Category Archives: saints

Drew Brees Epic Wins The NFL Card Market

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Back at the end of the 2005 season, Drew Brees was broken and battered. His shoulder was in bad shape, and the Chargers were going to move in another direction with a new player. Even though Brees was completely capable of returning from the injury with great success, San Diego wanted to let Phillip Rivers have a chance with uncertainty surrounding Brees’ effectiveness upon his return. Here begins one of those stories, you know, those ones they make movies about 20 years from now.

Down and out, Brees is welcomed with open arms to a horrible team in New Orleans, a city that is rebounding from a terrible disaster. The city was in shambles, and new coach Sean Payton wanted Brees to help build the walls back up. He wasnt sure where Brees would be coming opening weekend, but he had faith in him to get the team on track. Although the Saints wasted their number 2 pick (in hindsight) on a player that still has yet to pan out, they were fortunate to draft players like Marques Colston, Jahri Evans, and Roman Harper to bolster their ranks.
In a last to first miracle of sorts, the Saints went all the way to the NFC Championship game with the team on Brees’ injured shoulder, thus silencing any critics for bringing him in. Since that time, Brees has been one of the Best QBs in the NFL, even coming close to breaking Dan Marino’s single season yardage mark.

Now that the Lombardi Trophy has come to NOLA, Brees career now has a bullet point that is hard to ignore. Collectors have been on board for a long time, with his Contenders rookie auto prices well above 300. Now that he has won the big one, the raws are selling as high as 450-480. That is elite territory, outselling Adrian Peterson, Ladanian Tomlinson, and of course Phillip Rivers. Im sure that it wouldnt make a single bit of difference to Brees, but it should make quite the difference to his collectors. I would say that this card is great investment, but that is a given among everyone right now. Brees is primed to be the best for many years to come, and now that he is part of the QB Super Bowl winners club, his value is assured. If he wins again, expect crazy things from those prices.
Remember, performance, dominance, and team popularity drive price, and right now, he is it. Although his off season price should settle in around 425, the contenders card will not stay there. The SPX isnt a bad shot either, as it is a little cheaper, and is part of a widely collected set.
For me to say that Brees is worthy of his popularity is like saying Jerry Rice was just an okay receiver. What he has done for the city and for the team is remarkable, and to have him as your collecting target is not a bad idea, especially considering how much hobby focus he is about to receive.

The Season is Over Today, and I Am Sad

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Today is a sad day for me, not because the Saints won the super bowl, but because the last game of the year is done. Now it’s a few months until baseball and the draft, and I am stuck with a barren wasteland of sports that I follow, at least until things start ramping up for the next go around. I love baseball in the beginning, and I follow it usually all the way through, but my first love has always been football, and I will miss it dearly.

As for the game, it was entertaining, and it was cool to see the underdog win. Although the CBS broadcast reached its usual low, and the halftime show was mediocre, the game itself lived up to the billing. Two 4th and goal stops, a ridiculous pick six, and a wonderful day for a city ravaged by one of the worst domestic natural disasters in recent memory, all contributed to a fun night.

First, I believe that Tracy Porter needs his own day in New Orleans. He saved the Vikings game for them, and won the Super Bowl, and its time to give him city wide recognition. The guy is the New Orleans season in a nutshell, and though he isnt the most well known guy, he did everything he was supposed to do, and then some.

Second, regardless of the way Manning played last night, he still deserves to be called one of the best ever, and that’s if he never wins another super bowl again. The guy is the best in the game right now, even though he was bested by Brees and his band of merry men. Unlike Derek Jeter who is widely regarded as a guy who just “wins every time” despite his team doing most of the work, Manning is a guy who actually drives his team to a higher level. His production on offense is the Colts’ entire winning scheme, and without him, they wouldn’t even be a playoff team. Football may be different in terms of a player’s contribution, but the analogy still stands. Manning TRULY the guy who wins – except for last night.

Lastly, Brees should be heralded for his skills as well, because he is definitely the best free agent pickup in NFL history. Back in 2006, when he was coming off a shoulder injury, to think that he could turn around a franchise like the Saints with these kind of results is ludicrous. Brees is right up there with Manning in many ways, and last night solidified a lot of those thoughts.

Quick Hits From The Evening
1. Whoever sewed the patches on the Colts jersey had it right, the Saints and Refs had problems. The whole night, I kept thinking the refs looked like they had gotten shanked because the patch looked like blood on their shirt.
2. Abe Vigoda is awesome, and Snickers had the best commercial of the night because of his appearance.
3. I get that Youtube stars were a big thing, but to have two commercials use the dramatic gopher in relative back to back spots is embarassing.
4. Lesson from Tim Tebow: Dont abort your baby because then you might not have anyone to tackle you in a Super Bowl ad. Oh, and if your kid is gay, he needs to go to conversion therapy. Yes, the site he promoted thinks that’s a good idea. Nice.
5. Who cares if you cause huge amounts of grief to your family and friends, as long as you have doritos, its cool to fake your own death.
6. Barney Stinson deserves to be in the hall of game. Thats all I have to say about that. (Watch HIMYM, its a great fucking show)
7. Reggie Bush proved AGAIN that he isnt worth his option, as Pierre Thomas is clearly the better back. 15 mil goes right down the drain when you cant play for shit.

