[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: The downfall continues...
We're gonna need a lot of help now.

Goodness, we've not hit rock bottom just yet. Today, we had a chance to redeem ourselves, facing the already eliminated Williamsburg Colonials. It really showed on the field, the team with nothing to play for ran havoc on us and travelled back home with a 23-3 victory in their bags. Leaving behind a disillusioned Merchantmen team and ditto fanbase. The virtual #1 seeds after week 10 have dropped 5 of 6 games, 3 of those at home. Today's deficit took the cake of ineptitude, our offense gained a grand total of 173 yards. Earnest Ashley completed 13 of 41 passes for 137 yards and 1 interception, while Bert Ta'Amu was stuffed into 34 yards on just 16 carries. Now where did that balanced game plan go, what happened to what we ordered the team to display? I suppose we were forced to pass a lot. It was a disaster, our star receivers got silenced: Ed Schulz had 2 catches on 13 targets, George Stuckey 3 catches on 10 targets.

European Division
1. Gothenburg 13-2
2. Maassluis 9-6
3. Bordeaux 6-9
4. Paris 5-10

So, 9-6, sounds still good, right? Well, sadly, nope. Even at 10-6, odds are slim that we'll be getting the last wild card into the playoffs. Our competition is composed of the 9-5-1 San Antonio Tidal Force and ditto 9-5-1 Orlando Talons. Indeed, a couple of teams that we actually beat. San Antonio will be visiting the 11-4 Houston Mustangs, locked into the #3 seed. Orlando will be hosting the 6-8-1 Snapfinger Jazz. So yes, I suspect we're in for disappointment, even if we somehow manage to win at the Bordeaux Vineyards.

But we've got to believe in that longshot scenario, because it'll be any given Sunday, or Saturday this time around... Chin up, onto the plane to Bordeaux. Make it happen, Merchantmen.