[MIJB#19]

Press release: Merchantmen trade Wells for a pick and a Dick
The Maassluis Merchantmen are unhappy to announce the trade of Harold Wells. Wells' salary was accounting very high on the salary cap and his salary situation was the friendliest of all players to make him expendable. Wells will be joining the ranks of divisional rivals Bordeaux Vineyards. Harold Wells earned All IHOF second team honors after making 13 sacks and 35 tackles in the 2005 season.

In return, the Merchantmen are happy to announce to have acquired the #28 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Merchantmen also get Scot Dick, a defensive end, who started 30 games in his two seasons at Bordeaux. The Merchantmen did give up their 2007 seventh round pick as well, but that should be seen as a little formality to make it a two-for-two trade.

General manager M.IJ.B. says he's not happy, but understands this move was necessary: "We saw it coming going into the 2005 season, Wells would be traded in the 2006 offseason. We tried our best to avoid it, but we just couldn't get enough expensive other players traded. Seeing him leave to a divisional foe makes it even tougher, but we couldn't get more for him then with Bordeaux."

In the upcoming draft, the Merchantmen are now projected to have seven selections. Going by overall numbers, these are the #12, #28, #30, #35, #51, #95 and #100. Whether the team will use them all or package them for higher picks is not sure yet. The salaries involed with these picks probably require the team to trade at least two of the top four picks.

The trade of Wells should be the last star going out in Maassluis. Earlier on, trhe Merchantmen agreed terms to trade quarterback Leonard Lyon, fullback Mark Burger, former All IHOF tight end Jerry Aubrey, defensive end Deon Chapa, backup quarterback Antoine Shepard and backup safety Percy Francis.