2013 Panini NFL Sticker Collection Album Preview

Thank goodness the 2013 NFL season is almost here, because for the first time in a few years I'm a little burnt out on baseball cards.  While I don't plan on buying up lots of football cards this season, I am happy for a little diversion - that being Panini's latest NFL sticker album.

I dropped into Target a few days ago to check on something and I decided to check over at the trading card section for the first time in a month or so.  I saw the prominently displayed new gravity feeder w/ the sticker album and packets and proceeded to flip though the album.  The first thing I noticed was one of the included stickers was missing from the wax paper insert.  I thought that was dumb that someone would steal one sticker.  I grabbed another album and flipped through to find the same thing - another sticker missing - the same one actually.  Then I turned the sheet over to see what number it was to figure out the player.  Wouldn't you know, it's none other than the Patriot's Aaron Hernandez!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Panini has thus removed Hernandez from all future products.  Wonder if they'll reprint these sticker albums or issue a sticker to cover up his name/spot?

I really like this year's layout for each team much better than in past years.  Most teams have their QB featured with the team's leaders printed on foil stickers.  9 additional players get regular stickers w/ last year's stats listed underneath.

Did you think I wouldn't share my team's page?

The regular stickers have a nice, clean design.  The team logo stickers feature the prismatic foil while the rookies use the same 2013 Score design.  Team leaders again feature a different design and are printed on silver foil.  New this year are NFL Rush Zone mascot stickers.  There is also two Rush Zone themed pages in the back of the album, one for players and one for characters from the related cartoon.  Also new this year in each pack is a redemption sticker so you can also start a digital sticker collection.  Unfortunately this feature doesn't go live until sometime in September.

The first of the special pages you'll find after the teams is a two parter.  The left highlights the Class of 2013 inducted into Canton, Ohio while the right page gives tribute to Super Bowl XLVII.

Panini has again teamed up w/ Pop Warner and features some exclusive stickers along w/ some concussion health tips.

Since I have two daughters in the house the only cartoons I see on TV regularly are along the likes of Dora the Explorer, Max & Ruby and Mickey Mouse Playhouse.  That said I'm not familiar with this new NFL Rush Zone cartoon that will be appearing on Nick Toons.

All in all this looks to be a fun album this year and with 488 stickers I'm sure I'll be working on filling this up for awhile.  I will probably end up w/ duplicates at some point so if you want to trade just let me know!