2014 Inception Football Adds to a Growing Legacy

I am a big fan of inception. I think its a high end style product that is available early enough in the season that the cards matter more than any other product. It has been popular enough to make the crossover to baseball, but I still remain pumped each year it comes out regardless. Collectors often latch on because of the on card content mixed with some pretty incredible big hits. Last year’s class may have sucked, but the product introduced cards that were simply stunning. I hope to see that again with a strong 2014 class.

Base Cards

Inception has employed a painted style filter on each of the cards for the last three years, and this year, they are coming back with a design that closely mirrors the other versions. I think we are in need of a bit of a fresh take by now, although its clear that its a popular product. I always say its okay to repeat a design if it looks good (a la CR Silhouettes), but we are getting a bit past that point now.

Last Year:

2013 Inception Andre Johnson Base

2013 Inception Troy Polamalu Base

This Year:

14TIFB_1068_VETBASE_MCCOY

Base Autos

As the base cards are, the base autos usually follow, and this year is no exception. I really hope we get more of the elements cards, as well as some of the other subsets, but I think these cards are some of the best of the early half of the year. My biggest worry this year is that the later draft and timeframe in between the rookie premiere will mean more “00” numbers on the players, but you never know. I hope Topps chooses more photos that dont directly show the numbers head on so that isnt as much of a problem, but we know they still do it.

Last Year:

2013 Inception Tavon Austin Auto

2013 Inception Geno Smith Auto

This Year:

14TIFB_2001_RKAUTO_LEE14TIFB_2001_RKAUTO_COOKS

Inscription Autos

I LOVED the addition of inscriptions in 2013, and it looks like they have upped the game this year. When you consider how few opportunities collectors have for these types of cards, its obvious you have to jump on them. Any time we get more inscriptions is a good thing, and the playbook style works very well.

Last Year:

2013 Inception Geno Smith Inscription Auto

2013 Inception EJ Manuel Inscription Auto

This Year:

14TIFB_2101_GOLD-PLAYBOOK_METTENBERGER

Jumbo Patch Autos

These were a highlight of the set last year, which is odd considering that they are stickers in a set full of on card. This year I think they look just as good, improving on a lot of the things that they missed on last year. I like the embellishments around the swatch, and I think it will make a big difference in the parallel structure.

Last Year:

2013 Inception Keenan Allen Jumbo Patch Auto

2013 Inception Eddie Lacy Jumbo Patch Auto

This Year:

14TIFB_3011_AUTOJUMBO_Clowney

Booklets

In 2013, these were the rage, with low numbered examples with on card autographs. If you think about it, there are VERY few on card books available during the year, and to see how nice these are again makes me very happy. VERY nice job – the vertical looks great.

Last Year:

2013 Inception Cordarrelle Patterson Booklet Auto Jumbo Patch

2013 Inception Giovani Bernard Booklet Auto Laundry Tag

This Year:

14TIFB_3409_AUTO-NFL-SHIELD-BOOK_Sankey-copy

Other items

A few things we should all take note of that incites a feeling of panic. One, Johnny Manziel is noticeably absent from this preview. I sincerely hope it is by accident and not by force, as he NEEDS to be in every set. Secondly, Im still wondering why more veteran autographs arent included. Inception is a time where vets would shine, even as redemptions. I hope we get some this or next year, even though its been popular in the past without.

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