Showing posts with label Marcus Mariotta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marcus Mariotta. Show all posts

Friday, August 5, 2016

REVIEW:2016 Elite Football

Another one of my yearly purchases, Elite football comes in a much different kind of form this year and I am really digging it. Unlike the changes made to Certified, I am liking the new ones to Elite.

Let's read on!

Once again I apologize for missing box picture but here is the breakdown.

In every box of 2016 Elite football, you will find 20 Packs Per Box with 5 Cards Per Pack. Boxes will come with Two Autographs and One Memorabilia Card and boxes will run you about $110.

The base card set is full of patterned beauty. There are 200 cards in the base set consisting of veterans, rookies and legends. I have no complaints on the base set design as it brings me back to the 90's early 2000's. It's somewhat similar to an Spx design I think from 2007.

You won't find boxes packed with rookies either. At least mine wasn't. I only got a grand total of three which is odd in today's world. I guess that will help with the value on these even with them not being numbered.

If you think the base set looks nice, wait til you see the parallels on it.

There are offerings of Retail Green, Black #/199, Green #/99, Teal #/75, Red #/49, Purple #/25, Orange #/10, Blue #/5, and Gold 1/1.
Not only are the designs different in the background, the most defining part of the parallels is the background color.
This is Teal:

This is black.

This is red and green:

Inserts in Elite this year, are Elite. They are very reminiscent of Pinnacle ones of the late 90's. 

It's full of shine, die-cuts and some dufex and cool themes. Most of the inserts also have parallels.

Home Field advantage has Blue #/10 and Gold 1/1 parallels.

Elitist, shown above to but I wanted to get you guys another look, is very die-cut, unique and comes with Blue #/10 and Gold 1/1 parallels too.

And one of my favorites, Field Vision. What an awesome photography angle. These come with Green, Red #/49, Purple #/25, Orange #/10, Blue #/5, and Gold 1/1 parallels.
Now onto my hits. Most boxes come with three with two autographs, my came with two total. Things were going so well to but that part.

Prime Numbers comes with different Tiers and numbering. This one is a pretty solid pull with Mariotta.

And my other pull, a one-per-box find in Pen Pals. These are on-card autographs I believe that were signed at the NFL Rookie Premier. Not a bad one in Drake who could start in Miami. These also come in rarer red and green ink variations.
Other pulls not found in my box are, Passing the Torch dual signatures, Prime Numbers that feature autographed versions, Pen Pals triple-signed autograph per case, THROWBACK THREADS SUPER PRIME, EPIC MATERIALS SUPER PRIME, and Turn of the Century Autographs among other insert finds too. And parallels!
Overall, I wished this box wasn't missing my second autograph. It's really tough to judge box value without it. Up to that point I had a really good feeling about Elite so I guess in the end I will leave it a positive note and assume that last hit would fill the gap on the value.
I love the new changes to Elite overall, base cards look nice (I may chase the set), parallels and inserts very solid and the pulls appear to be there as well with past themes returning.
As always, your thoughts on the product are encouraged!
By the way, make sure you thank Panini America for this review box and check out their site for products like this one and others. Find some of these cards in a future NFL contest! 

Friday, July 3, 2015

Review:2015 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Football

Panini's second CLC release comes in the form of another Panini favorite of mine, Prizm. To me, Prizm has tied Topps Chrome. Never thought any product would do that. But, I love the parallels that Prizm presents as they are both creative and shiny.

How did Draft Picks stack up, well, you know what to do....READ ON!

BOX BREAKDOWN:
In every box of 2015 Prizm Draft Picks football, you will find 12 packs per box with 5 cards per pack. You will also find two autographs, 24 Draft Picks, four Prizms, one Stained Glass insert and three additional inserts.A nice layout without being overdone as finding the Prizm parallels and inserts may help drive up their values a bit. Box prices are nice running mostly around $55 a box.


BASE CARDS:
The design is simple. Chromed cards with a player in the forefront all done in their college uni's. There are 250 cards in the base set with 100 of those being veterans.....
250 card base set including 100 current NFL players in their Alma Mater uniforms & 150 Draft Picks - See more at: http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards/2015-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-football-hobby-box#sthash.W6Nwxa3H.dpuf
250 card base set including 100 current NFL players in their Alma Mater uniforms & 150 Draft Picks - See more at: http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards/2015-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-football-hobby-box#sthash.W6Nwxa3H.dpuf


and 150 of them being rookies/draft picks such as this Mariota. He was actually the top find in my box with only a couple rookies per pack and 24/150 per box.

