One of the most unique trading cards randomly inserted into packs of 2011 Panini Century Collection early last month was the striking Souvenir Stamps gem that included pieces of memorabilia worn by college coaching legends Knute Rockne and Paul “Bear” Bryant as well as U.S. postage stamps honoring both men. The swatch of Rockne memorabilia embedded into each of the 100 cards…

  DALLAS — While the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers were battling it out on the field during Super Bowl XLV, workers were busy tearing down an impressive display of football magic. More than 800,000 square feet of the Dallas Convention Center played home to the NFL for two weeks and fans saw some impressive interactive components. If you made it out (and…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG_VKooLJGs&w=480&h=390] ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Last Saturday morning, just one day before Super Bowl XLV, Panini America and Pop Warner joined forces to present the 2011 Pop Warner Adrenalyn Bowl at Sam Houston High School, located within an Aaron Rodgers deep ball of the colossus known as Cowboys Stadium. NFL superstars Brandon Lloyd of the Denver Broncos and Kevin Kolb of…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXwailamLsw&w=480&h=390] Denver Broncos Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd takes some time during the 2011 Pop Warner Adrenalyn Bowl to bust a few packs of Panini America football cards with Tracy Hackler. In this exclusive video, the NFL’s leading pass-catcher discusses, among other things, his own childhood collection, his spectacular 2010 season and playing alongside Tim Tebow. (more…)

Playoff Contenders Football — like the EA Sports Madden franchise, Christmas or Eminem‘s next album — is one of those wildly anticipated “events” whose every arrival generates considerable buzz and bona fide cause for celebration. That should make next Wednesday, the official release date for 2010 Playoff Contenders Football, at least a red-letter day and absolutely a national collecting holiday. As I type this, Ben Ecklar…

In a whirlwind week earmarked by massive marketing activation at some of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, the Panini America team managed to conduct two successful show appearances simultaneously (the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh, N.C., and Super Bowl XLV) and more player autographs than National Signing Day, which, coincidentally, took place Wednesday. Indeed, from NHL…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=643nlyays5w&w=480&h=390] DALLAS — Former Arkansas Razorbacks superstar quarterback Ryan Mallett made the rounds at the Super Bowl XLV media center on Thursday afternoon to promote his role as a coach in Saturday’s 2011 Pop Warner Panini Adrenalyn Bowl. The skyscraping signal-caller with huge NFL potential stood head and shoulders above just about everyone on  “Radio Row” — literally. Turns out…

We all have it: That one Panini America football card that stands tall above all the others in our collection. The one we’d keep at the expense of every other card we own. It’s the Lombardi Trophy in our collection . . . and it’s sweet. Mine? That’s easy. It’s the one a dorky-looking me is holding in the picture above…

Pop Warner and Panini America will host the fourth-annual Pop Warner Adrenalyn Bowl on Saturday at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas, as part of Super Bowl XLV Week festivities. Denver Broncos Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb will team up against former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback and first-round NFL Draft prospect Ryan Mallett…

DALLAS — More than six inches of overnight snow has turned this already-frozen Friday in North Texas into something of a freaky Friday, just three days removed from the showcase that is Super Bowl XLV. For those of us at Panini America, things are just starting to heat up. Indeed, with enough events and enough activation to keep us on…