Official SCF Review: 2009 Upper Deck Icons

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Upper Deck for providing us with this box.



10 packs per box
6 cards per pack
Current Retail Price: 69.99 - 79.99

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

Autograph Cards:
- NFL Rookies (# up to 150)
- NFL Legends (# up to 25)
- Class of 2009 (# up to 199)
- Sophomore Sensations (# up to 99)
- Decade of Dominance (# up to 50)
- Immortal Lettermen (Varied #)
- Movie Lettermen (Varied #)
- Sports Lettermen (Varied #)
- Sweet Spot Icons (Varied #)

Memorabilia Cards:
- NFL Reflections Jersey Parallel (# to 115)
- Greats of the Game Jersey Parallel (# to 115)
- NFL Icons Jersey Parallel (# to 225)
- Sophomore Sensations Jersey Parallel (# to 299)
- Decade of Dominance Jersey Parallel (# to 199)
- America's Team (1:192)

Lettermen Cards:
- Immortal Lettermen (Varied #)
- Movie Lettermen (Varied #)
- Sports Lettermen (Varied #) - NEW!

Inserts and Parallels:
- Regular Cards Die-cut Parallel (# to 75)
- NFL Rookies Die-cut Parallel (# to 50)
- NFL Legends Die-cut Parallel (# to 50)
- NFL Reflections Die-cut Parallel (# to 40)
- Greats of the Game Die-cut Parallel (# to 40)
- NFL Icons Die-cut Parallel (# to 40)
- NFL Reflections and Parallels (# to 515 or less) - NEW!
- Greats of the Game and Parallels (# to 515 or less) - NEW!
- NFL Icons and Parallels (# to 515 or less)
- Class of 2009 and Parallels (# to 515 or less)
- Sophomore Sensations and Parallels (# to 515 or less) - NEW!
- Decade of Dominance and Parallels (# to 515 or less) - NEW!

Regular Set:
- Regular Cards - 100
- NFL Rookies (# to 599) - 70
- NFL Legends (# to 599) - 30

WHAT WE PULLED



Base (46/100) - 46%
Dupes - 0
Rookies /599 (2) - Jason Smith, Aaron Curry



Base Parallel /125 (1) - Brandon Jacobs
Rookie Parallel /99 (1) - Sean Smith



Die-Cut Parallel /75 (1) - Jason Campbell
Decade Of Dominance /450 (1) - Nnamdi Asomugha



Class of 2009 Silver /450 (1) - Chase Coffman
Class of 2009 Gold /130 (1) - Shonn Greene



NFL Icons Silver /199 (1) - Brandon Marshall
NFL Reflections Silver /199 (1) - Jeff Garcia/Matt Hasselbeck



Sophomore Sensations Felix Jones Jersey /299
Sophomore Sensations Malcolm Kelly Jersey /299



Cedric Peerman Autograph /150



Immortal Lettermen Chuck Howley "B" /76
Sports Icons Lettermen Phil Dalhausser "D" /25



Final Ratings (out of 5):

Base Set – 4.5
Fun – 4
Overall Design – 4.5
Value – 3.5
Rebuy – 3.5

Total – 20/25 (80%)

Icons returns with a nice base card design. The player's photo is offset by a bronzed picture of the subject's face. Getting almost half the base set in a box that on average yields 60 total cards is not that bad. On the other hand, even though I'm a big fan of die cut cards, the die cut parallel is not appealing. Maybe it's me, but I don't even understand the design of it. Perhaps cards shaped in the letter "I" for Icons?

As for the inserts, I absolutely enjoy the fact all the cards are numbered. This gives added value to the box and the cards. It's more enjoyable to look at a card and know only a certain amount was made instead of looking at one and wondering how bad it was mass produced.

Something I have to touch on are the Lettermen cards. Now, I've mentioned before that these have become way too over produced so I won't go into that. However, I have other issues with these. First, how does Phil Dalhausser even get a card in this set? It's NFL Icons, not Beach Volleyball Icons. Second, why am I trying to spell a team's name and not the player? To me, the idea of lettermen cards should equate to a player's last name as seen on a jersey. Third, where's the autograph? Now, I'm not one that only cares about the "hits" but these are manufactured cards that really have no appeal without an auto on the letters.

In the end, getting five chase cards in a box is a good thing. Yes, they could be improved upon in some areas, but it is nice nonetheless. The cards are appealing and eye-catching. Numbering all the inserts enhances the interest in opening the packs as well as the excitement as you know you will get something that's limited in number. But as previously mentioned, this should be a football only box as the name of the set indicates.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Upper Deck for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, you can check them out at www.upperdeck.com.

[trevorp121]

I personally do not like the design of the Icon set. Decent looking cards just not what I would be looking for...

[Captngeetch]

I love the Letterman cards myself, I know they are Manufactured, but they still have great eye appeal..I do agree that they should be auto's though...the numbering really means nothing without it...my pet peeve is the sticker auto's, I know getting them hard signed is a hassle, but the constraint of signing in the tiny sticker really takes away from some of the flashier signers..Thanx UD for providing the box for review

[mikesilvia]

Design looks nice, but disappointed with Letterman manufactured patches and sticker autos!

[garnett_21]

Nice break and review! The design of the base cards is neat, but I think the colors are too "bland", for lack of a better word. I guess they just don't mesh together as nicely as I'd like to see. But, regardless, this looks like a nice product. Thanks Upper Deck!

[hagansp]

Icons looks nice by appearance, but seeing this break can't help but remind me of the manufactured patches of non football related players. Not a fan of this set, but nonetheless thanks for the review Upper Deck!

[spuds1961]

Thanks ud,nice review Tony,I liked last years icons product better,nothing really new in this years set.Take care Steve

[TheTGB]

Icons is a great looking set but I think the letterman thing is getting over done...now we have people not even in a sport where a jersey is worn getting letters? I don't understand it.

[DunkingDurant35]

Looks like a decent break.

[JKC]

Nice break and review. Not a fan of the release, and believe that the Lettermen thing is getting to become like too much of a good thing. You like it, but don't want it that much. However, thank you Upper Deck for providing this!

Darin