[MIJB#19]

The new quarterback is here: Shane Bower
The Merchantmen management are proud to present the new quarterback for the Maassluis Merchantmen: Shane Bower. Bower was given a tour through Maassluis and fifteen minutes later he got the luxury tour through Oranje Haven. Bower looked happy in his new home and did well in his first mini camp. The loyal fans all saw how much this new guy resembles their hero Justin McDavid so much, except that Bower is eight years older.

Bower comes in with a two-year contract, including a voidable clause, yet the Merchantmen immediately offer Bower a three-year contract, including a bonus of 1.9 million dollars. Bower started his career in Bordeaux as eleventh round draft pick in the league draft. Then Bower was traded to Tucker, where he started eight games. Bower moved to Astoria in free agency, but today found the right place with the right system.

behind the scenes, two relative new wide receivers clashed on the traing ground. Big play receiver David Henkel, coming in from Vicksburg Vipers, and Mario Halas, who was signed as injury replacement late in the 2005 season, had a big fight. The two seem to be far from good friends and have little in common. The 23-year old Halas seems to be a guy with an opinion, while the sixs years older Henkel doesn't take commands from a guy with just one career start.

In another area, defensive tackle Andrew King left Maassluis as he was hired by the Springfield Isotopes as their new defensive front leader. King is said to be a guy who could be a mentor type of guy, yet didn't fint into the Merchantmen plans at all. Newcomer Josh Weisberg has emerged as the new leader and his position rivals Mike Kershner and Roosevelt Whalen looked happy about the addition of Weisberg. Whalen sees Weisberg as the ideal mentor, while Kershner had been the biggest enemy of Andrew King.

Also, the team has made another trade to move up in the draft. The team gave up the #28, #30 and #176 overall picks for the #23 overall pick. In this move, Boston's inside linebacker Carl Meier was also acquired, as well as Boston's 2007 third round pick. Meier hasn't arrived in Maassluis yet, but he's expected to be a possible leader type of guy, who should be the ideal backup for both Ellsworth Thelen and Cody Cluff.

Additionally, Cluff was recently called one of the best run stoppers in the league by new lead scout Gabe Avila. Avila said that it was rather Cluff then the honored defensive linemen duo of traded Harold Wells and Charles Gomez who stopped the run. Avila called Cluff the ideal middle linebacker with his run stopping skills and his stamina. Expectations are that Cluff will be offered a five-year contract anywhere in the upcoming season.

New guy Scot Dick has already been victim of a lot of jokes, yet his names also gives him alot of popularity. Dick has played one game in Oranje Haven before, in last season's Merchantmen loss to the Bordeaux Vineyards with 10-12. Dick in no means can live up to the stats Harold Wells showed, but he sure hopes to get close to those stats.

Another new guy, Timothy Lacy, also made himself known with the fans. Lacy started only four games in two seasons with the Fort Worth Fury as he seems to be an exclusive run blocker. In Maassluis, the quarterbacks are known for their nose for sacks, so Lacyshould fit in well with guys like Harold Hurtado and Butch White. It does mean that either Butch White or Alvin Causey will be traded soon. Expectations are that one of them will be forced out before or during the draft.

Last, but not least, the Merchantmen currently have 60 players under contract. With the expected four incoming rookies and linebacker Carl Meier, the team has just five spots to fill for training camp. After that, ten names will be scratched from the roster going into preseason. After the last preseason game, seven more will be released from the team. It is also still possible that some players will be released before training camp to create a little bit of cap room for incoming rookies.