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 ways to collect Tom Brady now that he's done.

GET OUT THE TIME MACHINE -- ROOKIE CARDS
Tom Brady doesn't have a boatload of Rookie Cards from back in 2000 -- at least in terms of overall volume with hits and memorabilia included -- with just 44 RCs out of roughly 130 total cards that year. Joe Burrow, for example, also only has 44 RCs -- from just one card company, mind you -- but that's out of more than 4,000 different cards. Big, big difference. Sure, a lot of those cards are rarities you might never see even if you're a diehard infinitely deep-pocketed Burrow buyer but that makes a big difference. How? Brady just has so few cards available (even with higher volumes per most cards) that there are more people fighting over what's available in auctions. Throw in the whole grading game and the elite prices being paid for elite items aren't going to soften as he's easily an all-time great who will always be in demand no matter who shows up to rival his records over time. To collect Brady's RCs you can dabble on the cheap or chase big stuff ... but "cheap" is relative in his case. (There's a range of options.) My example? I ripped a lot of 2000 packs back in the day, mostly on the low-end of the spectrum, chasing other guys but I got rid of all but one ... a Bowman Chrome RC like what you see here. It was in a single pack of Chrome in a $9.99 random football repack I opened from a Target little over a decade ago. That one's a keeper for me. My point with this tangent? You can't go back in time and a lot of those boxes and packs are long gone now ... so if you want a Rookie Card you'll need target one that's in your budget and work to make it happen. (Unless you have a time machine.) There may be more available now ... but prices have no reason to be faltering at the moment. It's not the best time to be buying, but the question one must ask ... how much will be available later?

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: Tom Brady is officially retiring from the NFL ... here are some Tuesday threads to check out.

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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 rookies who are impressing Buzz this season (on offense).

THE TOP QB
Mac Jones -- QB, Patriots (Rookie Cards in 2021 boxes)
Trevor Lawrence got all the attention heading into the season -- especially on cardboard with his own standalone crd sets -- but while the yardage is there for him pretty much nothing else is impressive on the NFL rookie stat sheet this year or in the standings. Mac Jones, though? The numbers are there as him being the top rookie QB of the year so far with 245 of 349 passes completed for 2,540 yards and 14 TDs with just eight picks in 11 games. He's 399 yards ahead of Lawrence (who has only played 10 games and only has eight TDs). Jones isn't as mobile as, say, Lawrence or Justin Fields but the numbers are there and his team is atop the AFC East, too. Are the stats freakish like, say, Justin Herbert last year? Nope, but they don't seem to be unrealistic to show that he's done well and could be around for some time. He's expensive as an Alabama title-winner -- he'll always be popular in that regard -- so I'd be selective with grabs, but all those pricey cards could still have a big up-side if he's the franchise guy like people hope.

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: Tom Brady vs. Mac Jones, NFL pulls and chatter, soccer cards keep 'em talking and some big Chrome pulls.

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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 Buzz will be watching this season.

THE GUY WHO FINISHED STRONG
Jonathan Taylor -- RB, Indianapolis Colts ... Rookie Cards in 2020 NFL releases
I'm big on the stat sheet -- what a player does on the field vs. what people think he might do -- and this guy leads off here because his final results as a rookie last year are impressive. If you look at last year's NFL rushing leaders, the king is Derrick Henry who put up the fifth-best season in NFL history with 2,027 yards (his RCs are in 2016 sets) then Dalvin Cook with 1,557 and then this rookie who had 1,169. That's a big drop to No. 3 for sure, but consider that only six other players even made to to 1,000 yards -- and one of them was a quarterback. There are QB questions for his team which might hamper his sophomore season but this time last year he wasn't really a scorcher, either. He finished strong. He had 101 yards in his second game but only had two other 100-yard games -- a 150-yarder and a crazy 253-yarder to end the season. That was tied for the ninth-best single game in NFL history. Imagine the possibilities if he's more consistent and is a go-to guy who can deliver. He had an impressive 11 TDs last year -- seven in his last four games -- so that and the yardage, to me, shows there's really good potential here. If you latch onto nicer cheaper options out there he's a safe buy to me ... though I actually collect other RBs who I didn't put on the list.

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

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The new New England Patriots starting quarterback has a bunch of new cardboard.

And that's thanks to Super Glow, the new card line that will introduce new college stars who aren't yet pros to the collecting masses soon via packs and introduce some others, like national championship-winning QB and first-round pick Mac Jones, on cardboard right now via online offerings.

The company's mission is to introduce "the next generation of sports cards" and its online offerings for Jones include some non-traditional photos, too.

