London? I thought the Tigers were going to move back to Toronto

Last edited by joho42x (9/01/2020 12:03 pm)

1957 Re-Sign Stage 

Contract Issues with Alexander Bradley in Worcester
Several rumours were coming out of Worcester this month highlighting issues with the team attempting to sign their top DB, Alexander Bradley. There isn’t much to go on but the team and player had reportedly not been able to agree until the final days before free agency. Many were expecting Bradley’s contract to be bigger than Scotty Williams’ $30,000-$32,000 salary and over the next 5 years. However, by the time the two sides got to an agreement the contract was only 2 years at $29,000. Another idea coming forth now is the Athletics lowballed the DB in the mid, $20,000s but still wanted 5 years. Bradley wanted more and that might have been the bulk of the issue. There are also some rumours that Bradley was not the only player in this situation with both WR Christian Venegas and LB Silas O’Brien struggling to negotiate.  

Buffalo is Holding On For Another Shot at the Top
The Blue Wings had a rough season in 1956, suffering endless injuries and missing out on the playoffs with a 5-5 record. It was evident that the age of the Blue Wings was starting to show among their stars and there would be loads of questions about where Buffalo would go this season. In the end, the Blue Wings look to be taking at least one last shot with this core. They would be able to bring back DL Sean Bowen for 1 more year at $30,000 with a player option for a second year, and DB Louie White to a $21,000 contract with the same option for year 2. Keeping these two will be vital in trying to get Buffalo back to the playoffs and possibly back to the McCallister Cup. 

Expansion Tag Effect
The Expansion Tag was introduced to be a helpful tool to raise the competitive level of the expansion teams so they could maintain the players they had selected in the draft. The tag would obligate a player to play a single season with the team at a salary of $15,000. Each expansion team had up to 4 to use, yet only 3 were used in total. Indiana would use the tag on former Royals LB Mickaël Beaumont, who has deep roots in Ottawa was not excited about the move to Indianapolis and having to relocate his family. He will be in Indiana on his own during this season leaving his family in Ottawa. Louisville had the other two tagged players. They would tag LB Ben McCray and K Thomas McFadden. Both were players along the same lines of Beaumont, with families to worry about and cities that they loved to play in. However, considering those were the only 3 show that the players have committed themselves to play for the new teams and bring more competitive balance to the NAAF as a whole.  

Montreal and Providence Lose Key Pieces to Free Agency
The Rouge have had a rough go over the last couple of seasons, and that had taken a toll on DL Zakary Turbide. The 1953 McCallister Cup MVP was not pleased with the consistent losing and had decided last offseason that he would leave at the end of his contract, but he didn’t inform the team so he could go into free agency. That stings a lot for Montreal who certainly would have gotten value for Turbide. Another player headed out was long-time RB Élisée Marchal. While it marks the end of an era in Montreal, the Rouge are not going to worry too much about this loss with RB Scott Mallard-White ready to step into the starting role. The other big name dropping to free agency is Providence’s, OL Eugésippe Chalifoux. Chalifoux’s departure is a massive disappointment for the Gold Stars who had traded a lot to get the OL from Montreal last season. By the sounds of it, Chalifoux was not pleased with his time in Providence and was a lot more comfortable in Montreal. There could be a likely reuniting of Chalifoux and Montreal based on the reasoning behind his decision. 

Notable Contracts Signed
QB Caldwell Higgins BOS - 2Y, $15,000
RB Joel Bonner BOS - 1Y, $20,000
DB Carson Scott BOS - 3Y, $16,000
LB Lloyd Mathis BUF - 4Y, $15,000
WR LeRoy Kruger BUF - 2Y, $14,500
QB Duane Logan IND - 3Y, $28,000
RB Laurent Brazeau IND - 2Y, $29,000
DB Lester Murphy IND - 2Y, $27,000
DL Vernon Spears LI - 5Y, $24,000-$26,000
LB Elijah Goldwater LI - 3Y, $20,000
WR Darryl Duke LI - 3Y, $19,000
DB Jesse Scott LOU - 2Y, $17,500
S Lester Greer LOU - 2Y, $17,000
OL Aaron Spears LOU - 1Y, $15,000
QB Stanislav Ovechkin MTL - 4Y, $28,000-$29,000
WR Ray Lopez MTL - 2Y, $20,000
TE Eli Grant MTL - 4Y, $14,000
QB Chrsitian Stewart ON - 5Y, $24,000-$26,000
OL Kazimir Smirnov ON - 4Y, $13,500
LB Benjamin Pittman ON - 3Y, $16,000-$16,750
WR Chester Bennett OTT - 4Y, $21,000
TE Jervonte Howell OTT - 4Y, $14,100
LB Leo Davenport OTT - 2Y, $16,500
DB Lee Wofle PRO - 2Y, $30,000
DB Paul Gregory PRO - 2Y, $18,000
OL Bernard Gide PRO - 2Y, $16,500
LB Silas O’Brien WOR - 2Y, $16,000
WR Christian Venegas WOR - 2Y, $18,000 

