If there were ever a release that tells you what’s in it, Rookies & Stars is it. But to be honest, that’s what it feels like a lot of releases these days are all about. Some might be more along the lines of Rookies & Stars & Old Timers, but I think you know what I’m talking about it. But it’s not like the set is huge so how much is really in it anyway.
This is definitely a bit more of a standard card offering. These days they definitely have a good bit of chrome on them and then colored chrome for parallels. I can’t get down with that, but sometimes it does seem like a lot. I don’t mind accents though.
After the Prizm I opened to start, this is a pretty good step up with regard to how much I like it.
If you’re interested, here are the other recent editions of Breaking Blasters for football: 2018 Panini Prizm, 2018 Absolute, 2018 Donruss Football, 2018 Prestige, 2018 Score.
It’s Pixel-y
When I first opened this up I liked the design enough. It’s middle of the road for me. But then as I look a little closer I liked it a bit more. I really like the pixel effect on the border design elements. You can really see that best in the lighter colored Brees card. But what might be harder to see is that it’s also kind of faded into the background and I really like that idea.
A downside to the card would be me taking it from a TTM perspective. I don’t like how they put a darkening effect in parts of the background. If you were after getting these signed (not that these guys sign) it might not come our great.
Rookie Differences
The rookies are different, but the same. They are kind of a mirror image in both directions I guess. I didn’t get too bad a rookie crop though. Daron Payne was pretty good in DC, Sam Darnold could be good someday even if he wasn’t this year, and Kyle Lauletta is a Giant. I like Giants.
Year 1
All these Panini based offerings come with a guaranteed relic or autograph card. The only thing about them is that they are “event” worn and not game worn and you might know the guy you got. In a lot of cases they are heavy on the rookies. So in this case, I have no idea who this is. And since the Jags pretty much blew this year, I’m not looking him up.
Red Chrome and Color
The first thing you start to notice on all these is the red chrome and it looks like that is standard on all the inserts. Unless it’s something about blasters for this product, but I don’t think so.
That Action Packed Cam Newton card is definitely up my alley. They always have some great pictures and graphics on those things and they get me with the landscape design. And of course if you put a Saquon in there I’m going to like it.
The Crusade card is different than everything else in this box. Both in terms of color choice and style. I feel like that’s a Prizm card in the wrong box.
The Rest of the Inserts
While I like the idea of a theme behind these cards, you can see that a lot of the inserts have this really odd color combo. I’m not sure I like it, but at least there’s a style running between most of them (not the Touchdown Club though). What I don’t like it how it works (or doesn’t work) with the red chrome. It just feels odd.
Overall a fine base card, some interesting (read: odd) parallels and a few design gems. But I would say that Rookies & Stars for me is a middle of the road in terms of interest.