[MIJB#19]

Francisco Farley, sophomore rollercoaster
It was early in spring of 2087. For the third time in succession, a quarterback was taken #1 overall in the IHOF Draft. The Moontown Darksiders invested their top pick in Alabama - Birmingham prospect Blaine Sanderson in hopes of making him their franchise quarterback. Not an unusual decision, many quarterbacks preceded Sanderson as the top pick in the IHOF draft. The Maassluis Merchantmen have been no strangers to this phenomenon, twice trading up to the #1 overall pick and the end result was in both cases an eventual Hall of Famer. Rusty Harrison and Bryson Chow are names every Merchantmen fan should know.

In total seventeen quarterbacks received a call from any of the 32 franchises in the IHOF to be selected in that 2087 draft. The Maassluis Merchantmen spent their seven picks on other positions, but had their eye on one particular quarterback from Syracuse as a potential signing after the draft: Francisco Farley. There was little reason to see why this player in particular was signed by the Merchantmen. Best bet for the outside world was Farley's reputation as being decent in noticing the collaps of his protection and in that situation being a decent scrambler. His Solecismic Score was okay, at least better than the #1 overall pick Sanderson.

Upon arrival in Maassluis, Farley had three other quarterbacks to compete with for a roster spot. Seasoned veteran and sixth round pick to franchise quarterback grown Ellis McAlister's spot as the starter seemed indisputable. The backup slot was by no up for grabs either, the Merchantmen had invested a second round pick in Ernest Andrews in the 2085 draft and by no means looked ready to give up on him just yet. And then there was Karsten Muchnick, one helluva kick holder, crucial for the kicking unit, but not somebody management would like to see on the field throwing the ball. Most likely, Farley would be here to have a fourth ball thrower in training camp, very usual for the Merchantmen.

During training camp, the staff was positively surprised. Farley was picking things up pretty well and was seen as barely any worse than Andrews, whom had been very unimpressive in the previous two camps and pre-season action, while barely making progress during the seasons. Both youngsters made the pre-season roster of 60 players and split playing time in the first pre-season game. A game both would love to see vanished from the history books. Neither Andrews nor Farley looked even remotely in control. Farley completed 4 of 11 passes for 38 yards, getting sacked once, picked off once and running for a 10 yard gain. But all in all, Farley was really on par with Andrews, who got picked off twice in 13 attempts and also lost a fumble. The second pre-season game was barely any better. Again, the Merchantmen offense failed to score any touchdowns, but a 19-19 tie was the end result. Farley completed 4 of just 6 pass attempts for 50 yards. One day later, Andrews was cut. Bar any last minute signings, Farley made the 53-men roster, all based on the staff's assessment about his improvement in training camp and flashes of potential shown in that second pre-season game.

Unsurprisingly, there was little Farley could do that 2087 season to get on the field. Sitting behind Ellis McAlister, two-time reigning division champion and having guided his team to the 2085 AOC Championship game and the conference semi finals in 2086. Sure, McAlister had his flaws, throwing more interceptions than most head coaches would like to see, but he was connecting with the phenomenal wide receiver Theodore Bondy. But Farley also took note of how slow McAlister's career went, he rode the bench for five seasons. Patience can work out.

Following another second round loss in the playoffs, things changed drastically in Maassluis. Cap Hell broke loose and one by one key players left Maassluis. One of them: Ellis McAlister. All of a sudden, Francisco Farley's name was getting penciled in as the 2088 starter. Lacking the cap room to sign a seasoned veteran, the Merchantmen, Farley was seeing potential. The 2088 IHOF draft went by and the Merchantmen spent all six of their picks on other positions. Farley and kick holder Muchnick were the only two quarterbacks on roster. 25 young free agents were signed between the draft and training camp, including undrafted rookie quarterbacks Bubba Hiam and Alvin Stoner.

Francisco Farley received accolades for his progress in training camp prior to the 2088 season. Surely, by no means was he showing flashes of a starting quarterback, but he was far ahead of his competition. The Merchantmen finished pre-season with three quarterbacks on roster, as Hiam got axed after the first couple of pre-season games. Two days before opening day, the Merchantmen called a press conference. A new potential sheriff joined town: Moe Sheldon. Albeit his track record as a starter (9-23) being far from impressive, Merchantmen management was clear about their move: Farley needs a mentor and if he breaks, Sheldon will be a suitable replacement.

