1955 Offseason Pt. 2

Re-Sign Stage - 1955

Sean Bowen and Frazier Brooks Stay in Buffalo 
Buffalo Blue Wings
After acquiring DL Sean Bowen at the draft last year, Buffalo had to make a great impression for Bowen to accept his player option which would add 2 more seasons to his contract. The good news is that they clearly did with Bowen taking home Defensive Player of the Year. Bowen will remain in Buffalo for the next 2 seasons. Frazier Brooks also signed a mega-deal which will make him the highest-paid safety in the league with numbers nearing the best QBs in the league. Brooks signed a 6-year contract worth a total of $154,000. He will be played $24,000 next season with increases in years 3 and 5 of the deal to $26K and $27K respectively. Alongside Brooks and Bowen, Buffalo also locked up DL Johnathan Brown for another couple seasons at $19,000 a year and the recently acquired DB Ollie Guy to 3 years at $17,500 a year.  

Star Running Backs Don’t Go Anywhere
Boston Independents, Montreal Rouge
Both Boston and Montreal have shown a clear change of direction this offseason. They have both been great teams over the first 6 years of the NAAF, but they clearly needed to get younger. Despite that change of direction both of the team’s aging backs decided to stick around for a couple more seasons. Montreal RB and 3-time MVP Élisée Marchal signed on for 2 more years at $28,000 per year, and Boston’s Joel Bonner stayed put with 2 years at $26,000. Both players love their teams and will continue to provide their skill to the teams despite what could be a couple of down years. 

Bonner Stays, Floyd, McFadden Out
Boston Independents
With Joel Bonner sticking around, you would think several other Boston players would stay but a pair of veterans have decided to test the market and possibly compete one more time. OL Randy McFadden wasn’t happy with the team trading longtime teammate OL James Chambers and decided to change things up himself. The OL has been a big part of the Independents' success and will be a great anchor for a team. WR Samuel Floyd on the other hand was looking at fewer touches with other WRs Ethan Walters and Ellis Lindholm who were becoming the new 1-2 punch in the offense. Floyd has been known as one of if not the fastest WRs in the league and will be a great addition for any team. DB Francis Veillette will also join the two players in free agency as Boston rebuilds their secondary.

Other signings
S Michael O’Brien BOS - 2Y, $18,500 - Player Option in year 2
WR Nathan Green BUF - 3Y, $11,000
QB Maurice Norris BUF - 1Y, $11,000
OL Lewis David LI - 2Y, $16,000
DB Jontray Cox MTL - 4Y, $14,000
S Jumon Cobb MTL - 4Y, $14,000
DL Napoléon Chevalier ON - 1Y, $18,000
WR John Rivera ON - 1Y, $22,000
DL Robert Garrison ON - 3Y, $14,000
LB Mickaël Beaumont OTT - 2Y, $17,000
LB Leo Davenport OTT - 2Y, $12,000
DB Will Atkinson PRO - 2Y, $12,000
S Marvin Tillman PRO - 2Y, $8,500
OL James Chambers WOR - 1Y, $13,500 

Top 10 Free Agents
OL Randy McFadden - BOS
WR Samuel Floyd - BOS
QB Bruce Woodard - PRO
DB Francis Veillette - BOS
RB Timothy Weeks - ON
DL Reilly Cooper - ON
RB Jacque Montier - WOR
QB Andrew Sexton - LI
DB Anthony Massey - MTL
DL Jean-Michel Duchane - MTL 

1955 Free Agency 

The Independents Scatter
Heading into the free agent window, 3 of the top 4 free agents were coming off of the Independents roster. WR Samuel Floyd, OL Randy McFadden, and DB Francis Veillette. Each of them has helped Boston to win Championships and get to 5 of the first 6 NAAF finals. However, all good things come to an end as each player decided to go different directions. WR Samuel Floyd was probably the most intriguing with his lightning speed and big-play potential. Floyd was approached by several teams that wanted to boost their receiving core. Providence and Worcester were early competitors for the WR, but they would ultimately lose out to Buffalo who would sign Floyd to a 2-year deal with $19,500 a season. Floyd will be at the top of the WR core with WR Joseph Barry. A great addition after the team traded WR Travis Gallagher at the draft.  

OL Randy McFadden would sign next. Similar teams were interested in McFadden but he would ultimately decide to join the Athletics. The biggest factor was longtime Boston teammate OL James Chambers who was traded there at the draft. The Chambers trade was a major factor as to why McFadden left in the first place. 
Finally, DB Francis Veillette surprised a lot of people with his choice. While many expected him to join a contender like Ottawa or Buffalo, Veillette would decide to go with the underdog Raiders. Bringing on Veillette gives the Raiders a solid secondary with DB Slay Mitchell and DB Amyre Rouleau which further gives some much-needed hope on Long Island. 

Woodard Hits the Sideline
QB Bruce Woodard has likely seen his last starting job in the NAAF. With the Gold Stars going forward with QB Connor O’Rourke it was clear that Woodard would move on, but with the Raiders drafting Lyle Painter and Montreal grabbing Lee Rogers, the rest of the league has their starting guy. Woodard was waiting till the Gold Stars called to have him back as the backup next season with all the craziness happening, but the team never called. It was another squad that was all for bringing on the former MVP. The Royals would sign Woodard to a one-year deal to bring him in to back up fellow former MVP Jean Matieau. Woodard won't be taking many snaps, but he might get another shot at a trophy, following in the footsteps of QB Maurice Norris and QB Evan Morrow.  

Minor Trades Were Sprinkled Throughout Free Agency
Following the big moves that occurred during the NAAF draft, there were another handful of minor trades that happened as GM’s try to fine-tune their teams heading into the season. The Ontario Tigers were going into the free agency window without much space on the payroll to go after any players. While they have most of their roster set, GM Joseph Johnson was willing to make a pair of moves to improve the team and save some money. The first would send DL John Prince, who they had acquired from Buffalo at the 1954 Draft, to Providence in exchange for OL prospect Patrick Reinsdorf. The move saved the Tigers $9,500 and opened up a roster spot for 5th overall pick DL Olympus Heights. A week following the trade, the Tigers would acquire another player from Montreal. Veteran OL Pierre-Louis Trouvé would be acquired by the Tigers in exchange for undrafted WR Marty Jay. Trouvé is a long time Rouge OL and will be a big help to Ontario’s O-line, but he also had a high salary, but they would get Montreal to pay for $8,500 of his $14,500 salary to free up the space for the Tigers. In return, Montreal gets WR Marty Jay who has shown lots of growth with the Tigers and could be a great piece for the Rouge.  

