Category Archives: Product Review

Product Review: 2009 Upper Deck Black Football

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When I first saw the announcement that UD black football was coming, my mind jumped at the possibilities as to what they could work with. Now that we have seen what the product was, to say that there are mixed reviews is an understatement. The people who busted the boxes are angry at the content of what they paid for, while the singles buyers are salivating at the top pulls from the set. Although I fall under the latter part of the divide, I see the merits of all the complaints that have been lodged.

Design/Creativity

Off the bat, I want to say that I absolutely love the design of this product. I love the looks of the cards, especially some of the more creative ones like the film strips, and I think that it could be the best of the year so far. My favorites of the set are probably a tie between the Lustrous patch autos, and the quad patch autos, though many of the cooler ideas are threads among all the cards. The black background makes everything that much brighter and cooler, and it reminded me of the Vizio commercial where they put blacker blacks on their TVs to make the colors more vivid. At the time I thought that was crap, but it is present here I believe.

As for another major point of contention in the set, the rookie autos, I love the look of them, but I see the validity of the complaints for why they don’t work. First off, College Unis in this type of product is a problem, and a lot of people have a right to complain, especially with pro logos for team designation. I think if this product was a few months later, it would have been great to have a rookie style Lustrous patch auto. Then you march into the territory of SPA and Ultimate, so I see why they went with it the way they did. At least the cards look good enough in most of the cases to look past the short comings to a cool little card, but again, I am not missing the forest for the trees.

Another great example of a cool idea is the signed swatches that are sparsely included in the sets. They look beyond awesome, and though the autos arent as clear as they should be at points, the design and look of the cards are awesome. Its been years since we have had signed GU stuff in football sets, and I am glad to see it back. From what I remember, it should be making a comeback in Exquisite as well.

Moving on to the flag base cards and signed parallels, I have no complaints, though I have heard mixed reviews. Some people love them from their Basketball black collections were happy to see them included, others just thought they were dumb and unnecessary. I think it’s a cool idea, and would maybe even buy a few of the unsigned ones. The signed ones are crap shoots, as there usually isnt enough room for the players to sign. Some are good, some are bad, and that’s where things get dicey. I think moving the name would have been a good idea, and expanding the space to sign is essential.

Lastly, the cuts in this set are awful. Plain and simple. No pictures, high numbering, bad checklist, poor design. I would say that they are some of the better ones of the horrible cuts we have had this year in Classics, Limited and otherwise, but lipstick on a pig don’t make it a woman.

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Autograph Cards

The signed portion of this product I like a lot because I am a sucker for on card signatures, and because the design looks great. I think better pens were needed in some cases, but in most, they look fine. As said above, the Lustrous cards are some of the cooler cards I have seen in a long time, and the film strip cards are a gimmick that actually works. The dual auto jersey cards are awesome, and the quad jersey cards are even better. That being said, the flag autos are mostly bad, the cuts suck, and the rookies are college style. A weighted scale for sure.

The part that may offset the rookie college unis are the duals, triples, and quads that look amazing. The pairings are pretty good for the most part, and having quad signed cards are awesome additions to a set that lacked in its rookie element. I got a very distinct feeling that the Pen Pals cards are not going to be that good looking this year after seeing some of the previews, and these multisigned cards make the Pen Pals look like prestige junk.

Overall, I think the autographs live up to black potential, but there are no shortage of bad parts for sure.

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Relic Cards

There are no relic only cards in this set

Value To The Collector

First off, let me say that there is no way in hell I would ever buy a box of this unless it was a drastically reduced price. Those people who were complaining have it mostly right. Unless you get lucky, you are going to pull two rookies and two flags and be done with your 175 bucks. To have a shot at the good stuff, you have to break multiple boxes, and for this price, it almost isnt possible.

However, if you do manage to pull something besides a rookie auto, there is a lot of potential in some of the cards. Many of the Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, and others are selling above the cost of a box, which is good, and there are a few cuts that people do want. The good rookie autos are selling reasonably higher than most of the others out there, and the Lustrous cards do very well. You shouldn’t be buying these boxes to make money anyways, and I think if you go into it with those expectations, you could come out happy.

The cards themselves will hold their value, especially some of the rarer subsets, which will be good for the singles buyers, but the drawback of busting a box is still going to prevent a lot of people from enjoying this product.