Opening day, 2088. The Merchantmen traveled to Paris (France) to start the new season. Starting lineups were revealed. At 25 years old, Francisco Farley was the youngest opening day starting quarterback for the Maassluis Merchantmen in 43 years (Bryson Chow was 22 years old in 2045). And boy, was Farley not ready. The first half was a disaster. Teammates had to motivate him as teams went into the locker room at half time, the Merchantmen trailing 17-7 and being on the score board purely on a last minute 93-yard pick six from Kirk Hitchcock. A fumble on Paris' second play of the second half gave Maassluis a short field and Farley quickly had a chance to cheer: third down, Theo Bondy open in the end zone: touchdown! It was a unique highlight in what ended as a 36-24 loss for the Merchantmen. Farley completed 14 of 27 passes for 93 yards.

Week two, 2088. The Merchantmen had a new plan for the road game at the Outer Banks Ospreys. Little did they know they were visiting the eventual 14-2 top seeds in the NAC. Farley got the first half to prove himself and completed 10 of 14 passes for 74 yards and ran for a first down on a 13-yard scramble. He deserved some kudos, despite the 17-0 deficit at half time. But after the break, Moe Sheldon was the quarterback on the field for Maassluis. Albeit with inferior passing numbers, Sheldon got the Merchantmen on the scoreboard late in het fourth quarter.

Week three, 2088. First home game of the season in a near sold out Oranje Haven. Francisco Farley was once again announced as the starting quarterback. The Toronto Lake Monsters were visiting, but the Merchantmen were rolling. When half time was called, the Merchantmen were comfortably leading 17-0. Farley was the man of the game so far, having found Theo Bondy for the first touchdown and pounding it in from 2-yards out himself for the second touchdown. But in the second half, things got bad and went from bad to worse. The Lake Monsters took control, picked off Farley 3 times, the third one being an 83-yard pick six to eventually force overtime. In overtime, Farley's fourth pick was brushed away by his defense, but eventually it was not to be. An impressive 53-yard field goal gave the Lake Monsters a 20-17 victory.

Week four, 2088. The San Antonio Tidal Force arrived in Maassluis en route to their top seed 13-3 regular season record. Obviously something the Merchantmen did not know then. Francisco Farley was sobbing on the sideline, Moe Sheldon was the starter for Maassluis. Despite a far from impressive statline, one critical number was there: a 1 in the W-column as Sheldon guided the Merchantmen to a 14-9 victory.

Maassluis' bye week didn't change anything. In fact, as Sheldon was notching two more wins in the next three games, the battle for the starting role that wasn't intended, didn't come either. The Merchantmen went from Farley to Sheldon without any back and forth changes like in past times when the Merchantmen struggled. Farley got some playing time in a 34-10 drubbing in Bordeaux, a 52-14 drubbing in Orlando and a 34-7 ear washing in Moontown. Cumulative numbers: 3 for 18, 29 yards, 1 interception. His highlights of the season turned out to be victory formation plays in the home victories over the Capital City Blues (30-6) and Bordeaux Vineyards (37-10).

At that, as promising and as loud as the season started for Francisco Farley, it ended with that knee drop for victory over Bordeaux. By no means was it clear Farley would be the new franchise quarterback, but he could not predict he'd be the backup to a 6-7 Moe Sheldon. Is his stint in Maassluis already over? Too early to tell. Farley will be a restricted free agent once again. He went into the 2088 off-season unsigned, returned for the second-year minimum salary. Next off-season his demands might be higher, albeit based on a depressing statline. Sheldon isn't likely to return, he was probably a one-year rental that kept the Merchantmen far away from a potential top five draft pick.

Draft picks are a plenty in Maassluis in the soon to be upcoming 2089 draft. Most prominently a #9 and #13 overall in the first round. Enough cannon fodder to look up, to attempt to, well, who knows? Maassluis might be in the market for a new attempt at grabbing a franchise quarterback. Or maybe they will look at the potential free agent market, possibly lead by 38-year old Brian Sams or 37-year old Brad Nestor. But that market will be dry. Moe Sheldon might be the best option.

15 minutes of fame, Francisco Farley got two games and a half. Optimistically, it was a false start to a promising and long career. Pessimistically, it was the best he could ever achieve as an undrafted afterthought. Sure, it's way too early to know what the future will bring for Farley. Merchantmen management has claimed to see promising things. It's unclear based on what. Progress in training camp? We'll see what happens, first prior to the draft, then during the draft, training camp, pre-season. Depending on whether Maassluis wants Farley back. In the end, Farley was there when Maassluis seemed to have hit rock bottom, saw a crazy back and worth of wins and losses towards a respectable 6-10 record. A way up from an unusual 0-3 start. For the Merchantmen, for Farley. Who knows? Anything can happen...