The other two moves come from the American teams. The Worcester Athletics acquiring DB Eugene Christensen from Buffalo for their 1956 4th Round Pick. Christensen is a veteran DB who will be able to help out in Worcester, while Buffalo gets a spot for DB Lou Lake to be on the roster in his first season. The final trade happened between Boston and Providence, where backup TE Alexandre Moisan would be sent to Boston in exchange for undrafted OL Cory Alston.  

Top Free Agent Signings
OL Randy McFadden - WOR - 3Y, $15,000
WR Samuel Floyd - BUF - 2Y, $19,500
QB Bruce Woodard - OTT - 1Y, $15,000
DB Francis Veillette - LI - 2Y, $18,000
RB Timothy Weeks - WOR - 1Y, $8,000
DL Reilly Cooper - WOR - 2Y, $14,000
RB Jacque Montier - OTT - 1Y, $11,000
QB Andrew Sexton - PRO - 1Y, $5,000
DB Anthony Massey - OTT - 1Y, $10,000
DL Jean-Michel Duchane - OTT - 1Y, $10,000 

Undrafted FA Signings
K Henderson Schumacher - LI
RB Sam Snell Jr. - MTL
QB Tony Malcolm - MTL
TE Phineas Vandenlangenberg - WOR
LB Phillip Murphy - BOS
LB Bastiano Cerutti - LI
WR Tomas Skoglund - PRO
LB Patrick Lynch - PRO

1955 Season Preview

Schedule

Power Rankings 

1 - Ottawa Royals
1954 Record: 6-4
1954 Result: Won McCallister Cup
In the past few seasons, the championship-winning team has had a bit of a set back in the following season, but it will be tough to see that for an amazing Ottawa team. The Royals continue to boast the top offense by a long shot with a strong OL, a solid RB, and the best QB-WR combo. WR Chester Bennett will enter his second season and will be the 3rd WR on the team with the retirement of WR Eugene Burns in the offseason. Bennett should make for an interesting player to watch this season. Their defense saw some minor improvement with the addition of Rouge veterans DL Jean-Michel Duchane and DB Anothony Massey and the ever-improving young talents in DL Olaf Viktorsson and DB Mingan Oliver. The Royals will be a tough team to take down once again and should contend to be the first team to repeat since the Independents in 1949 and `50.

Player to Watch: WR Chester Bennett
Biggest Acquisition: QB Bruce Woodard
Rookie to Watch: WR Mackenzie Jones 

2 - Buffalo Blue Wings
1954 Record: 7-2-1
1954 Result: Lost Semi-Finals
Despite finishing with the best record in the league last season, the Blue Wings were not able to stop the Royals in the playoffs and came away with a disappointing result. GM/HC Bobby Hooper went back to the office and made some interesting moves. He would orchestrate a major 3-team deal that would acquire DB Ollie Guy and a younger WR Nathan Green. Guy should make an immediate impact next to DB Dylan Alston. While they would lose longtime Blue Wings WR Travis Gallagher in the deal, they end up with WR Samuel Floyd arriving to take over and give QB Angelo Medina a new weapon on offense. The defense remains strong with DL Sean Bowen staying with the team and the acquisition of Ollie Guy. 

Player to Watch: WR Samuel Floyd
Biggest Acquisition: DB Ollie Guy
Rookie to Watch: DB Lou Lake 

3 - Worcester Athletics
1954 Record: 5-5
1954 Result: Missed Playoffs
HC Emil Riddle took the Athletics from bottomfeeders to just missing out on a playoff appearance in his first season at the helm. Entering his second year, his team looks the most competitive they have ever looked. They made a major overhaul of the OL with former Independents James Chambers and Randy McFadden joining the team alongside 4th overall pick Magnus Gunnersson. QB Riley Kiernan and WRs Christain Venegas and Clyde McIntosh will be a force again this season which doesn’t leave Worcester too far behind the Royals. Their defense gets some help with depth coming from DB Eugene Christensen and DL Reilly Cooper. The most interesting piece, however, will be LB Harrison Bennett who fell to the second round because of rumoured character issues. Bennett could become a great piece as long as he stays in line and keeps his focus on the field. It will likely be the job of LB Scotty Williams to take Bennett under his wing and keep him from getting out of control. Overall, Worcester looks like the favourite to win the New England Division.

Player to Watch: LB Scotty Williams
Biggest Acquisition: OL Randy McFadden
Rookie to Watch: LB Harrison Bennett 

4 - Ontario Tigers
1954 Record: 5-5
1954 Result: Missed Playoffs
Despite having their best season in team history last season, the Tigers left with disappointment. They had the best chance to make the playoffs heading into week 10 but still managed to miss. This season the team is determined to make it there. GM Joseph Johnson went out and got a plethora of veterans and players that could make a difference this season. Most notably WR John Rivera and DL Napoléon Chevalier from Montreal. With those players, the Tigers improve with their youth starting to reach their prime. Their D-line will get a youth injection as well with DL Dee Floyd and DL Olympus Heights battling it out for starting minutes this season. However, the big story will likely be that of QB Duane Logan who enters the final year of his contract. The 35-year-old has been a big part of the rebuild for the Tigers, but once again he finds himself with a younger talent behind him that the team could go to next season. It will mean Logan will have to prove his abilities this season as another missed playoffs could leave the former All-Star without a spot next season. 

