2011 Panini Prestige Football
Box Break Date: May 30, 2011
2011 Panini Prestige Football Checklist
Panini America Knights Lance Blog
The ongoing NFL lockout has not stopped Panini America from releasing the first fully licensed cards to hit stores in 2011. Panini Prestige is a mid-priced product that features players who were recently selected at the 2011 NFL Draft. Collectors will have to wait until June for sets that picture rookies in their new NFL uniforms, as the Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot took place well after these cards were in production. It must have been quite a challenge to track down these soon-to-be NFL rookies and obtain signatures but Panini did a good job getting some key players. Mark Ingram and #1 overall pick Cam Newton notably do not have autographs in Prestige. Perhaps both players were seeking more money for their autograph services than Panini was willing to pay. Both Newton and Ingram have since signed an autograph deal with Panini where signed cards of those superstars will be in just about every Panini set that will release in 2011.
One thing about Prestige that makes it unique is that many of the new rookies who have autographs in this set may not have very many autographs again in 2011. Many late round picks or un-drafted free agents do not get inserted into later sets as companies like Panini tend to focus on rookies who can generate buzz on the field early in their career. The autograph rookie we pulled of former LSU WR Terrence Toliver might end up being one of his few auto’s made in 2011 and could be a key rookie card if he ever can stick in the league. There are many examples of players like Toliver who will have an autograph card in Prestige, but may not have very many other rookies during 2011 unless they preform quickly on the the field early in their rookie season. It certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea to stock up on autographs of players like Toliver if you think they have a shot to make it in the NFL.
2011 Panini Prestige
Dez Bryant Base Card #52
One of the things I look forward to with each new year – are the 2nd year base cards of players like Dez Bryant, Tim Tebow and C.J. Spiller among others. Sports Card Radio Fan Forum Member redman5422 will take home this beauty because he said in our contest thread “I collect a lot of football and Dez Bryant.”
Panini’s Hobby Marketing Manager Tracy Hackler is a big Denver Broncos fan and we pulled several nice cards including a rookie card of #2 overall pick Von Miller. Fan Forum members HeltonFan17 and JKBBall just so happen to be big Bronco as well fans and I split up the eight cards we got into stacks of four each for them to enjoy. The Broncos have a new coach and it will be very interesting to see if Tim Tebow gets a shot to be the starting QB in Denver. Last season, Tebow played well down the stretch and WR Brandon Lloyd rekindled his career with 1,448 yards and 11 TD’s. Areas of improvement need to be made on defense as they continued to be one of the worst teams in that regard in 2010. Hopefully #2 overall pick Von Miller can help the linebacker group that couldn’t stop running backs all last season.
Won by: Jkbball
Won by: HeltonFan17
2011 Panini Prestige Rookie Review
Gerald McCoy Prime Jersey #17
I’m a fan of the rookie review set that features 40 rookies from last season as well as parallels with autographs and event used jerseys. Hey, if you’ve got left over material from the 2010 Rookie Premiere Shoot why not let collectors get a piece right? While McCoy might not be the best guy to pull from this set, don’t tell forum member Beard_Face_Bo that’s because he is a big Buccaneers fan and will take home this card.
2011 Panini Prestige Rookie Autographs
Delone Carter Autograph #359/599
Carter was selected in the 4th round by the Indianapolis Colts and we were very excited to pull this card because he could be a player who makes a quick impact in 2011. The Colts are starving for a good RB and Carter maybe that guy. Won by forum member Pnizzle who is a big Colts fan.
2011 Panini Prestige Sp Rookies
A.J. Green Sp Variation Rookie #201
Inside boxes of 2011 Prestige you should find about 1 Sp Variation Rookie and we pulled a good one in Bengals new stud WR A.J. Green. The Sp cards are of 2011 rookies holding up their new NFL jersey on draft night. I noticed that other Sp Variation A.J. Green cards was selling for around $10 on the secondary market which is good money considering his autographs were selling for less then $35.  
2011 Panini Prestige Rookies
Akeem Ayers Purple Xtra Points #3/50
Keep an eye out for the xtra points parallel cards inserted randomly into packs – both veteran and rookie players have serial numbered parallels. This Akeem Ayers card is purple #/50 and we also pulled 3 other light blue /999 rookie parallels.