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Overall Impressions

I would say this set is the first in about 3 months where I want multiple cards from multiple players. The others I just buy the Harvins or the Petersons and be done with it. This one is different. For that I think there are a lot of other people out there like me. However, there are just as many people who got a swift kick in the baby maker when busting this product, and they are out for blood.

Personally, I don’t see how this product is performing any different than past years, yet for some reason, the stigma is definitely poor. I would say that if we got pro uniform rookies and some guarantees on case content, you would have seen a much different reaction.

Also, considering this set is all live with no redemptions is particularly awesome. That is an accomplishment unlike anything we have ever seen before, and I think that bears repeating. When was the last time that a set with all hard signed stuff was put out with no wait on any of the cards? Never.

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2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Black (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Limited (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Bowman Chrome (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Topps Finest (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
12(t). Topps Mayo (2/5 GELLMANS)
22(t). Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
22(t). SP Signature Edition (1/5 GELLMANS)
24. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)

Topps Finest Is Here, Or What Is Left of It

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A decade ago, Finest was just that, the finest around. In recent years, it has become a stale mid year release from Topps that has ranged from high end at over 150 a box, middle end around $80-90. It even has switched formats a number of times, going from one box of 24 packs to three mini boxes of 8 packs each, to now two mini boxes, all of which makes us long for a simple product with simple cards. In lieu of a review that has little purpose with the way the product is set up, I just want to talk about what I have seen so far out of a product I used to love. For the record, going back to 1993, I have bought a finest card of every player I collected. From Kirby Puckett, Joe Mauer, Adrian Peterson, Shawn Kemp, Drew Bledsoe, and the rest, I still have all my cards. This year, for the second year in a row, im passing on this offering.

First is the configuration, something that has bothered me to no end over the last few years. The mini box idea is a complete waste of packaging and time, especially when you look at the success this product had before the switch. We would all have just as good of a time opening one big box, but then it would be harder to justify the mystique of being able to buy half the box and come away with a hit. I think with any finest, chrome, and similar products, they should be more adept at keeping it fresh and old school at the same time.
Speaking of needless “improvements,” I still have yet to find out why Topps felt the need to shoehorn (thanks Slette) a relic into the rookie autos. Like Chrome, these DID NOT need a relic, and the definitely didnt need to be placed where they were on the card. They arent as bad as the Frankenstein abominations from Bowman Chrome, but they are still completely useless. Companies need to realize that adding relics to existing designs is never a good idea, even more so when the collectors have gone for years loving the other way.

Still in the “Improvement” column, the Letters are making another appearance, this time sticker free. Im hoping the good part of this addition will be a lack of Topps Lettermen this year, but I know I am not that lucky. The letters arent horrible, signed on the letter in the right kind of pen, even with pro color letters instead of black or college. They arent too elaborate, as all of them are one color, even the Eagles, something that speaks more to the speed they were built than anything. Personally, im not all that disappointed with them, but when you factor in that finest has never needed them before, its kind of like putting a headrest TV screen in a Duesenberg.
One thing that has improved without a doubt is the design of the cards. Last year, Topps Finest was full of cards that had no heart and no purpose, using weird color schemes and stupid concepts. Those are all gone this year, sticking with the normal colored refractors and xfractors. I like it that way, and Im guessing a lot of the Finest collectors out there do to.
Im still wondering when they will figure out that they should go back to less refractors per box, more like the 90s when the refractor was something you looked for due to the rarity and value. Instead of contrived scarcity in the colors, maybe make it even more of a chase some how. That will drive value more than anything.
When it comes down to it, Finest is just another mid year set I am going to avoid, but at least its much more worth your time than other products like SP Signature Edition.
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2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Limited (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Bowman Chrome (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Topps Finest (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
20. Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
21. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)

Product Review: 2009 Donruss Limited Football

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For the past few years, Limited has been one of DLP’s best sets. It features the best cards, with the best designs, and the Lettermen are some of the only game used signed letter cards in the biz. This year, with the Panini switch over, there was definitely going to be some major shakeups, some turned out good, while others did not.

Design/Creativity

There is a lot to talk about here, as usual, so I will start at the bottom and work my way up. First off, I hate the base cards again for this set, as they look like they are straight out of the Star Wars trilogy. Too many busy diagonals and the player right in the middle. When you factor in the (still) ugly mirror and raibow foil, it looks awful. Sadly, this also means the scrub autos look horrid, the legend autos are just as bad, and those 1/1 logo base card parallels that we love also suck. It was a poor foundation for this set, and it really put a huge downer on a good looking set from years past.