Player to Watch: QB Duane Logan
Biggest Acquisition: DL Napoléon Chevalier
Rookie to Watch: DL Olympus Heights/DL Dee Floyd 

5 - Providence Gold Stars
1954 Record: 4-6
1954 Results: Missed Playoffs
The Gold Stars fell far from their 9-1 1953 season. They missed the playoffs last year for the first time and it was clearly time for a change. Many changes have happened so far since the 9-1 season and it leaves Providence as a complete wildcard. QB Connor O’Rourke will be handed the keys this season and will be quite the story to watch this season. The snaps that we have seen of the 24-year-old have been very promising, so hope is high for the Providence fans. With the excitement surrounding O’Rourke, many are overlooking the other possible issues with the Gold Stars roster. There still are some holes as the team is certainly not what it once was. They still managed to bring on some interesting pieces with their new S Marvin Tillman who will take the reins on the back end. They also got younger with 2nd overall selection DL Calias McDonough and DB Will Atkinson. But there are still many concerns about Providence being able to get back to what they once were.

Player to Watch: QB Connor O’Rourke
Biggest Acquisition: S Marvin Tillman
Rookie to Watch: DL Calias McDonough 

6 - Montreal Rouge
1954 Record: 6-4
1954 Result: Lost Semi-Finals
Montreal is an intriguing team this season. They had one of the biggest overhauls this offseason with the team going into full rebuild mode. Most, if not, all their main veterans had retired, were released, or traded. They brought in a great many young players to start the rebuild as quickly as possible, GM/HC Guy Clarke is not a fan of losing and wants to get the team back to winning as soon as he can. With all of that, there are some interesting pieces that will be fun to watch this seasons. Most notably being QB Lee Rogers who was acquired from Long Island. The former #1 pick will hopefully find his game and give Montreal a strong QB. The other place of interest is the secondary with DB Jontray Cox, DB Quentin Xavier, S Jumon Cobb taking the lead. Montreal will likely have a down year this season, but they could easily surprise and get a couple of unexpected wins.

Player to Watch: QB Lee Rogers
Biggest Acquisition: QB Lee Rogers
Rookie to Watch: DB Quentin Xavier 

7 - Long Island Raiders
1954 Record: 0-10
1954 Result: Missed Playoffs
It is interesting to have a winless team not being placed at the bottom of the power rankings, but the Raiders took major strides towards success. With a fresh paint job in a new brand, they also have a new QB in Lyle Painter who now has all the pressure to finally bring success to the lowly franchise. The good news is GM Wayne Tillman wasn’t going to let Painter go in alone and made some great acquisitions to help out. WR Travis Gallagher will provide a veteran presence on the offense to help Painter, and DB Francis Veillette will solidify a younger secondary to give the defense a boost. Even QB Andrew Glover will be able to back Painter up if he struggles. They also will be looking at DL Vernon Spears and LB Elijah Goldwater to take a step forward in their second season. 

Player to Watch: WR Travis Gallagher
Biggest Acquisition: DB Francis Veillette
Rookie to Watch: QB Lyle Painter 

8 - Boston Independents
1954 Record: 6-3-1
1954 Result: Lost in McCallister Cup
Despite being in the championship game at the end of last season, a lot has changed in Boston. With many players retiring and several others leaving the team Boston was heading towards a rebuild. The only difference between them and Montreal is that Boston lacked any sort of aggressiveness in the offseason. The management was pretty laid back and didn’t look to trade or replace any of the major veterans like Montreal was doing. They will be relying on a lot of the young talent they have acquired in the draft this year. The defense probably took the biggest hit with 5 brand new starters this season and depth players taking on bigger roles which will make up an inexperienced defense. QB Brian Meadows will take over for the legendary Larry Larson. He has shown some potential but there is a lot of pressure on the kid to take his game to the next level.

Player to Watch: QB Brian Meadows
Biggest Acquisition: OL Javion Curry
Rookie to Watch: LB Marco Price 

1955 NAAF Draft

1955 NAAF Draft 

1st Round 

1 - Long Island Raiders - QB Lyle Painter - Cos Cob, CT
A can’t miss prospect goes off the board first overall. Despite having Lee Rogers, the Raiders couldn’t skip out again on the most talented player available. Painter will likely compete for the starting job with Lee Rogers from the get-go. 

George Stefanakis Scouting Report:
Painter is the next big thing. A generational talent. He is super accurate and has a great football IQ. Painter is very aware of what is happening on the field and where everyone is. He rarely threw interceptions in college and was great at moving in the pocket and avoiding sacks. He does have average arm strength which will be a struggle to develop further, however, he more than makes up for it everywhere else.  

2 - Providence Gold Stars - DL Calias McDonough - Brooklyn, NY
The Gold Stars finally add a huge piece to their D-line which has lacked any superstar ability. McDonough should immediately make an impact on the line in Providence’s mini-rebuild. 

The Gains Report:
McDonough comes from a football family. All his siblings have been playing football since they were kids, being raised by their father who played for the Brooklyn Guardians in the NYFL back in the day. Calias is a speedy rusher who will cause lots of issues for QB’s in the NAAF. He’s a big guy and can use that alongside his agility. McDonough also has been known for his talk on the field and getting into the heads of his opponents.

TRADE ALERT:

Montreal hits the rebuild button, Tigers gear up for playoff push

It didn’t take long for the trades to start up, but the Tigers and Rouge made some waves early. The Rouge would move up to the 3rd overall pick by trading, the 5th overall pick, 34-year old WR John Rivera and 35-year old DL Napoléon Chevalier to the Tigers. They would also receive 25-year old S Jumon Cobb and a conditional 1956 4th Round Pick. 

The Tigers grab the expiring contracts of veterans Rivera and Chevalier in hopes that they can sign them and boost their team next season, and they were willing to move down in the draft to do it. Montreal moves up to jump the Athletics who they believe would take the player they want, and they get a possible future S in Cobb who was a former 4th Round Pick in 1952. The conditional 1956 4th rounder will go to Montreal if Ontario signs both Rivera and Chevalier and makes the playoffs. 

3 - Montreal Rouge (via Ontario) - DB Quentin Xavier - Dorchester. NY
The Rouge jump the Athletics to snag Xavier who will be a key piece for the Rouge to rebuild their secondary alongside DB Jontray Cox.  

The Gains Report:
Xavier has had a troubled past in his life, but football was the thing that kept him going. He will often comment on how football saved his life several times. He is a hard worker and has become one of the best young DB’s in the country. Is great in a zone set up and has great height and wingspan that allows him to cover a big area.  

