1971 Free Agency Part 1

All eyes were on the running back market with two of the league’s best RBs over the past decade available, Max Tracy and Jimmy Golden. Tracy garnered the most attention as he was only 29, as compared to the 33-year-old Golden, and certainly had more fuel left in the tank. Tracy was looking for a contender to land with, so the list of teams that were in on acquiring the superstar was limited to the Indiana Victors and the Pittsburgh Blacksmiths. Max Tracy would have several discussions with both teams over a new contract, but in the end, he would take a 3-year deal with the Blacksmiths, giving him $34,500 a season. Tracy chose Pittsburgh as there were a few familiar faces on the roster like former Steelhead teammates, TE Jesse Butler and QB Leif Christiansen, as well as a former college teammate in QB Louis Vaughn. Tracy and Vaughn played together at U of New England during Vaughn’s sophomore year and the two had a lot of respect for each other, both itching to get that ever-elusive McCallister Cup. With the signing, Pittsburgh was getting into some cap trouble, so they would make a quick trade with Montreal, sending RB Raymond Green over to Montreal along with a 4th Round Pick (70th) to get some cap relief and a 5th Round Pick (77th) back. 

After whiffing on Tracy, Indiana would turn to Golden to fix their RB problem. They would ink Jimmy Golden to a 1-year deal that pays him $28,000 a season. Golden has seen quite a decline over the last couple of seasons, which led to his benching in Buffalo last season, so many are not exactly sure if Golden is really going to be the big fix Indiana needs in the backfield. However, it is a big name and will certainly still get eyes on the team.

With the two big-name RBs off the board, the other options would find new landing places. The young RB and former Victor, Shannon West, would head north of the border to Toronto. RB George Seahorse would look for a starting role, with a new 2-year deal in Halifax. Seeing most of the market fizzling, RB Hugo Hughes would ultimately return to Minnesota on a cheaper deal. Other former starters would find some backup roles with RB Tresean Jones replacing George Seahorse in Providence and RB Carter Roy heading to Boston. 

Every offseason the hottest topic is usually the QB market. This season there were several teams looking for new signal callers. Toronto seemed to be the most desperate of the bunch as they felt there was a very slim chance they could get a QB in the draft. They would sign former 10th overall pick, QB David Simmons to a 2-year deal. Simmons started his career in Louisville and struggled during the team’s winless season in 1969, coming in for the injured QB Buck Murphy. He then landed in Long Island last season and had to show up for the McCallister Cup after QB Ivan Sanchez went down. Simmons played well enough to help the Raiders secure the victory, certainly getting some eyes on him as a potential starter since he is still only 26. Overall, Toronto will be gambling a bit on the young QB, who has yet to prove if he can be the franchise guy.

The London Tigers would land QB Tyrion Gainsborough to fill the shoes left by all 3 QBs from last season. Gainsborough has a very strong resume, leading the Royals to a 10-2 season in 1968, the lone season where he was the starting option. While many felt the undrafted QB coasted off of a strong defence, there are many signs showing that Gainsborough can be a very sturdy option for a team looking for some solid and stable QB play. The Calgary Predators were also on the prowl for QBs, especially ones that loved to run the ball. They ended up nabbing former Tigers’ QB Emmitt Jackson. While Jackson had some injury troubles last season, he should be a good fit in the Predators’ Wild West Offence, which seems to excel when the team has a QB that can move the ball with his feet. Jackson will likely be competing with QB Jesse Essex for the starting job next season. 

Finally, the Regina Wheat Kings were open to many options at QB. They would land a couple of options in QB Stanley Evans, who is originally from Saskatchewan, and QB Matt Fletcher. Evans arrives from Vancouver where, just like David Simmons, he had to come in for the Wolves’ starting QB in the big game. Fletcher, on the other hand, has never really been given a chance after the Raiders took him 7th overall in the 1963 draft. He has only 1 start under his belt from his time in Toronto, and he hopes Regina can finally be an opportunity to get on the field. Both QBs should be improvements over QB Rusty Lamb, but the team expects all 3 to be in the running for the job.

