Via @tristar1 ... Bo Jackson

This year's National Sports Collectors Convention is nearly here -- it's set for July 30-Aug. 3 in Chicago with a strong roster of autograph guests ready to sign for collectors who get a ticket and get in line for their moment beyond the ballpark.

Some signers are free if you attend the VIP reception on opening day of the show or buy a VIP ticket package -- a bonus for taking the time to hit every day of the show -- but landing other signers will take some planning and a few bucks.

It's tough to see everything at The National -- it's that big -- and the time it takes to work through autograph lines is valuable in that it impedes your shot at seeing it all. But, if you have wanted to meet a player and get that ink, a number of past and present stars are on the list this year. With that said, here are my picks -- skewing toward the best names for the lowest prices possible -- to grab off the autograph list during the full days of the show this year. (Keep reading for the full signers list at the end ... and, remember, times are always subject to change.)

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What's Buzzing: Taysom Hill and NFL Week 11 reactions, Paul Skenes cards, new pulls and more as we start a new week.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? Dipping back a few years for a NFL preseason rout.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 3.

ANOTHER BIG DAY ...
Josh Allen -- QB, Buffalo Bills (Rookie Cards in 2018 boxes)
It seems this former Wyoming star just puts up big numbers week after week and this week was one of them -- four passing TDs, 358 yards -- and also a rushing TD. (Nobody put up more fantasy points, either.) He's already thrown for 807 yards and seven TDs to just one pick. and his career stats already include more than 10,000 passing yards with his next TD being his 75th. He had more than 4,500 passing yards last season and there's really no reason to expect his numbers to lag even though one could argue he doesn't yet have a single bonafide unquestioned superstar guy to throw to. His good cards are not cheap and I'm not sure I'd go all-in on any of them but bargains could easily pay off well with team success in the postseason.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: NFL chatter and big breaks, Barry Bonds, pondering graded-card briefcases and allegedly fake 1991 Topps Desert Shield cards among today's talkers.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Rare Mike Trout Rookie Card parallels, big pulls, player-collector stashes and more.

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This year's National Sports Collectors Convention is set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland with a meaty roster of autograph guests signing for those who opt to get a ticket and get in line for an "inkredible" moment.

Some of those signers are actually free if you're at the VIP reception on Wednesday or buy a VIP ticket package -- a bonus for taking the time to hit the entire show or buy the full package for all of the other bonuses -- but other signers will take some planning to land the ones you want.

It's tough to see everything at the show -- it's that big -- and the time it takes to work through autograph lines is valuable in that it impedes your shot at seeing it all. With that said, here are my picks -- one per day -- to grab off the autograph list. (Keep reading for the full signers list in a gallery at the end.)

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but NFL chatter and breaks to start a new week.

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Does the run on O.J. Simpson memorabilia begin now?

The Hall of Fame running back was granted parole Thursday afternoon in Nevada after spending nine years in prison for armed robbery involving two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. Before that, he was acquitted in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1995.

Not long after the new news on Thursday, one auction house had its own Simpson news. SCP Auctions will sell a pair of Simpson's driver's licenses in auctions in October -- one issued to him in 1995 -- around the same time that Simpson will be released.

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You might have a new reason to go digging through your 2013 football cards after today's U.S. Olympic track & field trials in Eugene, Ore.

Why? Buffalo Bills WR Marquise Goodwin is one step closer to making the U.S. Olympic team in the long jump. Could it spark new interest in the Rookie Cards of this 25-year-old who has recorded just three catches for 66 yards in the last two seasons while also working on special teams?

Maybe, but many might not know that he's actually been there before.

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The Atlanta Falcons took a 7-7 record into their game against the undefeated Carolina Panthers on Sunday and thanks to one guy's one big play they recorded their biggest win of the season.

The player was WR Julio Jones and the play was a 70-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter -- the biggest part of a nine-catch, 178-yard day. Jones has been one of the better receivers in the league, but this is one play for the highlight reels that could live on for some time.

His Rookie Cards can be found back in 2011 products and, in general, his autographs aren't all that plentiful. Combine that with interest from his past Alabama Crimson Tide fans and some of those early cards can be tougher to find.

>> Click here to shop for football boxes on BlowoutCards.com.

Keep reading for four more guys who generated some buzz on the field this week. (Note: This was published before the late games this week.)

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Panini America took a few minutes to examine and snap the images of a game-used Tyrod Taylor gamer that arrived in its door on Thursday because it's going to make a little history after it goes through some de-construction.

Despite its 2014 tagging, the jersey is from Sunday's 30-21 win over the Houston Texans - a game where the Buffalo Bills quarterback threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more.

Why is this a big deal? He's never had a memorabilia card despite playing time in each of the last five seasons.

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Amari Cooper has out-produced every other rookie receiver in the NFL this season with 50 catches for 732 yards and four touchdowns. While those aren't exactly Jerry Rice numbers, he's perhaps the hobby's focal point on a Raiders team (along with QB Derek Carr) that seems like it's improving. This week they've got the lowly Lions, so this seems like a good time to say things look golden for Cooper.

Keep reading for four more guys to watch on Sunday.

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