2008 Topps Rookie Progression Football

What I pulled--
Bronze Parallel (#ed to 389) – Shaun McDonald, Santonio Holmes, Patrick Kerney
Silver Parallel (#ed to 299) – Chris Johnson, Allen Patrick
Gold Parallel – Chris Chambers (#29/199)
Platinum Parallel – Torry Holt (#97/99)
L/V/R Rookies – Dantrell Savage, Tom Zbikowski, Yvenson Bernard, Tracy Porter, Dominiqu Rodgers-Cromartie
L/V/R Legends – Antonio Gates, Terrell Owens, Brian Westbrook
L/V/R Rookie Bronze Parallel – Charles Godfrey (#40/389)
L/V/R Rookie Silver Parallel – Donnie Avery (#246/299)
L/V/R Rookie Gold Parallel – Dan Connor (#27/199)

Rookie Relic – Bruce Davis navy blue jersey
L/V/R Veteran Relic Bronze Parallel – Reggie Wayne white jersey (#213/299)
Rookie Autograph – Earl Bennett
Veteran Autograph Gold Parallel – Patrick Willis (#4/20)

Review:
The first Topps football set of the 2008 season is out and, even though the name on the set is new, it is
not a new concept.

Topps Rookie Progression, for all intents and purposes, is a reboot of the former Topps Draft Picks and

Prospects. The gist of the set is simple – these are the first cards of this year’s rookie class, alongside
many of the stars of today. The fact that the college players are not yet listed with NFL team affiliations and
are pictured in college uniforms is immaterial. The point behind this set is simple, and Topps keeps the
execution exactly that way.

The base cards are exactly that – base cards. White borders, action shots, a no-frills presentation. These

cards are offset by the thicker stock and colorful design of the L/V/R cards, which fall one per pack and
highlight each player in a Legend, Veteran or Rookie denoted card. Each of these sets has a colorful array
of parallels, each of which is numbered, offering a chance to complete a “rainbow” for the player collectors
out there. One thing I do like (and I might have mentioned this in previous reviews) is that the presence of
real cards as the decoys, rather than advertisements or blank white inserts, offers a nice bonus to the
collector, and should become the regular practice of ALL card companies, not just Topps.

The bells and whistles around Topps Rookie Progression are basic and are the types that appeal to

collectors. There are no insert sets, and we have already talked about the parallels. However, each box of
Topps Rookie Progression also offers two relics and two autographs. Yes, there are plenty of late round
picks you have never heard of included among the rookies, but all of the stars in this rookie class,
including the biggest name of them all, Darren McFadden, are here, and there is also a nice selection of
veterans, as the Patrick Willis auto I pulled will attest to. These cards also come in varying parallels, adding some more
potential value to the break.

This year’s rookie class might not carry the immediate star power of last year’s, but the Longs, Ryans and McFaddens in this
group will still be enough to drive interest for collectors to go out and pick up a box of Rookie Progression. I don’t think they will
be disappointed with the results, either........................

B