In the last 3 years, companies have made a welcome and conceded effort to get some fan favorite defensive players into products. Because of the fact that defensive guys are rarely ever worth any money due to the lack of glamor surrounding the positions, they have (rightfully) been left out of just about every autograph and game used set unless they were at the rookie premiere during their rookie year.

For defensive guys from the pre-premiere era, its a relative crap shoot if they will ever be included in a way that collectors can appreciate. We all saw how crazy things got with Charles Woodson’s autographs being included in Panini sets this year, and I dont think that is even the craziest of the crazy.

Check out Woodson’s prices:

2011 Certified Charles Woodson Auto Mirror Black

2011 Certified Charles Woodson Auto Hometown Heroes /5 – This is just pure ridiculousness.

Then check out this auction, which defies logic in every single way:

2011 Certified Derrick Thomas Mirror Emerald Patch /5

Guys like Thomas and Woodson are part of a group that included players who never got the hobby love they deserved. Guys like Reggie White, a HOF player with a huge fan base in Green Bay and Philadelphia has barely any cards. Same thing with Deion Sanders, Ray Lewis and Jared Allen before 2009. Granted, these guys are some very rare exceptions, but worth noting.

I am NOT saying that defensive players should be a force in every set, but I am saying that there are exceptions to the rule. Panini did a good job in finding a few of them, and I expect there will be others in the future. Lets just hope this is not a license to expand checklists to laughable levels like Panini is famous for, as there will never be a reason to go produce an autograph when the player has no value.