[MIJB#19]

Roster Cut Day 2087 Comes Early: Merchantmen Release Seven
Without any additional roster moves, the Maassluis merchantmen 53 players for the 2087 season are known. Today, the Merchantmen announced the release of seven players following the 19-19 tie with the Outer Banks Ospreys. Earlier this off-season, the Merchantmen lost 33-27 at the Chesapeake Chitterlings in their first exhibition game.

Quarterback Ernest Andrews jumps out amongst the seven released. The third year former second round pick (#40 overall) was making some progress in training camps and pre-season activity, but apparently it was too little to maintain his roster spot as the future quarterback. Undrafted rookie Fernando Farley made more progress in training camp and was slightly less disastrous in pre-season action than Andrews. Neither looked particularly at place with a second-string heavy support cast. The release of Andrews consequently opens up some cap space to extend contracts of several starters on the secondary in their last year of contract and possibly for kicker Thomas Robertson.

Merchantmen general manager M.IJ.B. assured that the cap situation wasn't at work here: "Farley looks more ready than Andrews to potentially step in after McAlister. Andrews was slightly further in his development overall and finally looked ready to be our QB2, but Farley has the arm, legs and awareness to suit our game plan better. Plus, in Farley we see the upside that McAlister showed back in the day. Honestly, Andrews would have made the opening day roster had Farley not impressed us. But that too is the life in the IHOF."

Sixth-year wide receiver and kickoff return specialist Ross Willbrandt was the second familiar name to not survive the cut wave. For the past three season, Willbrandt had surpassed Artie Blazewicz as the premier kickoff returner. His career average of 27.4 yards per return made him a top ten kickoff returner. He looked slightly out of shape in training camp and the Merchantmen decided to go with rookie Mason Wilson as the new kickoff returner.

Undrafted rookie A.J. Warnock also missed the cut. The wide receiver but mostly return specialist didn't impress enough either to unseat aforementioned Willbrandt and Blazewicz, outdo aforementioned Wilson, nor did he impress enough to get into the mix as a punt returner as the Merchantmen stick with Gabe Broady and Courtney Blackwell there. Although, the league's best guy in that area for the last three season, Broady looks like he'll have to hand it over once again to Blackwell.

Another special teamer, linebacker Skip Keith was told his tenure in Maassluis came to an end after 5 seasons and 70 games. He lost the roster spot battle to undrafted rookie Harvey Cassidy.

The same applies to linebacker Walt Offerman. The Merchantmen certainly think he has potential, but on the crowded front seven in Maassluis and his lacking experience, it was tough going in. He wasn't that bad either, in limited action he defended a pass in both pre-season games.

Another second-year pro on his first stint in the IHOF, left tackle Miles Hanspard lost the roster spot battle to rookie Myron Hamilton. The Merchantmen see more upside in Hamilton between two different players.

The seventh player released was cornerback Kristopher Reid. An undrafted rookie, Reid didn't even get a real chance to prove himself. He was active on 1 passing play and on 10 special teams plays in the 2 pre-season games. Fifth round pick Jessie McNeil got preference over Reid as the 11th defensive back on roster.


With these seven players not surviving these cuts, it does mean a couple of players that seemed unlikely to make the roster are still hanging on. Undrafted quarterback Fernando Farley was already mentioned above, but he's one of 12 rookies and 1 veteran player new to the Merchantmen.

Defensive end Archie Exner didn't see much action in two pre-season games, but the undrafted rookie does look like he's going to jump ahead of Ezekiel Wylie and Tony Whiting as the fourth defensive end in the rotation. It means the Merchantmen are likely going into the 2087 season with 9 defensive linemen on roster, one more than usual.

Cornerback Mason Wilson makes the team as the new kickoff returner specialist. The Merchantmen have Blazewicz ready to take over if needed, but for now, the undrafted rookie looks like he'll get that role.

Seventh round pick running back Francisco Patter is another surprise. As it looks like now, Patter will jump ahead of Leonard Belin, on the depth chart. Belin was the main ball carrier last season with 1,351 yards and 9 touchdowns. A the very least, Patter looks like he'll get the third down back role, for whatever that's still worth as the coaching staff refused to use the previous third down back Monty Digler in the last two seasons. It would also mean Reggie Thongchanh jumps ahead as the top ball carrier.

Safety Salvador Harper was probably the last player to make the 53-men group and it looks like he'll be in an active role due to his special teams skills. The undrafted rookie might even be used on run heavy formations.