Keep reading to see that one and the lineup of nearly 50 cards up for grabs while they last.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

KEY CARD, KEY PLAYER
The Card: Lucas Sims & Ozzie Albies 2018 Topps Heritage 100th Anniversary -- RC parallel (announced /25)
The Reason Bought: This parallel card isn't numbered, but they are very rare and if you consider the healthy print run and various pack formats for this popular brand, it's a bit of a needle-in-a-haystack type of card to pull in general let alone for a notable or specific player. I grabbed this since I've met both of them and Albies is a key Braves player ... and this brand is one that I generally buy a lot of (and did a ton in 2018). It's funky but I like 1969 Topps, too.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: Why did I bite? The combo of scarcity and high grade and a price that wasn't that bad (about $80) made this one appealing to me. Also, the fact that the only other one was on eBay for $199.99 and isn't as good on subs as this one. (That price? Too high.) There are three copies of this card in PSA slabs (two 10s, one 9), too. How many might still be sitting in packs? Probably a few ... and that's also another reason I grabbed this to stash it.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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Tom Brady has another new team.

Fanatics and the Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback revealed on Wednesday morning that they have signed an exclusive multi-year deal for the future Hall of Famer's autographed memorabilia to only be produced in the future via Fanatics Authentic, its memorabilia division. The six-time Super Bowl champ also will sell game-used memorabilia via the company.

“Fanatics is a brand synonymous with authenticity, in both the merchandise they provide and the timeless memories they create that go well beyond a jersey or a football,” Brady said in a prepared release. “Michael Rubin and Fanatics have been great partners throughout the ALL-IN Challenge, and I’m proud to be aligned with a company that is creating these types of genuine connections for people all over the world.”

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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: Your "fan cave" needs one of these, 2020 Bowman breaks, Chrome soccer, Project 2020, NFL breaks and ... is Tom Brady's replacement a sleeper?

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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: Many burning questions posed by forum members -- from missing old companies, to the Patriots dynasty, Tom Brady's future and allegedly fake NBA cardboard -- as well as some big pulls.

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Totally Tom Brady autographed helmets
Arrives: Jan. 15
Box basics: One inscribed or dual-signed full-size Tom Brady autographed helmet per box
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Brady is back as TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures autographed memorabilia line once again focuses on the NFL's top active player and one of its all-time greats -- Tom Brady -- in a limited release with some new surprises.

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Colt McCoy didn't have a good day on Sunday, making just this third NFL start of the last five years -- it ended with 119 yards, a pick, two fumbles and six sacks against the reigning Super Bowl champs -- but it was enough to remind me of an old story that I don't think has ever been told before.

Or, if it has, I totally missed it ... so work with me here.

It was a decade ago when McCoy was finishing up his second season of being a top-three guy in Heisman voting -- a star for the Texas Longhorns where he threw 27 touchdowns as a senior, upping his career total to 112 (to just 45 picks) in four years, ending his career with 13,253 yards and a collection of awards and team records that might even make Nick Saban blush.

But when it came to signing autographs after all that? Well, he was still a rookie and his 2010 Panini Prestige Pro Helmets Autograph card shows how.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

The Card: Joe Namath 2015 Topps 60th Anniversary Rookie Reprint Autographs #T60RAJN
The Reason Graded: Buzz first met this NFL legend almost 20 years ago and landed the ink for free thanks to some luck while autograph hounding but when it comes to certified autographs of this icon I didn't have any until recent years. Why? He's always been a pricey auto but that has come down a bit as he's been a steady signer and doesn't have quite as much hobby heat as the guy at the end of this month's list. This release was how Topps burned off its Hall of Famer autographs via packs on its website once its NFL deal was done, so the influx of big-name autos helped make the supply even stronger at the time perhaps without added demand. I scouted them all where I buy and this one looked near-perfect to me in both its centering and that ink. Seriously, look at that signature ... that's a perfect Namath auto.
The Grade: BGS 9.5/10

Reality Check: I absolutely thought I had a BGS 10 contender with this one, though I submitted it before I picked up my better loupe and I probably didn't check the back as closely as I should have. Either way, it's still a very solid card in my stash. I don't grade autographs all that often -- I fear results I won't like on those -- but this one I had to. Most of them landed this grade with only one higher so I don't feel bad about not landing a 10.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures autographed memorabilia line focuses on the NFL's top active player and one of its all-time greats -- Tom Brady -- in a limited release.

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If you weren't sure that Tom Brady is the greatest player in the NFL today, don't worry -- his Rookie Card will tell you.

