Nostalgia
It's 2095, the 92nd season of IHOF. Christmas tree on my left, nothing but darkness on my right, in that direction is where we'd find Oranje Haven, the North Sea and behind the biggest island of the United Kingdom, the Atlantic Ocean between the homeland of most of our players. Back in 2003 we thought it would be a good idea to bring a football team (back) to the Netherlands, we were warmed up to it, weren't we?
Our home games are still played in Oranje Haven, although it needed some renovations over time, most importantly an expansion early on to make it available for 100,000 visitors. In the heart of the most densely populated part of the country, that should be easy to fill, no? It has been ever since, generations of football fans have come and gone, as have the players. A grand total of 1605 players have signed a contract in Maassluis, not double or triple counting those that returned for second or even third stints. That grand total excludes one player that was drafted twice, but never signed a contract, because back in 2028 and 2029, rookies weren't automatically signed to their contracts.
Of those 1605, 1070 made a regular season roster, not counting dozens of players that tried out between games to fill an injury initiated vacancy, not double counting the 25 players that had two on roster stints with us. And that 1070 doesn't include our recent acquisitions. That's a whole lot, but at the same time it makes you realize that in 91 seasons, we've on average added just over 11 new players to our team every new season, just under 11 if you exclude the first season and the 53 players from that 2004 season.
Okay, those are all fancy numbers, neither meaningful or meaningless if there's no point to my rambling. Is there a point? Well, it's nostalgia season, so I felt like looking back a little bit and dig up some old memories. Remember when I made a list of
50 legends? Well, that was way back shortly after the 2078 season. We're a whole retired, just short of Hall of Fame worthiness, franchise quarterback further away from the inaugural 2004 season. How about increasing that with as many players that should have been added after the 16 seasons that came after 2078? Well, let's do that. Let's kickoff with an update on those that weren't retired yet, then add 10 new names to the list of all-time greats and finish it with a bunch of of also-rans, including the replacement of three players that were promoted to the legends list.
Update on the class of 2064 era players that were still active after the 2078 season
WR #82 J.R. Mills 2069-2079
Wide receiver J.R. Mills cost the Merchantmen a truckload of picks, but the #9 overall selection was high enough to get him. And boy was he worthy it. Not from the beginning though. Despite a 1,000-yard campaign as a rookie and making it a four-season streak, Mills' stamina appeared to be an issue. Injury sidelined him for the majority of the 2073 season. Upon his return in 2074, he upped his game and kept improving, becoming a 1,500-yard receiver and peaking with 111 catches for 2,228 yards in the 2077 season. Coming in at the second most productive season by any receiver in IHOF history. The Merchantmen hope to build on him for another handful of seasons. Mills had another All-IHOF second team season in 2078 with 1,756 yards receiving. His 17 receiving touchdown were a personal record and second best in Merchantmen history in a season that saw the Merchantmen reach the AOC Championship game. After a bit of a down season in 2079, he retired, just 56 yards short of the 15K mark, with 839 receptions for 14,944 yards and 85 touchdowns in 162 regular season games. Currently ranks 3rd in Merchantmen history in receiving yards, 6th in receptions and receiving touchdowns. Unsurprisingly was inducted into the Soleciscmic Hall of Fame.
OT #65 Oscar Meadows 2071-2085
Offensive tackle Oscar Meadows was a surprise first round pick in the 2071 draft for the Merchantmen. Right tackle isn't traditionally a position the Merchantmen invest in, but Meadows had the size and talent to be worthy of that. In his first seven seasons in Maassluis, Meadows proved to be the stud of the line. He allowed 33 sacks and made 198 key run blocks so far. In 2078 Meadows earned his first All-IHOF honors, being a second-teamer with 33 key run blocks and only 4 sacks allowed. His peak season cam in 2081 with 37 ket run blocks and just 2 sacks allowed, earning All-IHOF first team honors, despite missing a game. In 2084 his role demised and in 2085 his activity was limited to a tiny bit of special teams play. Meadows retired after 224 regular season games, he tied Tom Anaya in most regular season games started (213). His career was highlighted by the 2078 AOC Championship game and after his active career with enshrinement in the Solecismic Hall of Fame.
LB #52 Antonio Battle 2073-2080
Linebacker Antonio Battle joined a rich history of first round picks at his position. He had the honor to join the Merchantmen shortly before the big names retired. The veterans imediately recognized Battle's talent and he became a full-time starter as a rookie. With four 100-tackle seasons, 11 interceptions, 50 defended passes, 8 forced fumbles and 12.0 sacks in 5 seasons, his two All-IHOF team selections aren't surprising. He's a premier linebacker, a worthy succesor to Edward Ross and preceding names. In 2078 Battle earned his second All-IHOF first team selection in a season that ended in an AOC Championship game loss. In the 2081 off-season, Battle became a cap casualty and continued his career in Gothenburg (2081), Hanalei (2082-2084) and Kansas (2085), where his career ended in an IHOF Bowl loss.
