It looks like Ryan Cracknell over at the Cardboard Connection’s hunch was right.
Check out the discussion on our football boards.
In an email from The Leaf Trading Card Company they unveiled the Manziel with some really careful language. Here is the email.
Greetings to our customers…
First and foremost, thank you for your strong support of 2013 Leaf Metal and Leaf Valiant Football releases. As you may or may not be aware, these releases included a rare redemption card that can be exchanged for what we touted as one of the most exciting football cards in years! Leaf is pleased to announce that the cards issued as part of the redemption will begin shipping today…. As you can see, this is the first ever card depicting Johnny Manziel. This card features original 1/1 art work hand drawn/painted by the artist and an authentic cut signature. Each signature has been authenticated by PSA/DNA, and each card includes an authentication sticker on back. In addition, each card is slabbed by Beckett Grading Services for its protection.
Leaf wishes to clarify that neither the cards, the use of the signatures included in the cards, nor the artwork, is sanctioned or endorsed by the personality, his university, or any other organization or licensing body. The artwork is an original creation protected by the First Amendment. The cut signatures were obtained by Leaf from third parties. Neither Leaf nor its employees have met with, spoken to, or had any contact with the personality. The depictions on the cards are derived from unique artwork created by an artist under contract to Leaf. The cards represent the artist’s impressions of Johnny Manziel, which Leaf understands to be protected by the First Amendment.
We hope you enjoy what is certain to be one of 2013’s most exciting cards.
Talk about a blurry line they walking. Can’t get more blurred than that. Good luck to them, but I don’t see this ending on their side. The NCAA is very very fickle.
I don’t see any logos.
This must have been what Gilmo posted a couple weeks ago on his FB page about the huge stack of Manziel’s autos that could get him in trouble. Don’t know how the NCAA doesn’t get wind of this and drop the hammer on his eligibility. Leaf might have got these from a 3rd party, but you can’t tell me Johnny Football signed a boat load of autographs and didn’t receive some form of payment. I get it. These kids get paid nothing (except a college education) and the universities make millions off of them, but rules are rules. This is going to come back to be a very, very bad decision for him right there with his posting pics with a ton of cash at a casino, and taking all online classes this year. Hope A&M’s backup QB takes a few more snaps with the 1st team in spring ball.
IS THIS THE PART WHERE LEAF GETS SUED AND JOHNNY STILL COLLECTS HIS MONEY LEGALLY DECLARED BY THE NCAA. THIS IS A COMPLETE JOKE. MANZIEL SHOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR AT ALL. PERIOD. LOOK AT ALL THE AUTOGRAPH PSA STUFF ONLINE ….
I don’t think Leaf can get sued over this. The only person this could get bad for is Manziel.
Leaf is playing with fire on this one. Regardless of if they get sued they are going to end up on the wrong side of this one from a pr perspective.