When the Contenders preview was first released, I was ridiculously excited. I was just very happy to see that Panini had gone with a very simple design that hearkened back to the glory days of the product before stickers. I was also happy to see that they had gone with a non-foil, predominantly white design to prevent a debacle like what happened in 2009’s disasterous product. Gone were the over-foiled, 100pt text infested, and overly busy cards from last year, and here to stay were the great looking examples from 2010.
Then we saw the final product. Foil was back, as were the seemingly hard to see signatures with streaky pens. Again, Panini had found a way to fuck up a perfectly good design with their stupid foil and lack of understanding of how cards should be produced.
For the first time, I am seeing a similar feeling start to grow in the reactions people are having to a lack of the original design, as I think people understood that understated simplicity is underused. Now that Contenders is live on eBay, we will finally get to see the ultimate judge of a product’s worth. At least they used non-premiere game shots for the photos.
So far, only a few auctions have been posted, but we are getting some of the on card ones. Here is what is up so far, more to come as the product becomes more available.
Sam Bradford On Card Contenders Auto
Tim Tebow On Card Contenders Auto w/Inscription
Ben Tate On Card Contenders Auto
Andre Roberts On Card Contenders Auto
Earl Thomas Sticker Signed Contenders Auto
CJ Spiller Hard Signed Contenders Auto
Eric Decker Hard Signed (ON PENIS) Contenders Auto
James Starks Sticker Signed Contenders Auto
Devin McCourty Sticker Signed Contenders Auto
Danny Woodhead’s Highly Publicized Patriots Debut Card
Ill add more auctions as some of the bigger hits surface. So far, its mostly lower tier guys with a few mediums. Nothing big yet. Tomorrow, that will change.
Bradford and Tebow’s sold yesterday or Sat, if I remember right. Just search completed auctions. Bradford had a dinged top left and got $150 on best offer. Tebow pulled $250.
I get what you’re saying about the foil, but at least the autos you’ve pictured look OK…no smudging that I can see. As you said, last year’s on-card autos were horrendous because the pens didn’t work on the foil. At least here it looks like the pens are working.
They are no doubt better this year. But the foil will never be as workable with pens as they would be with flat stock.
I love that nobody took the time at Panini to notice that the Tate card cant be read because they placed the picture over it. Oh and the Roberts card and the Decker and the Stokes. The stickers are totally fugly too man. What is wrong with this company!
I sold a Bradford Auto (sticker) 8/10 Rookie Roll Call for $488.88 on ebay. I put it up for 799 to see if anyone would bite, the card was on less than 10 mins and I recieved the offer. Honestly, I did not think that I would get that much for it. The cards, in my opinion are not very good looking at all. I am just not a fan of the thin, cheap looking cards. But what do I know, I that damn Bradford card sold for more than my Elway 2/3 auto triple thread. Just figured that I would keep you updated on the card that I sold. By the way when I sold it, it was at least 100 dollars more than any of the other Bradfords that the guy had bought. Thanks. GO VIKINGS!!!