The Ellis McAlister era players
QB #9 Ellis McAlister 2074-2087
An unheralded afterthought, just a sixth round pick of the Merchantmen in the 2074 draft, McAlister's career didn't start like a fairy tale. He made the 2074 roster as the fourth quarterback and for 5 full seasons was kept on the sidelines. But in 2079 out of the blue, McAlister was promoted into the starting role and continued to be the undisputed starter through the 2087 season. With McAlister under center, the Merchantmen made the playoffs 6 times, peaking with the 2085 AOC Chapionship game. McAlister had 3 4,000-yard seasons, 20+ touchdown passes in each season as a starter and aside from his last season in Maassluis threw for less than 20 interceptions. In 2088 a dire cap situation prompted the Merchantmen to say good bye to their franchise quarterback. McAlister played a season in Arizona, which turned out to be the third losing season in his career. McAlister retired after the 2089 season, in which he failed to find a new home, the Merchantmen lacked the cap space to sign him during the playoffs that season. McAlister retired after 157 regular season games, 144 for the Merchantmen in which he threw for exactly 35,000 yards, 218 touchdowns and 152 interceptions. Currently he ranks 3rd in passing yards in franchise history, 6th in touchdown passes.
DT #96 Glen Stiegler 2075-2085
The arrival of Glen Stiegler came after a strange incident in which the North Plainfield Plague accidentally selected him in the 2075 draft. The Merchantmen were quick to open negotiations as Stiegler was their player to get that draft and the #16 overall pick went into the books as a Merchantmen pick. His arrival made sense, so shortly after the retirement of Shaun Hartman and his sidekick Preston Urquiola. Stiegler didn't reach the levels of play of Hartman, but was a worthy Merchantmen nose tackle, earning All-IHOF first team honors in 2078 and 2080. Like many players from this era, his peak moments came in the 2078 and 2085 AOC Championship games, the latter turned out to be his last game for the Merchantmen as he failed to make the 2086 opening day roster and Stiegler retired the next off-season. In 174 regular season games he made 439 tackles and 56.5 sacks.
G #74 Carlos Webb 2075-2085
Carlos Webb continued a trend of the Merchantmen finding their offensive linemen in the draft in the middle rounds as he was a third round pick in 2075. Against all odds, he became an opening day starter and for 10 straight seasons was undisputed as the team's second best run blocker. In 2077 he recorded 47 key run blocks and in 2083 reached the magical 50 figure. In 2085 he lost his starting job, but due to injuries played in both playoff game victories, yet was benched for the AOC Championship game, which the Merchantmen subsequently lost. Webb retired soon after, meaning the lost 2078 AOC Championship game was the highlight of his career. In 156 regular season games he made 359 key run blocks, making him rank 6th all-time for the Merchantmen and highest amongst guards.
RB #26 Walt Blair 2078-2081
Rarely does a player much such a strong impression in just 4 injury plagued seasons. The Merchantmen picked Walt Blair #13 overall in the 2078 draft and as a rookie he made an impact running for 1,213 yards and 6 touchdowns in just 10 games as his season was cut short. Blair was missed during the playoffs run, fans still wonder whether the Merchantmen would have actually won the AOC Championship game with him. Blair bounced back in 2079 with 1,609 yards and 11 touchdowns, but 2080 was another injury plagued season. In 2081 Blair held out in the off-season, but changed his mind in pre-season, before he signed a contract extension. He left Maassluis after a tremendous season with 1,779 yards and 17 touchdowns, the latter was by far the best in the league that season. Blair played 2 more seasons with the Brooklyn Fightin' Bums and retired after just 6 seasons in football on doctor's advice, but fear for repetitive concussion syndrome was never officially confirmed.
CB #32 Kirk Hitchcock 2081-2093
The standards for a shutdown cornerback were set high after Peter Tucker retired, but in 2081 a new shutdown corner was selected at the #11 overall pick by the Merchantmen. Kirk Hitchcock delivered as a rookie with 5 interceptions and 11 defended passes. He continued to improve his standards and in 2084 earned the first of three All-IHOF first team honors. Hitchcock continued to produce and in 2089 became Defensive Player of the Year after a season with 8 interceptions (2 touchdowns), 20 defended passes and 115 tackles. The Merchantmen failed to make the playoffs that season. The decline started soon after, but unlikely so many veterans in Maassluis, Hitchcock continued to be a starter through his final season in 2093. One of his best games came in the 2085 AOC Championship game, but it wasn't enough to make his team win. With 46 interceptions and 185 defended passes in 204 regular season games, he ranks #1 in Merchantmen history.