The 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket autograph you see here is limited to just 100 copies -- this being card No. 41 of that fun -- and it sold for six-figures on eBay last night.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

--

HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?
The Item: Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor (RC parallel) BGS 9.5
The Price: $19,499 Buy-It-Now
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Think this price is crazy? It is, but it isn't -- check out that link below. You should know by now that Brady has won yet another Super Bowl ring after Sunday's snoozefest in Atlanta and you need to know that his Rookie Cards are easily some of the priciest football cards out there in top condition and in slabs. This one isn't the flashiest of them -- other big ones have autographs and command much more cash -- but this is one (non-Refractor) that I managed to pull from a pack back in the day so it gets my pick here. The pop report for this particular version shows 28 others in this grade and just one getting a 10. Just 207 Refractors have been slabbed by BGS while mine is pushing 3,000 with 103 BGS 10s and two getting a BGS Black perfect 10. Some of Brady's RCs have been faked, so slabbed is the way to go unless you want to pay big bucks to chase wax (not easy to find anyway). He's expensive but there's no doubt that he's atop the mountain right now. Is he a safe buy? Traditional thought might say that he's too pricey to get in on right now, but when Brady is the top guy in NFL history there should continue to be more attention and speculation money pumped into his cards from beyond the typical collecting base.
Similar Pieces: Other 2000 Tom Brady Rookie Cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for NFL boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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When Tom Brady or Jared Goff touch a football for the first time on Sunday in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, they won't be close to the first people to handle them.

Beyond the typical game preparations and inspections, each of the 120 footballs for the biggest NFL game of the year will have been "tagged" by PSA/DNA with synthetic DNA ink. Each team has 54 balls prepped to be used at some point during the game and there will be 12 additional balls prepped exclusively for kicking plays.

They will be marked with nearly invisible counterfeit deterrent markings that have a one in 33 trillion chance of being duplicated, according to the company.

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We're just a week and a weekend away from the biggest game of the NFL season but it's already here on Panini America cardboard.

It's the Super Bowl LIII team sets for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams and they're both available for just the next seven days or so thanks to Panini Instant, the company's real-time card platform.

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Next week, he'll probably join the 1,000-yard club.

Denver Broncos rookie RB Phillip Lindsay had a day Sunday against the Bengals with 19 carries for 157 yards and two TDs in a 24-10 win. That upped him to 937 rushing yards and eight TDs for the year -- not bad for an undrafted former University of Colorado star. His first Broncos autos are still on the way -- 2018 Panini Contenders is one possible debut that has been teased -- while he has has just 29 autographed cards -- all in his college threads -- found only in Panini America's Elite Draft and Contenders Draft Picks as well as three cards in Leaf Draft. >> Check out his autos on eBay

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

Keep reading for more guys who generated some buzz on the field this week.

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Want a relatively cheap and out-of-nowhere pick-up tip? Those perhaps aren't as easily done with football but one presented itself on Sunday.

It's Miami Dolphins WR Albert Wilson.

He had six catches for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Bears on Sunday and that yardage total was tops in the NFL this week. It was the best game of his career that began as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs in 2014. He has cards in just three sets that first year -- Crown Royale, National Treasures and Contenders -- and that last one is currently a 50-point autograph over on the Panini Rewards site. (Meaning you could land three of them for the typical commonly found 150-point card.) Meanwhile, asking prices on eBay are between $15 and $25 because he's had a pretty decent season with 359 yards and four TDs. (Check out his autos on eBay here.) Also helping out? His relative lack of overall cardboard -- he's got about 70 different cards in all and he's not had any autos since two appearances back in 2015. Only about a dozen of his cards come with ink and that puts more of a focus on any he might have if collectors take notice even more.

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

Keep reading for more guys who generated some buzz on the field this week.

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The Chicago Bears rolled to a 48-10 victory over a team that had been a bit of a surprise so far this season, the Tampa Bay Bucs, and its second-year quarterback delivered big in the win.

Mitchell Trubisky threw for just 354 yards -- eight QBs topped that this week -- but his six touchdown passes were just one short of the all-time NFL record for the most in a game. While he's obviously been on the minds of Bears fans, he's had a relatively forgettable season so far despite his team's 3-1 record. Before yesterday, his best game this season was 200 passing yards with just two TDs and two interceptions. Those were his only passing TDs of the year before the Bucs came to town. >> Check out his autos on eBay

This type of game should focus more collectors back onto the possibilities with his Rookie Cards and key autos from last season's boxes as well as those from this year. A trip to Miami is next up so we'll see whether the win streak continues with fireworks from Mr. Biscuit.

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

Keep reading for more guys who generated some buzz on the field this week.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

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Ink from one of the NFL's biggest stars -- past and present -- is back in Panini America packs.

The Dallas-based company revealed on Friday that it has landed New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for his first autographed cards from the company since 2016.

He'll be appearing in a number of 2018 products for both NFL and collegiate releases.

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If you're a long-time reader of The Buzz, then you've seen this card before, but with the Super Bowl last night in Minneapolis there was a reason for it to hit The Buzz's Twitter Machine, too.

It's a 1992 Pro Line Profiles card for Hall of Famer Howie Long, and it was among the few tweets in an 11-hour marathon for Super Bowl LII last night simply because of the tree-climbing kid on the right.

Why? That's Eagles defensive end Chris Long, who was roughly six years old at the time of this family portrait that made its way to cardboard -- and that's far from the only piece of trivia here.

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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: Eagles' upset victory in the Super Bowl gets all of today's links.

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