[MIJB#19]

Lonnie O'Reilley: Undrafted Rookie Is Leading Receiver
The Maassluis Merchantmen management have made their mark as being trade-a-holics. One of the more amazing parts in their tradings was the removal of three quality wide receivers. Amos Collins, Frederic Vargas and Raul Marshall moved on and make themselves elsewhere usefull.

In return, the Merchantmen acquired two rookie receivers this offseason. Devin Henson was drafted in the third round as the 96th overall draft selection. Henson's ability to be a return specialist and his potential to become the number wide receiver did their work there.

The other rookie was an undrafted free agent. A graduate from Temple named Lonnie O'Reilley was already concidering to go for another career when all of a sudden his agent Wesley Walker called. Walker already inked a deal for Devin Henson and told O'Reilley he'd get a traning camp and preseason shot at outdoing veteran receiver Arnulfo Arnett to become the number five receiver and backup return specialist.

O'Reilley returned the call with pleasure. Playing for the Merchantmen is better then not playing football. O'Reilley amazingly survived camp, though it was reported that it was more of a salary cap move. O'Reilley was told he'd be the leading punt returner with Randall Smith traded to Paris.

Then, things went fast. Raul Marshall got traded and O'Reilley moved up to backup flanker and backup kickoff returner. Without much expectations, becuase he had just 2 receptions for 21 yards in four preseason games. Plus, his returning stats didn't look very impressive either.

First game of the season, an opener at home against the Gothenburg Giants. Lonnie O'Reilley is a lot on the field and is targeted four times by fellow rookie Leonard Lyon. O'Reilley grabs all four balls and racks up 51 yards on the day. In returning duties he has a 9-yard punt return and a 25-yard kickoff return. O'Reilley is in da house!

In the following two games, both won by the team, O'Reilley adds 4 receptions for 64 yards, 10 punt returns for 73 yards and 4 kick returns for 86 yards. Then, after the open week, the management have a dissapointing message.

"Lonnie, despite your stats, we want to give Devin Henson more playing time". O'Reilley was shocked, he had made his mark as the number three receiver and led the team in receiving yards. Henson got the nod and O'Reilley was limited in action to just one punt return, which was an 11-yard gain.

As Henson failed against Tucker, he didn't make a catch, O'Reilley was pushed up in the depth charts again and saw his favorite quarterback return as well. Lonnie was back and had 5 receptions for 72 yards against Georgia. He also added a 10-yard punt return and 59 yards on 3 kickoff returns.

After five games played, Lonnie O'Reilley has emerged into an amazing player. With 13 catches for 187 yards, O'Reilley leads the team in receiving yards. More impressive is that fact that O'Reilley has yet to drop a pass and saw just two balls trown to him go incomplete. Plus, he was there in the longest pass completion of the team this season.

Get this: O'Reilley is a very small guy at 5 foot 10 and 185 pounds. According to the team scouts, O'Reilley has little experience and hardly any potential to improve. The scouting staff gave him a zero out 1 to 100 in avoiding drops. This underrated and undersized guy is the leading receiver on a team with hots shots as Jerry Aubrey and Bryce Ewald. As soon as he starts catching touchdown passes, he'll become a valuable addition to your fantasy team.