Yesterday was a big day. Not only did we have some pretty sweet MNF games to watch, but we also got a huge preview of 2014 Five Star Football, which is easily the product I spend the most money on each year. Although there has been new on card content added to NT over the last few years, NOTHING touches what Five Star brings to the table in non-rookie autograph content.

For those of us who like good looking cards and hard signed autographs, there is NOT a competition:

2013 Topps Five Star Deion Sanders Auto Inscription /10

2013 Topps Five Star Andrew Luck Auto Patch

2010 Topps Five Star Brett Favre Triple Logo Patch Auto Booklet

2011 Topps Five Star Jerry Rice Auto Inscription /10

2013 Topps Five Star Adrian Peterson Auto Patch

In terms of the actual preview from this year, I think we are going to get some major upgrades to the set, which include some of the best looking cards I have ever seen from this product. After YEARS of pleading with Topps to make single logo autos, it looks like we are finally going to get our wish. I cant tell you how huge that is. This is one area where Treasures has always been more of a chase, although they were stickers until last year.

Secondly, following in the footsteps of Baseball, we are going to get the silver signatures and gold signatures. These cards, when done well, are absolutely stunning looking pieces. If there is one thing that Topps does well its make a checklist that is short and to the point with mostly top signers, and from the preview, that is exactly what we are in for in 2014.

The dual booklet auto with Favre and Manziel is very interesting, as I think there were a lot of comparisons between the two QBs. You can see that this is going to be a highly sought after card, as you know there are a lot of fans for both players out there. It may end up being the only combo auto card with the two guys on it. The additional cards from Jamaal Charles and Eddie Lacy are also great looking examples, although likely not the prime chase for this set based on previous years.

I think that Five Star has shown year after year after year that it is the pinnacle of autograph sets that are available in football. Nothing compares.

I look at this like the acclaimed movie that plays in the independent theater. Its not going to be Michael Bay’s Ninja Turtles (Treasures) in terms of the big explosions and stuff like that, but if you know how to appreciate the type of film, it can be the best movie you have ever seen. Its all substance, it looks amazing, and it makes all the right choices.

When you look at Treasures, and what it is every year, its easy to compare it to a Michael Bay movie. All big flash and flare, but in the end, there is just nothing there. It can look good at times, but when you really look past the initial glance, it can never measure up.