2010 Panini Donruss Rated Rookie Football Box

Is it a blaster or something else?  To be completely honest I hadn't heard of this product before today.  After doing a quick Google search however it appears that it has been covered on a few of the big blogs.  Here is my take on what I think is an awesome deal.

The premise of this box is fairly simply.  101 trading cards...all of which are rookies + 1 autographed rookie for 20 bucks.  All of this is packaged inside a small fat box just larger than the cards themselves.  I gotta say this is a great way to package cards as there is virtually zero wasted space versus the standard blaster box.  The downside however is cards aren't really protected.  There is a blank white card on the top and bottom of the stack, but it really doesn't offer any protection to the corners of the cards.  This is a small complaint however as all the cards out of my box escaped any damage.  Just make sure if you buy one of these boxes to inspect the corners before you buy.

The design is colorful and rather simple.  I love the new old Donruss 'd' in the upper right hand corner.  Cards feature a glossy sheen, but not they aren't too shiny.  Cards are printed on a above average card stock.  My only gripe with the design is I wish Panini had used the old school Rated Rookie logo on the cards as they did w/ their recent basketball release.  Another great thing about this box is that you get all the big name rookies like Bradford, Tebow, Bryant and Spiller but you also get cards of other players that aren't highlighted in other sets.  For example my hometown Carolina Panthers are represented by all the offensive rookies - Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike, Brandon LaFell, David Gettis and Armanti Edwards.

I'm sure the other main attraction for collectors and fans alike will be the guaranteed rookie.  Yes it's a sticker auto and from what I hear the chances at landing an auto from one of the big name rookies is slim, but it's a autographed rookie none the less.

My autograph was of Titans rookie wide receiver Marc Mariani.  Since I don't watch as many AFC games during the season I'm not familiar with this player.  After a quick scan on eBay however I've decided to list it for auction unless someone makes me an offer for a Panthers autograph from this set.  Most of these cards will be available for trade (minus Tebow and the Panthers players) so hit me up if you are interested in claiming your favorite team(s).

For $20.00 it's hard to argue the value you get in the tiny box.  While you don't get actual packs to rip you do know what you are getting.  Unless you have a lot of disposable income and don't mind having more than one set I don't see many people buying more than one box.  I love this idea and I hope to see Panini it again in the coming future.