Box Break - 2011 Panini Threads

Over the last few years I've really become a fan of the NFL.  Having a team in your own backyard helps.  When the 2011 cards started to hit one set/design really caught my eye - 2011 Panini Threads.

I've bought a random pack of Threads in the past, but this year's design lived up to it's name.  Just take a look at the base card's design and you'll see what I mean.

 

The whole set is presented with horizontal photos which I like.  What I thought was nice about the front design is the stitching and the team's colors used on the vertical stripes. 

The back design is nice too as it carries over the stitched look and the team's colors.  I do have one minor complaint though.  The photo - it's the same one used on the front.

The base set is comprised of 150 cards.  Most teams have 3 players representing their colors.  Player selection is pretty good, but there are some players in their old uniforms such as Carson Palmer.  Oh well.  The rookies are present and make up card #s 151-250.  Cards #251-300 are autographed manufactured letter patches of select rookies.  Why they are numbered as part of the set and not their own set I'll never understand.  Trying to put this 300 card set together will be really difficult not to mention expensive so I'm happy w/ the base set of 150.

There are lots of inserts to be had in both the regular and serially numbered variety.  Lots and lots of autos and jersey cards as well.  Each hobby box guarantees 4 hits with one of the hits being an auto.  My box had mixed results.  We'll start off with the different levels of Century Proof parallels.  You can't really tell when I scanned the card's front that it was different than the base card so I scanned the back instead.  This way you can at least see the serial numbering.

Santonio Holmes Silver #152/250

Richard Gordon RC Silver #136/250

Kris Durham RC Gold #081/100

Jimmy Clausen Platinum #01/25

These are pretty decent looking parallels, but the only one I'm keeping is the Clausen card just because it's a Carolina Panthers card.

Delone Carter #019/300

I know some people love these cards while others hate anything that is manufactured.  I'm on the fence about them personally.  I was hoping to hit pay dirt and pull a Cam Newton (or A.J. Green), but oh well.  Any Colts fans interested?

Buck Buchanan #085/100

Heritage Collection has 15 cards...most of players that I'm not all that familiar with.  I'm baseball first so I don't have the knowledge of the NFL that I do of MLB.  Apparently these cards also come in the different levels of Century Proofs.

Not a bad looking design, but there are other inserts that caught my eye more.  All but the Ed Reed/Darrelle Revis card are available for trade.

I'm not always a fan of multi-player cards, but when they are all teammates it helps.

The 2010 All Rookie Team cards have a simple design, but I was happy to pull the Tim Tebow card.

 

I like the look of these Star Factor cards.  The Phillips Rivers will go into my small NC State football collection.

The Gridiron Kings set is probably my favorite insert set.  The cards have a canvas like feel to them and feature some nice paintings of the players.  These have a UD Masterpieces vibe going on.  I'm thinking this would be a fun set to build so I'll be piecing together a want list soon.

These also come with different colored paper frame variations such as this Hines Ward which is #d 40/50.  I don't know all the different colors and levels of numbering for these.  Surely there is a Steelers fan reading this that would want this beautiful card.

Brandon Jacobs #117/299

Like a lot of Panini's different insert sets this one also has game-used jersey variations.  I guess it was fitting that my card is of a player in next week's Super Bowl.  While it's a really nice looking card I'll be looking for a new home for it.

Maurice Jones-Drew #238/299

The Gameday Jerseys set is another beautiful design that Panini has crafted.  There are some good names in this 25 card set.  I was happy to pull this guy as he was a beast in my Fantasy team this year.  I have already acquired the Jonathan Stewart in this set so I'm looking to trade Jones-Drew for Carson Palmer if anyone is interested.

I left the best card for last...well at least in my opinion.  I knew the box would give me on average 3 jersey cards.  I just wasn't sure what type of jersey cards I'd get.  Some of the packs contained thick dummy cards to throw off pack searchers so I never knew for sure what to expect when I would pick up a thicker pack out of the box.  This cool card is numbered #22/25 as well.  I looked on eBay (both current and past auctions) and this card hasn't been up on the auction block yet.  I don't normally care about card values, but I was surprised to see no one else has put up one of the other 24 of this card up for auction/sale.

According to the checklist included in the box there were a few other insert sets that I didn't get to see first hand:  Rookie Collections Materials - Combo Materials - Quad Materials, Rookie Signature Combos - Triples - Quads and Franchise Fabrics.

