Play That Sweet Jazz

 

The NY Giants Free Agency started out a little slow with just the signing of Devonte Booker who will be used primarily as a backup to Saquon Barkley.

It wasn't quite what Dave Gettleman said he planned to do in signing Leonard Williams long term and finding Daniel Jones some actual weapons.

Then came this week.

The Gmen signed LW to a long term deal, then grabbed TE Kyle Rudolph (wished I had kept his autograph now), speedster WR John Ross (autograph above I knew I had kept for a reason) and their biggest rumored weapon and now dream come true, Kenny G. 

And no, it's not the popular smooth jazz saxophonist.

Kenny G, otherwise known as Kenny Golladay, was the top wide receiver in this years Free Agent class.

He had 183 catches and 21 touchdowns in four seasons in Detroit. When on the field, only played 16 games once, he is one of the best young receivers in the game. Both height and great hands is exactly what this team needs.

I am hoping that he will help bring the 31st ranked Giants offense to the next level. Play that Stephon Diggs to Josh Allen role that turned Allen's third season into a MVP run.

So hope is on the horizon in NY. The pieces are falling into place, now can they just finish filling in the rest and put it all together.

The Catch Heard Around The World

Eli is back to throw, tosses it up deep over the middle....TYREE WITH THE GRAB! How did he ever catch that between multiple defenders and with the ball pinned to helmet and Rodney Harrison hanging all over him??!

We will never fully know.

I think it was God's hand helping hold that ball there.

No matter how you feel that ball stayed there, it did and it drove the Giants to the biggest upset in Super Bowl history beating the 18-0 Patriots.

It's a game and moment that will live on in my mind forever.

When my buddy Valley Of Cards passed along this gold Legends card from 2019 Plates and Patches, it began to move me in a rainbow direction. It was such a moment I would like to watch over and over again. So I will through cardboard.

I then looked for the rest of the parallels. Found this blue /60

Purple /35

and the red /10. Which has a fun story behind it. When this card popped up I immediately offered the seller the starting price on it which was $4. They declined and countered with $15. I countered with $8 and then they countered with $10. I just didn't feel the card would go that high knowing it's David Tyree so I played the waiting game which I was hoping would pay off. Well, it didn't. The seller won the battle and I landed this for $12.50 which was more than I thought it would go for.

All I am missing from the rainbow is the Green /25 (I have this one now since I typed this up) and Gold 1/1.

Hopefully they will pop up at some point and come reasonably.

Legends Of New York

Unpopular opinion....I like Joe Buck.

So, so many of you complain about him, but when I hear him call a game, it brings me back to a glorious moment in my life.

That moment, Super Bowl 42.

The game that will forever be my favorite Super Bowl. David (Tyree) vs Goliath. The 18-0 Patriots who beat the Giants in the regular season finale to go undefeated, came into the Super Bowl just walking all over the people while the Giants found a way to the Big Game.

Then they found a way to win it.

With 1:15 left in the game, Giants down by 4 needing a touchdown and needing five yards on third down, Eli dropped back, avoids being sacked a few times, somehow stays on his feet and just whips the ball up there for the taken. There was multiple Patriots in the middle of the field and somehow, someway, some special teams WR named David Tyree jumped up in the middle of them, caught the ball, held the ball against him helmet with the great Rodney Harrison trying to pry it away and brought the ball safely down to the ground without dropping it.

I could play that over and over again in my mind.

Four plays later, Eli tossed up a beauty to a wide open Plaxico Burress for the Giants game winning touchdown.

18-1 Patriots....18-1.

This years Plates and Patches product has a Legends subset card of David Tyree who made that heroic play that led to a Giants win (and of course the play is pictured on the card). There is a series of colored parallels that I have considered chasing along with this one.

It wasn't just the play that made that game memorable. Beating the hated Patriots and watching the game with my father which I hadn't done in over 20 years made that game one that I will always remember. Even when I get too old to remember anything else.

That game meant more to me than the one the same two teams played four years later.

Where this guy, Mario Manningham, somehow kept his feet in-bounds by a fraction of an inch with two defenders around him for a gain of 38 yards in Super Bowl 46 that set up Giants momentum as they went for a Game Winning drive.I must also note the throw by Eli was superb. It was only where Manningham had a chance at it. Both catch and throw on that play was memorable.

The Manningham autograph to commemorate Super Bowl 46 is also in this years Plates and Patches product. Both cards were graciously sent to me by my friend Valley Of Cards unexpectedly.

Big thanks to him for these two additions to my Giants PC. If you haven't checked out him yet, please do so. He has some great stuff for sale at great prices on both his eBay shops and his website. Find them all here, website, eBay store 1 and eBay store 2.