Veteran stars were the other hot topic during the free agency period. Mostly about where they would land. S Garet deVale would begin his championship-chasing quest by signing a 1-year deal with the defending champs in Long Island and DL Lucas Kipling would return to his college town in Louisville. OL Taylor Forbes would also join deVale in a move to Long Island. A few other veteran corners would make the shocking move out west. DB Oliver Langstrom would take a 1-year deal with the Calgary Predators, DB Lawrence Ralph was heading to Winnipeg, and DB Lauri Hayha was taking an opportunity with the Wheat Kings. 

Other notable moves saw the Gold Stars look to finally make major improvements on the O-line. They would sign 6-time All-Star, OL Emil Jennings, away from the Tigers. Jennings should provide All-Star-level protection for the Gold Stars with their young QB, Red King. The Tigers did lose out on their top O-lineman, but they would manage to land OL Shane Willis, a former 2nd-round pick to a 4-year deal to fill Jennings’ shoes while being 5 years younger. 

There was not really a top WR that was available this season, but a couple of solid pieces still changed teams. Toronto would add a pair of former Boston Independents in WR Felix Fontaine and WR Jimmy Franks to add some significant help to the passing game. The Tigers would make a sneaky signing in grabbing WR Alex Browne Sr. from the Rangers, a WR that was underutilized in the run-heavy offence. Boston would fill the hole left by Fontaine with WR Edward Webb, a player that has just not been able to prove himself since being drafted to Minnesota during the expansion draft in 1969. Indiana would get their WR Silas Peyton replacement in WR Leonard Green, while WR Justin Dubuque would fill the hole left by Green in Louisville. 

Top 25 Free Agents
1 - RB Max Tracy - TOR -> PIT - 3Y, $34,500 - NTC
2 - S Garet deVale - MTL -> LI - 1Y, $30,000 - NTC
3 - RB Jimmy Golden - BUF -> IND - 1Y, $28,000 - NTC
4 - OL Emil Jennings - LDN -> PRO - 2Y, $26,000 - NTC
5 - DB Oliver Langstrom - TOR -> CGY - 1Y, $28,000 - NTC
6 - DL Lucas Kipling - MTL -> LOU - 1Y, $29,000
7 - OL Shane Willis - MTL -> LDN - 4Y, $25,500
8 - QB David Simmons - LI -> TOR - 2Y, $23,000
9 - DB Lawrence Ralph - BOS -> WPG - 1Y, $25,000 - NTC
10 - QB Tyrion Gainsborough - OTT -> LDN - 2Y, $24,000
11 - QB Landon Ross - PRO -> PRO - 1Y, $19,500
12 - DB Corey Ross - MIN -> PRO - 2Y, $22,000
13 - S Mathieu Cazenave - BUF -> MTL - 3Y, $26,000
14 - OL Taylor Forbes - LOU -> LI - 1Y, $22,000
15 - OL Clifford Pratt - HFX -> MIN - 2Y, $21,000
16 - WR Alex Browne Sr. - EDM -> LDN - 2Y, $22,500
17 - RB Shannon West - IND -> TOR - 2Y, $18,000
18 - WR Edward Webb - PRO -> BOS - 2Y, $18,500
19 - QB Emmitt Jackson - LDN -> CGY - 2Y, $20,000
20 - RB Hugo Hughes - MIN -> MIN - 1Y, $20,000
21 - S Wesley Jones - BUF -> BUF - 1Y, $24,000 - NTC
22 - RB George Seahorse - PRO -> HFX - 2Y, $18,000
23 - DB Cameron Taylor - IND -> IND - 1Y, $14,000
24 - S Jay Shepherd - HFX
25 - LB Brian O’Flaherty - LOU
26* - WR Felix Fontaine - BOS -> TOR - 2Y, $25,000
Fontaine should have been in the top 25, but I guess I missed him.