4 - Worcester Athletics - OL Magnus Gunnersson - Bar Harbor, ME
With Xavier going off the board at 3, the Athletics make the smart move to protect Riley Kiernan with another top tier OL prospect.  

The Gains Report:
Gunnerson is a former weightlifter, which immediately explains his unbelievable strength. He will be able to outmatch anyone in strength, but he does have some trouble with the more technical aspects of blocking which can lead him to be beaten by faster players. Don’t underestimate him though, especially in the run game.  

5 - Ontario Tigers (via Montreal) - DL Olympus Heights - Oshawa, ON
The Tigers take the risky pick with Heights who had lots of questions surrounding him entering the draft. They say a lot of good in Heights and they felt like they couldn’t pass up on adding to the D-Line.  

Roger Roy’s Scouting Report:
Ollie Heights has lots of potential to be a great DL. He is smart and can read the blocking schemes of the O-Line, but a big concern is his hesitation when coverages he hasn’t seen come into play which he will get a lot of in the NAAF. He is built more like a LB, but it allows him to have lots of speed on the line. Another plus for Heights is his character and ability to lead in the locker room which many former teammates have praised him for.  

6 - Buffalo Blue Wings - DB Lou Lake - Hoboken, NY
The Blue Wings look to rebuild their aging secondary with Lou Lake. Since Oscar Patterson has left the team they have had a big hole to replace on the back end and Lake should be able to get into the starting lineup within the first year or two. 

George Stefanakis’ Scouting Report:
Lake is a hard-working player that gives it his all on and off the field. He has great instincts that allow him to know where the ball is going more times than not. While his instincts are great his athletic skill is a bit average. He isn’t the fastest and he also doesn’t have the best hands, but he can still break up a lot of play just don’t expect interceptions to be a common occurrence. 

7 - Boston Independents - LB Marco Price - Hartford, CT
Boston goes with a LB in the first round for the second year in a row hoping to flesh out their big three in the middle with LB Brent Harper, LB Silas O’Brien, and now Marco Price. 

Johnny Singleton’s Scouting Report:
Price is all about being quick off the snap, whether it is to go in on the blitz, get the RB early, or even go to cover a receiver. When he is right, Price creates a lot of issues, but he sometimes is too quick to think and over commits to a play. This can leave him out of position. He will be best utilized in blitz and backfield coverage, but with the right coach, he can become a great player in the NAAF.

8 - Ottawa Royals - WR Mackenzie Jones - Philadelphia, PA
The Royals once again go WR to possibly replace the aging Allen Atkins and WR Willard Brooks. With QB Jean Matieau in his prime, the Royals want to make sure he has the best weapons throughout his career, and Jones will pair up nicely with WR Chester Bennett who the Royals picked last year at 6th. 

Johnny Singleton’s Scouting Report:
Mackenzie Jones is a great possession receiver. With hands like glue, Jones will be able to catch just about anything on the field. Pair that up with an excellent route-running ability, you have a guy that you can rely on to make the big catch to keep a drive alive. Jones, unfortunately, doesn’t have the explosive athleticism that teammates Allen Atkins or WR Chester Bennett have, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a great player in the NAAF. Just look at WR Ethan Walters and WR Travis Gallagher for example. The other concern is Jones loves to win and if that is not happening, he could be on the move quickly.  

The first 8 players are off the board, but many questions remain over the final 3 rounds of the draft.

1955 NAAF DRAFT

2nd Round 

The second round began with the Long Island Raiders' second selection of the draft. They would snag a Safety for the future in S Johan Eckhart. The Gains Report spoke highly of his speed and ability to get on the ball quickly. Eckhart also has the ability to be as good as anyone in the first round.  

Not long after the Raiders made their second selection another trade was announced. With QB Lyle Painter joining the Raiders, GM Wayne Tillman decided that he wanted to move on from the former 1st overall pick QB Lee Rogers. The surprise move has the young QB headed to Mount Royal to join the Rouge. He will also be joined by former 6th overall pick RB Pierre LeStrange. The Raiders would get 4 assets in return but some are not loving the return on Rogers and LeStrange. Long Island would grab the 13th Overall Pick, a 1956 3rd Rounder, QB Andrew Glover, and RB Tony Simmons. Glover is a McCallister Cup champion and will hopefully serve as a good mentor to Painter, but not a difference-maker, and Simmons was the 32nd pick in 1954 and has a long way to go in development. The draft picks will hopefully help. Montreal on the other hand grab a young and still quite talented Rogers who may fit much better in the Rouge offense.  

Following the trade, Providence would take TE Micheal Bowman III to eventually replace the aging Marion Warren. Abigail Winter had her eye on Bowman throughout college and talks about a legit receiver level abilities catching the ball with a strong blocking ability to make for an all-around great TE. Ontario would grab a WR in Benedict Spencer with the 11th pick to help their future receiving core. Spencer has a similar play style to WR Mackenzie Jones with more of a possession style of play over downfield speed according to scout Barry Williams.  

Worcester would make a big pick with LB Harrison Bennett who had been a wildcard for a first-round selection but was passed on because of his reportedly not so great character. Despite the character issues, Barry Williams says that his game is on point with lots of solid LB’s with great field vision and a knack for stopping the run. Could be a great steal or a risky bust for the Athletics.  

With the recently acquired 13th pick the Raiders would go LB as well with Gene Bensen. Johnny Singleton has placed the title of one of the best coverage Linebackers he has ever seen and will be an issue for QB’s in the middle of the field, but he warned against some issues with tackling especially in the open field and 1-on-1 situations, which would explain his drop to 13.  

Following the 13th pick, there was a bit of a longer delay leading into the 14th pick. After the clock had stopped halting the draft it was announced that a big trade had been made. Buffalo and Providence, oh, and Long Island had come together on a monster 9-piece, 3-way trade to shake up the league.  

6 players would be moved in the deal with Gold Star DB Ollie Guy going to Buffalo along with Raiders WR Nathan Green. Providence would take on a pair of younger players in Buffalo S Marvin Tillman and former Raiders 2nd Round Pick DB Will Atkinson. Finally, the Raiders would get veteran Blue Wings WR Travis Gallagher and Gold Star prospect RB Conner Riley. 3 draft picks would be exchanged with the 14th pick going from Buffalo to Providence and the 19th pick going to Buffalo from Long Island. The final pick would be Buffalo’s 4th rounder from 1956 going to Long Island.  

