Trying to learn and get into football

[Zymco]

Hey guys', my names Steven. I am about as confident with my baseball card knowledge (especially current products) as I am with about anything in this world. I love basketball and have some nice basketball pieces, but my collection of cards is no where near the magnitude of my baseball stuff. Recently I have developed a quick spark in football cards (contemporary stuff) but before I jump in I wanted to know what advice you guys' could give me. I am really going in pretty blind and I was very interested in how the football card market works and what factors make a specific players cards rise in value. I really have no favorite players or teams, I was a big LT guy when he was on the Chargers, but old age and changing of teams really don't inspire me to rush out and pick up a bunch of his high-end stuff. This spark might have been from visiting a cardshop by my new apartment and seeing that they had a bunch of 2008 Sp authentic auto patches. I was interested and I went home and checked them on ebay and the deals seem to be decent. I am open to hearing any advice any of you guys have for me. If you are interested take a look at my photobucket and see where my other sport collections are at and let me know what you think

 

[Groat]

I think that the football market is a lot simpler than the baseball market. Rookies are very clearly defined and there are only 16 games in a season for one. Prices for cards tend to start high for any particular product and then steady out, especially when the season ends and the high end stuff comes out. Prices don't seem to fluctuate quite as much for good or bad performances as they do in certain baseball cases.

Things should be a little different this year, as I'm sure you may have heard that UD no longer has an NFL license. Unfortunately, that means that extremely popular sets like SPA and Exquisite will probably not happen.

The varieties of collecting are the same as any other sport. There are team collectors, player collectors, set collectors, people who pick up the top rookies every year, people who pick up only the nicest stuff out there, etc.

 

[Zymco]

Things should be a little different this year, as I'm sure you may have heard that UD no longer has an NFL license. Unfortunately, that means that extremely popular sets like SPA and Exquisite will probably not happen.

Because of this what product would be most valuable this year? Contenders?

 

[CollectorsCorner]

National Treasures

 

[ThoseBackPages]

STEVE!!!

welcome over here!

im brand new here myself and have been learning a bunch after taking 15 years off from watching the sport and collecting the cards.

the guys here are all very nice from whom ive seen, and they are all very willing to answer even the simplest questions that ive asked them (and i have! LOL)

i recommend that you jump into the "daily thread" that is here in the FB section. thats where the "action" is on a daily basis

 

[rymflaherty]

Some of Baseball translates to Football - Really you can probably think of the companies pretty much the same way......I know UD won't be making products this year, but their stuff is traditionally high risk/high reward.
Donruss - will typically have a lower bv/sv, but will also usually give more value and variety per break.
Topps - some nice/value lower-mid end products, but have pretty much failed on attempts at high-end.

The big difference is there is nothing really equivalent to Bowman. Instead the draw and majority of hits in all products are going to be the rookies. You also don't have to worry about any call-ups. Everybody knows the rookies even if their not playing much, so unless it's someone like a Brady that comes out of nowhere, the majority of the time their probably going to command the most money right after the products released.

As someone mentioned things will be a bit different this year with no UD.....so I think the best advice is to simply frequent the football board. Should be able to get honest opinions on all the new stuff that will be releasing and get a good gauge of players who's cards are taking off.

 

[Card Magnet]

Welcome to the football side .

There's some pretty good advice above. You'll find some pretty knowledgeable people on these boards when it comes to football. The best advice I could give anyone is that when you have a question, come to the football boards and ask. Odds are somebody (if not multiple people) will be able to help you out.

Football is a different beast compared to baseball, but it does share some traits. The biggest difference is the "rookie" scene. Rookie cards are very clear cut for the most part in football, as there are no "first year", "USA", and "RC Logo" cards. There are simply their pre-draft products like Press Pass that are not really considered RCs by the majority, and then the post-draft NFL releases where they are rookies.

 

[mstng99tim]

I know UD won't be making products this year, but their stuff is traditionally high risk/high reward.

This isn't true, UD will be making football cards this year. The players will all be in their college unis since UD doesn't have a license to use NFL unis and logos.

 

[rymflaherty]

I know UD won't be making products this year, but their stuff is traditionally high risk/high reward.

This isn't true, UD will be making football cards this year. The players will all be in their college unis since UD doesn't have a license to use NFL unis and logos.

True. Should have said won't have NFL licensed products.
It's going to change the landscape of things and will be interesting to see how things shake out regardless.

I guess I'm skeptical still - guess it's kind of out of sight out of mind. :lol:
Considering they already canceled Draft. No one has pre-order info up on other products like Legacy that have had sell-sheets floating around for months. It makes you question what kind of presence their going to have......releasing Sweet Spot will be a good start.

 

[TheBucsGuy.com]

I took a couple of different approaches.

1. I picked a guy with average to slightly above average talent who had been in the league for a few years and had some real nice stuff reasonably priced: Maurice Stovall

I have one HECK of a collection and it is only getting bigger. I also have some beautiful cards that I obtained for $20 or less (and quite often less).

2. I am also doing a master Buccaneers set. I am collecting one RC, GU and Auto (if available) of every Buccaneer to every be on the active roster. I know you said you don't have a favorite team, but this allows me to obtain cards spanning over 30 years. I really get to see the changes and progressions that the industry has made. This did require a LOT of up front work to identify the players and see what they had available but it has been worth it.

I hope this provides you with some collecting inspiration!
Kevin

PS. You can't collect Stovall...

 

[Zymco]

Hey guys' I appreciate all the comments. Thought I'd update a little.

Picked up this for 65, sold it for 150.

Bought for 40 sold for 90

Here is some other stuff that I have gotten over the past few months.

I picked up the Welker today at a show, I paid 30 for it. Was wondering what everyone thought of the price, beautiful card.

 

[CollectorsCorner]

nice flips is that a crease on the vincent jackson spa?

 

[bigdaddyblue73]

That's a good deal on the Welker and yeah that is a nice looking card.

 

[Zymco]

nice flips is that a crease on the vincent jackson spa?

You have been beyond thanked.. I didn't notice the Jackson at all, looking back at the scan it is quite obvious. I emailed the ebay seller and he refunded me my money and told me to just keep the card. I really appreciate it J-rod.

 

[Slette]

Glad to see you're enjoying the football side of things, and nice flip on that Henne! I did the same thing with one a couple of weeks ago - I'd like to say I planned it that way, but I think it was more of a case of a blind squirrel finding a nut...