The second week of the NFL season at eTopps is underway. It features some pretty good offerings with a nice selection of rookies and proven stars. Although some say the 4th season of football cards is not as intriguing to buy at IPO as the inaugural edition of NASCAR, I disagree. This year's set is loaded with tons of hot rookies and exciting established veterans. The new pricing/print run combination looks awfully good for both collectors and investors.

Don’t shy away from looking at the “fraternity” of the 3rd year cards (Marvin, Priest, Rod and Tiki). I somewhat understand looking away from Rod Smith. However, Tiki Barber is one of the most underrated players in the National Football League. Same goes for Marvin Harrison; after shattering the single season reception record he received minimal attention. Priest Holmes is another superstar. All he did last year was win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year while missing a few games due to injury. If he stays healthy he has a serious chance to stack up some awards. Look for him to possibly get the “Triple Crown” of the NFL: League MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and another Pro Bowl visit.

By the way, this is my first time writing an “IPO Insight” article. I am not perfect by any means so don’t come crying to me if your card drops in value. Just use my opinions as a guide. Anyways, on with the show…

Bethel Johnson (3,000 @ $4.00)

Johnson is definitely a player to watch! His selection as the 45th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft seemed a little high to most experts, seeing as how he missed the entire 2002 season at Texas A&M due to a spleen injury. For a while, no one knew who he was. But when the combine took place he left everyone in the dust, running a 4.35 40-yard dash. Since then, he has continued to make the draft “experts” look bad and make the Patriots look good. This guy is loaded with potential and will be the replacement for Troy Brown when he hangs up his spikes. As a quality rookie, combined with a great $4.00 price tag and a respectable print run of 3,000, I say this card is a Good Buy. On a buy-scale of 1 to 10, I give him an 8.

Byron Leftwich (6,000 @ $6.50)

Up until a couple months before the 2003 NFL draft, Byron Leftwich (a.k.a. “Lefty”) was expected to be the #1 pick overall. This all changed when Carson Palmer led USC to National acclaim while picking up the Heisman. Lucky Lefty may get a chance to start as a rookie, unlike his friend Carson Palmer of the “Bungals.” With rumors of Mark Brunell being traded, or possibly cut, the path for the Jags to use Lefty as their starting QB should be cleared. He has a bright future in the league and has shown this during the preseason. He had one of the most memorable college careers of any quarterback in the last decade. Without question, this is a Great Buy. On the buy-scale I give him a 9.

Champ Bailey (2,500 @ $6.50)

As I look down the list of defensive players in the 2003 set I see Brian Urlacher (SCORE!), Hugh Douglas, Jason Taylor, Ray Lewis, DeWayne Robertson, Terrell Suggs, and Jerome McDougle. Then we stumble upon rookie cornerback Terence Newman and Pro-Bowler Champ Bailey. I count 9 defensive players, including the first cornerbacks offered by eTopps. There are 5 more defensive players offered this year than last. I am not sure what else to say about Champ Bailey but this card is somewhat well-deserved. All he has done since being drafted in ’99 is make a visit to the NFL Pro Bowl every year he has played in the league. Because eTopps has never offered a cornerback it might be worth taking a flyer at IPO -- get the first cornerback ever offered by eTopps. But, on the other hand, I don’t expect a defensive player to stay above IPO unless they are having a monster season. I give Champ just a passing mark. On the buy-scale I give him a 6.5.

Marvin Harrison (2,000 @ $4.00)

This may be Marvin’s 3rd card (4th including eVent) but he is very deserving of it. Last season he shattered the single-season reception record and took the Colts to the playoffs. His humble ways (unlike Terrell Owens) have always surprised people. He has been the best receiver in the NFL the last three seasons and will continue to be a great one. “Peyton to Marvin... TOUCHDOWN!” Look for his name to be displayed in Canton soon after he retires. Anyways, back to the card details. The print run of 2,000 is very attractive and his cheap $4.00 price tag is another incentive to buy this card. I think this is a pretty Good Buy. On the buy-scale I give him a 7.

Priest Holmes (3,000 @ $6.50)

Can you believe this guy went un-drafted??? As I noted earlier, last year Priest won the Offensive Player of the Year while missing a few games due to injury (causing him to miss out on breaking the single-season touchdown mark set by Marshall Faulk a few years back). If he stays healthy he has a serious chance to pile up some awards. Look for him to possibly get the “Triple Crown” of the NFL: League MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and another Pro Bowl visit. You may be able to find this card cheaper on eBay soon but, because of his credentials, it may not be a bad pick-up at IPO if you have an extra $6.50 lying around. Expect rookie running back Larry Johnson to take a few carries away from Priest. But don’t worry -- Priest is still the “Savior” in Kansas City. On the buy-scale I give him a 6.5.

Rod Smith (2,000 @ $4.00)

This is basically the same as the Harrison card (print run/price) but Smith has MUCH less to offer in my opinion. I wonder why anyone would buy this card (unless you are a Rod Smith fan or you are trying to collect the set). He has been a very good receiver for years in this league. He'll likely continue to have a productive career thanks to the new addition of Jake Plummer in Mile High. This is not a recommended buy unless you are either a die-hard Broncos fan, a Rod Smith fan, or trying to collect the set. On the buy-scale I give him a 3.

Tiki Barber (2,000 @ $4.00)

I know I said this about Marvin Harrison... Tiki Barber may also be one of the most underrated players in the National Football League. He has done everything he possibly can to help the Giants. Often overlooked because of Marshall Faulk, Priest Holmes, and Ricky Williams, Tiki is one of the most versatile players in the NFL and just happens to put up big numbers year-in and year-out. This is another card that will level off at $3.00 on eBay because of the “3rd year card” status. It has a low print run of 2,000 and a low price tag of $4.00 but I still think there is a chance that it will be available on eBay soon for less than IPO. On the buy-scale I give him a 5.

Tyrone Calico (2,500 @ $6.50)

Calico is another rookie speedster like Bethel Johnson. He too ran a 4.3 40-yard dash during the combine which boosted his draft status big-time. A small-school prospect with tons of potetional, Calico may be able to step in immediately and contribute with the Titans. His height and speed make him a big threat in the passing game. If he can play with more consistency he could be a star in the future. Because of his $6.50 price tag and print run of 3,000, I say this is a Good Buy at IPO. It may have some trouble holding its price until he proves something. On the buy-scale I give him a 7.5.