[MIJB#19]

Merchantmen Sign All Ten Rookies On One Day
The Maassluis Merchantmen have done it. Without much hassling, they managed to get all ten of their draft picks to sign their rookie contracts far before training camp starts. The cherries on the pie, wide receiver Jerry Beyer and defensive tackle Shaun Shiroma, together account for almost ten million dollars over the next four seasons. The eight other selections, taken in the fifth, sixth or seventh round together account for about ten and a half million over three years.

As the players reported for their first minicamps, the defensive tackles Shaun Shiroma and Andrew Rasmussen looked good. Charles Gomez, the star defensive tackle on the Merchantmen team was positive about both guys: "These guys are steals. Rasmussen in the sixth, this guy could be a great starter anywhere int the IHOF. And Shaun is Shaun. First round talent and already as good as departed John Bryant was."

Meanwhile the offensive line is getting revamped all over again. Long time starter Harold Hurtado fears for his job: "The arrival of Ivan Jacques made sense after the trade of Grimaldo. Cornelius Rice looks good to take over from me someday. But now, this Norman Holliday kid, he's far from ready, but he's got so much potential. It's scary. And the kid is 6-9, Flannery will love to hide behind him."

Running backs Tyrell Mahoney and Harold Poston also made a splash enterance. Randy Harris, the Merchantmen's three-time 1,000-yard rusher feels good about them: "Poston looks like a younger version of Jamel [Rosenberry]. Not as good a blocker, but he could be a great receiver type back. And Tyrell, well, what's to say? He's not a stand-out guy in anything, but he seems to do everything right a bit."

In the other backfield, Gene Sampson arrives as a hot prospect and his team mates are looking forward to him to get playing time. Tai Wayne, the Merchantmen's 2005 top draft selection, called him "spectacular". The long time Merchantmen player, safety Lincoln Gilmore, was more specific: "With Gene, we'll be able to go back to more coverage schemes. We can stick with the zone defense, but can also add some more man to man coverage."

Seventh round pick Terrence Norris got less kudos all over. Carl Meier, who Norris was said to be calling his mentor, was not so fond: "Terror [Norris' nickname] will have a hard time to make the 53-men roster. The staff said they wanted a great run defender, but sofar he's not looking a good fit with the team." Especially Norris' zone defense skills are a concern, but Meier added: "Ellsworth [Thelen] is not a zone defender either, yet he manages to make plays anyway."

In front of the linebackers, Aaron Sherrill is expected to be at least a rotating backup with 2006 fourth round pick Omar Gougeon and veteran Albert Bernardo. The 'Big Al' seems Sherrill as a future starter: "He's more like Harold Wells than we thought. Aaron will be a pass rush threat, but also will be supporting the run defense. Omar and Aaron will battle it out, but I can't say I'm safe of being a starter myself."

Alvin Ladner, the new kicker in town, will have a hard time to make the 53-men regular season roster. Punter Roscoe Corrales was skeptic: "With Cary [Coles] we already had a guy who makes the points and Al Bettis is an excellent kickoff specialist. Sadly for Alvin, I don't see him make the roster. Still, Ike Settles went to the IHOF Bowl and I rank Alvin much higher, he'll get picked up somewhere. And you never know when injuries hit."

Last, but not least, wide receiver Jerry Beyer signed his contract. In early mini camps the management was excited to see they got the guy they wanted. General manager M.IJ.B. explained: "We felt there was a need for a guy with the ability to get downfield and make big plays there. David Henkel failed to do that. Henkel played well when he had the ball, but Flannery struggled to connect with Henkel. Monti can't get downfield and Ewald doesn't get open enough. We hope that Jerry will make up for the things we lacked."

Then new rookies and all signed. Although the Merchantmen already reported that Ladner and Norris will have a hard time making the final 53-men roster, even if eight players make it, it'll be the biggest new rookie group drafted. In 2006, undrafted guys like punt returner Matt Offord, kickoff guy Al Bettis and the interceptor Myron Stevens, but this year undrafted rookies won't make the roster at all. The team already has 22 new faces and the management expect to have at least 15 of them survive the two roster cut days.

Despite the promissing looks, the earlier draft classes are getting less and less attention. Of the class of 2006, quarterback Louie Flannery and defensive end Omar Gougeon are expected to start, but nose tackle Andy Weliczka is bound to drop to #4 on the depth chart, while center Ernie Taylor and safety Lamar Singleton around bound to follow Reggie Nelson to being released before finishing the rookie contract. In contrast, of the class of 2005 only quarterback Leonard Lyon left so far and he was traded to be a starter in Springfield.

With these new faces, the Merchantmen expect to be revamping more and more, but the core of the offense and defense stay the same. Of all the rookies, none are expected to be full time starters. Jerry Beyer will likely begin as the #3 guy, while Shaun Shiroma should start over Andrew Rasmussen and will be rotating with Andy Weliczka. Tackle Norman Holliday might get a chance and so could it happen to Gene Sampson and Aaron Sherrill.