As for the focus of the set, the rookie patch autos, they are the best they have been since I have started collecting Limited. For once, a company actually uses a diecut pattern that makes perfect sense, and looks good to boot. I bought the Harvin, which brings me to the major problem with these cards. The list of players that have redemptions for one of the most important Panini sets of the year is fucking staggering. Harvin, Nicks, Maclin, so on and so on, all are redemptions. For such awesome cards, I could not believe what I was seeing.

Also, Im not sure why Panini has become so obsessed with blowing smoke up our asses with these stupid ass event used pro-bowl cards. I can tell you right now that ten out of ten times, I would much rather have game used jerseys than these pieces of shit, even the letter patches they inserted here. Plus, not many of the collectors that pull/buy these cards understand that they arent game used, and that really isnt fair to prey on the simple.

Although I think the concept itself is stale, I do like the look of the slideshow signatures this year. The card design is a little busy, but the cards look okay compared to the past. I still don’t know why they just don’t get the cards themselves signed, as the slides have a pretty limiting space once they are put into the windows. Im still waiting for the first mini screen to be put into a card, where you will actually see the player at the premiere doing their thing. That would be cool.

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Autograph Cards

There are a lot of autograph cards, and most of them look okay, despite being 100% stickers in a mid end market that has moved away from labels. I said above that I absolutely love the rookie patch autos, and I will stick by that. The design of the cards, as well as the placement of everything just worked remarkably well, especially with the word logos from all the NFL teams. There arent very many parallels of the cards either, which makes them even better.

The Cut autos went from looking cool on the sell sheets to weird in the packs, and im not sure why it changed. On the sell sheet, the cards when from having pictures on them to being pictureless in the packs. On top of that, the space, without a player picture, almost looks like a glory hole viewing the cut itself. Its really too bad that more companies are going to pictureless cuts, as UD has done the same thing almost exclusively. I believe the licensing is the problem, as you have to work with estates and stuff rather than the players.

I love the dual autographs they have in this product again, very well done. For most of the duals, they paired a rookie with the top living superstar from that team’s past, thus leading to some cool combos. Sanchez/Namath, Crabtree/Rice, etc. They also did ones like Montana/Rice, Aikman/Emmitt, etc, which fills out the set really well. These are low numbered, and are some of the top pulls in the set.

The Rookie Lettermen arent that bad this year either, as the design hasn’t changed much in the last few years. They are some of the only signed rookie premiere used letters, other than NT, and they are actually a great idea. The problem is that this year, they signed with a huge, thick paint pen, so a good portion of the autos look really weird. Having a situation like this is fucking typical Panini. Great.

If you havent seen the crown royale 2008 cards, consider yourself lucky. These are some of the worst autograph cards of the year, and are obviously left-overs from last year that were inserted to claim they have an on-card element for the set. The stupid part is that they signed in dark pen on a dark card, and you can barely see the auto. The diecut design is fucking awful, and I cant believe people are thinking these cards are a good addition. So let me get this straight, you dig into the store room for a rejected on card set of the 2008 rookie class in a 2009 set? Someone tell me how that made it through QC. Panini and on card autos never mix, they are like oil and water. Holy hell.

Mainly, the only real complaint I have about the autographs in this set is that they have redemptions for rookie premiere players. I have said it before and will say it again when the same thing happens for Gridiron Gear, THIS IS FUCKING INEXCUSABLE. Planning is key, and if you cant get the captive audience at the premiere to sign all their shit instead of signing thousands of extra autographs for friends and employees of the company, you need to answer for your mistake. Bush league right there.

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Relic Cards

Where the auto cards succeeded, the relic cards failed, poor designs, horrible concepts, and floating windows. All the normal stuff. Starting with the base cards, they used a sort of “up arrow” for their jersey cards, and with a diagonally proficient design going the other way, it looks like the players are getting smashed by the closing doors. This also takes away the great logo 1/1s from last year, which looked great, as this year it’s a toothy box instead of a circle.

The pro-bowl laden jersey part of this product is completely worthless, and I hope it do
esn’t sneak into NT to ruin it even more than it has for Limited and Certified. Its scary to me that people are paying hundreds for these cards thinking they are game used, when really they are from a player event during the pro-bowl weekend, where the players did the jersey on, jersey off dance like the rookie premiere.