The Blue Wings grab a strong DB in Ollie Guy who has been a part of the Lee Wolfe, Victor Bean lead secondary for many years in Providence. WR Nathan Green is only 25 and has some potential to grow still in a new system.  

Providence sets up for a younger future with S Marvin Tillman who had some starting time before S Frazier Brooks took over in Buffalo. They also grab the struggling DB Will Atkinson who will still pair up well with Wolfe and Bean as a 3rd or 4th DB. 

Long Island gets a great veteran WR to help QB Lyle Painter and the younger WR Darrel Duke. Conner Riley was a 4th round pick a couple of seasons ago but has shown lots of growth and will be a great backup to RB Gene Fischer. 

Providence would carry on the draft with DL Kenny Evans, a good run-defender in the middle of the line that will be a good fit next to Calias McDonough. Johnny Singleton will warm about his below-average strength. Boston would go OL with Sal Valcano at 15, to help rebuild the line. Finally, Ottawa would build on the defense with hard-hitting LB Alister Henry.  

3rd Round

The 3rd round kicked off with 3 straight DB’s going off the board. The Raiders took Johnny Singleton prospect DB Clinton Gates, Providence went with the instinctual Brazilian DB Ricardo Salvador, and Buffalo with their recently acquired pick went with the fiery DB Jared Francis from a first-year scout Joseph Brewer. 

Following the 3 picks the final trade on draft day would occur between the Boston area teams. Boston would acquire the 20th pick from Worcester for aging OL James Chambers. The Athletics look to build their OL quicker with the trade here.  

Boston would take RB Eddie Thompson with the pick, which is an interesting get, as Thompson has lots of range as a receiving back. He has speed but lacks physical aspects which would explain his drop. 

The remainder of the 3rd round was pretty relaxed with Montreal going defense as usual with DL Angus McTavish. The Raiders would go with RB Armondo Amaro, who was a QB at one point which could create some interesting situations, which scout Roger Roy was very excited about when Long Island picked him. Boston would add on the DL with Wesley Highgate and Ottawa would look for a backup in the backfield with RB Iyannough Moreland.  

4th Round 

The final round of the draft had very little to recap. Long Island opened it up with a pretty average OL Allen Boyd. Providence would follow it up with WR Ronald Macquire to add to the receiving core in a couple of years. Tigers would go with TE Paul McDowell after missing out on Micheal Bowman III earlier on. Worcester would go with shifty RB Leo Ravelli before Montreal would go with Maxence Castex on the O-Line. Buffalo would have the most interesting pick of the round with QB Randy Sellers who was looked at as going undrafted, but Buffalo liked his similar style to that of Medina specifically with running the ball. Finally, Boston would go S with Marc-Antoine Marchand before Ottawa would go DB Dustin Wind to be the first non-running back picked at 32.  

Undrafted Players

K Henderson Schumacher

RB Sam Snell Jr.

QB Tony Malcolm

TE Phineas Vanderlangenberg

LB Phillip Murphy

LB Bastiano Cerutti

WR Tomas Skoglund

LB Patrick Lynch 

1955 Offseason Pt. 1

Early Offseason News

NAAF To Expand for the 1957 Season
In a press conference today regarding the future of the NAAF. Commissioner Ryan Jameson announced today that the league is looking to expand the league in time for the start of the 1957 season. The plan will start with the league taking in proposals from cities over the 1955 season. The announcement and selection of the cities will happen in the 1956 offseason, and then in the 1957 offseason, team brands will be released and will begin to compete. Nothing more will be confirmed this offseason as the league is in the preliminary process of this first major expansion. 

*Note I am NOT taking suggestions right now, I still have not decided if I will select my new cities or if I will have an expansion council*

Royals Stadium
The new building for the Royals has been given an official name and will be known as “Royals Stadium at Brewer Park”. The new 45,210 seat stadium will be open for the season opener and the team will be raising the championship banner in the new stadium. There was talk about the opening game being at Lansdowne, but the Royals ownership decided that the final game at the historic stadium would be the McCallister Cup win. 

1955 Retirements 

QB Larry Larson - Brockton, MA - Boston Independents (1949-1954)**
Larson will go down as one of the greatest QB’s of all time and the best of his era. He was able to lead the Boston Football Club to many championships prior to joining the NAAF as well as winning the first 2 NAAF Championships. Larson had only one All-Star nod in 1949 but still was a top tier player through all 6 seasons he played in the NAAF. He also took home the 1949 Playoff and McCallister Cup MVP awards. Larson has earned respect from around the league and from his teammates. Many of the Boston vets are also retiring alongside Larson. The list includes LB Carlos Bennett, DB Clinton Benton, and DL Joel Jackson. The team has also mentioned that they don’t see anyone wearing #12 in Boston anytime soon or possibly ever at all. 

WR Eugene Burns - Fall River, MA - Providence Gold Stars (1949-1952), Ottawa Royals (1953-1954)*
Through 1949-’52, Burns was one of the top targets for the Gold Stars, he would lead the Gold Stars through the air in the early part of the time period which would earn him an All-Star spot in 1950. Burns was a fan favourite as well, but in the 1953 offseason, Burns would be dealt to Ottawa in a surprise trade. Burns would go on to be a big part of the Royals offense earning him his second All-Star spot in 1953 and eventually helping the Royals to their first McCallister Cup.  

LB Carlos Bennett - Boston, MA - Boston Independents (1949-1954)**
Many Boston players called it a career along with Larry Larson, but Bennett is the most notable one with 4 straight All-Star appearances from 1949-1952. Bennett was the top LB for Boston throughout the height of their success. 

TE Darrell Hubbard - Windsor Locks, CT - Hartford Hawks (1949-1950), Montreal Rouge (1951-1954)**, Boston Independents (1954)
Hubbard is one of the better TE to play in the NAAF. certainly a notable one. The TE played the first two NAAF seasons with the Hartford Hawks before he was sent to Montreal in the massive WR John Rivera trade. Hubbard would earn an All-Star nod in 1951 and helped Montreal to their two McCallister Cups. Hubbard would finish his career in Boston after being dealt a second time during the 1954 season.  