CB #37 Gabe Broady 2081-2087
The Merchantmen have a good tradition of finding hidden gems in the undrafted rookie free agent pool and Gabe Broady is certainly one of those. A rookie in 2081, Broady got his chance midway into the season as the punt returner and did well enough to win the job. From 2082 onwards, Broady was the best punt returner in the league, scoring 8 touchdowns between 2082 and '86. Already in decline in 2086, he lost his role in 2087 to Clarence Blackwell. A clearly past his peak Broady failed to make the 2088 roster in Maassluis and retired in the 2089 off-season. 8 punt return touchdowns makes him rank 3rdd already, but his 17.0 yards per return makes him the best punt returner in IHOF history [he ranks second in the Solecismic record books behind a player with 20 career punt returns, we're not going to credit him the best ever, right?].
WR #80 Theodore Bondy 2082-now
Back in 2082 when the Merchantmen picked Theodore Bondy 8th overall, they felt like it was the steal of the draft. To get the pick, the Merchantmen gave up the #20 overall and the 2083 1st round pick. It was all worth it. "Theo" already delivered as a rookie with 95 catches for 1,469 yards and 8 touchdowns, which was just the start of a career as the clear top target of the quarterbacks that he played with, getting targeted an insane 42% of all passing plays. Bondy didn't crack under that pressure or the seeming over usage. 150+ receptions became his norm, as was 2,000 receiving yards, a figure that he reached 4 times. In 2088 times changed, defenses adapted to the throw it to one guy approach, but Bondy continued to be a lock for 1,000 yards. He reached the 20K mark during the 2094 season and going into the 2095 pre-season he's still going strong...
LT #66 Nathan Hadinger 2083-2093
In the 2083 draft, early in the second round, the Merchantmen couldn't believe that left tackle Nathan Hadinger was still available. The decision to pick him was a good one. Although riding the bench as a rookie, from his second season and onwards, it was clear that Hadinger was the pass protecting left tackle the Merchantmen love to provide their quarterback. He was a lock for 10 straight seasons, bar injuries. Which actually came when it was time to shine, Hadinger missed the 2085 playoffs and the trip to the AOC Championship game. With Hadinger in action, the Merchantmen never went one and done in the post-season. A lack of key run blocks will keep Hadinger from Hall of Fame status, but Merchantmen fans know better. With 37 sacks allowed in 153 games, Hadinger did his job and did it very well.
G #72 Michael Szott 2084-2094
Result of a trade one pre-season earlier with Bordeaux, the Merchantmen held the top pick of the second round in the 2084 draft. Guard Michael Szott was an easy pick there, one of the most talented players of his class. Never the best in the league, but all round enough to be the perfect left guard, supporting the left tackle and contributing to the running game. Szott was in and out of the lineup in his rookie season as injuries haunted the line, but from the second season he was a 10-year starter. Szott was pretty much a guarantee for 25 key run blocks and rock solid, never missing a game. He retired in the 2095 off-season after 169 regular season games with the Merchantmen and ranked 10th in franchise history in key run blocks.
OT #61 Howard Humphrey 2085-now
Not quite as planned, the Merchantmen picked right tackle Howard Humphrey at #9 overall in the 2085 draft. Unlike in future off-season, the Merchantmen decided to stick with what looked like maybe the best player of the class. As a rookie he was already in the starting lineup and made a key blocker for the running game, delivering with 44 key run blocks. Howard peaked in 2087 (52 key run blocks) and 2092 (53 key run blocks), marking the best showings of no less than 6 ALL-IHOF first team selections. The 2085 and 2091 AOC Championship games are the most important game in his career to date. To date, as Humphrey is still on team going into the 2095 pre-season and has a shot at improving from 4th to 2nd in Merchantmen history in key run blocks. Without a doubt he's Hall of Fame bound...
So close, the also rans of the last 15 or so seasons:
LT #69 Louie Murray 2074-2086
Ellis McAlister's first left tackle. Quite the achievement for a 6th round pick.
C #75 Butch Pearson 2080-2092
Late first round pick, elite run blocker. Second best center in Merchantmen history after Tom Anaya.
DT #91 Heath Oliver 2083-2087
More of a tackler than a pass rusher. Cap casualty in 2088 off-season. Ran havoc with the Gothenburg Giants.
RB #24 Reggie Thongchanh 2085-2094
Fourth round pick turned into fourth most rushing yards in Merchantmen history, despite being part of a tandem with Francisco Patter.
RB #26 Francisco Patter 2087-now
Seventh round pick turned into 9th most rushing yards, despite being part of a tandem with Thong'. Still on team, might still improve.
Legends of the future:
DT #73 Darien Fletcher 2089-2094
Pass rusher, at least All-IHOF second team in 4 of 6 seasons.
LB #53 Brandon Brady 2090-now
Another instalment of the fine tradition of top-notch LB in Maassluis.
S #40 Devon Farrell 2091-now
Turning into a monster safety. Best safety in the league in 2094.
The buble boys, bound to be also-rans:
TE #46 Clay Gaynor 2090-now
Talented 1st round tight end, but is he suited for the Merchantmen style?
TE #44 Clarence Gore 2091-now
5th round breakout, but already on the decline?