Donruss Produces Dallas Desperados AFL Trading Cards

Courtesy Donruss.com

Arlington, February 20, 2008 - For the second year in a row, the Donruss Trading Card Company will be teaming up with the Arena Football League's Dallas Desperados to produce a limited edition trading card set for the upcoming 2008 season. Produced under the Donruss name, the 12-card set will be available only to those attending the Desperados' eight home games this season. Two player cards will be distributed at each home game to fans entering the American Airlines Center. The Desperados' open the season at home on March 7th versus the Columbus Destroyers.

"We're very excited to be working again with the Desperados on this promotion," said Donruss Marketing Director Scott Prusha. "Our cards were very well received last year and we're very excited to be getting trading cards into the hands of potential new consumers in this unique way."

Joining in on the fun will be Pepsi and Parkland. The cards feature the official Pepsi logo on the card front, as well as the Parkland Community Health Plan logo on the back. Donruss and Pepsi have worked close together in the past, most recently on a state-wide NFL trading card promotion in Cleveland surrounding the National Sports Collectors Convention.

Featuring current Desperados players, the cards contain the following players:

Donruss Desperados - #1 Clint Dolezel, QB (Al Lucas Hero Team, Second Team All-Arena)
Donruss Desperados - #2 Colston "Cee" Weatherington, OL/DL (First Team All-Arena)
Donruss Desperados - #3 Jermaine Jones, DB (Second Team All-Arena)
Donruss Desperados - #4 Rickie Simpkins, OL/DL
Donruss Desperados - #5 Bobby Keyes, DB (All-Rookie Team)
Donruss Desperados - #6 Josh White, FB/LB (Second Team All-Arena)
Donruss Desperados - #7 Andrae Thurman, WR (All-Ironman Team, First Team All-Arena)
Donruss Desperados - #8 Duke Pettijohn, FB/LB L
Donruss Desperados - #9 Marcus Nash, WR
Donruss Desperados - #10 Jeff Chase, OL/DL
Donruss Desperados - #11 Terrance Dotsy, OL/D
Donruss Desperados - #12 Will Pettis, WR/DB (U.S. Army Strong Ironman of the Year, All-Ironman Team)

Donruss Playoff is a leading manufacturer of sports trading cards under the Donruss, Playoff, Leaf, and Score brands. As the second oldest trading card company, Donruss has established a well-deserved reputation in the realm of sports collectibles. Donruss is known for pioneering the rookie card phenomenon and manufacturing the finest, high-end trading cards available at any price.

Now that the Arena Football season is less than two weeks away, we have complied what we think will be 2008's top performing cards. We've listed the cards in no particular order with the exception of one card, which has climbed up in value to surpass all other Indoor and Arena cards, no matter what his performance is. Find out what makes this card so special.Although we don't list all of the players cards produced, we have noted the most desired and a few other key cards.

1. Will Pettis
The 2007 AFL Army Ironman of the Year has only got better with time and we think he will continue to improve and surpass his 45 TD's in 2007.

Most Desired
2005 Upper Deck ArenaGraph #WPA
BMP current value $20

Other Key Cards
2006 Upper Deck Dual ArenaGraph Stoerner/Pettis #AG2-SPBMP current value $602007 Donruss Dallas Desperados Insert #PL1
BMP current value $10

2. Chris Jackson
Jackson reunites with Graziani in Philadelphia. While in Los Angeles Jackson hauled in more than 50% of the offensive touchdown passes from Graziani. If the past is any indicator as to what could happen when these two connect then we can expect Jackson to see somewhere around 50 TD's for the 2008 season.

Most Desired
2005 Upper Deck ArenaGraph #CJA
BMP current value $20

Other Key Cards
2006 Upper Deck ArenaGraph #AG-CJ
BMP current value $25

2004 Los Angeles Avengers team card (RC)
BMP current value $2

3. Siaha Burley

Need we say more. Burley is bordering on being called the best to ever play the game. Each year he seems to out perform the previous year. The only question mark here is, who will throw the ball to him. We're still confident that he'll still continue to excel.

