When Bowman Signature hit shelves yesterday, it marked the first autographs of the 2012 season on NFL licensed cards. Although the cards don’t feature the players in their NFL uniforms, the limited release of the product and player quality has bred some RIDICULOUS prices to start the year for 2012.

Check this out:

Robert Griffin III RC On Card Auto Helmet

Andrew Luck RC On Card Auto Helmet

Justin Blackmon RC Base Auto Red Ink /15 – Huge price for a receiver and an ugly card.

Andrew Luck Accolades On Card Auto

LaMichael James Blue Ink Helmet on Card Auto

Basically, because the top tier rookies are tremendously short printed, they have even more reason to be that much more expensive in a product like this. I have to believe that once cards with them in their uniforms (airbrushed or otherwise) are released, the prices will drop to more expected ranges, but should hold their value more than a normal product like this because of the small number of available boxes.

Collectors really are hungry for guys like Griffin and Luck, more than I think many people expected them to be. They are walking in the desert, thirsty for 2012 autographs and see an oasis in the distance. When they get there and find out it’s a mirage, they are so thirsty that they drink the sand. Topps has some AMAZING stuff in the pipeline, from what we have seen, I am someone who is more likely to wait until that streets.