How could Worcester think lowballing Bradley was a good idea? Every other team knows how valuable he is and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bradley request a trade in the next two years with his impeding FA to go to a team that will give him the money he deserves.

1957 Free Agency

Providence Adds Pair of Rouge Stars
The Gold Stars had bad news to start the free agency window with OL Eugésippe Chalifoux leaving the team just 1 season after being acquired via trade. GM Virgil Gross was ridiculed for bad management, but he made up for it by signing two stars right from the Rouge: DL Zakary Turbide and RB Élisée Marchal. Turbide will immediately create a dynamic duo on the D-line with DL Calias McDonough and will make the Gold Stars a scary defence. Marchal of course will hopefully add the RB that the Gold Stars have been needing for a long time. He will still compete with RB Johnnie Stafford for snaps. However, Stafford isn’t super pleased with the team constantly looking for other talent at the RB position after the Brazeau trade last season and now this signing.  

Montreal Brings Back Chalifoux
Despite trading away OL Eugésippe Chalifoux last season, the Rouge were able to reacquire the veteran OL. Chalifoux reportedly was not a fan of his time in Providence and was more than willing to head back home to Montreal. Chalifoux making his return will be a major boost for a young Montreal line and a team that needs some veteran leadership. 

Wide Attraction of New Players to the NAAF
With the addition of 2 new teams and expansion of roster sizes, more and more players are heading over to the NAAF. Many were out of the midwest, but there were also tons of veterans that came over from the ACFL. The new players will only help competition in the long run and promote the NAAF as a great option for players to join.  

Top Signings
DB Kenneth Wade BOS - 2Y, $14,000
WR Gene Hardy BUF - 1Y, $12,000
RB Pierre LeStrange BUF - 2Y, $10,000
DB Francis Veillette IND - 1Y, $16,000
WR John Osborn LI - 1Y, $12,000
OL Logan Blackwell LOU - 3Y, $10,000
WR Micheal Mcleod LOU - 1Y, $7,500
OL Eugésippe Chalifoux MTL - 3Y, $16,500
RB Gene Fischer MTL - 1Y, $12,000
LB Leonardo Puig ON - 2Y, $13,000
QB Micheal Kramer OTT - 2Y, $10,000
RB Élisée Marchal PRO - 1Y, $20,000
DL Zakary Turbide PRO - 3Y, $19,500
DL Charles Hoover WOR - 2Y, $12,000
WR Da’wan Rice WOR - 1Y, $7,500 

Undrafted Free Agents
OL Varo Giovanni - Providence Gold Stars
QB Dick Ray - Ottawa Royals
S David Jones - Indiana Victors
TE Willis Harrington Buffalo Blue Wings
RB Hans Jaeger - Indiana Victors
DB Herb Covington - Louisville Thunder
RB Boomer Couch - Boston Independents
TE Billy Rock - Long Island Raiders
OL Joe Richardson - Ontario Tigers 

Rugrat wrote:

Power Rankings before the season begins
1. Worcester Athletics
2. Ottawa Royals
3. Ontario Tigers
4. Long Island Raiders
5. Providence Gold Stars
6. Buffalo Blue Wings
7. Indiana Victors
8. Boston Independents
9. Montreal Rouge
10. Louisville Thunder

Not too bad for an initial thought about the power rankings, you'll get to compare to my own power rankings later tonight or tomorrow. It's cool to see what people think about it outside of being able to see the ratings and everything.