I guess this is the final goodbye for 2009, one of the most entertaining seasons in a long, long time. Now its time to switch gears and figure out who is going to be drafted by who come march, and start looking forward to another Twins central division title. Yes, that just happened.

Hobby Breakdown: SUPER BOWL XLIV

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Two weeks ago, I did some comparisons of the key players involved in the two championship games. Today, I am going to do a Panini style rehash of those posts with some new commentary on which team has the edge in terms of the hobby. Last time I was 1-1 in picking the games, but this time im out for BLOOD. Not really, just theoretically.

QUARTERBACK

Starter: Peyton Manning

Team: Colts
Rookie Year: 1998
Best Rookie Card: 1998 Playoff Contenders
Average Sell Value For That Card: $3,000
Autos Usually Sell For: $120
Commentary: Manning’s contenders auto is EXTREMELY rare and is EXTREMELY expensive. I actually had to guess based on a few ending auctions. If the Colts win this year, he definitely becomes a front runner in the Brady/Manning/Montana/Marino conversation for the best ever.
Starter: Drew Brees
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2001 (Chargers)
Best Rookie Card: 2001 Bowman Chrome Auto, 2001 Playoff Contenders Auto (tie)
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $400
Autos Usually Sell For: $70
Commentary: Brees has the advantage because he has autographed rookie cards. However, outside of his rookies, his auto can sell for as little as 36 bucks. I think he is one of the more undervalued players in the league, but a win on Sunday could vault his values into a higher value bracket.
Advantage: The Colts have the advantage here because Manning is a hobby MVP and league MVP. Brees is the second coming of a lot of famous QBs, but he has yet to achieve full potential.

RUNNING BACK

Starter: Joseph Addai

Team: Colts
Rookie Year: 2006
Best Rookie Card: 2006 Exquisite Collection
Average Sell Value For That Card: $85
Autos Usually Sell For: $20
Commentary: Addai has never gotten any love, from being swept up in the hype of Reggie Bush, or being lost among the Mannings, he hasnt found a niche yet with collectors. I dont see it changing much unless he blows up in the final two games, mainly because of a mediocre season.
Starter: Reggie Bush
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2006
Best Rookie Card: 2006 Exquisite Collection
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $600
Autos Usually Sell For: $40
Commentary: Bush was one of the most hyped up players coming out of college, and his cards reflected that. They still hold a ton of value in the rookies, but other than that, he has nothing. He has underperformed on the field as well, but a good game on Sunday can be huge for his values.

Advantage: The Saints have this one because collectors still love Reggie Bush for some god forsaken reason. He hasnt done anything worth talking about so far, but dont tell collectors that still pay hundreds for his high end stuff.
WIDE RECEIVER

Starter: Reggie Wayne

Team: Colts
Rookie Year: 2001
Best Rookie Card: 2001 Playoff Contenders
Average Sell Value For That Card: $130
Autos Usually Sell For: $20
Commentary: Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers in the league, but you wouldnt know it from his prices. His value really doesnt have that much room to improve either, as colts receivers have never been appreciated. I would call that the Manning effect, evidenced by Harrison’s low prices too, but I have a feeling its more their position.
Starter: Marques Colston
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2006
Best Rookie Card: 2006 Exquisite Collection
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $75
Autos Usually Sell For: Under $10
Commentary: Colston is a good receiver on the field, but doesn’t have much of a following in the hobby. Like many good wide receivers, he is very underappreciated, and a good game probably wouldn’t help much.

Advantage: The Colts have this one as well, but not by much. Colston is great, but Wayne is a little bit greater on the field and in the hobby. I think if Wayne explodes on Sunday, which is completely within reason, he could widen the gap considerably.
TIGHT END

Starter: Dallas Clark

Team: Colts
Rookie Year: 2003
Best Rookie Card: 2003 UD SPX and 2003 Playoff Contenders (tie)
Average Sell Value For That Card: $45
Autos Usually Sell For: $30
Commentary: Dallas Clark may be the best tight end in the league, and fans love the goofy white guy playing like a human bowling ball. His cards are suprisingly expensive, but I doubt they will go anywhere higher with a Colts win.

Starter: Jeremy Shockey
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2002 (Giants)
Best Rookie Card: 2002 Playoff Contenders
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $42
Autos Usually Sell For: $15
Commentary: Shockey’s mouth gained him a following as a Giant, but his performance forced him to a position with New Orleans. He has had somewhat of a resurgence, but not much. I hated this guy when he was a Giant, and I have a feeling I will hate him that much more on Sunday.

Advantage: This one is a solid win for Dallas Clark, who is followed thanks to his goofy white-guy-ness as well as his production. I even like Clark, and he is undoubtedly one of the best in the league.
Hobby Prediction For NFL Champs: Colts
My Prediction for NFL Champs: Colts
Record So Far: 1-1
Commentary: I just dont think New Orleans is going to be able to keep time with Peyton and the Colts. The offensive line will protect Manning more than the Vikings protected Favre, and Peyton does not/will not make any mistakes. When it comes to being a QB in the NFL, Manning is the prototype. Brees may be an Arnold Schwartzenegger T-800 to Manning’s T-1000, but there wont be a vat of molten steel that can stop the Colts offense this time.