Every so often, a football card set comes along and just makes my jaw drop. We have become accustomed to products that are just plays on the same theme, over and over again, and one can easily get into a funk. I think that has happened a lot over the last few years, but after seeing the preview for Topps Diamond, I needed to re-evaluate what I look for in a product. It looks THAT good. More importantly, it PISSES me off that we will likely only get one year of the product.

High end football has had its tests as of late thanks to Flawless’ precedent of on card autographs in the beginning of the year:

2014 Flawless Tom Brady Logo Patch Auto

2014 Flawless Emmitt Smith Dual Jumbo Patch Auto BGS 9.5

2014 Flawless Peyton Manning Jumbo Patch Auto

However, I still think Five Star was much more dynamic looking last year:

2014 Topps Five Star Tom Brady Auto SP

2014 Topps Five Star Russell Wilson Silver Signature Auto

2014 Topps Five Star Odell Beckham Silver Signature Auto

From what I understand, these cards will be the first in football to have a flat stock mixed with refractor technology similar to Topps Tribute in baseball. It will function very similarly to what we have seen in many other circumstances, but more Chrome is always better. Black background with metallic pens have been a staple for Topps over the last few years, and a lot of the cards have turned out to be some of the best looking they produce. Others have been dropped down a peg due to pen issues.

If Diamond can deliver in the way they are previewing here, with on card autographs through the whole product, and some ridiculously cool technology in play, this could be a winner and then some. Those diamond die-cuts are something else, especially when presented this way. Yet, with Panini taking over the NFLPA exclusive next year, this might be one of Topps’ last hurrahs as a licensed company. From the way it looks, they are going out as king of the gridiron.

I just hope that the year that has passed since Panini announced the exclusive is an indicator that all is not what it seems with their exclusive, and that the NFL may not want to follow suit. It would be quite the awesome situation if Topps could get back on the horse, and split the difference with Panini. Competition always fuels the best fires, and sets like this need a place in the hobby. Of course, Im just reading too far into this, but speculation is always fun.

Collectors freaking love jumbo patch autos, and I love good looking cards. This is a match made in heaven, as the on card autos and enormous patch cards are going to drive some SERIOUS value if the rookie class plays out the way some think it will. Each box is guaranteeing a RPA, plus two other autos, which only makes me that much more interested to see the checklist.

Even if the rookies dont pan out, I am going to have to pick out some boxes of this stuff just to experience what looks like the best I have seen from Topps since Five Star was first announced.