Baseball may be the American pastime, but in the first part of the 21st Century, there's no question that football is king of the hill when it comes to professional sports. NFL fans pack the stands, watch by the millions on TV and follow the sport with an unmatched passion.
Football card collectors are passionate too, and with Topps, Upper Deck and Donruss producing NFL cards and Press Pass and SA-GE printing draft pick cards, there's a diverse group of products on the market in 2007.
Whether your focus is the latest crop of rookies or established stars on their way to the Hall of Fame, the resources below will help you add to your collection as the 2007 season unfolds.
Top 2007 NFL Rookies
The NFL's Class of 2007 has a little something for everyone. Fans who like quarterbacks can choose between No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's golden boy, Brady Quinn. Running back collectors have Adrian Peterson, who's been compared to Eric Dickerson, and multi-dimensional Marshawn Lynch.
Calvin Johnson may be the most exciting wide receiver to enter the NFL since Randy Moss. And defensive players can't be overlooked, with hard-hitting safety LaRon Landry, pass rushers Gaines Adams and Jamaal Anderson and linebacker Patrick Willis all poised to make an impact.
There's plenty of potential throughout the class, but some rookies have a leg up on the competition when it comes to their football cards. Check out the links below for a look at ten newcomers who stand to see the most hobby interest this season and a card gallery for the running back who ranks at the very top of the list.
Top Quarterbacks to Collect
Football card collectors have traditionally made quarterbacks the subject of more hobby activity than players at any other position. Today's NFL has collectible signal callers at every stage of their careers, from record-setting veterans like Brett Favre to popular rookies like Brady Quinn.
It's tough to narrow down the list of QB's, as many of them have cards worth seeking out. Below is an educated guess at the ten men who will find their way onto the most want lists during the 2007 season.
Veteran Rookie Card Checklists
Not everyone is looking for the Next Big Thing. Many hobbyists like building their collections around players who have already proven themselves on the NFL gridiron, chasing down cards from the last decade or so of football card sets.
If that sounds like you, click on the link below and check out the rookie card checklist section. It's got top stars ranging from Larry Johnson to Chad Johnson, and new checklists are added all the time.
2007 Football Card Product Reviews and Box Breaks
The 2007 football card season kicked off in April and will roll right into 2008. Dozens of products will hit the shelves before it's all said and done, and you can see what you might find before you plunk down your hard-earned money with the help of About.com's product reviews and box breaks.
- Review: 2007 Playoff Contenders Football
- Review: 2007 Leaf Limited Football
- Review: 2007 Leaf Rookies & Stars Football
- Review: 2007 Bowman Chrome Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Co-Signers Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Exclusive Rookie Set Football
- Review: 2007 Bowman Football
- Review: 2007 Donruss Gridiron Gear Football
- Review: 2007 Finest Football
- Review: 2007 Leaf Certified Materials Football
- Review: 2007 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Chrome Football
- Review: 2007 Upper Deck Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Total Football
- Review: 2007 Donruss Threads Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Football
- Review: 2007 Score/Score Select Football
- Review: 2007 Fleer Ultra SE Football
- Review: 2007 Donruss Classics Football
- Review: 2007 Artifacts Football
- Review: 2007 Donruss Elite Football
- Review: 2007 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects Football
- Review: 2007 Playoff Prestige Football
- Review: 2007 Press Pass Football
2007 Football Upcoming Releases
Have a favorite football card set that hasn't released yet? Here's a look at when to hit your local card shop or the internet to buy a box or two. Remember that all release dates are tentative and subject to change.
December
- 28 - UD SP Chirography
January
- 3 - UD Sweet Spot
- 4 - Playoff Contenders
- 17 - Topps Triple Threads
- 30 - Playoff National Treasures
February
- 1 - UD SP Authentic