Panini Peek: 2011 Panini Prestige Football

[The Question]

While it may seem like odd timing, what with football collectors everywhere basking in the considerable buzz of Panini America‘s last two products of the 2010 season (Playoff Contenders and*National Treasures), it’s never too early to being preparing for the start of*another glorious NFL season.

After seeing this exclusive first look at 2011 Panini Prestige Football, we’re sure you’ll agree.



For*hardcore hobbyists, Prestige annually signals the official start of a new football collecting season, and that tradition will most certainly continue when the 2011 edition releases on May 11, once again packing the industry’s first Rookie Cards updated with NFL Draft information.

“It’s of extreme importance to us that we get the first official Rookie Cards with updated draft information into collectors’ hands as soon as possible,” says Panini America NFL Brand Manager Carlos Torrez. “Those are Prestige’s calling cards, so to speak, and collectors expect us to deliver. We will absolutely do that once again in 2011, at the rate of one Rookie Card per pack.”

Carrying a pack SRP of $4, 2011 Prestige will deliver four autograph or memorabilia cards (with at least one autograph guaranteed), 24 Rookie Cards and 23 additional inserts or parallels per box. The 250-card set includes*a whopping 100 rookies, including highly coveted prospects such as Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Mark Ingram, A.J. Green*and Julio Jones.

The*base set*is augmented both by traditional Prestige favorites such as*NFL Draft Class embroidered patch autographs, Draft Picks Rights autographs and vaunted Rookie Card variations, as well as new inclusions such as the striking NFL Passport insert.

“Personally, I think the addition of the NFL Passport insert, along with its autograph variations, is a breath of fresh air for this venerable brand and one collectors will really embrace,” Torrez*says. “But my favorite part of this product has to be the short-printed RCs*and the wildly popular NFL Draft variation RCs. Trust me, 2011 Panini Prestige will be everything collectors have to expect to be . . . and then some.”




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