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Long before Andrew Luck slipped into his full NFL uniform for the first time a few weeks ago at the 2012 NFLPA Rookie Premiere, he’d already made history with a different jersey. The one he received directly from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as the No. 1 pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft.
It’s the one Luck proudly hoisted for the world to see that late-April evening, standing center stage in New York City’s fabled Radio City Music Hall. He also donned some history-making headwear that night, too.
The other young first-round superstars selected after Luck — including the electrifying Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne and 15 others — followed suit in their suits, clutching their personalized-on-the-spot Nike jerseys for the grip-and-grin photos that will be remembered forever.
In all, 20 first-round selections crossed the stage on April 26 and stepped into their NFL careers. Those history-soaked jerseys and hats, however, didn’t accompany them. Instead, they were expedited by NFL officials to Panini America headquarters to begin their own epic journey — as the centerpiece memorabilia for the 20-card Draft Day Materials insert in the upcoming 2012 Prestige Football set.
Hey, being the official trading card of the NFL Draft has its advantages.
To satiate anxious football collectors waiting on pins and needles for the June 20 launch of Prestige, we thought we’d share images of the memorabilia along with the Draft Day Materials design into which it will be embedded. We’ve also included some additional images that showcase some of the new features of the Nike tops.
Enjoy. And stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance as the countdown to 2012 Prestige Football continues.
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