QB Evan Morrow - Rochester, NY - Buffalo Blue Wings (1949), Toronto Tigers (1950-1951), Ottawa Royals (1952-1954)*
Morrow had a long career in the NAAF as a traveling starter. He came into the league as the starter for the Blue Wings but would be replaced in 1950 by QB Angelo Medina which would land him in Toronto for a pair of seasons. He was able to get the winless Tigers a handful of wins before they acquired QB Duane Logan. That would mark the end of Morrow’s starting career as he would end up backing up QB Jean Matieau in Ottawa for the final few seasons of his career. He did start a pair of games for the Royals to rest Matieau and did quite well. He will walk away as a champion with the Royals win this season. 

S Ralph Maynard - Providence, RI - Providence Gold Stars (1949-1954)
Maynard was a career Gold Star and a solid piece in the team’s defense. He would be often overshadowed by the other safeties in the NAAF, but he will leave as one of the best leaving a hole on the back end for the Gold Stars.  

Other Notable Retirements
DB Clinton Benton - Boston, MA - BOS (1949-1954)**
S Victor Webb - Montreal, QC - OTT (1949-1951), BOS (1952-1954)
DL Joel Jackson - Boston, MA - BOS (1949-1954)**
LB Ralph Maynard - Boston, MA - BOS (1949-1954)**
OL Dmitri Lortie - Saint-Jerome, QC - MTL (1949-1954)**
DB Jean-Luc Paget - Montreal, QC - MTL (1949-1954)**
DB Guy Logan - Peterborough, ON - OTT (1949-1951), MTL (1952-1954)*
DL Grégory St Martin - Quebec City, QC - MTL (1949-1954)**
RB Ellis Love - Pawtucket, RI - PRO (1949), HAR (1950-1951), OTT (1952-1954)*
DL Jose McDaniel - Bridgewater, MA - PRO (1949-1954)
DL Harvey Franklin - Ottawa, ON - OTT (1949-1950), WOR (1951), PRO (1952-1954)

Staff Changes
Providence Gold Stars
Not any major changes but the Gold Stars have let go to Defensive Coordinator Kerry Miles and have brought former Athletics DC, Patrick Taylor, on to replace him. Miles struggled this past year with the usually strong Gold Star defense. There was also some speculation of whether or not the team would let go of Head Coach Perry Powell but with one year left on his deal, the Gold Stars will give him one more shot. 

Long Island
With Kerry Miles being let go from Providence, Long Island brought him on to replace DC George Mitchell after just one season. Many were surprised by the lack of changes coming from the winless Long Island squad, but GM/Owner Wayne Tillman understands that it is a process and may take some patience to get the team to a competitive place.  

Introducing the Long Island Raiders
Owner Wayne Tillman was extremely excited to announce the team would be returning to the old "Raiders" name. The Raiders had been a long time name of the Long Island team and the roots and history dig deep into the area already. “It felt right, the people here know the Raiders and they want to see their team return. It was a process to decide, but after hearing feedback from fans, it was clear this was the right direction to go.” 

The “Hawks” name was officially dropped after being the name of the Hartford Hawks for only 8 seasons after Jonathan Sampson had decided to rename the Hartford Maroons upon the return of football in 1946. Long Island was not able to rebrand after a quick ownership change and move, but with this season they would be able to put together a new design.  

The new logo features two pirate swords crossed over the shape of Long Island with “Long Island Raiders” surrounding the logo. The team dropped silver and returned to green which the original Raiders had used. However, they decided to keep the burgundy rather than going to green and white. Tillman mentioned that he loved the burgundy from the Hawks brand and wanted to incorporate it into the new-look Raiders. 

​The uniforms look to introduce some new trends with the crossed swords on the helmet, becoming just the 4th team to have a major helmet design, but the first to have a proper logo on the side. They also introduced TV numbers with the increase of broadcasting games. If it is a popular addition to the jerseys the rest of the league may follow suit shortly. As for the overall jersey design, they kept some ideas from the Hawks with the stripping but introduced a more colourful set of uniforms. They move away from the Burgundy jerseys to go with the dark green, but also make the helmets burgundy.  

1955 Draft Preview
The 1955 draft looks to be one of the deepest drafts the NAAF has seen to date. More and more young players are deciding to go to the NAAF instead of other American or Canadian leagues. A lot of the draw has been based on how the league is with their players. With Ryan Jameson being a former athlete himself, he has always made sure the players have felt important and taken care of around the league. This attraction leads to the draft pool being loaded with talent. The big-name will be UConn QB, Lyle Painter. Painter is looked at as the next legend. He plays a similar style to that of Larry Larson and Jean Matieau which are both regarded as the best. Scout George Stefanakis has regarded the QB as being better than Kiernan entering the draft. The question will be where he goes through as the Raiders still have previous 1st overall pick QB Lee Rogers and Providence is set on Connor O’Rourke. Following the top tier QB, the Gains Report has highlighted a pair of top tier defensive prospects in DL Calias McDonough and DB Quentin Xavier. McDonough is a speedy lineman that has a knack for creating havoc in the backfield. Xavier is a zone coverage specialist with the ability to cover a lot of ground. OL Magnus Gunnersson also makes a statement on the Gains Report following behind the two defenders. WR McKenzie Jones will be a popular target with several teams interested in adding to their WR core. Johnny Singleton has high regard for the strong WR. A Couple of players on the edge of the first round are DL Olympus (Ollie) Heights and LB Harrison Bennett. Heights looks to have all the makings of a first-rounder, but he shows a lack of experience in certain situations in which some teams have a concern. Bennett has the talent but some character issues may steer some teams away. There is plenty of more talent throughout the first couple rounds, here is the top 20. 