REVIEW:2017 Panini Plates and Patches Football

Coming off from a successful 2016, Plates and Patches makes another return with more plates and patches.

I was extremely happy to hear Panini brought this product back as it may be small but can pack a punch.

With only five cards you are really hoping that each card is something good for the price point. Let's check out what the 2017 version provided me

 

In every box of 2017 Panini Plates and 

Patches comes five cards. Those five cards are 1 base, 1 parallel, 1 printing plate, 1 patch auto and one relic. Boxes are $110 per.

The base cards are thick and team color coded for top and bottom borders. There are 100 veterans all numbered to 99, followed by 80 Legends numbered to 75 and ending with 20 rookies numbered to 50. Would be quite the set chase that's for sure.

There are parallels to be found of the base sets of Blue (below) /50, Green /25, Red /10, and Gold 1/1.

And this product has no inserts. So we are off hitting up the hits!

Most all of the hits have parallels of, Blue /25, Green /10, Red /5, and Gold 1/1.

Up first was this slick looking Josh Reynolds Quad relic. has some really sweet patch swatches and football swatches as well. I like the layout and design of these.

 

Plates and Patches also has rookie autograph patches. I think Kenny G had one of the best rookie signatures in 2017. These are numbered to 99 and also have parallels of Blue /50, Green /25, Red /10 and Gold 1/1.

And my final hit the Plates form Plates and Patches, a sick black LT one from Prestige! That's one thing unique about this product. That plates come from multiple products. Last year I found Bo Jackson as my plate.

 

Other hits not found in my box but could be in yours include,

• Award Winners Autographs
• Canton Calligraphy Autographs
• Double Coverage Relics, Full Coverage Relics
• Gridiron Gear Relics, Gridiron Gear Autograph Relics
• Marquee Marks Autographs
• Marquee Marks Blue Autographs
• Plates and Patches, Plates and Patches Autographs
• Playmakers Autographs 
• Rookie Quads Material Autographs
• Signal Callers Autographs 
• Super Bowl Autographs
• Team Supreme Relics
• Team Supreme Autograph Relics 
• Upper Echelon Autographs and Printing Plate Autographs

OVERALL: Even though this was a very short break, I still had a good time. I feel the value in these boxes like any box varies but the 1/1 printing plate should help with some. There is a ton of varitey hits to be found in a break and with it ranging from players from the past, present and future you never know what's hiding.

I definitely suggest breaking a box but if you can't afford to do so, get into a box break of it to help save you on funds but give you a shot at some of the magic.

You can find the full checklist for 2017 Panini Plates and Patches football, HERE.

Most of the hits, if not all, from this break will be given away for #SCC6YR celebration. Please, please tell Panini America and Tracy Hackler thanks for the shot at these cards. Without their support with these reviews giveaways wouldn't be possible. Check them out at Panini America website and all social media sites.

REVIEW:2016 Plates And Patches Box 2

Box 1 was yesterday and showcased the beauty of a the product I felt was within, today picks up where yesterday's box was left off.

So let's just get to it and rip it! (if you missed yesterdays and need more info on the product just scroll back on the blog a day)

 

Box 2 starts out with a base card /99 and of NFL MVP Matty Ice.

 

The parallel this round was of Bronco great John Elway. It's a blue /50.

 

My first hit, well, you know this name from this blog. Only bad part is it being a one color patch. But, it's a blue parallel /50. The posed photos on these can sometimes be corny, I didn't feel this one was.

 

Up next, another rookie patch auto. However this time a white and not multi-color like yesterday. Hopefully Moore has more in his future. Like I said yesterday, this is a deep set checklist for auto-patch rookies that you can either pull big names or lesser known names.

 

And finally, the 1/1 plate this time a magenta one of Titans rookie runner Derek Henry. This card comes from the Blue Chip insert set from 2016 Prestige.

 

Overall, this break wasn't quite as solid as the first box, but I am still very much in love with the product as a whole. I feel there is so much to find in here and with everything being so limited from base cards to the hits it should help keep good value as player and team collectors will seek out cards they need.

Leave your thoughts on this break or yesterdays in comments!

 

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. Also thank Tracy Hackler and give him a Twitter follow too!Stay tuned for some of these cards in an upcoming Panini America giveaway to celebrate #SCC5year!  

REVIEW:2016 Plates And Patches Football Box 1

One of my most anticipated products since hearing about it's return to the gridiron was Plates and Patches. Mostly because of it's new format and actually putting a focus on the name of the product, Plates and Patches. Makes sense doesn't it?

