Interesting to see Boston trade up to get Brent Harper at 13. He has the skill set to be one of the best LB’s in NAAF history if he is developed right. I think despite my questioning of O’Rourke in the first round Providence had a good draft getting the OL help they needed and picking up a late round RB with potential.

Last edited by Captain Mort 3D (5/09/2020 5:12 pm)

I like our draft, Fairgrove sounds really promising, Burrow (I think it's funny both my team irl and in this league picked a Burrow) seems to have talent, he's undersized which is a bit of a worry but hopefully he'll become a good option for Logan and Lloyd seems like a good pickup for what was left, little more defense never hurt nobody.

Darknes wrote:

I think Hartford had a good draft plus I think Ottawa did as well. 

As a Boston Fan, I'm not wild about our draft..like something was missing. 

Boston is heading into a bit of a transition period but what they got should help for their future. They'll likely be more aggressive going for a QB next year.

MyTeamIsDr.Pepper wrote:

I like our draft, Fairgrove sounds really promising, Burrow (I think it's funny both my team irl and in this league picked a Burrow) seems to have talent, he's undersized which is a bit of a worry but hopefully he'll become a good option for Logan and Lloyd seems like a good pickup for what was left, little more defense never hurt nobody.

Tigers overall got exactly what they needed where they were picking so they are feeling pretty good. Burrows will need some development but should be a solid receiver if he gets the right development. I think Lloyd has the potential to be a solid piece even out of the 4th round.

1953 NAAF Offseason News

Woodard Isn’t Going Anywhere
PROVIDENCE GOLD STARS
After the Providence Gold Stars selected Weymouth QB Connor O’Rourke 5th overall in the draft, the future of QB Bruce Woodard was thrown into question. While there might have been some rumoured tension between Woodard and the revolving door of staff over the past couple of seasons, it seems to have not scared him away. The long time Gold Stars starter signed a 2-year deal worth $20K per year. The contract does have a player option for the second year of the term, so if Woodard chooses to go elsewhere he can. The other surprising news is the Stars also re-signed backup Brian Meadows to a 1-year deal worth $5K, which would likely place O’Rourke on the reserve roster for his first season, which may not be a bad thing to help develop the young QB. 

Tigers Keep Their Future Intact
ONTARIO TIGERS
Both of the Tigers' top offensive stars were needing new contracts and they got both of them to stay long term. RB Laurent Brazeau has been the beating heart of the Tigers offense in his first 3 seasons and will continue that moving forward after signing a 4-year deal worth $102K overall. He will be paid 24K in ‘53 with an increasing salary over time. The biggest question was about signing the QB they traded for last year, Duane Logan. The ‘52 season was partly about showing Logan what the Tigers had in store and how he can win with this team. While a 4-6 season and missing the playoffs might not be satisfactory to start. The team was able to add pieces in the draft that have convinced the 33-year-old to re-sign. Logan will be on a 3-year deal worth $78K at an average of $26K a year.  

Montreal Goes a New Direction Behind Center
MONTREAL ROUGE
After acquiring QB Oliver Callahan in a trade in 1951, the Rouge have released the veteran QB. While Callahan was able to lead Montreal to an unbeaten season and a McCallister Cup, the following season was very lackluster. Filled with pointless interceptions and costly decisions, Callahan struggled a lot in his second year with the Rouge. Guy Clarke is not a very patient man when it comes to his team, as seen by his trading of QB Maurice Norris despite the team finishing 1st in the league and in the McCallister Cup. QB Andrew Glover will likely take the reins as the starter this season which is a long time coming for the 29-year old. Glover had started his career in Buffalo behind Evan Morrow and was thinking he was the next guy, but when Angelo Medina came to town, Glover was looked at as a long term backup. He signed with Montreal last offseason in hopes that the aging Callahan would provide Glover with an opportunity to get into the starting role. 

Another Hawk leaves the Nest
HARTFORD HAWKS
LB Roland Hensley of the Hartford Hawks has decided to leave the team following another disappointing season. The LB has been the top guy in Hartford for a long time and is fed up with the lack of passion the team has. Hensley is 28 and wants to play for a team that wants to win. He is one of the biggest players to ever hit the market and will be on every team’s radar in free agency. 

