best #164
1996 Stadium Club #351
1996 Pro Line Memorabilia #59
1996 Fleer #165
1996 Score Board Lasers #99

Torrey Smith

Smith was an emotional leader this year who had a memorable game after his brother died in an accident. During the regular season, he had 855 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. In the playoffs, he has 198 receiving yards and two scores.

Key Torrey Smith Rookie Cards
2011 Playoff National Treasures #313 JSY AU /99
2011 Topps Five Star #175 JSY AU /75
2011 Panini Playbook #134 /399
2011 Crown Royale #211 /299
2011 Panini Gold Standard #268 JSY AU /525

Ed Reed

Reed provides a veteran presence on defense. The Miami product was Baltimore first-round draft pick in 2002. During the regular season, he had four interceptions.

Key Ed Reed Rookie Cards
2002 Playoff Contenders #129 AU /550
2002 Bowman Chrome #230 AU
2002 Bowman’s Best #133 AU
2002 SP Authentic #195 AU /1150
2002 Donruss Elite #197 /400

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 Footbal Editor

With football fans and collectors watching the playoffs this weekend, breakout stars have a better chance of grabbing attention. Fans watch just one game at a time, no need to flip channels and scour box scores for outstanding statistics.

Several players had stellar weekends, solidifying their place in the game.

Here are the top five players from the weekend that collectors noticed.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco

Kaepernick’s stock consistently rose throughout the season. Once he took over as the starting quarterback for San Francisco, collectors ran to get his cards.

However, several collectors are beating themselves up this morning. Many sold Colin Kaepernick’s Rookie Cards cheaply last offseason when it seemed Alex Smith was living up to expectations.

Kaepernick completed 17-of-31 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. But he also ran for 181 yards and another two scores in a 45-31 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Chase cards
- 2011 Upper Deck Exquisite Autograph Patch
- 2011 Contenders autograph
- 2011 National Treasures

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Wilson outlasted the big two rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs. However, Wilson’s run came to an end this weekend, but not without putting on a show.

Wilson orchestrated a remarkable comeback after Seattle was down 20-0, and with 31 seconds left against the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle took a lead. Even though the Falcons won with a field goal with 8 seconds left, many still talked about Wilson

The rookie QB completed 24-of-36 passes for 385 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 60 yards and one TD, which should make Russell Wilson’s Rookie Cards see a bump in a value.

Chase cards
- 2012 Topps Strata Clear Cut autograph
- 2012 Panini Black Gold Ink autograph/patch
- 2012 Bowman Sterling Superfractor 1/1

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco has been consistent throughout his career with the Baltimore Ravens, but has not been able to reach a Super Bowl yet.

Many counted Flacco and the Ravens out this weekend against the Denver Broncos, but Baltimore stuck with them score for score and forced the game into double overtime where the Ravens hit a field goal for the win.

Flacco finished 18-for-34 for 331 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-35 win.

Chase cards
- 2008 SP Authentic autograph/patch
- 2012 Absolute Gold Spectrum Autographs
- 2008 Playoff Contenders autograph

Trindon Holliday, KR, Denver Broncos

Trindon Holliday has been in the league for three years, but he never made much of a mark until Saturday. Holliday ran a punt and kick return back for touchdowns for a 194 total yards. Holliday finished the day with 248 all-purpose yards.

Holliday made his mark, but since Denver lost, it might be the last time his name is mentioned for a while.

Chase cards
-2010 Absolute Memorabilia Spectrum
-2010 SP Authentic

Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens

The media continues its lovefest with Lewis as he plans to retire at the end of the season. But it’s not only the media, many football fans love Lewis and want to see one of the best defensive players go out on top.

Despite coming back from a triceps injury that should have sidelined him the whole season, Lewis had 17 tackles against the Denver Broncos and his career continues for one more game.

Chase cards
- 1999 SP Signature Autographs
- 1996 Bowman’s Best
- 2011 Topps Five Star autograph/jersey

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

Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis told his teammates his was retiring at the end of the season, according to reports.

Lewis missed most of the year after tearing a triceps muscle, but that didn’t diminish his career. On the field, Lewis has been one of the best defensive players. He’s a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and MVP of Super Bowl XXXV.

Lewis has been a mainstay in Baltimore since 1996, and the news hit some Ravens hard.

Daniel Downey, a Baltimore Ravens fan and collector, reflected on Lewis’ career for Beckett.

“You have to be from Baltimore to know what Ray Lewis means to football and the Baltimore Ravens. There are two familiar faces of Baltimore, and that is Cal Ripken, Jr. and Ray Lewis. They both do so much for Baltimore and the people in it.

If you have never been to a Ravens home game, you never have to experience what Ray Lewis does to the team. He comes out of the tunnel through blasting fire to Nelly’s “Hot in Here” and the whole stadium always erupts. You always see him bring his fellow players in a huddle numerous times during the game to pump them up, winning or losing.

He is the leader of the Baltimore Ravens. He motivates every player. Every rookie and every other player of Ravens have nothing but good things to say about him and his work/play effort. I know even though Ray Lewis will not be playing next year, I know that he will be a big part of the Ravens organization for many years to come and will still be a big part of the Baltimore sports scene. Hopefully we will be able to get him one more Super Bowl ring this year!”

Lewis currently has 2,902 cards in the Beckett database (you can find his full checklist here).

Ray Lewis RC checklist
- 1996 Bowman’s Best #164
- 1996 Collectors’ Choice #20
- 1996 Fleer #165
- 1996 Pro Line Intense #59
- 1996 Pro Line Memorabilia #59
- 1996 Score Board Lasers #99
- 1996 SkyBox Impact Rookies #6
- 1996 Stadium Club #351

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

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

The Baltimore Ravens received tough news about their defense.

They will be without Ray Lewis, a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Who knows if he ever suits up again?

Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced the news to reporters on Monday. The linebacker suffered a full triceps tear in Sunday’s 31-29 win over the Cowboys. He led Baltimore with 14 tackles that day.

Given his age, 37, it could mean the end of his 17-year NFL career, but right now Lewis’ future is murky at best.

Lewis has more than 2,000 career tackles, 1,567 of them solo. He also has 41.5 career sacks.

Lewis is the heart and soul of the Ravens defense even if his play has diminished. Even though he is a polarizing figure, Lewis still commanded respect on the football field.

Here’s a look at Lewis on cards, according to the Beckett database:
Cards: 2,788
Rookie Cards: 8
Autographs: 142
Memorabilia: 776

More: Get a Ray Lewis checklist and online price guide here.

Some of his cards have gone for a good amount of money recently.

A 2010 Triple Threads autographed memorabilia booklet numbered 3-of-3 old for $503 on Oct. 7. On Aug. 19, a 2002 Topps Ring of Honor Lewis autograph sold for $350.

Here is a list of all of Lewis’ Rookie Cards
- 1996 Bowman’s Best #164
- 1996 Collector’s Choice #20
- 1996 Fleer #165
- 1996 Pro Line Intense #59
- 1996 Pro Line Memorabilia #59
- 1996 Score Board Lasers #99
- 1996 SkyBox Impact Rookies #6
- 1996 Stadium Club #351

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