UPDATE: PER TOPPS, CAM NEWTON IS NOW ATTENDING THE ROOKIE PREMIERE
I just got the list of the players who will be attending the 2011 Rookie Premiere this Saturday, and after seeing this list, there is a shocking omission that I am sure will send ripples through the hobby in the next few months.
For the first time ever, the top valued draft pick at the time of the event will not be attending, as Cam Newton is unable to make it. Although the companies will find a way to have a secondary “event” to gather “event used relics” for the products this year, its a huge problem. HUGE. All those photos and materials that are gotten at the premiere will not be available for Newton, and with OTA photos and early game photos in serious jeopardy due to the lockout, this could be the year of the Cam Newton airbrush fest.
Its really too bad, but here is the rest of the players that will be going. Not seeing many glaring holes in the list other than Nick Fairley, but there are a lot of late round position players who are coming. That may not spell good things for the product calendar filled with junk rookie autos as box hits.
Jon Baldwin, WR- Pittsburgh (Kansas City Chiefs)
Vincent Brown, WR- San Diego State (San Diego Chargers)
Delone Carter, RB- Syracuse (Indianapolis Colts)
Randall Cobb, WR- Kentucky (Green Bay Packers)
Andy Dalton, QB- TCU (Cincinnati Bengals)
Marcell Dareus, DT- Alabama (Buffalo Bills)
Blaine Gabbert, QB- Missouri (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Edmund Gates, WR- Abilene Christian (Miami Dolphins)
AJ Green, WR- Georgia (Cincinnati Bengals)
Alex Green, RB- Hawaii (Green Bay Packers)
Leonard Hankerson, WR- Miami (Washington Redskins)
Jamie Harper, RB- Clemson (Tennessee Titans)
Kendall Hunter, RB- Oklahoma State (San Francisco 49ers)
Mark Ingram, RB- Alabama (New Orleans Saints)
Jerrel Jernigan, WR- Troy (New York Giants)
Julio Jones, WR- Alabama (Atlanta Falcons)
Taiwan Jones, RB- E. Washington (Oakland Raiders)
Colin Kaepernick, QB- Nevada (San Francisco 49ers)
Mikel Leshoure, RB- Illinois (Detroit Lions)
Greg Little, WR- North Carolina (Cleveland Browns)
Jake Locker, QB- Washington (Tennessee Titans)
Ryan Mallett, QB- Arkansas (New England Patriots)
Von Miller, LB- Texas A&M (Denver Broncos)=
DeMarco Murray, RB- Oklahoma (Dallas Cowboys)
Austin Pettis, WR- Boise State (St. Louis Rams)
Christian Ponder, QB- Florida State (Minnesota Vikings)
Bilal Powell, RB- Louisville (New York Jets)
Stevan Ridley, RB- LSU (New England Patriots)
Kyle Rudolph, TE- Notre Dame (Minnesota Vikings)
Torrey Smith, WR- Maryland (Baltimore Ravens)
Daniel Thomas, RB- Kansas State (Miami Dolphins)
Jordan Todman, RB- Connecticut (San Diego Chargers)
Shane Vereen, RB- California (New England Patriots)
Ryan Williams, RB Va. Tech (Arizona Cardinals)
Titus Young, WR- Boise State (Detroit Lions)
On the other hand, inviting the entire first round wouldn’t be a whole lot better. I’m not saying defensive players and offensive linemen aren’t talented (they certainly are), but these players don’t garner as much interest as offensive skill players. I just looked, and 23 out of the 32 first round picks were either defensive players or offensive lineman! Honestly, I’d rather pull some of the later round running backs and wide receivers…for instance, as a Packer collector, I’d rather pull an Alex Green (3rd round RB) auto than a Derek Sherrod (1st round OT).
Judging by how inexpensively I was able to pick up my collection of Bryan Bulaga (1st round OT) autos last year (which I thoroughly enjoyed still), I think most people would as well.
Yeah I agree that we will prob see ALOT more Edmond Gates, Kendall Hunter and Jamie Hunter auto “HITS” than Julio Jones, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert auto “HITS” this year. BUT we see that most years already, so we shall see how it plays out.
For my money, I would rather hit a Andy Dalton or Bilal Powell auto “HIT” then Newton anyways. But that is just my 2 cents.