[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: We got a new running back
But don't get overexcited just yet.

We made bids to a trio of free agents and today learned that two of them chose to sign elsewhere, but one of them did ink a deal with the Maassluis Merchantmen. RB George Shackelford, previously the RB2 of the Iowa Cobbers, signed a 3-year deal with us. Yes, I understand the risks of signing a 29-year old RB, but at minimum he can mentor our youngsters throughout pre-season. If his skills hold up over pre-season, we'll have signed a guy with excellent (95) hole recognition, who can also be our alternate kickoff returner (70) and has the route running (60) and getting downfield (40) skills to be an outlet target on a short route. His endurance (45) is good enough to play on a couple of formations.

Our trading spree also continued and now we're down to 6 late round picks, starting with the 4.31 pick. We also still hold the 5.14, 5.26, 6.32, 7.21 and 7.32 picks. With 49 players signed and 2 1st round picks already incoming, it still means we have basically only room for 2 of those 6 late round picks on our regular season roster. But you never know what happens in pre-season, so it's likely that our spree is about to come to an end and that we'll make sure to grab the players here that we'd otherwise hope to land as undrafted rookies.