2000 Playoff Prestige: "Alma Mater Materials" Insert
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic: "Rookie Jersey Numbers" Insert
1997 Proline: "Emerald Autographs" Insert Set
2000 Playoff Prestige: "Alma Mater Materials" Insert
Jay's Football Cards
Licensing Issues
My Licensing Issues Page (Updated August 3rd, 2026)
I decided to put this page together as a collection of those very hard-to-find and even harder-to-obtain cards that were pulled from the printing process early. But lo and behold, some always make it out, and it's those very rare cards that are always on the lists of some of the biggest collectors in the hobby. The cards listed below rarely see the light of day, so it's always nice to see them come up.
Almost 90% of the time, the cards being pulled have something to do with the player not signing their licensing agreement with the player's union. Or sometimes it has to do with a player in the middle of switching agents, so he's not represented when the sets are ready to print. So, for whatever reason, the cards shown below were pulled from their respective sets and are extremely sought after by major hobby enthusiasts.
1) 1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Impact Power #IP25: One of the hobby's true gems in the "Licensing Issues" world is the 1995 Skybox Impact Joe Montana Impact Power card.
Joe Montana had unresolved licensing issues and contract disputes between his representatives and the manufacturer. Unfortunately, these arose after printing had already begun. Skybox was forced to pull these cards early on, and some, like the card shown on the right, go very high. This card, which was sold in July of 2026, went for over $8,000. A record for this card. The funny part is, I remember telling a co-worker I was thinking about going $200 on it.
1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Impact Power #IP25 (Front)*
1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Impact Power #IP25 (Back)*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, my financial advisor has advised me against it.
2) 1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Hall of Fame #HF2: Part two of the hobbies true gems in the "Licensing Issues" world is the 1995 Skybox Impact Joe Montana Hall of Fame card. Joe Montana had unresolved licensing issues and contract disputes between his representatives and the manufacturer. Unfortunately, these arose after printing had already begun. Skybox was forced to pull these cards early on and some, like the card shown on the right, go very high. This card is currently for sale on eBay right now for $5,000. And unlike a lot of the cards listed on my "Wacky Auctions" page. This auction isn't far-fetched.
1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Hall of Fame #HF2 (Front)*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, my financial advisor has advised me against it.
1995 Skybox Impact "Joe Montana" Hall of Fame #HF2 (Back)*
3) 2000 Upper Deck MVP "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #189 (Uncut & Cut): In 2000, one of the biggest names in the draft was a linebacker from Penn State. The latest Uber-Linebacker from Linebacker U. Unfortunately, LaVar Arrington never signed his licensing agreement with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) during his rookie year and failed to appear at the rookie photo shoot.
Card manufacturers, trying to get the jump on the season, the market and predicting that he'll soon sign used his name and likeness without his authorization. Since he did not attend the official rookie photo shoot, all his cards in those early sets featured him in his college Penn State uniform instead.
After discovering his likeness was being printed and sold, Arrington's representatives demanded companies halt production and eventually filed a federal civil lawsuit against Upper Deck, Pacific, Playoff and Fleer. Manufacturers scrambled to recall or stop production. In sets like this one, (Upper Deck MVP), cards that slipped through were physically altered or "cut out" of sheets, creating rare error/variation pieces.
2000 Upper Deck MVP "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #189 (Uncut)*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, my financial advisor has advised me against it.
2000 Upper Deck MVP "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #189 (Cut)
4) 2000 Fleer Ultra "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #240:
In 2000, one of the biggest names in the draft was a linebacker from Penn State. The latest Uber-Linebacker from Linebacker U. Unfortunately, LaVar Arrington never signed his licensing agreement with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) during his rookie year and failed to appear at the rookie photo shoot.
Card manufacturers, trying to get the jump on the season, the market, and predicting that he'll soon sign, used his name and likeness without his authorization. Since he did not attend the official rookie photo shoot, all his cards in those early sets featured him in his college Penn State uniform instead.
After discovering his likeness was being printed and sold, Arrington's representatives demanded companies halt production and eventually filed a federal civil lawsuit against Upper Deck, Pacific, Playoff, and Fleer. Manufacturers scrambled to recall or stop production. In sets like this one, the 2000 Fleer Ultra set, there are a larger # of cards that did slip through.
2000 Fleer Ultra "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #240 (Front)*
*Note: I do not own the card above. Unfortunately, my financial advisor has advised me against it.
2000 Fleer Ultra "LaVar Arrington" Rookie #240 (Back)*
I am always looking for addition cards that may have been pulled from their respective sets due to licensing issues. If by chance you know of any please let me know. Any information is greatly appreciated.
