2011 Topps NFL Review

Schedule Release Date: July 2011
Box Configuration: 36 packs per box, 10 cards per pack
SRP: Unknown


Box Break:
1 Autograph or Relic card


My Thoughts:
This set is just a continuation of the baseball set and I am not sure if this was Topps attempt at just calling it in because football is currently in lockout or if the designers truly felt it was easier to just follow suit and move on to working on those awesome Triple Threads designs (said sarcastically). As far as the base set goes, the design is exactly like baseball. It is clean with a decent layout and this works well for the base product. The only problem is the overloading of parallels and inserts which is just an attempt to give the collector value for their money. Card companies need to learn that this is not what collectors want; they want a well-designed base set and if you must add “value” then limit it to one or two inserts, no parallels and a great checklist.

This release really just seems to be a situation of a hot mess. Topps seemed to want to include lots of ideas and did not know where to stop and just call it a release. We see a set built on a Super Bowl theme, a retro portion (based on the 1950 Bowman release), sketch cards, parallels and a varying array of autos and relics and honestly nothing besides the Super Bowl theme really carries over to the rest of the set. Topps claims the autographs are on-card but the Face of the Franchise dual autograph card is clearly a sticker autograph.

We are going to see the first cards Da’Quan Bowers, Cam Newton, AJ Green and Blaine Gabbert. There may not be an NFL season but at least there will be an NFL Draft and we get to see their cards, but they will not be seen in Pro uniforms.


Pros:
The first autographs of upcoming rookies

Super Bowl autos and relics

Decent base card design

On-card autographs


Cons:
Way too much, just really way too much being shoved in to really be a cohesive collection

The Super Bowl theme insert is just an ugly design

Sticker autographs

Rating: 

I give this a 2 out of 5, I don’t think it really deserves much more because of how little Topps did to differentiate this from the baseball set. The Super Bowl theme is strong armed in to the set and the rest of the checklist is just a Hodge-podge of a collection.