I have two boxes to showcase with today's breaking down the details review style and tomorrow's basically a hit display. So let's see how box one went. READ ON!

In every box of 2016 Plates and Patches football football, you will find 5 cards. Three of those cards will be hits and the other two will be one base card and one base card parallel. Each Box contains One On-Card Autograph or Rookie Patch Auto, One Prime Memorabilia Card, and One Printing Plate for less than $100. It's a little gamble, but you are getting one 1/1 per box. How many boxes can you say that about???

The base set looks nice and are numbered to 99 with rookies and legends being numbered to 79 so those are even tougher to find. The checklist is 200 cards deep built of vets, rookies and legends. So there is a lot to chase with only one base card per pack to find.

Probably not a set collectors type of product.

As I stated above, there are base cards parallels. These include Blue /50, Green /25, Red /10, and Gold 1/1. This is a nice Green of Tony Dorsett /25.

Now it's time to show off the hits!

My first pull is a ROOKIE PATCH AUTOGRAPH of Hunter Henry. There are 42 cards in this to chase including all of the top rookies from the 2016 class including Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, Derrick Henry, Paxton Lynch.. There are parallels to find of Blue (#/50 or #/25), Green (#/25 or #/10), Red (#/10 or #/5), and Gold 1/1.

My next pull is pretty slick, a trio of patches /50 of WR's from the 2016 class. Wished it had been Shepard, but these are all names we could be hearing in the future.

 

And my last pull, the 1/1 plate, is of Bo Jackson. This plate is from Gala football. It seems plates in the product cover a variety of different Panini products from 2016. I don't find this a problem however as it's probably the only way you can put a plate in every box of this product. Can't ever go wrong with a 1/1 plate.

Other hits not found in my box are, CANTON CALLIGRAPHY, FULL COVERAGE, DOUBLE COVERAGE, ROOKIE QUAD JERSEY, DOUBLE COVERAGE, SIGNAL-CALLERS and GAME CHANGERS AUTOGRAPHS

Overall, not huge big-name pulls other than the plate, but I feel there is enough packed into this product worth warranting a bust. I know I was left felt wanting more. Especially with all of the hits I didn't find in my box such as the Canton Calligraphy that has a deep Hall Of Fame checklist of tremendous stars. 

But, I will let you see another break of the product tomorrow so you can get a good feeling about it for yourself. I don't believe you will be disappointed but I guess it depends on what your likes are. I know mine can be found in here because it's all about the patches and plates.

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. Also thank Tracy Hackler and give him a Twitter follow too!Stay tuned for some of these cards in an upcoming Panini America giveaway to celebrate #SCC5year! 

Random Card Of The Day: Greg Mcelroy Plates and Patches Rookie Auto /49

Could this guy be put on the field soon? Or will Mark Sanchez get things figured out? Or will the Tebow train be given another ride...either way...this is still one great Panini card and one of my favorite products in Plates And Patches.

Panini Redemption Mail day again!

Got this sweet auto in the mail. He has a ways to go before he can become a starter for the Jets...we all know Tebow will take over by seasons end..but still a great looking card and is numbered to 49. This is my 3rd redemption card in 2 weeks. They are doing an awesome job hammering them out!

Jersey/Auto Mailday!!!

Received this beauty in the mail!! It was won from a contest we entered. Thought we would share this awesome card with our fans!! Its a Damian Williams Panini Plates and Patches 2010 Prime Autograph Patch rookie card.

Panini Plates and Patches Football 2011 Review

Base Cards: As you can see the design is very elegant. The red foil looks nice and the medallion shape with the players position and jersey number standout. The marble colored background makes the player jump out at you. Not to mention all of the base cards are numbered.

$$$ out of 5

Inserts: Some parallels to be found here. Gold and Silver respectively numbered to 50 and 100. Not too bad. City Limits insert looks nice with the picture of the city and the gold bottom with the name.

$$$ out of 5

Memorabilia:  They replaced the medallion from the base card with a piece of jersey. Its an ok move because the base cards look nice. I would rather have a different looking jersey card but I guess thats where the Rookie Blitz comes into play. Overall, not to bad.

$$$ out of 5

Autographs: Once again they used the nice looking base card design and put an autograph onto it. The Buster Skrine we got was a parallel so is numbered to 50 and we hit it nicely getting the Jake Locker rookie card auto memorabilia. We may have gotten one color but we have seen some multiple color pieces being used and look great.

$$$ out of 5 

Overall: This was a fun product. It could be risky for some....but we felt very rewarded by it. If you are looking for a nice looking simple product, this is where you want to put your money. Another good looking product by Panini.