1969 Re-Sign Stage

1969 Re-Sign Stage

NAAF STARS, FALKNER AND DILLARD, TO TEST THE MARKET
A pair of stars are looking at changing teams this offseason. LB Dallas Dillard has spent 10 years as a member of the Tigers and has been one of their best players. However, Dillard has mentioned his childhood dream to play for his hometown team, the Buffalo Blue Wings. Many are expecting the veteran to sign there quickly once free agency opens. As for DB Neville Falkner, his future is much more up in the air. It appears that the former 1st overall pick isn’t exactly happy with the Gold Stars in recent history. As they have only been able to make the playoffs in 1 of their last 5 seasons. Falkner wishes to win a title before his career is over and not end up like long-time teammate QB Connor O’Rourke and retire without a championship. There will certainly be offers coming from the top contenders like Buffalo, Halifax, Ottawa, and Indiana, a couple of dark horses could also be Louisville and Pittsburgh. In fact, Pittsburgh might be a favourite considering Falkner grew up there.

SEVERAL BIG-NAME QBS INK DEALS
8 teams secured their expected starter for the 1969 season with new contracts. The biggest deal that was signed was by QB Charles Lemieux who signed a mega 5-year deal worth a total of $228,000. Lemieux becomes the highest-paid player in the NAAF earning $44,000 this year and increasing over the contract. 

The defending champs would lock up their veteran QB, Lyle Painter, to a new 2-year deal worth $37,500 a season. After a pair of strong seasons, the Thunder have signed Buck Murphy to a new 4-year deal, upping the 30-year-old’s pay to $32,500 a year. The Thunder have also finally seen Leonidas Dumont’s contract end and have let the former 1st overall pick go. 

The Blacksmiths have committed to the 1968 Breakout Player of the Year, QB Louis Vaughn, by agreeing to a 4-year deal, paying him $34,500 a season. Elsewhere, QB Gene Bishop would stay with the Rouge on a 3-year deal worth $40,000 a season. While veterans, Riley Kiernan and Todd Baker would remain with their teams on shorter-term deals. However, the most interesting QB decision was in Long Island, as they would have to decide which of their two QBs to sign, Ivan Sanchez or Landon Ross. In the end, the Raiders signed the younger of the two, Ivan Sanchez, to a 2-year deal worth $22,500 a season. Ross is expected to test the market.  

MINNESOTA FARES WELL IN SIGNING EXPANSION PICKS; 3 PLAYERS SIGNED TO EXPANSION TAGS
The Serpents fared quite well in maintaining a majority of the players they acquired in the Expansion Draft. Their biggest signings were OL Elias McCarren to a 3-year deal worth $24,500 a season. McCarren was excited about the new opportunity, especially for a chance to be able to shine outside of the shadow of All-star Offensive Lineman in Viktor Stahl and Jean-Baptiste Desjardins (Desjardins did ink a new 4-year deal with the Victors). 

Former Blue Wings, WR Sebastian Dassler and DL Albert Sullivan, both signed on with the Serpents, likely due to having their former coach with the new team. LB Enzo Morello, DB Corey Ross, and WR Edward Webb also all inked new deals. 

However, there were a few players that weren’t able to come to an agreement. Just like previous teams, the Serpents were able to use up to 3 Expansion Tags to keep a player on the team to at the very least trade the player for some value. Those tags would be used on RB Ronald O’Sullivan, DL Winfield Winchester, and OL Mason Fitzpatrick. WR Alexei Dubois and OL Xavier Villeneuve, on the other hand, will hit free agency. 

SEVERAL RUNNING BACKS AVAILABLE IN FREE AGENCY
A few running backs across the league are going to be testing the open market this offseason. The biggest names are RB Hugo Hughes and RB Rashed Smith. Hughes had said he wanted to remain with the Rouge, but the two could not agree on a contract as they were in a disagreement over salary. 

As for Smith, the threat of losing his job to the much younger RB Ronnie Byers may have been a leading reason as to why the RB left the organization. On top of that, Smith, much like other RBs in the Gold Stars’ history, didn’t get as many touches as they liked with the heavy pass attack the team typically runs. Smith was having one of his strongest seasons in 1968 but unfortunately had it cut short due to injuries. Both Backs should be great pieces for teams to add and many are looking to Halifax to make a move considering they lost their RB Ronald O’Sullivan in the expansion draft. On top of Hughes and Smith, other strong backs like Carter Roy and Rodney Clark are going to be out there as well.

LANGSTROM IS DONE WITH THE TURMOIL
It’s been 2 seasons since the blockbuster trade that sent DB Oliver Langstrom to the Boston Independents occurred. In that time, the Independents have flopped, going 10-14. On top of that, they are going onto head coach #4 in 4 years. Boston as a whole has been going through a lot of changes, and Langstrom is done with it. His career is not going to last that much longer and he wants to compete. The decision is certainly a blow to the Independents, but it’s an understandable one. 

ROYALS PART WAYS WITH CAPTAIN
With the rise of S Marc Bellecourt this season, the Royals have a new star at the position. This fact was solidified by the extension that Bellecourt signed with the Royals, locking him in for 4 years with the club. Green, who has been a career Royal and their most recent captain, is expected to at least see what spots are available but is still open to returning to Ottawa if nothing comes of it.

For a full list of the signings, check out the spreadsheet below:
SIGNINGS

Top 25 Free Agents
1 - DB Neville Falkner - PRO
2 - LB Dallas Dillard - LDN
3 - DB Oliver Langstrom - BOS
4 - S Randall Green - OTT
5 - WR Nathan Murray-Lawrence - PIT
6 - RB Rashed Smith - PRO
7 - RB Hugo Hughes - MTL
8 - WR Alexei Dubois - BOS
9 - WR Carter Henderson - LOU
10 - DL Richard Blunt - TOR
11 - OL Xavier Villeneuve - MIN (OTT)
12 - QB Landon Ross - LI
13 - RB Carter Roy - PIT
14 - DL Dean Leanman - OTT
15 - WR Troy York - HFX
16 - QB Leonidas Dumont - LOU
17 - RB Rodney Clark - BOS
18 - WR Jack Duncan - LDN
19 - S Peter Sellers - HFX
20 - S Clarence Sale - IND
21 - QB Michael Benedict - OTT
22 - OL Calvin Foreman - PIT
23 - QB Michael Miranda - LDN
24 - RB Robert Jack - OTT
25 - RB George Seahorse - LOU