Deshaun Watson Talkin’ Cards at NFLPA Rookie Premiere
by David Lee, Beckett Football Editor
The 2017 NFLPA Rookie Premiere Presented by Panini is well underway, and Friday brought seemingly countless card signings, photos and appearances from the best of the best in this new NFL rookie class. Cards for Prestige Draft Day, Origins, National Treasures Collegiate, Immaculate Collegiate and, yes, Flawless Collegiate were signed at the event.
Plenty of other materials were signed as well, including Panini Instant Impressions (framed hand prints with autographs) cut materials, eye black, stickers, football swatches and even memorabilia. See the gallery at the end for some scenes from Friday. Saturday will be the big day of a full photo shoot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
I had a chance to sit down with National Champion and new Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and show him his Beckett Football cover while he was signing autographs for up-coming Panini products. Here’s what he had to say:
Seeing his first licensed cards:
Deshaun Watson: “It’s a cool thing. Seeing them in the stores, dreaming about being on them and now officially being on them and having people buy them is a pretty cool deal.”
Seeing his Panini Contenders card on the Beckett Football Hot List:
“That’s pretty crazy. I got two cards on the Hot List! That’s pretty dope, just having been drafted and haven’t played yet. Pretty cool deal, and I appreciate everyone buying it.”
What sports he followed growing up:
DW: “I was really a college guy. Of course I watched the NFL, but I was more into college. I always wanted to be an NFL player, but where I come from, it was just a long shot. So I focused on getting to college and graduating high school.”
On trading cards and memorabilia with other rookies:
DW: “In the future we’ll trade jerseys. Relationships go so far, and really I’m a fan of all these guys. I’m one of those guys who’s going to have a basement full of jerseys.”
The player he’d want to be paired on a card with:
“I’d probably have to say Michael Vick.”
How he sees himself fitting in with Houston:
“I think I fit in well. I’ll just come in and do my part, be myself. It’s a winning organization. I don’t have to come in and be the man. J.J. Watt’s the man. He’s going to handle it well. Me, being the young guy, I’ll take advantage of the opportunity when it comes.”
How he feels having D’Onta Foreman in the backfield:
“Oh, it’s big. It adds another layer for the great group of running backs we have on the team, especially a young guy who can come in and learn from those guys. It’s another X-factor.”
A player still at Clemson that collectors should watch out for:
“Deon Cane, wide receiver. He has great potential to be one of the best receivers.”
Wow those guys really sign a lot at the premiere. That would be a dream vacation for us!