Prospect Rankings
1 - QB Lyle Painter - George Stefanakis
2 - DL Calias McDonough - Lawrence Gainsborough
3 - DB Quentin Xavier - Lawrence Gainsborough
4 - OL Magnus Gunnersson - Lawrence Gainsborough
5 - WR Mackenzie Jones - Johnny Singleton
6 - DB Lou Lake - George Stefanakis
7 - LB Marco Price - Johnny Singleton
8 - TE Micheal Bowman III - Abigail Winter
9 - LB Harrison Bennett - Barry Williams
10 - S Johan Eckart - Lawrence Gainsborough
11 - DL Olympus Heights - Roger Roy
12 - LB Gene Bensen - Johnny Singleton
13 - WR Benedict Spencer - Barry Williams
14 - DL Kenny Evans - Johnny Singleton
15 - OL Sal Valcano - Lawrence Gainsborough
16 - RB Eddie Thompson - Johnny Singleton
17 - DB Clinton Gates - Johnny Singleton
18 - LB Alister Henry - Lawrence Gainsborough
19 - TE Paul McDowell - Joseph Brewer
20 - DB Ricardo Salvador - Lawrence Gainsborough 

The Draft Order/Needs
1 - Long Island Raiders - S, RB, OL, DB
Picks: 1, 9, 17, 19, 22, 25
2 - Providence Gold Stars - OL, DL, TE, WR
Picks: 2, 10, 18, 26
3 - Ontario Tigers - DL, TE, S, DB
Picks: 3, 11, 27
4 - Worcester Athletics - OL, LB, DB, WR
Picks: 4, 12, 20, 28
5 - Montreal Rouge - DB, S, OL, RB
Picks: 5, 13, 21, 29
6 - Buffalo Blue Wings - DB, WR, LB
Picks: 6, 14, 30
7 - Boston Independents - OL, DL, LB, RB
Picks: 7, 15, 23, 31
8 - Ottawa Royals - DL, LB, WR 
Picks: 8, 16, 24, 32

1954 NAAF Awards

1954 NAAF Award Nominations 

MVP
DL Sean Bowen BUF
The leader in many defensive categories this season, Bowen was a force in his first season with the Blue Wings. While he missed a game this season he still led in Sacks and Forced Fumbles. Bowen’s presence helped Buffalo to their first division title in the NAAF.  

RB Élisée Marchal MTL
Looking for his 4th MVP, Marchal once again was the centerpiece of the Rouge offense. Leading the league in Rushing Touchdowns with 18 for the 5th time in league history and the second year in a row. Marchal is the best player in Montreal and continues to help lift the team into the playoffs and keep them in the hunt year after year.  

WR Allen Atkins OTT
While Matieau will be looked at as a major part of the Royals' success this season, Atkins’ place on the team was shown its importance when the WR was out for a couple of games this season. In those games, Ottawa struggled and lost both, however with Atkins, they were a tough group to stop. Atkins also still tied for the league lead in Receiving Touchdowns despite missing the two games. Atkins has been overshadowed so much in his career despite being one of the most consistent players in the league. 

Offensive Player of the Year
RB Élisée Marchal MTL - 18 Rushing Touchdowns (1st), Led in Rushing Yards, 1 POTW
QB Jean Matieau OTT - 26 Passing Touchdowns (1st), Led in Passing Yards, 2 POTW
Matieau was still a force on the field leading the league in passing TDs and Yards
WR Allen Atkins OTT - 13 Receiving Touchdowns (T-1st), 1st in Receiving Yards
QB Riley Kiernan WOR - 23 Passing Touchdowns (2nd), 2nd in Passing Yards
Kiernan had a breakthrough season after only throwing 7 TDs last season he spiked to 23 this season. 

Defensive Player of the Year
DL Sean Bowen BUF - 5 Forced Fumbles (1st), 14 Sacks (1st), 1 POTW
LB Aengus Lynch ON - 4 Forced Fumbles (2nd), Led the league in Tackles, 1 POTW
Lynch came into his own as a true centerpiece for the Tigers this season and was a major factor on defense this season.
DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT - 3 Forced Fumbles (3rd), 9 Sacks (2nd), 1 POTW
Viktorsson was a star on Ottawa’s defense this season in only his second season in the league. Overall a force on the line and many expect the 2nd round pick to continue the upward climb.
DB Alexander Bradley WOR - 6 Interceptions (1st), 2nd in the league in Knockdowns, 1 POTW
Bradley took over the game at times during his rookie season. Being the first guy not named Lee Wolfe to lead the way in interceptions in a long time. Bradley has earned much respect in his first year. 

Special Teams Player of the Year
K Johnnie Berg BOS - 19 Field Goals (2nd), 21 Extra Points (4th)
Berg’s first year as the starting kicker in Boston was a successful one. Finishing second in field goals and keeping pace in extras made.
K Donald Brewer BUF - 22 Field Goals (1st), 24 Extra Points (3rd)
Brewer struggled early in his career in Buffalo, and many were waiting for Buffalo to move on from him, but they stuck it out and he has now topped the league in field goals and finished 3rd in extras.
K Bernard Barnett PRO - 16 Field Goals (3rd), 19 Extra Points (5th)
Barnett kept Providence in several games this season and was his usual self putting up 16 field goals.  

Rookie of the Year
WR Darrel Duke LI - 3 Receiving Touchdowns
Duke didn’t have a spectacular season but still managed to get into the endzone a few times on a very rough Hawks team. 
DL Vernon Spears LI - 1st in tackles (Rookies)
Spears didn’t get much spotlight, but he still played well on the line for the Hawks and led in tackles among rookies in his first season.
DB Alexander Bradley - 6 Interceptions (1st), 2nd in Knockdowns, 1 POTW
Bradley was easily the most dominant of rookies this season and made an impact at the top of the league.  

Coach of the Year
Bobby Hooper BUF - Record: 7-2-1
After being robbed of the playoffs last season Hooper helped get his team back to the top this season with their first 7 win season in the NAAF.
Lewis Gallegos ON - Record: 5-5
In his first season at the helm in Kitchener, Gallegos was able to get the Tigers the closest they have been to the playoffs, and the team is excited for what he can bring for the next few years.
Emil Riddle WOR - Record: 5-5
After a combined 5 wins over their first 3 seasons, the Athletics brought Riddle on board, and quickly the coach turned the team into a competitive force that was also inches from their first playoff berth. 