All in all I've got to say that Panini has done an excellent job with this set and I'm happy w/ the outcome of my box.  If it hadn't been for the Tebow I may have been a little disappointed, but pulling that card put a smile on my face.  I am building the base set and I believe I only lack 2-3 cards.  I'll be putting up a want list soon and adding all the RCs and inserts shown here to my trade list very very soon.

Secret Santa Delivers!

A few weeks ago I noticed that the blog (and fellow Braves fan) A Rookie (baseball) Card Collector was hosting a Secret Santa program.  I've participated in similar programs in past years on the HISS Tank G.I. Joe forums and it was a lot of fun - so I threw my hat in.  Well today I got a little present from my Secret Santa and I couldn't be happier!

To put it mildly I had a traumatic day w/ a family emergency (that turned out well) so not only was I relieved when I got home I was happy to see the large bubble mailer in the mail box.  I did receive a few questions from my Secret Santa regarding what I collect and which teams I follow.  I listed the Braves (of course!) along w/ the Carolina Panthers and a few particular players.  I had no idea what I would get and it really didn't matter.  I may not get any cards for Christmas from my family so it was nice that someone went out of their way to find something I like.  And let me go on record and say my Santa did a FANTASTIC job!  What did I get you may be wondering?

My nephew will be the recipient of this card.  Until he is older to enjoy it I'm sure my brother-in-law will like it.  His parents gave him the middle name of Fenway after all!

I love these National Chicle relic cards.  I picked up the Dale Murphy bat relic earlier this year, but never got around to Chipper.

I was really tempted to pick up one of these boxes @ Target that had this Chrome Refractor RC and another behind it.  Glad I waited now!

The card in that value box of 2010 Topps football that I really wanted.  Now it seems if the Panthers continue their abysmal season without another win Andrew Luck will be the next Panthers QB.  Sorry Clausen - I think you deserve another shot.

Another rookie Panthers QB.  I've picked up several (cheap) Pike autograph RCs, but not many base RCs so this is perfect.  Shiny too!

Yet another Panthers rookie QB - however they are trying to convert him to a WR or a return man.  So far it ain't lookin' pretty, but the guy does have talent.  It's just hard for anyone to stand out on a destined 1-15 team!

...and the crown jewel so the speak of the package!  This dual relic comes from 2010 Panini Absolute (which I haven't bought any of this year) and is numbered 32/50!

I can't think my Secret Santa enough.  He was very gracious w/ his gifts and made excellent choices.  He did reveal himself to me and gave me his e-mail so you can bet he'll be getting an e-mail from me thanking him up and down!

Moore out in Carolina, Clausen in!

Coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers' announced today that rookie QB Jimmy Clausen would get his first NFL start this coming Sunday, 9/27/10 against Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Starting QB Matt Moore was benched late in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Bucs after struggling to complete 20 of 49 passes in his first 2 games.  He suffered a concussion late in the first game of the season and has been sacked 8 times.  Moore has a QB rating of 41.8% throwing for 307 yards with 2 touchdowns versus 4 interceptions (3 of which were in the end zone in game 1).

The buzz around these parts about Jimmy Clausen starting is mixed, however a lot of fans seem excited about the change.  Many are also wondering if Jimmy will be our QB of the future.  As many know the QB play in Carolina is been lacking for the past handful of years.  Jake Delhomme did take the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2004, but ever since then the Panthers have struggled to make post season play.

Before Sunday's horrible performance against the Bucs the family and I stopped into Target before heading to my mom's to watch the game.  Like always I visited the card aisle and had my 11 month old daughter pick a few packs for me.  She grabbed one 2010 Topps football pack among a few others and inside said pack was a 1952 Bowman RC of Clausen.  Nice!  I seriously need to let her pick more packs for me.  I'm excited about the QB change and eager to see what the Panthers do on offense this week.  I'm not expecting the team to do any better than 8 and 8 (and that may be a stretch), but watching Clausen grow as a NFL QB before our eyes ought to be interesting.

It's also nice to see a Carolina Panthers QB getting some attention in the hobby.  Not since Kerry Collins was drafted by the Panthers in 1995 have we had much hobby attention at that position.  The prices people are paying for a lot of Clausen's auto and game used or high end cards seems to be a bit ridiculous to me at this time, but I know a lot of fans & collectors like to speculate with rookies, esp. QB rookies.  I only have 2 Clausen RCs and that is fine.  I'm sure as time passes on that will change.  I'm just hoping the Panthers records continues to change (for the better) as that time passes.