Panini Peek: 2011 Rookies & Stars Football

[The Question]

Panini America’s Rookies & Stars Football, one of the sport’s*most*eagerly pursued *early season products, returns to enchant collectors in late July boasting a bevy of rookies, a new wrinkle in the embroidered patch arena and a resplendent array of*veteran stars to*ensure the product lives up to its name.

2011 Rookies & Stars, the 14th installment of the venerable brand, arrives July 27 with a $4 pack SRP and a per-box promises that includes four autograph or memorabilia cards (at least one autograph guaranteed), 24 Rookie Cards, one Rookie Revolution insert, one Studio Rookies insert and six additional inserts or parallels.



But the primary reason collectors should be excited about the newest Rookies & Stars is easy to identify for Carlos Torrez, Panini America NFL Brand Manager.

“For starters, it will be the earliest program to feature more than 130 NFL rookies and there will be one base Rookie Card in every pack,” Torrez*says. “There will also be 35 embroidered-patch rookies starring the*players who attend the 2011 NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere.”

“This product puts the ‘rookies’ in Rookies & Stars and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Other highlights of the product include:

• SP Rookie Signatures*featuring signed, embroidered team patches featuring the likes of Blaine Gabbert, A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Jake Locker
• Team Chemistry dual autographs from 2011 rookies drafted by the same team
• All American Patches featuring autographs from former college All Americans such as Jones, Kendall Hunter and Randall Cobb, among*others
• Prime Cuts Signatures*embedded with one or two prime game-worn jersey pieces and*autographed by top NFL stars such as Aaron Rodgers, Darren McFadden and Matt Ryan

Each case will yield at least four autographs from a roster that includes Rodgers, Ryan, Michael Vick, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady and 2011 rookies Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder among others.

“Collectors have told us they want a new twist in this area and we provide it this year with the all-new All America Patches, incorporating an American flag and autographs from former college All Americans such as Julio Jones, Kendall Hunter and Randall Cobb,” Torrez notes. “This is one insert football fans and hardcore collectors alike can really appreciate.”

Enjoy the follow 2011 Rookies & Stars preview gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for future updates.




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