Breakout Player of the Year
DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT - 3 Forced Fumbles (3rd), 9 Sacks (2nd), 1 POTW
Viktorsson, as mentioned before, was a force for Ottawa, and going into his third season, expect him to only get better.
QB Riley Kiernan WOR - 23 Passing Touchdowns (2nd), 2nd in Passing Yards
Kiernan’s third season showed that he was going to be a staple in the league for a long time as one of the best QB’s. Riddle helped Kiernan boost his confidence and get the Athletics moving forward.
WR Christian Venegas WOR - 13 Receiving Touchdowns (T-1st), 4th Receiving Yards
Venegas will likely be overshadowed by his QB, but you can’t deny the third-round pick has been a huge steal. Venegas was able to tie the league lead in Receiving Touchdowns with Atkins and was right in the mix for the Receiving yards leader.

1955 McCallister Cup Host

Richardson Stadium - Boston, MA - Capacity: 45,265
Once again the legendary stadium makes another bid to host the big game. The same argument applies from the last two seasons, the storied stadium has hosted many games and to see a neutral site game here could be special for the teams involved. 

Long Island Stadium - Hempstead, NY - Capacity: 40,450
With the opportunity to grow the sport around the Long Island area, it would be a hard miss if the league passes upon bringing the championship to the Island. The league’s 4th largest stadium would bring a great atmosphere and the city might be perfect to host extra festivities. 

Worcester Stadium - Worcester, MA - Capacity: 38,600
Worcester Stadium makes its third bid and is hoping to stake a claim at the hosting duties for their 2-year-old stadium. A pretty central location, especially for the New England teams, and once again would help to grow the sport in a weaker market. 

Long Island Rebrand
It was rumoured that the team would get an overall this offseason and Owner/GM Wayne Tillman has confirmed that it would be happening this season but wanted feedback from the fanbase to see what direction they would take the team. They can vote to have the team stay as the Hawks, return to the Raiders, or suggest a possible new name. The "Hawks" name would maintain the new team’s identity and would continue to establish the brand in the city, however, a transition away may not be a bad idea with the lack of success that has come with the name. “Raiders” has been a long time name of the Long Island team and many fans will likely be more attracted to a familiar face in the city. A new option may remake the team altogether with some excitement but still might not grab the same fanbase as the Raiders or those tied to the Hawks.  

1954 NAAF Awards

Most Valuable Player - WR Allen Atkins OTT
Another close vote between Atkins and Bowen, but Atkins will finally take home some more hardware, after being a constant runner-up in the first 6 seasons of the NAAF. There’s no denying the WR is the best to ever play and he made his importance this season with the impact he made in an injury-shortened season. He was still able to tie the league lead in receiving touchdowns, and lead in receiving yards. To make another point Ottawa was 0-2 without Atkins and with playoffs included 8-2 with him. He clearly is valuable to the Royals. 

Playoff MVP - WR Allen Atkins OTT
Atkins was a huge piece in the Royals success and was able to score 5 touchdowns just two playoff games. Without the superstar Ottawa might have been going home early once again. 

Offensive Player of the Year - QB Jean Matieau OTT
Ottawa takes another award home, but you can’t deny the abilities of Jean Matieau who has led the league in passing stats for the past 3 seasons. Nothing changed this year and with another strong season under his belt, Matieau is quickly solidifying himself as a true superstar.  

Defensive Player of the Year - DL Sean Bowen BUF
Bowen was the clear winner in the DPOTY vote, earning 75% of the votes. Bowen was traded to the Blue Wings this offseason and quickly made a huge impact. Without having to carry the defense on his back, Bowen was able to get more comfortable and make bigger plays and be an even bigger monster on the field. A great year for a great defender who will only keep Buffalo in contention. 

Special Teams Player of the Year - K Donald Brewer BUF
Brewer had a slow start to his career in Buffalo, but after a couple years of improvement, he has earned the honour of STPOTY. Brewer was on point for every kick this season leading the way in field goals and 3rd in extra points. The Blue Wings have to thank Brewer for a lot of the points they scored this season. 

Rookie of the Year  - DB Alexander Bradley WOR
There was really no challenge for the rookie of the year award. The second overall pick made an immediate impact on the field leading the league in interceptions in his first season. The interceptions earned him a DPOTY nomination as well. Bradley is one of the most talented rookies to come out of the draft and many expect him to continue his success into the future.  

Coach of the Year - Emil Riddle WOR
The first-year NAAF coach was quickly a great addition for the Athletics who went from a 2-8 to 5-5 and narrowly missing the playoffs. Riddle was able to get the Athletics moving in the right direction and they are already looking like a top contender next season. 

Breakout Player of the Year - QB Riley Kiernan WOR
Kiernan had some years to get better, but as soon as Kiernan got going he made a huge impact. He had 23 passing touchdowns, which was 2nd to Matieau. Kiernan looks to be a top tier QB for the next few years and the perfect leader for the Athletics. 
s

1954 All-Stars
Offense:
QB Jean Matieau OTT (2)
RB Élisée Marchal MTL (6)
OL Andrew Furrson BOS (5)
OL Casey York BUF (5)
OL Eugésippe Chalifoux MTL (2)
OL Cliff Strautzenberger WOR (1)
OL James Knowles OTT (6)
WR Allen Atkins OTT (6)
WR Christian Venegas WOR (1)
WR Peter Brooks PRO (4)
TE Jervonte Howell OTT (1)

Defense:
DL Sean Bowen BUF (5)
DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT (1)
DL Zakary Turbide MTL (1) 
DL Craig Newman BOS (2)
LB Scotty Williams WOR (3)
LB Aengus Lynch ON (1)
LB Rusty McVee MTL (1)
DB Alexander Bradley WOR (1)
DB Lee Wolfe PRO (6)
DB Lester Murphy BOS (3)
S Shawn Jensen WOR (1)

Special Teams: 
K Donald Brewer BUF (1)

1955 McCallister Cup Host - Long Island Stadium - Hempstead, NY
Long Island will enter their second season in the NAAF as the host for the championship game. The move makes sense for the league to grow the market in the Big Apple. The stadium is only a few years old which will make for a great location for the McCallister Cup.