Top Extensions - *Salaries are per year
QB Larry Larson BOS - 2 yrs, $25K - 2nd Year Player Option
OL Andrew Furrson BOS - 4 yrs, $18K
DB Dylan Alston BUF - 3 yrs, $16K
OL Casey York BUF - 5 yrs, $16K
DB Eugene Christensen HAR - 2 yrs, $15K - 2nd Year Player Option
S Carl Dawson HAR - 3 yrs, $12K
WR John Rivera MTL - 2 yrs, $20K
DL Zakary Turbide MTL - 4 yrs, $17K
DB Louie White ON - 4 yrs, $18.5K
DB Paul Gregory ON - 4 yrs, $17K
DB Uzzia Hayes OTT - 5 yrs, $18.8K
WR Willard Brooks OTT - 3 yrs, $17K
DB Victor Bean PRO - 3 yrs, $19.2K
WR Peter Brooks PRO - 3 yrs, $22K
RB Jacque Montier WOR - 2 yrs, $14K
K Trevor Francis WOR - 3 yrs, $10K

FREE AGENT FRENZY

Roland into Kitchener - Ontario Tigers
The Ontario Tigers stun the football world with their signing of top LB Roland Hensley. Hensley signed a 3-year deal at $17K per year. The addition will pair up the experienced linebacker with second-year Tiger LB Aengus Lynch. With the secondary only getting better, the Tigers have quickly climbed the ranks and on paper have the 3rd best defense behind Montreal and Providence. The Tigers are even scarier than last year and will hopefully take another step forward. 

Free Agency Dry Spell
GENERAL NEWS
While this free agency window featured one of the biggest free agents ever in Roland Hensley, the rest of the group was far from great. QB Oliver Callahan did find a new home in Worcester and will back up Riley Kiernan. The Tigers also brought back WR Clifford Chapman who used to be one of their top guys but will likely fill the depth role as he gets older. WR John Hall moved on to Montreal after playing with the Royals as their #4 for several seasons. For the most part, it was depth pieces transitioning from team to team. However, there were a couple of bigger moves that happened through the process of trades. 

TRADES 

Gold Stars are Dealing, and a New Look Receiving Core is the Result
PROVIDENCE GOLD STARS, OTTAWA ROYALS, AND HARTFORD HAWKS
Virgil Gross in his first offseason as GM of the Gold Stars has many people either thrilled that the team is finally taking action or they are puzzled by the drastic changes. The first victim is long-time WR Eugene Burns. Burns has not been quite at the same level as his ‘50 All-Star season, but he is still a great #2 option behind WR Peter Brooks. However, they also had not addressed the D-line in yet and needed major help, so they called upon the Ottawa Royals. The Royals also need help on the D-line, but they also couldn’t pass up on the chance to add to an already deadly receiving core. The Royals would send DL George Woods, who they only signed a year ago from the Hawks, and WR John Osborn to the Gold Stars for WR Eugene Burns, DL (Prospect) Nicolas Campbell, and a 1954 3rd Rounder. The Gold Stars get both a replacement for Burns in Osborn who has been great as Ottawa’s 3rd WR and a strong veteran DL who should help out in the front 7. Ottawa, of course, grabs Eugene Burns who now is involved in a receiving core that already has Allen Atkins and Willard Brooks. Good luck to teams trying to stop that air attack. They also get a prospect on the DL but won’t likely be more than a depth piece and another late-round draft pick.  
The deal overall is pretty even with the Gold Stars getting the much-needed help on the line, while still not having a bad receiving core. Ottawa will be one of the hardest teams to stop but will have some big holes on defense that could be detrimental.  

​Providence wasn’t done there tho as they would make a second trade with the Hartford Hawks. The Gold Stars would send troubled WR Lloyd Marshall to the Hawks for WR Michael Mcleod and RB Howard Reid. Providence picks up Mcleod who has probably been the most reliable WR in Hartford over the past few years and should fit in well on the offense in a smaller role. While Howard Reid was mainly a piece Providence took on because the Hawks couldn’t pay off the player and wanted the spot for rookie RB Pierre LeStrange. As of now, Reid will be the second option at RB, while their draft selections develop behind himself and Gene Fischer. The Hawks got a troubled WR in Lloyd Marshall who had never found his footing in Providence. Hopefully, in a new environment, the WR can improve and find a new level of success. Marshall also comes in much cheaper than Mcleod was and will provide the Hawks with some financial relief.  

As a gold star fan I have mixed feelings on the off-season. On one hand Gross has brought in some new talent to sort of revitalize the team and on the other hand he seems a bit trigger happy trades which could be an issue down the road. But I have hope that things will work out this season for the better.

Last edited by Captain Mort 3D (5/10/2020 6:12 pm)