A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that the 2012 is so much better than the 2011 of this - I'm not sure I can agree. The base cards in the 2012 may well be the first cards I have ever seen which look better in pictures than in person. They aren't bad, but not as nice looking as the initial shots made me believe. There are also much fewer numbered cards than last year - I only got 5 numbered cards total this year, including 2 of the 4 hits and only one card numbered with fewer than 100 examples. 3 of the 5 numbered cards are numbered 899 or more. Last year, I got in addition to 4 of the 5 hits being numbered, I got at least 6 additional numbered cards (don't know the exact count) - including 3 numbered fewer than 100. Only two were numbered 899 or more.
It just seems like they gave more value last year. But I could have got an unusually good box last year.
In any case this 2012 box really depends upon one Dwayne Allen for reasons that shall be obvious (and this is actually one of the things which has me less than excited with the 2012 product).
Namely - both autographs were from Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Dwayne Allen. At least they were different - one was the rookie ticket (on card, unnumbered) and one regular (sticker, numbered to 899. On one hand, its a player I wanted to get at least one auto from because he's from Clemson (wife is from western SC and comes from a family full of Clemson fans) so that makes life easier in that the autos were of players I wanted to get an auto from. But still, both autos being of the same player? Come on Panini
The memorabilia - let's see:
DeMarco Murray - Dallas Cowboys, RB Gamers plain white unnumbered. Interestingly this one says "game used" on it which is cool because that is from rookie year and not just left over rookie premiere materials. But its still plain white and there could be thousands of these because it is a very small patch.
Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens QB Franchise Foundations Prime - numbered to 49 this one at least is low numbered and multicolored. Of course, the colors are black and white but there is stitching so pretty nice and much larger patch than on the Murray Gamers. But oddly this one just says "player worn" - when? While Flacco was washing his car? Especially since I have to ask what Ravens uniform would just black and white without any purple. I want to like this card, its cool looking, but the statement "player worn" is hardly one that inspires confidence.
Interestingly enough last year, two of the memorabilia cards were also a plain white Dallas Cowboys and a prime Ravens.
Last year, I pulled a Prestigious Pros Tony Romo numbered to 249 and a Stars of the NFL Prime Ray Rice numbered to 40 -unlike the Flacco, the Rice is 4 colored with Black, Purple, Red, and White coming from the shoulder logo - both also say "game worn"
The third memorabilia last year was N. Suh of Detroit Rookie Review - it clearly came from the Rookie Premiere Photo shoot from the year before.
The autos were both sticker autos - Marcell Darius numbered to 299 and Amand Black numbered to 699.
So I guess if Dwayne Allen becomes the next star tight end this year's box might be better - but I actually liked the way that last year's cards looked - maybe I'm the only one.
It just seems like they gave more value last year. But I could have got an unusually good box last year.
In any case this 2012 box really depends upon one Dwayne Allen for reasons that shall be obvious (and this is actually one of the things which has me less than excited with the 2012 product).
Namely - both autographs were from Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Dwayne Allen. At least they were different - one was the rookie ticket (on card, unnumbered) and one regular (sticker, numbered to 899. On one hand, its a player I wanted to get at least one auto from because he's from Clemson (wife is from western SC and comes from a family full of Clemson fans) so that makes life easier in that the autos were of players I wanted to get an auto from. But still, both autos being of the same player? Come on Panini
The memorabilia - let's see:
DeMarco Murray - Dallas Cowboys, RB Gamers plain white unnumbered. Interestingly this one says "game used" on it which is cool because that is from rookie year and not just left over rookie premiere materials. But its still plain white and there could be thousands of these because it is a very small patch.
Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens QB Franchise Foundations Prime - numbered to 49 this one at least is low numbered and multicolored. Of course, the colors are black and white but there is stitching so pretty nice and much larger patch than on the Murray Gamers. But oddly this one just says "player worn" - when? While Flacco was washing his car? Especially since I have to ask what Ravens uniform would just black and white without any purple. I want to like this card, its cool looking, but the statement "player worn" is hardly one that inspires confidence.
Interestingly enough last year, two of the memorabilia cards were also a plain white Dallas Cowboys and a prime Ravens.
Last year, I pulled a Prestigious Pros Tony Romo numbered to 249 and a Stars of the NFL Prime Ray Rice numbered to 40 -unlike the Flacco, the Rice is 4 colored with Black, Purple, Red, and White coming from the shoulder logo - both also say "game worn"
The third memorabilia last year was N. Suh of Detroit Rookie Review - it clearly came from the Rookie Premiere Photo shoot from the year before.
The autos were both sticker autos - Marcell Darius numbered to 299 and Amand Black numbered to 699.
So I guess if Dwayne Allen becomes the next star tight end this year's box might be better - but I actually liked the way that last year's cards looked - maybe I'm the only one.