INSERT CARDS:
My box was pretty good in terms of getting Prizm parallels. I got 7 total. You can look for the following lineup of Prizms:
  • Prizms
  • Red Power Prizms
  • Camo Prizms #/199
  • Purple Flash Prizms #/99
  • Blue Prizms #/75
  • Tie-Dyed Prizms #/49
  • Red, White and Blue Mojo Prizms #/25
  • Gold Prizms #/10
  • Green Prizms #/5
  • Orange Prizms #/5
  • Black Finite Prizms 1/1
 I found 5 regular Prizms and one blue and one Camo in my box.
Camo, Purple Flash, Blue, Tie Dye, Red White & Blue, Gold, Green & Black Finite. - See more at: http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards/2015-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-football-hobby-box#sthash.W6Nwxa3H.dpuf

250 card base set including 100 current NFL players in their Alma Mater uniforms & 150 Draft Picks - See more at: http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards/2015-panini-prizm-collegiate-draft-picks-football-hobby-box#sthash.W6Nwxa3H.dpuf


The other inserts just look cool! They are well designed and the Prizm shine makes them look even more outstanding. However, I would have liked to have seen these as regular cards first and have a Prizm parallel to. Not just straight up Prizms for all. Seems to make more sense but none-the-less they look really nice. Of course that may be the 90's collector in me coming out as well.

Here is a defensive die cut insert. Literally d and a fence. Very cool.

JAMEIS!

JAMEIS AGAIN! I totally dig this design! Die Cuts look even more impressive.

And my favorite design of them all....WICKED NICE (in a Boston accent) Stained Glass insert. These are stunning and even more so in person.

MEMORABILIA CARDS: N.A Don't think this product needs them. Already enough content to keep most of us happy.


AUTOGRAPHED CARDS:
Seems the autographed cards in Prizm are Prizms. My box was a weak one in terms of players as I got Cody Prewitt and for the second straight draft picks product Mike Davis. Starting to wonder if he is the Michael Egnew of this class. At least the Davis is a camo parallel. 

I do like the design though. 

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
My box was weak, but with some very tough parallel pulls to be had and a nice price point, I can't see why you wouldn't bust one of these just for fun. I am not really much of a college card collector but these attracted me right away. 

I recommend brushing off my weak box and giving one a try yourself especially if you are a fan of shiny things. It truly can't hurt. 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Breakin Wax: 2015 Upper Deck Football 2-Rack Pack Break

FINALLY!!! That's exactly my words when I found out that my local Walmart had gotten in 2015 Upper Deck football. I felt like they were trying to exclude me from being able to rip a few packs.In what is Upper Deck's last run with the CLC license, they obviously wanted to go out with a big bang and leave all of us wanting more. Why do I feel this way, well, read on!

In every rack pack of 2015 Upper Deck football, there are 32 cards. Along with those 32 there is ONE Jameis Winston and ONE Marcus Mariota College Football Heroes inserts. Each rack pack runs for $4.98.

This years base card design take a big upgrade. It still has Upper Deck's glorious action photography now along with a clean design and gold foil. These are probably the best flagship base rookie design I have seen since they took the CLC license. Way to go UD!

In my first rack pack, I got exactly what I had wanted immediately. The Giants first two round picks. I especially like the Collins. He will be a big difference maker in that secondary.

In both packs combined, other than Amari Cooper, I landed all of the rookies I targeted.

I even got the Top 2 picks and Top 2 rookies in this class I believe in

Jameis Winston....

And Marcus Mariota

Above I mentioned the Football Heroes inserts that fall one of each player per rack pack and here they are. I totally love the revamped design on these.

Overall, very stoked with my results.$10 well spent. Great design, bonus inserts in each and a shot at autographs (I have seen them pulled by others) and Upper Deck rack packs are a great value. I will miss this product if it is no longer made.

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Topic:
What are your thoughts on 2015 Upper Deck football? Do you like the design? Will you miss this product going forward? Let's hear your thoughts!