Panini America Asks: What’s the Difference Between these 2011 Playoff Contenders RCs?
In some cases, the differences are more recognizable. In others, they’re seemingly undetectable. In every case, though, this much is certain: There are short-printed photo variations for each of the 36 RPS Rookie Tickets Rookie Cards inside 2011 Playoff Contenders Football — and we’re about to shed some light on them.
A missing arm band. A removed logo. An altered glove. Indeed, the most discerning Contenders collectors have likely already picked up on some of the discrepancies in the few weeks since the product released. Below, we’ll tip you off to a few more to give you an idea of what to look for on the variation SPs (including some that are more extremely SP).
Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance in the coming days for more information on additional SPs and variations.
Trackbacks
- Anonymous
- Panini America Unveils the Remaining 2011 Playoff Contenders Football RC Variations « The Official Panini America Blog
- Question around CONTENDERS autos and SP (short prints?) - Blowout Cards Forums
- SP Reveal: 2011 Playoff Contenders Football Rookie Ticket Variations & Rookie Ink « The Official Panini America Blog
- SP Reveal: 2011 Playoff Contenders Football Signs of Greatness Autographs « The Official Panini America Blog
The Knight's Lance 
Wow! Thats crazy! I now have to go check my Gabbert out. so these are just the variations and not the SP rookies as well? This is awesome!! Loved that you guys did this for Score, but for a great high end brand too…wowzers!
Just about the only reason to look twice at a card signed by Jordan Todman!
And I have just discovered my Todman is a logo-less variation
Not bad a few Photoshop changes and it makes it a Harder card to find.
Holy crap…I have the only Bilal Powell sold on ebay with the black shirt…….and it is the one that came with a crease on it from the mailman. FAIL….ugh.
Very very sneaky sir. When will the full list of SP’s be released?
So the SP’s are on the right?
Yes, sir.
Sweet.Thanks for the hints.I would have never noticed I had the Ponder SP.
I see so taking the Riddell of the helmet or the logo of the jersey will make it the sp run version.
Nice!
Will redemptions (i.e. Kyle Rudolph) also have an SP version? If so… Would it be noted on my redemption card, or will I be playing some “where’s waldo” looking for differences once I receive it?
Rudolph is one of the variations. Tomorrow, we’ll post a gallery detailing the rest of the variations.
hey maybe you guys can shed some light on the bad quality of this years auto’s??? i opened a 12 boxes of this stuff and not 1 of the 60 odd auto’s i pulled were mint condition?? all had dinged corners and i checked ebay 2 see if it was just me who was unlucky and it looks as though i am not the only 1, it’s frustrating when you get a cam newton rookie ticket with dinged corners fresh out the pack and i see the front row ticket on ebay fell victim as well.
i thought you guys did a excellent job with 2010 contenders but this year’s quality was just poor
Appreciate the feedback. We go to great lengths to quality control everything that goes into packs. We haven’t heard widespread complaints of damaged cards with this particular release, and we’re sorry to hear about your issues.
I can say that one of the few drawbacks of doing more on-card autos is the fact that every card is handled by the player during the signing process and, as a result, susceptible to more potential issues.
We’ll keep a watch on additional complaints.
Thanks again.
nice, i have the SP Ryan Williams. How are you going to be able to tell if you don’t have the comparisons though?
We’ll have a gallery detailing the other variations tomorrow.
Very nice. Will have to look close at them now.
Tracey question for you been waiting on a live redemption with no update i have asked a few times about it but no response. Any idea on how long i should wait for a card i have seen live ones of?
Thanks
Thanks Tracy I never knew there were variations in Contenders! I know some of the cards SP!
Sorry guys but I think taking a logo off a helmet to make it an SP is not very exciting…I would prefer different photos completely…
Will the 2011 contenders baseball be the same way with SPs?
No. But we’ll try to get a list of SPs for Contenders Baseball posted in the next few days.
Cool, any hint that any of them are the Rookie Ticket on card autos?
All 36 of the on-card Rookie Ticket subjects have variations.
Thought there was 50 Rookie Ticket Autos for Baseball?
There are. I hope to have the complete list of SPs for Contenders Baseball up today.
Now are you going to have the print run for these SPs for Contenders Baseball?
Yes, sir. I just got the list this afternoon and will post it in the morning.
Mann you guys are slick.
Sorry Tracy, I don’t like the “Where’s Waldo” approach to SP’s. I do understand that there is an increased cost to stamping /50, /25, /5 and /1, but those are popular, tried and true for a reason. When I’m spending upwards of $150 a box, I want the stamping.
Why do somecards have September 11 2011 on them and some dont?
For most players, the Sept. 11, 2011 date represents their NFL regular-season debut.
I would love the Ryan Williams SP!!!
This is stupid! It wouldn’t be too bad if you let the customers know ahead of time what the short prints are and any hidden variations. People spend good money buying these products, and many times need to sell them quickly to recoup some money. It is insane to have to wait to see what’s going on, to sell a card not knowing it’s a sp/variation, etc. Playoff might think it’s funny, but this ain’t kid stuff with the price of a box pushing $150! Keep it up Playoff, and you’ll lose this customer. . .stop trying to be so cute!
If you’re going to do this, at least make the photos different. . .maybe one still and one action with the action being the sp? At least it would make collectors want to try to get both versions. Even if one is an sp, there is not much motivation to get a variation that someone at your company is learning basic photoshop with. . .they are basically the same card. Even the different colored inks is a better idea. How about one with a helmet on and the other without a helmet to see what the player looks like? How about one picture with a football and another without?
Tracy, Sorry to get off topic but could you please answer these questions.
1. Is there a 2008 Rookie Ticket auto of Marcus Smith? Been searching for years…
2. Any update on the 4 redemptions from 2009 I am still waiting on? It’s been 2 years..(Kenny Britt, Mike Goodson,Ryan Mouton,Shawn Nelson)
3. There are 12 guys in the 2011 list that have not shown up on ebay yet, any clue why?
Thanks for your help. I have every set since 2006 and am trying to get those older ones wrapped up as I work on the 2011 ones here!! Look forward to the other SP variations today.
So let me gets this straight: you can spend extra time and money to make 2 different cards, only differing by the smallest of details, yet you won’t spend that time and money to make sure your non-auto insert and relic cards don’t have huge empty areas where the auto would normally go?
This is a hobby, if you are trying to recoup money after purchasing a product then you need to find another hobby!
How will Panani disptripute SP variations for the redemptions?
Great Question! I also hope the redemptioins come quicker than 2 years. I don’t want to try chasing the SP variations 2 years down the road to finish the set!
Slightly changing the picture in an attempt to create a sp is pretty lazy. I could see the different pictures like last year but this is just stupid.
Just wanted you guys to know that on the back of Jamie Harpers Rookie Tickets your paragraph about him begins by talking about his last season being at Auburn. He was a Tiger, but it was a C-L-E-M-S-O-N Tiger! Go Clemson.
gonna take 2 hrs for a single box lol…cool SP’s makes you check and re-check
So, I’m in the same boat, has ANYONE ever seen a 2008 Contenders Marcus Smith, auto or stamped “no auto”? What about 2000 Contenders Doug Chapman or Thomas Jones? Mostly the only Contenders I need from 1998 on….