Blake Griffin Signs for Upper Deck?

[tarheelsnipe]

Not sure how many of you follow UD on Facebook. There's a post from UD with a picture of Blake signing jerseys. What happened to that exclusive deal with Panini?

Added a screenshot from my computer. Mods, I searched the TOS and didn't see anything forbidding this.

[Italy61587]

[whalechaser]

Panini should really hold Griffin up to his contract. . . maybe Sandwich brand screwed up and only made the contract apply to signing cards only. So jerseys, shoes, etc. fair game?

[Italy61587]

Panini should really hold Griffin up to his contract. . . maybe Sandwich brand screwed up and only made the contract apply to signing cards only. So jerseys, shoes, etc. fair game?

ya, maybe UD found some kinda loop-hole in Panini's contract w/ Griffin

[ISO NJ 30 G]

Whalechaser, I think you hit it correctly. I think their exclusive is a card-only deal. Whoopsie. But, it would have cost Panini more to sign him to a more inclusive exclusive (haha), especially when they don't do anything like UD Authenticated.

[tarheelsnipe]

Whalechaser, I think you hit it correctly. I think their exclusive is a card-only deal. Whoopsie. But, it would have cost Panini more to sign him to a more inclusive exclusive (haha), especially when they don't do anything like UD Authenticated.

That make no sense to me. Panini already has the exclusive NBA card contract. They are the ONLY company that can feature Blake, Flynn, Tyler, and the gang in NBA uniforms. What other cards could Blake sign? NCAA cards that have historically been unpopular with the majority of collectors? Why would Panini sign any athlete in a sport where they are the monopoly? If UD decided to insert basketball players into its other products, they'd have to airbrush out the NBA and team logos. Their sets would look like my Jordan Ball Park Franks cards. They'd be about as popular too. At least the hot dogs were good.

[ISO NJ 30 G]

Tarheel:
I think Panini signed those guys to exclusives because their contract wasn't taking effect quickly enough. If they hadn't been exclusive, UD and Topps would've had them sign for the products they've rushed out before their contracts end. But, Topps already got around that with the McDonald's All-American cards signed before the Panini exclusive. And UD will sell that merchandise that Griffin is signing, or, as someone said in another thread (I think it was you, actually), maybe 09-10 Exquisite will have merchandise redemption cards?

[sportscentury]

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