Most Desired
2006 Upper Deck Dual ArenaGraph Germaine/Burley #AG2-BG
BMP current value $100

Other Key Cards
2004 Choice Sports Cards Arizona Rattlers team card #5 (RC)
BMP Current value $5

2005 Upper Deck ArenaGraph #SBA
BMP current value $25

4. Sherdrick Bonner
Bonner looks to wrap up a sure hall of fame career by going out with a bang. Now in Chicago with a few other key veteran AFL'ers, this potentially potent offense complete with Damien Harrell, could make a solid run at the ArenaBowl Championship.

Most Desired
1998 ELETE AFL All-Star #3
BMP current value $7

Other Key Cards
1998 ELETE Arizona Rattlers team card #10 (RC)
BMP current value $4

2004 Choice Sports Cards Arizona Rattlers team card #5
BMP current value $.75

5. Aaron Garcia

One of the most decorated QB's in league history, Garcia is coming into the 2008 season healthier than he has been in a few years. If the OL can give him time, he will have a very productive season with his former and current teammate Damien Groce.

Most Desired
2006 Upper Deck ArenaGraph Triples Graziani/Garcia/Dutton #AG3-GDG
BMP current value $175

Other Key Cards
1998 ELETE Iowa Barnstormers team card (RC)
BMP current value $30

2006 Upper Deck Dual ArenaGraph Graziani/Garcia #AG2-GG
BMP current value $100

6. Sonnie Cumbie

Last year Sonnie showed what he was made of throwing 83 TD's. With the addition of former Grand Rapids standout Timon Marshall, Cumbie should be one of the elite QB's for years to come.

Most Desired
2007 Los Angeles Avenders team set (RC)
BMP current value $6

7. Damien Harrell

Harrell joins future AFL hall of famer Shedrick Bonner in Chicago and should compete for an ArenaBowl appearance. Harrell has been a top receiver in the AFL for years. Coach Hohensee has assembled a great team that should allow key players like Harrell to flourish.

Most Desired
2005 Upper Deck Dual ArenaGraph Harrell/Elway #EHA2
BMP current value $200

Other Key Cards
2006 Upper Deck ArenaGraph Triples #AG3-BHK
BMP current value $25

2006 Upper Deck ArenaGraph #AG-DH
BMP current value $25

And lastly, the most desired card in the industry right now is:
2005 Mike Ditka Upper Deck ArenaGraph #MDA

Although we currently have the card listed at $100 this card is worth much more than that. Does this make us inaccurate? Well, with no evidence of any transactions that may have transpired then we can only go on experience and a touch on intuition.

With only 15 produced this card has been a topic of discussion with BMP and a collector that is in possession of one of these gems. We are told that numerous offers have been put on the table, some as high as $600. We will keep you updated!

Teams Make Collecting Better Than Ever

Here comes the 2008 season! All over the country fans are gearing up for the upcoming Indoor and Arena Football seasons. While fan clubs rallying the loyal locals and the fans are buying jerseys, tickets and anything else to show their spirit, the team staff members and players are scrambling behind the scenes to put the show together. Out of all this scrambling comes promotions and with promotions come, trading cards.

Trading cards, more teams are offering them and they are becoming a big part of the promotional programs that teams are putting in place. Most of these team sets are sponsored but recently a few of the “Big 3” trading card companies have done promotions with the AFL. Both Upper Deck and Donruss have made a go at it with the AFL. But for the most part, Indoor and Arena Football teams are offering full team which work out better for collectors since now you get 15-30 cards per team unlike conventional league sets that only include 12-15 cards per team.

Last season there were twelve Indoor and Arena Football teams to produce trading card sets and each year the quality of the cards improve. Teams have learned to use these cards as a way to offset expenses and offer a top choice promotion to the fans. In the last few years the quality of the cards has skyrocketed and teams are continuously trying to improve on their previous sets.

