[MIJB#19]

The end zone of their careers - more 2107 retirements

CB Ernie Grant
One of the best shutdown corners the Merchantmen got their hands on, they were quite pleased to pick Grant in the middle of the 2095 draft's first round. Then listed as a safety, the Merchantmen immediately switched him to cornerback and it turned out to be a great move. From his rookie season and onwards, Grant was an elite corner for 7 straight seasons in Maassluis, earning All-IHOF First Team honors 3 times. In the cap hell of the 2102 off-season, the Merchantmen traded Grant to the Orlando Talons. Although he finally got to see playoffs action in Orlando, aside from his first season, his last three in Orlando were below his standards. In the 2106 off-season the Talons considered Grant too expensive for what he was still capable of and he retired after not getting any calls from other teams. Grant played 105 regular season games for the Merchantmen, in which he made 22 interceptions and 107 defended passes, amongst others.

DE Richie Piotte
In the middle of the 2nd round of the 2095 draft, the Maassluis Merchantmen felt they got a hidden gem in linebacker Richie Piotte. They asked him to switch to defensive end and it turned out to be a fantastic decision. Piotte quickly grew into being one of the elite p[ass rushers in the IHOF, twice resulting in All-IHOF second team honors. In 7 seasons in Maassluis, Piotte recorded 85.5 sacks (more than 12 per season), 3rd most amongst Merchantmen players (up to now). Like many expensive players, in 2102 Piotte was released over salary cap woes and got his vengeance with the Gothenburg Giants, continuing his impressive play there and finally making the playoffs. With the Giants unable to afford him for a second season, Piotte initially signed with the Fort Wayne Fury in 2103, but he was released by them before the season began and instead he signed a 3-year deal with the Capital City Blues. In the 2106 off-season the Blues released him and despite his resume and still going strong pass rush speed, he didn't find a new home. Piotte played 112 games for the Merchantmen and has a realistic shot at being enshrined in the IHOF Hall of Fame with his 130.5 career sacks.

C Robbie Zinn
Picked high in the second round of the 2093 draft, the Merchantmen were convinced that Zinn would be their new run blocking center piece for a decade and a half to come. A day one starter, Zinn's skills were never up for debate. His finest season came in 2097, when he recorded 40 key run blocks and just 1 sack allowed. The Merchantmen went 10-6, but missed the playoffs. Often snubbed for All-IHOF honors, eventually he didn't start a full decade for the Merchantmen. In the 2102 off-season salary cap troubles resulted in the release of all the starting linemen in Maassluis, including Zinn. He played a season for the Harlem Apollos and then in 2103 was part of the Bordeaux Vineyards team that ended a long playoffs drought and even longer stretch of seasons without a division title, ironically marking Zinn's career highlight: the only season he made the playoffs. Zinn continued to play in Bordeaux for 3 seasons, but eventually was considered over the hill and despite his ability to still be a reliable pass protecting interior lineman, no other team in the IHOF gave him one more chance. Zinn retired this off-season without missing a single game in his 9 seasons in Maassluis, making it 144 straight starts.

CB Omar Leszynski
When the Merchantmen selected Leszynski in the 3rd round of the 2096 draft, he was considered to be a reach of sorts. That image didn't disappear as he spent his first two seasons waiting in the wings without ever seeing the field. All of that changed in 2098, when his man-to-man and intercepting skills had finally improved enough to be considered the right guy to play opposite Ernie Grant. Leszinsky's role became undisputed as he became the full time starter at CB2 in 2099. Then cap woes in 2102 resulted in a mass departure of players, including Leszynski getting traded to the Texas Sharks. It was a great switch for him, as he ended up winning IHOF Bowl CII with the Sharks after already having lost IHOF Bowl C with them. Decline forced the the Sharks to release him last off-season and he retired this off-season. Leszynski retires with 64 games played for the Merchantmen, but the Sharks might take claim on being his true team as he played the same amount of regular season games there and no less than 10 playoffs games in just 4 seasons.

KHanbaKH Malachi Manning
As an undrafted rookie signing from the 2100 class, Manning wasn't an obvious pick to make the Merchantmen team. He managed to prove his kick holding skills and to have just enough ability to pretend to be a quarterback to make the team. For his first 5 seasons, he became the kick holder and nothing but a kick holder for the Merchantmen. After 81 games in those seasons, the Merchantmen signed another kick holder and Manning lost the position battle. Despite being one of the best in his genre, other IHOF teams just don't appreciate players of this specialism and after 2 seasons without a contract, he gave up on football.

G Corwin Driver
As a 6th round pick in 2100, Driver was a longshot to make the team and although he did, he was rarely used. He saw limited action in his first two seasons in Maassluis, but as cap hell broke loose in 2102, all of a sudden Driver became a full time starter. It turned out to be just that season, although he saw quite some more action in 2103 due to injuries and other struggles on the line. The run blocker and nothing but a run blocker was considered to be too much of a liability on the pass protection and when the decline set in for him, he was demoted to just a special teams role and eventually released after 68 games for the Merchantmen, including the 2 playoffs games in 2104. He spent 2106 waiting for a second chance, but no other teams showed any interest in him.

RB Rondell Robertson
A stud punt returner, who saw his career cut short because sometimes players' abilities unexplainably degrade. A third round pick in 2102 for the Merchantmen, the team clearly had hopes for him to become a member of the backfield rotation as a RB2, but in all his time in Maassluis, he played that role for only a single season (2104). Aside from his lack of activity on the offense, his skills as a punt returner were undisputed, at least early on. In his rookie season already, Robertson was the premier guy at this role and in subsequent seasons grew into being one of the best in the league. In 2104 he averaged 15.2 yards per punt return, scoring 2 touchdowns in that role. The decline already came in 2105, when he still held onto his role for one last season, as in 2106 it became clear CB Dennis Finley was here to stay, while the decline for Roberston continued. Although still a suitable punt returner, no other team felt comfortable signingn him, resulting in Robertson's retirement this off-season. He played 66 games for the Merchantmen, including 2 playoffs games.

LB Trey Ford
As an undrafted rookie signing in 2098, Trey Ford was a longshot to make the 53-men roster. He made it just barely and spent all of that season on the inactive 7. In 2099, Ford's run stopping and zone defending skills had improved enough to get promoted to the active roster and see quite some action as the LB3 of sorts in all kinds of formations. His playing time continued to grow, until the 2102 season, which prompted to make him available for trade in the 2103 off-season. The Williamsburg Colonials were very much interested and acquired him, resulting in Ford's career highlight, winning IHOF Bowl CI. In 2105 he fell to a backup role, wasn't re-signed in the 2106 off-season and subsequently retired after a season of waiting for a phone call. He played 64 regular season games for the Merchantmen.

DE Spencer Crawford
The 2099 fourth round pick for the Merchantmen was a typical player. Crawford rarely played on their defense, but still proved to be a solid member of the special teams unit and contributed there. Although spending his rookie season (and third season) in Maassluis inactive, there was rarely any doubt he should make the final 53-men roster. The result was 6 season on team, with 64 regular season games and both playoffs games in 2104. His decline became apparent in the 2105 off-season, resulting in release after all and retirement after spending that season without a second chance elsewhere.