Personally, those pro-bowl cards arent even the worst of the set, as that title belongs to the jumbo jersey cards. Each rookie and some veterans have a card where they are being attacked by a big block of jersey that looks about as out of place as you can get. They have stupid parallels where they change the floating box to a diecut jersey, but overall, these are the worst relic cards I have seen in a long time.

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Value to the Collector

Limited is the first Panini set of the year that I would support buying. The cards will hold their value, the boxes are pretty good as the price comes down, and you have a fun break if you can pull one of the cool cards from the many auto sets.

Right now, the price is already around 80 bucks, down from 100, and for two autos that isnt a bad deal when you see some of the possibilities. I still say that the plain relics should be ditched industry wide for a year or two, but those cards arent why you buy Limited.

Im also VERY glad they went back to the 1 pack box, as last year it was overkill with as many cards as there were. The one pack box should be something that more companies adopt, as football and base cards are only good in two sets, both with Chrome in the title.

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Overall Impressions

Limited is the best Panini product this year, and probably will be that way through National Treasures. They went back to what works for them, and this set shows the improvement. I still think it gets blown away by a set like SPA, where all the autos are on card, and it starts at about the same price, so that will need to be considered once the best products of the year come out.

See, Topps owns the beginning of the calendar, Panini owns the middle (poorly), and Upper Deck gets the end. Obviously, this set is the product MVP of the middle, and with on card autos, it could have been one of the best of the year maybe.

We will see how the rest of the year turns out.

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2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Limited (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Bowman Chrome (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
11(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
19. Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
20. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)

Product Review: 2009 Bowman Chrome Football

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Im not going to do a regular review here because Bowman Chrome’s format is so similar to Bowman DP and Topps Chrome. However, there are a few great parts of the set, and a few bad parts.

The Good

I like the design they chose this year for Bowman Chrome, it fits well. The design also lends itself quite well to the parallels that Chrome is known for, and they dont have to frankenstein the card for the autographs like last year. I think that if we are going to have to endure as many base sets that are turned into chrome as we do, this is a good trade off.
I am a big fan of the parallel structure in chrome, and I think it works well when you can bust a box and do well even if you pull a shitty auto. Bowman chrome is that and more, as the low numbered refractors ALWAYS sell well. Of course, you also have the superfractor chase, which definitely doesnt hurt the product’s goals.
Lastly, the photography for some of the players in Chrome is 10 times as good as in Topps Chrome. Although they moved away from game style shots that I love, they made it so you cant see the empty LA Coliseum behind them. Also, having the holo-sticker on the ball for the Sanchez Topps Chrome card was pretty bush league.
The Bad

The rookie jersey auto parallels are some of the worst ideas in chrome history, both Topps and Bowman alike. The swatches cover up more than half of the player and continue to be a useless addition to a product known for keeping it real. Topps was horrible at designing these cards last year, and this year is no different. Bowman Sterling, Topps Chrome, and now Bowman Chrome, all put the swatches in horrible places, yet, Bowman seems to be the worst placement all around.
Also, im not sure why they went with the ribbing on the background of the card. I liked it much better when it was a flat chrome, no need to fix something that aint broken.
Lastly, the autograph cards in the set do not make it obvious enough that they are autograph cards. They are now printing “Topps Certified Auto” on the cards, which is good, but an amateur would still be stupid enough not to miss it on a fake. I think they need different ways of doing it.
Overall
I think Bowman Chrome is good but forgettable. It may be the way to go in Baseball, but Football continues to be Topps Chrome territory. Its not a horrible product, and looks to be a fun and cheap rip, so I may actually go buy a box or two. Maybe ill get lucky.
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2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Bowman Chrome (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
18. Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
19. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)

Product Review: 2009 Upper Deck SP Threads Football

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Last year, I really like SP Rookie Threads’ theme of having cards that looked like they were sewn together like patches. However, the product still had an absolutely ridiculous price point at over 200 dollars. This year, the configuration has changed, the price has changed, and so has the overall set.

