Let me guess, Minneapolis will win the western division in 1964-65.

1964 SFL Offseason Pt.2 

The SFL SuperDraft
The official start to the first SFL offseason actually came in the middle of the NFA’s 1963-64 season. In early December of 1963, all 6 franchises got together and planned out a draft that would take place later the next month. That draft would be similar to the NFA’s Annual Draft where each team was granted a pick per round. The way the order was selected was through a lottery. Each team’s name got written down on a piece of paper, put in an envelope, and then the envelopes were mixed up. The teams were selected in the following order: Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta, Texas, Houston, Birmingham. 
One thing the SFL did differently from the NFA, was it didn’t set a limit on where rookies could be chosen from. The NFA had limits on the collegiate division on which a player was chosen from and had a disdain for players chosen from all black colleges. The SFL actually encouraged teams to look far and wide for players the teams deemed fit for play. Although this clashed with the ideas thought to have been held in the earlier controversies. The SFL also allowed the selection of NFA players, although many couldn’t get out of their contracts and couldn’t join the SFL. All of this resulted in most of the rosters for the teams ending up as shallow, young rosters.
The SFL’s “SuperDraft” took place in mid January of 1964 and lasted over 30 rounds with teams picking in the order stated above. It saw several players indeed drafted from the NFA and these ‘unconventional locations' and there was some overlap with what would be eventual draft picks to the NFA’s Annual Draft. This overlap actually caused some NFA teams to not choose certain players, fearing that they might not sign with them. Also worth noting is that some players from black colleges ended up refusing to play for the SFL due to the league logo, while not many of them, it upset the teams enough for the conversation to be brought back up. It again would result in nothing changing however.
Among the draftees choosing the SFL over the NFA were a couple big names. For example, the first official pick of the SFL’s 1964 SuperDraft was RB Elijah Boone by the Miami Stingrays. Boone was the best player coming out of college by a mile and would later be selected second overall by the Seattle Lumberjacks in the NFA’s draft. Boone, who was contacted by the Rays as soon as he was picked, was thrilled by the idea of the SFL. So much in fact that he even told the NFA that if a team picks him; “It’s a wasted pick, might as well pick nobody.” This didn’t deter the Jacks however, who thought they could sway him. This would be unsuccessful however and Boone signed the biggest rookie contract in football history up until that point, which definitely made ripples across the football landscape and scared the NFA.
Boone wasn’t the only big name selected by the SFL and NFA to choose the SFL either. DT Andrew Jackson signed with the Riders over the Bombers, and WR Perry Martin signed with the Anvils over the Hornets.
Finally, some major NFA players were chosen in the draft. The most notable was reigning back to back MOD, DE Monty Jones. Jones never would sign with the SFL. However some players who were drafted and signed were: WR Wayne Schick, DE Robert Fox, and TE Ed Carolan. 

SFL’s Free Agency Stealings
Drafting wasn’t the only way SFL teams acquired their players. They also stole players from the NFA. (Much like I explained in the NFA post) Many players were enticed enough by the SFL’s improved free agency and player freedom to manage to bribe their current teams into being released and signing deals with SFL teams. This also coincided with the unpopular relocation of the Ironmen, which saw many of their players upset, therefore seeing that as an opportunity for many ex-Ironmen to jump ship to the SFL. 
The first huge signing the SFL had was QB Pete Blair, who, like many others, forced his own release from the Milwaukee Barbarians, along with many teammates and some of the coaching staff, thanks to the team's relocation. QB Pete Blair would quickly turn away offers in the NFA and secure a deal with the Texas Roughriders, citing the league's improved free agency and contract terms as a major selling point. This was then followed by several other Barbarians, most notably; CB John Walker and S Rocco Johnson, who were a defensive tandem for the Ironmen, even despite Walker’s age, WR Walter Brown, the number 2 option for Blair last year, and DT Bob Daniels, the young leader of the Ironmen defensive line. But it wasn’t just relegated to the Barbarians, the only teams to not lose anyone to the SFL were the Cannons and Tigers. 

-Other major signings are listed below. 
-TE William Flaherty, who signed with the Anvils. 
-CB John Walker, who signed with the Anvils. 
-S Rocco Johnson, who signed with the Copperheads. 
-DT Bob Daniels, who signed with the Copperheads. 
-RB Tommy Mason, who signed with the Copperheads.
-WR John Davidson, who signed with the Stingrays.
-QB Ryle Hanson, who signed with the Revelers. 
-DT Trent Godson, who signed with the Roughriders. 
-WR Harry McCain, who signed with the Roughriders.
-OLB Palmer Joy, who signed with the Explorers 

SFL Coaching Piracy
It wasn’t only players that the SFL stole. They managed to snag 3 major guys from coaching staffs in the NFA, almost getting a fourth in head coach Bob Urchin, who retired this offseason.
The 3 major defects from the NFA were; Head Coach Thomas Woods and OC Robert Grey from the Barbarians, and OC Cliff Johnson from the Lumberjacks. Woods and Grey escaped the sinking ship which was the relocating Ironmen, and Johnson was fired after this year and signed for a bigger contract in the SFL with the Stingrays. Woods followed Blair and signed with the Roughriders while Grey snagged a head coaching job in Birmingham. 

-Here’s the list of head coaches for each team: 
-Lennie Morales; Atlanta Copperheads. 
-Robert Grey; Birmingham Anvils.
-Jack Welch; Houston Explorers.
-Mario Devettori; Miami Stingrays.
-David Warren; New Orleans Revelers.
-Thomas Woods; Texas Roughriders.

C&C Appreciated! Last offseason thing should be uploaded soon.

Lots happening with the SFL starting up. I like seeing how the leagues will likely affect each other and how it will change how the leagues are run as a whole.
I like the Blue Ox update overall. Shifting further towards sky blue and white, with minimal Navy, which is a cool colour scheme. 

Last edited by Wallflower (7/05/2020 6:36 pm)

You forgot Milwaukee in the power rankings.

I'm now a lumberjack fan because i'm 15% Canadian and Lumberjacks are often associated with Canada.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay

 

Last edited by BlogDunk (7/06/2020 5:13 pm)

The new uniforms are cool. wonder if the blue ox in the logo is named Babe.
The barbarian in Milwaukee's Logo Should be named Hannover Hermann.
​And the Bulldog should be named Billy Froscholi, and the Seattle Lumberjack should be named Lumbardis.
The Hornet in Philadelphia's l0go should be called Joey Hornet.

Last edited by MyTeamIsDr.Pepper (7/07/2020 2:54 pm)