Not all rookies are created equal, especially those at the rookie premiere. Year in and year out, there are a good portion of guys who go to the premiere that never even have a shot at panning out unless there is some miracle involved. This year was no exception, especially with the fact that the ENTIRE Giants’ draft class was invited, and a total of NONE of them did anything this year. Meanwhile, there are a few rookies that always rise above, and though they are hard to predict, sometimes you can see it coming a mile away.

Over on cardboard connection, they posted a list of ten rookies with the potential to ruin a box. The problem is that only a few of them have the potential to be a box hit in something like Exquisite or SP Authentic. On top of that, I don’t agree with most of their rankings. My list takes a different perspective, especially with all the different products centering around the guys from the rookie premiere as the main hit in the box.

10. Derrick Williams – Lions

Derrick Williams is a bad player on a bad team. He has been relegated to KR status, and rarely catches anything but a whiff of Calvin Johnson’s ass when he runs by the sidelines. The reason he is on here is more because of his terrible signature, which looks like a cross between a Kanji character and the mark of an illiterate immigrant.

9. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Raiders

Hey bey has problems, more so with the supporting cast than with his actual talent. He was drafted WAAAAAAAAY too high, and he doesn’t have a QB, but that doesn’t mean he is without talent. On the other hand, his production didn’t even show a hint of greatness, and he was outshined by Louis Murphy all year. The main issue is that Hey Bey is sometimes a level 1 rookie, meaning he could replace a case hit of someone like Sanchez or Stafford. That alone adds a whole new level of crap to this entry.

8. Mike Thomas – Jaguars

I bet you have no clue who he is, and I don’t really know either. He is on a team that doesn’t go to their receivers much, and Sims-Walker is the big dog there when they do. The main reason I put him on this list is because his box hits are almost always redemptions, so you are fucked in two ways when you pull him.

7. Brian Robiskie – Browns

The Browns suck. They suck bad. Robiskie is one guy who has little to no shot of being a focus with Massaquoi and Cribbs around, and that doesn’t help much with his value. He barely played this year, and the QB situation doesn’t help much either.

6. Andre Brown – Giants

Another Giant, another horrible addition to the rookie premiere cast. Brown played a little this year, but it was only because Jacobs and Bradshaw were hurt. Once both are back at full strength, he will go back to being towel boy.

5. Juaqin Iglesias – Bears

Yes, the Bears did well with Johnny Knox, but this guy wasn’t as lucky. In fact, he is such a downer that I don’t even know enough about him to write something. He would be higher, but the Bears’ starting receivers are Earl Bennett and Devin Hester. When you have a team like that, anything is possible.

4. Rhett Bomar – Giants

Bomar is the third Giant on this list, but not the last. As a QB, he always has a shot at being good, but when you play behind Eli Manning, you arent going to get much of a look. Add in that his talent is around the level of a Jared Lorenzen, and you have an equation that will lose you 500 bucks in an instant.

3. Javon Ringer – Titans

I cant tell you how frustrated I was when I pulled Javon Ringer in my SPX box. He couldn’t even do well as a kick returner. That’s how bad he is. Plus, he plays

2. Jason Smith – Rams

Offensive line is the least valuable position on the field, and sadly 2009 was the second year we had a tackle in the mix at the top of the draft. Then when you see his signature it gets worse and worse. Smith is everywhere this year, and though he seems to be a nice guy, he shouldn’t have been at the premiere.

1. Ramses Barden – Giants

I have no idea why this guy was even put on the list for the premiere. Players have to be voted on by each company and for some reason he was the fourth Giant added to the list. He went to a weird college (Cal Poly) and has little to no prospects of doing anything in the league, and yet, he is on every single card for every single set. You want to know how to kill an Exquisite buzz? Pull his crap like we did in the SPA break.

Honorable Mentions

Brandon Pettigrew – Lions
Tyson Jackson – Chiefs
Deon Butler – Seahawks

Of course, these are my opinions on the matter, feel free to add your own. Really, any time you pull any of these guys you are in trouble, so it wont matter where they are on the list.