Design/Creativity
There are a few parts of this set that I like, and others that look pretty boring. Unlike last year’s set, there is no real theme to this product, and I think it really detracts from the feel of it. I think that the patchworks style really worked for the SP Threads brand, and I am disappointed that it was only brought back for two of the subsets.
The first thing that I like is the use of the acetate photos in the rookie jersey cards. Without the acetate, these cards could easily have been a disaster. First, the swatches are no longer the focus of the card, but more the full color player pic that looks really cool in a solid stock. When I was able to buy some of this, I pulled a Robiskie jersey card that I thought looked really cool compared to being a complete throwaway without the acetate.
Secondly, I LOVE the die cut throwback cards that they brought back. I cant tell you how much I loved this design as a kid, and I have been waiting for them to do an entire higher end throwback product with the original SP, SPX and SPA designs. There is also an auto parallel that looks even better, which has a few cards I may have to go after.
Also, I really like what they did with the letters in this product. Because they couldnt go with a pro design because of the amount of time they had to get the cards signed, Im glad they went with a college theme instead. It prevents non-team built letters like 2007, and non-colored boring letters like in Donruss Threads. Instead you have a set that actually makes sense, as there are a lot of people who like the letters, a few people that collect the college players, and a good number of people who appreciate good designs. They arent perfect, but for a box hit, it isnt bad.
As for what I dont like, there are still a lot of college number stickers floating around in many different products with pro jerseys. I cant explain how much of a turn off this is, and sadly SP Threads is pretty much a dumping ground for what seems to be the last of them.
This set also has a lot of cards that just seem like they are uninspired. The dual and quad relic cards, the non-letter dump autos, and the base set itself. The trade off, though, is that the price point is completely different from last year, and that brings us back to a worthwhile product. Icons has become a collector favorite because of what you can get per box for the price, and I feel like this could have a similar following. Its affordable, and you get two autos with one being a letter. Not half bad.
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Autograph Cards
First off, I love the diecut SP parallel autos, mainly because it brings me back to when SP was it, rather than an umbrella. Back when I started collecting, you saved for the SP packs, and to see that they have adapted them for now is amazing. If only they could bring back the holoview autos, right?
I also like the scripted in time autos in some cases, because it reminds me of the patchwork theme from last year. The cards are well conceived, and look good, but the checklist looks very weak.
As for the letters, they do what they are supposed to do. They are there to garner interest in a cheaper product, and should carry value until Black hits like a nuclear bomb. After that, they are going to be pretty much forgotten, but will still give people a reason to buy this product for a cheap thrill.
When you add in the chance to pull duals, triples and up from a box, the product gets a little boost. They look good, but have proven to be exceedingly rare. I would say that if you are lucky enough to pull a triple, go buy a lottery ticket.
Basically, this SP Threads product is not going to turn any heads, or have people rushing to buy cases, but at least it has a good enough content value in the autographs to convince people to buy a few boxes.
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Relic Cards
As usual, the basic relic cards are pretty boring, at least outside of the acetate rookies. They are continuing to be a needless addition to any product, and really have become completely monotonous. At least with the acetate rookies, the relics are part of a cool idea. The plain swatch cards could be removed and I dont think many people would notice.
The basic patch cards do look really well designed, if not only because they are the other cards that have carried over from last year. They are low numbered, but arent anything special, and really just blend in with the rest of the set. Its really too bad.
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Value To The Collector
The value in this product stems from the fact that you can buy a 60-80 dollar box and get an auto letter, an auto, and a jersey. None of the cards are going to blow your socks off, but it seems to be a fun rip.
When Black hits next month, all of the big whales are going to drop this like a Panini on card auto. There just isnt enough to sustain interest for people who like the chance at good looking, high value cards. Its not going to compete with Limited either, but the cost may lure mid range collectors away. Considering that Limited is going back to a one pack box for 100 bucks, it will quickly price itself out of the mid range menu. Thats where SP Threads will succeed.
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Overall Impress
ions
As much as I hated the price point of the last product, this left me wondering if it were better. At least before, you had the opportunity for some amazingly cool cards, of which I own a few, where with the current set, those have disappeared.
All I can think is how bored I am with these filler sets. SP Threads, Topps National Chicle, Icons, Elite, blah blah blah. Im pretty sure that its time to rethink the ideas of what consists the middle of the card year.
Average Rating =

2009 Product Leaderboard (SO FAR)

1. Topps Chrome (4/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Donruss Certified (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Upper Deck Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Philadelphia (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). Topps Football (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Icons (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Heroes (3/5 GELLMANS)
2(t). UD Draft Edition (3/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Upper Deck SP Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Upper Deck SPX (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Playoff Absolute Memorabilia (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Bowman Sterling Football (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Threads (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Classics (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Donruss Elite (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Playoff Prestige (2/5 GELLMANS)
9(t). Bowman Draft Picks (2/5 GELLMANS)
18. Score Inscriptions (1/5 GELLMANS)
19. Leaf Rookies and Stars (0/5 GELLMANS – NR)