In the NFL, preseason is a time very similar to that of spring training baseball. However, with the preseason, many collectors assign value to high performers despite the fact that many of them will not maintain close to the production they are exhibiting once the regular season starts. Even more unusual than that, as position battles are sorted out, values could skyrocket despite a lack of potential for future production.
A few nights ago, the Saints and Cardinals played the first preseason game in Canton to celebrate the induction of this year’s HOF class. In the first part of the game, Kevin Kolb went down with an injury after throwing a pick on a terrible throw. John Skelton was back in the saddle as the front runner for the starting job, and collectors have gone nuts trying to pick up his cards. I cannot understand why.
Check out some of these ridiculous prices:
2010 Upper Deck Exquisite John Skelton Auto RC /65 – Im literally astounded by this price.
2010 National Treasures John Skelton RC Auto BGS 8.5 – This is an 8.5 mind you.
2010 Crown Royale John Skelton RC Auto /50
For the cost some people are paying for his cards, they could have comparable autographs of quarterbacks and skill players who have already achieved huge numbers on the worlds biggest stages. So far, Skelton has not done anything, nor is it likely that he ever will.
Comparative value is a notion in football that I believe is so beyond skewed towards the instant gratification these days. There are so few reasons to pay what people have paid for these types of guys that I am actually questioning sanity on some of the purchases.
As I say every year, do NOT let the preseason blind you from the actual reality of an NFL REGULAR season game. Sell em if you got em, and dont even think twice. You can buy them back at 1/4 the value as the season moves on.
Remember, David Clowney was once a 20 dollar auto in the 2007 pre-season! This is where he is now.
The exquisite is a jersey # as well as the crown royale. The actually both sold for alot more last season. And that treasures 1/1 did over $800 a year ago
Since $50 for the crown auto is silly there is no reason to talk about how ridiculous the other prices are.
I hope the stupidity(prospecting) continues. In the past I have made tons of $$ on these fads. When Tony Romo was hot for that week way back in 2005 or 2006, I couldnt believe people were paying $50 for his base bowman chrome… and even last year before the Packers lost Rodgers chrome hitting $50+
Most people dont put any thought into what is actually happening. Yes Skelton may be a started in the league and only 1 of 32 but so is Matt Schaub and Jay Cutler. I would argue that both of them have a better chance of post season success this year than Skelton and the Cards, and no one is paying even a quarter of the Skelton prices…
Matt Flynn is another example of this foolishness. He might not even be the starter and even if he is who is he going to throw to on that crap team. The seahawks and the cards will be battling with the rams for last in that division. Why are these prices realized for Skelton and people have no interest in Sam Bradford??
Lets hope the crazy prices continue. It allows me to make $$ on junk and buy the autos of legends for next to nothing. My last 2 unitas autos cost less than either one of those Skeltons…