The Patriot: Tim Tebow’s First New England Card Coming in 2013 Rookies & Stars

Thirteen years ago this month, Mel Gibson's star turn as American Revolution war hero Benjamin Martin helped "The Patriot" gross more than $22 million at the box office during its opening weekend. This summer, however, a new Patriot will be generating boffo ratings, commanding cameras and providing fireworks. Yes, Tim Tebow is a member of the New England Patriots.

2013 Rookies & Stars Base Tim Tebow

Thirteen years ago this month, Mel Gibson’s star turn as American Revolution war hero Benjamin Martin helped “The Patriot” gross more than $22 million at the box office during its opening weekend. This summer, however, a new Patriot will be generating boffo ratings, commanding cameras and providing fireworks. Yes, Tim Tebow is a member of the New England Patriots.

The rumors that started reverberating throughout the Internet on Monday night were confirmed early Tuesday when Tebow signed a two-year deal with New England and then immediately attended the team’s minicamp practice. As expected, the Tebow signing received national attention from newsrooms, sports desks and late-night talk shows. But it also gave Tebow’s seemingly countless legion of fans and collectors yet one more opportunity to chase their beloved lightning rod of a player.

Indeed, while Tebow may be third on the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart, he remains No. 1 in the hearts, minds and collections of millions (even if he is wearing No. 5 now), which means the first NFL trading cards featuring Tebow with his new team — his third in as many seasons — will be one hot commodity as soon as it’s released.

Today, Panini America officials unveiled what Tebow’s first New England Patriots card will look like when it releases in late August inside the company’s 2013 Rookies & Stars Football release. It’s not often that a regular trading card of a fourth-year player generates much buzz. Tebow, of course, is no ordinary fourth-year player.

“Whenever you have a player with the level of popularity Tim has, and that player moves to a new team, it reinvigorates the collectibility of that player,” said Jason Howarth, Panini America’s Vice President of Marketing. “Fans of that player — and football fans in general — want to acquire the first trading cards of that player in his new uniform. Panini is excited to continue to deliver to Tim Tebow fans the very best football trading cards out there.”

Enjoy this Tebow tease and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional updates 2013 Rookies & Stars Football.

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26 Replies to “The Patriot: Tim Tebow’s First New England Card Coming in 2013 Rookies & Stars”

  1. Pingback: Anonymous
  2. Will you guys be producing a card of every team’s 3rd string QB’s or just New England’s? My teams is an undrafted free agent and don’t think he has any cards produced yet, but would sure love to get one.

    1. They made a bunch of cards for B J Coleman for the Packers last year, so it’s not uncommon for them to make ones for third stringers.

      1. Coleman was a draft pick though and it was his rookie year so of course they are going to make cards for him. Guessing we won’t see much of him in products this year, but sure we will see Tebow in almost every product.

        Haven’t seen one for Matt Blanchard, UDFA for the Bears or Derek Anderson with the Panthers in his Panthers jersey yet either and he is a veteran that has been there for a few years. So yeah, it is pretty uncommon, especially for a vet player.

      2. Would just be neat if they would do a really big base set and include guys that you don’t usually see on cards these days. 1999 Pacific & sets like Topps Total did a good job of that. Even putting multiple guys from the same team on cards. Would like to see at least one set come out that does something like that again.

    2. To those of you wondering why Tebow gets a card and so few other third string QBs get cards….It’s business. if they can make bank from it, they’ll make it. Tebow cards will be a hotter commodity than many first string QB cards will be, so it makes perfect sense. If you own a business, you know that developing products that nobody wants will bankrupt you. Besides business reasons, Tebow did guide a team to a playoff win, and also owns records in many positive (yes, some negative) stats such as Longest touchdown pass in NFL playoff history in overtime: 80 yards, and in the shortest overtime play, 11 seconds, almost a minute quicker than any previous NFL postseason overtime, Only quarterback to throw three 50+ yard passes in a playoff game (rarely happens in any game) Most yards per attempt in a playoff game, most passing yards in a playoff debut….list goes on and on….At one time i believe he had the highest selling rookie jersey too…like it or not, the guy is a marketing dream….when those third stringers reach some noteworthy levels, their cards will be made.

    1. How about giving the guy a chance to see what he can do before we condemn him? You think what the Jets did was give him a chance?

  3. Tracy, what do you think about the move? Do you think he’ll see more reps (at any position) than his time with the J-E-T-S Jets?

    1. I certainly hope so. I think New England is probably the best place for him to be in terms of being surrounded by coaches who like him and know best how to utilize him. Should be interesting to watch, though.

    1. I would love to see a card where they take a player and have a patch for each team he was on.

      ie Tebow – triple patch (Broncos, Jets and Patriots)
      ie Peyton Manning – duo patch (Broncos and Colts)

      1. Love that idea. We’ve utilized that concept in the past with inserts like “Changing Stripes” and most recently in 2012-13 Brilliance Basketball’s “City to City” insert. Good stuff.

  4. Pretty cool how they even make a card. Tebow has never worn a white Patriots away jersey. The pic looks real though. great work. Now if Tebow could do half as good as the guy who designed the card, he may actually stay in New England.

  5. YES!!!!!! TEBOW TIME!!! From now on I think June 10 to June 17 should be declared a week of Tebowmania folk lore to be stored in the Panini America vault of treasures :D. Any way Tracy, can a dual auto card be made with Timmy and Mel on it? Article just +1ed. Best Panini Post Ever! Rock on Tebow fans and watch the miracles unfold :). Thanks again Tracy for making my day 😀

  6. I can’t imagine how divisive Tebow would be if he were as articulate and thorough in his presentation of Christian doctrines as Giants LB Aaron Curry is.

    As for how good he is throwing the football..the three guys who worked on him (Dennis Gile, Vinny Testeverde, Chris Weinke) clearly fine-tuned him past the threshold of what the Patriots consider worthy of a roster spot. His last OC was widely criticized.

    I still think he would have benefited from playing arena football where you get guys open on every play, yet are forced to get rid of the ball fast…and where solid timing is the difference between a first down and a touchdown.

    CFL, as well, would have had benefits for him. If he would have shown he could make some of the timing throws and some of his regained athleticism of the CFL, he may have been signed as a #2 instead of as a #3.

  7. It is rather appropriate you mention Mel Gibson in the article. Mel Gibson is a bigot and so is Tim Tebow.

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