With progressing computer technology the designs and graphics have made huge strides from years past, but what stands out most for us is the improving quality of the card stock. With full 14-point, UV coated card stocks and improved graphics these cards are made to grade. That’s right, grading services have begun to recognize the quality of some of the team issued cards. Although we do recommend that you contact your chosen grading service before sending your cards away.

What do the NFL's 2007 New England Patriots & the CIFL's 2007 Port Huron Have in Common?

The Coincidental Derailed Road to Perfection

Meet the two teams that came up on the losing end of the largest upsets in modern day football. The 2007 NFL New England Patriots and the 2007 CIFL Port Huron Pirates. The reason we pick these are obvious; however, as we looked deeper into their similarities we noticed that there were quite a few. Although we don't expect the New England Patriots to change names and relocate such as the Port Huron Pirates have since the end of the 2007 season but with the more recent news of the teams spy troubles we certainly can't predict brighter days for them either.

We've listed some similarities between the two clubs that might show that these two might have more in common than anyone could have figured.

Both clubs enter the playoffs after a perfect regular season record.

Pirates 14-0

Patriots 16-0

They both had their respected leagues award winning coaches/players.

"Coach Of The Year"

Bill Bellichik - New England

Karl Featherstone - Port Huron

"League MVP"

Tom Brady - New England

Robert Height - Port Huron

"League Offensive Player Of The Year"

Tom Brady - New England

Robert Height - Port Huron

During the regular season they both held there opponents to just at 17 pts per game.
New England - 17.1
Port Huron - 16.6

The New England Patriots pummeled their opponents all season, breaking the all-time points per season record and leading the NFL with 589 total points. The Port Huron Pirates also blistered their victims by an average of 44 points per game leading the CIFL with 721 total points.

Flint, MI., where the 2007 CIFL championship game was held and new home of the relocated 2008 Pirates, is approximentaly 721 miles from Foxborough, MA., home of the New England Patriots.

On July 28, 2007, the New England Patriots opened training camp. That very same day the Port Huron Pirates were defeated in the CIFL Championship game finishing what could have been an undefeated season.

Both teams were defeated in their leagues championship game by a New York team with 10 regular season victories.

The Port Huron Pirated defeated the New England Surge during the playoffs, sending Tyler Grogan, son of the former New England Patriots great QB Steve Grogan and his New England Surge packing.

Both teams finished the season with their leagues best record.
14-1 - Port Huron
18-1 - New England Patriots

Both teams lost their championship games scoring the least amount of points they had scored all season.

During the off-season following the 2007 CIFL season the Port Huron Pirates suffered some hardships and have since relocated to Flint, MI and will play the 2008 season as the Flint Phantoms.

Again, we don't expect the Patriots to up and leave Foxborough, although we do anticipate that this off-season for the NFL's New England Patriots will suffer some hardships with the recent news of there possibly being more spygate evidence against them.

Indoor & Arena Footbal Signature Cards

We started adding "Signature Cards" to our site. This is just a fun extra for fans and collectors. Many of the collectors and fans that visit our site are part of that loyal bunch. They are often season ticket holders and very much interact with the players and organizations staff. These signature cards will benefit those fan so they can start there own personal collection of these players autographs.

We picked up Ben Schwartz, a die-hard New York Dragons and Mike Furrey fan (see Ben's blog sites below). Using a simple photoshop program ben, in most cases, can put together a signature card of any player in any indoor and arena football league. You do have to be a BMP member which is free to set-up an account, then find your players signature cards, can't find it? request it. Print them on a thick card stock from your home printer and have them autographed while at the game. The players love them and fans love to collect them. Here is the link to get started http://www.bm-publishing.com/page.php?239

These are designed for entertainment purposes only and for your personal collections.

http://furry4blog.blogspot.com/ and http://www.freewebs.com/mikefurrey/)