Let me start out by saying I am upset that Five Star is likely gone. Let me finish that thought by saying this new set looks fucking awesome.

Today, we got a good look at what Topps is planning for what looks like their final set of the year, and I am literally floored by what the sell sheet is showing this product is all about. Although this should cost a bit more than Five Star, the product looks to encompass a lot of what Five Star was all about, plus a bunch. I have said over the years that Five Star is one of my favorite sets of the year, if not only because it remains the only affordable product with all on card autographs.

Although enormously under appreciated, I have never been disappointed by a set that offers what Five Star offers. I will surely be sad to see it go:

2012 Topps Five Star Ryan Tannehill Logo Patch Auto 1/1

2010 Five Star John Elway Quotables Inscription Auto /10

2011 Five Star Peyton Manning Auto Inscription

2014 Topps Five Star Tom Brady Auto SSP

Definitive Collection, as a possible replacement, looks tremendous in just about every way. The Rookie auto patch cards, which use a silhouette type approach are some of the best looking cards I think Topps has done in a long, long time. Cutting the player into the swatch window adds an element of action to the card’s look, something that makes these cards absolutely awesome. This is something Panini has done well over the years, but Topps is finally looking to add some die cut content in a product like this.

The jumbo patch autos look to be taking a very similar elegant approach, with a simplistic yet stunning look, which provides a jumbo patch auto along side the on card autograph. These look very similar to the National Treasures cards of the same type, but I like the look a lot better with the added foil embellishments, and possible leather bound backs according to the sell sheet.

Definitive looks to also be bringing framed elements into the product on the Winston preview, something I absolutely live for with its inspiration in Museum Collection. The framed cards are some of the best examples of a cool technology that exists, something that Panini has even copied for its basketball sets.

Overall, each design looks better than the last, something that I wish Topps had more years to develop under their current NFLPA and NFLP licenses. I think that as a whole, this is easily the best best set that Topps has put together, at least on paper, and at 750-800 dollars a box, it better be. Where Panini tends to fail is that Football cannot support a product like Flawless, despite what current prices show on the wax market. Singles will never add up to a 1500 dollar box price, but something at this price point will sell like hot cakes for the content it delivers. Its sad that National Treasures will win the value wars by default, even though I would be SHOCKED if they could generate anything that looks as good as the jumbo auto rookie patches look for this product. Panini just doesnt operate at this level, and Topps has shown that they are the FAAAAAAR superior company in just about every single opportunity they have.

To think that this is likely Topps’ last go at a top end football product, they are definitely going out with a bang. All around, we will be sad to see them go, and when you look upon a product like Definitive Collection, its pretty fucking clear who should remain a part of this sport.