Panini released info on 2010 Gridiron Gear yesterday, a set which is suprisingly making a comeback despite Epix having a lot of the same elements. Because Epix is not replacing Gridiron Gear on the calendar, it can really be assumed that is is purely a set to test out that new hideous foilboard crap they are using. Whether Epix makes a return for next year is uncertain, but Gridiron Gear is definitely a set that Panini banks on each year. The question with Gridiron Gear for 2010 is whether or not they can keep it fresh, and like every Panini set this year, the answer is a resounding NO.

In this industry, especially the football sector of it, reinvention and creativity are as essential as updated content. If you cannot continually produce creative elements, the competition will overtake your market share faster than you can say “Aromashodu.” Despite the fact that Topps’ design elements are based around horrid foil stickers, they do have a leg up on Panini because they don’t sit on their asses when looking at the calendar. Panini’s team has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to show that they are putting thought into football, even though the main competition is playing without a full team over in Carlsbad. Instead of coming out and wowing us with great design work, new product concepts and unparalleled new products, they have rolled out a 100% rehashed calendar with less than subpar everything. When they do introduce a new set like Epix, it A) does not deviate from the muddled part of their mid end product line, B) looks terrible with every single part of the product, and C) brings nothing new to the table other than ugly dotted foil.

Gridiron Gear used to be one of my favorite products back in 2007, but since then, it has done nothing but disappoint. The hidden gems, a concept that actually HAS promise in development still look great for 2010, but it’s the rest of the set that I don’t even need a preview to critique. Before I opened the email from my guy, I already knew it was going to be 4 hits, 2 autos, 90 bucks a box, and sure enough, that was exactly how it turned out. When I saw they were doing the plastic field, the pull out hidden gem autos, and nothing else, all I could think was, “well, of course that’s what they are doing.”

In all honesty, the Rookie Gridiron Gems are going to look pretty good, as long as the five million parallels hold up. In most cases they don’t, mainly because Panini refuses to design the cards forwards instead of backwards. They start with the top valued parallel of the set, the jersey auto, and start removing elements until they get down to the single jersey. The result is a card that looks like someone forgot to affix the sticker, which if you have read this site long enough, is my biggest pet peeve. Panini is also notorious for using those ridiculous event used footballs for this product, and Im sure those will be making a return as well.

As for the rest of the stuff, it all looks like typical Panini, even to the point where the cards are completely interchangable with any of their other products. They are so interchangable, that they are even doing a SECOND subset with “orientation” in the title, and all I can say is that they must think we are fucking stupid to buy that they are still trying to impress. Not only is any set based around the most hated part of any new opportunity an awful idea, but they look beyond bad. They are too lazy to even name their subsets anything different.

Sincerely, I hope Panini turns it around, because I don’t think I can keep writing these previews and reviews with a straight face anymore. With Basketball and Hockey basically following the EXACT same calendar, I actually feel bad for them. Yes Panini, you have earned my pity to match my scorn.