Division 2: FPF Free Agency
NFL free agency kicked off two weeks ago. As is the case every year, hundreds of players have switched teams, and in the process have given hope to fans of all 32 teams.
Some of the headline moves included the Las Vegas Raiders outbidding themselves for Center Tyler Linderbaum, both the Atlanta Falcons and Minesota Vikings presumably getting new starting Quarterbacks in Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray respectively, the Baltimore Ravens signing Trey Hendrickson, and my San Franciso 49ers agreeing to terms with future NFL Hall of Famer Mike Evans.
Every year we also see a ton of signings that go under the radar and end up paying huge dividends as well. Last year we had Daniel Jones (before he got hurt…again) going to the Indianapolis Colts, Mac Jones joining the 9ers, Javontae Williams becoming a Dallas Cowboy, and of course, both Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp heading to the Seattle Seahawks.
This year is no different, as there are some sneaky signings that might propel a team to the playoffs, and in some cases, championship contention. Look no further than Romeo Dobbs and Dre’Mont Jones going to the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills bringing in C.J Gardner-Johnson, and the Carolina Panthers getting the duo of Jaelen Pillips and Devin Lloyd. NFL free agency is fun. It gives fans hope and heartbreak at the same time when one of your favourite players leaves for another team. Hello again, Dre Greenlaw.
In FlagPlus Football, every off-season is considered free agency. Teams in both 5 versus 5 and 6 on 6 add players even during the season. Naturally, there are some current dynasty teams like Subzero, Braves, Cayenne, Silent Ticklers, and The Merge, that have a key core and add at most one to two players every couple of seasons, but those are the outliers. Players get older, younger and newer teams get better, injuries happen, and both the competition as well as the cycle never stops in FPF.
I am going to run through every team and give them a player to add to their roster. The player is allowed to have played this season, but not more than three games Some of the players will have already played on the team I am assigning them to, which will make the fit even more natural.
Bruins – Justin Melrose
This team checks off the skill, size, and speed boxes with players like Juwan Edghill, Owen Bujarsky, Joey Corcoran, Gabriel Wiseman, and Arnis Mehmetaj. The Bruins have veteran experience in Evan Vavinis and Nelson Pereira, mixed in with a newer face in Pearce Wright. They also have the top-rated Quarterback in Division 2 with Rocco Christiano and sit in first place.
The only thing this team is missing is takeaways. Their defense has seven interceptions, with Bujarsky leading the way with three. In the post-season every possession counts and having the ability to give your offense extra opportunities with the ball, is usually the difference between wins and losses.
After not playing in FPF since 2014, All-Black’s Defensive Back Justin Melrose who made his return after 12 years – not seasons, years - has seven INTs this season, which leads all players in Division 3. Melrose is clearly a ball-hawk. Adding him to the Bruins would mean more chances to score for Christiano and his offense.
LeBrontourage – Will Power
This team is young, athletic, and has a ton of swagger. They are tied for points with the Bruins but sit in second place due to a (27-24) loss to them in Week 2. Hopefully we will see a rematch come playoff time.
The one thing that could put this team over the top would be adding a veteran who has higher division big game experience and can dominate on both sides of the ball. Power fits the bill and than some. Quarterback, Receiver, Defensive Back, you need a play? Power will deliver it.
Idaho Udapimps – Félix Boutet
I said earlier that I would be giving teams players who have played for them in the past. Looked at by many as the top Receiver in FPF, Boutet is a walking touchdown, as he can score from anywhere on the field.
In his lone campaign with Idaho Udapimps last Spring Season, Boutet led the team with 558 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on only 29 receptions.
This year’s version of Idaho Udapimps leads the division in touchdowns, total yards, points scored, and plays per TD. No one has ever said we score too many points. I don’t think this team would break that trend if they added the dangerous Boutet.
Camping Boutin – DonnDre Borden
I score kept their game Monday night versus the Party Crashers. It was a hard-fought contest that saw Camping Boutin pull away with execution, and the ability to pile up yards after the catch with players like Denis Martel Serge Pilon Jr, Marvin Renaud, and Matthieu Gratton (more on that later).
As impressive as their performance was, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this team needs more size. In their victory, the team’s defense simply had no answer for the length that the Party Crashers had at Receiver in Kevens Clercius and Ezechiel Tieide.
Out of the six touchdowns they gave up, three of them were jump balls in the back of the endzone that they simply couldn’t defend.
An addition like Borden would give them the length that they’re missing to defend jump balls. An added bonus would be his ball-hawking skills, as the veteran has recorded five interceptions and three pass breakups so far this season.
Silent Ticklers – Curtis Ryan
This team is a mirror-image of the Buffalo Bills. They have an elite Quarterback, top-end talent at various positions, and a ton of veteran experience. Just like the team in Western New York, the Silent Ticklers can beat anyone in the division, but they usually end up falling short in the post-season. Getting them over the top is what has escaped them in recent seasons.
Adding a player like Ryan who has championship experience, would help them on both sides of the ball. He can create takeaways, and just like newly added Wide Receiver D.J Moore, Ryan, can take the top off a defense and bring some physicality to the position.
The Stoics – Jean-Christophe Ferland
Captain and Quarterback Chris Rivest has built a solid roster that has talent, championship experience, along with some youth sprinkled in as well.
The one thing this team is missing an elite Rusher. Heading into Week 13, the team has a grand total of sour sacks. If you can’t get after the Quarterback and make him rush his throws, you aren’t going to win a championship.
Enter Jean-Christophe Ferland. The long-time EZW member may only have five sacks this season in Division 1 (he had 14 last winter) but since joining FPF in 2015, the future Hall-of-Famer has taken down the opposing Quarterback 140 times.
Adding Ferland to a defense with Mike Pierrecin, Angelo Mourelatos, Alexi Dubois, and James Drysdale could potentially put this team over the top.
KGP Legends – Noah Groper
Form Quaysie Gordon-Maule to Will Sebag to Bakari Barrett, this team has added difference-makers to their squad over the years in an effort to get back to the top of the mountain, but the moves haven’t delivered the desired result.
Adding the veteran in Groper would give the team some championship experience, but more importantly, it would inject more athleticism and speed into a roster that is getting up there in age, with the core of the squad being in their late 30’s to early 40’s.
While he is best used as a Snapper and Rusher, he is quick and adaptable enough to make plays out of the slot and burn opposing defenses on underneath as well as deep routes.
Les Verges Folles – Tyler Gurberg
Adding a new Quarterback in Jules Regimbald was a step in the right direction for Les Verges Folles this past off-season. This team currently sits on the outside of the playoffs looking in, as they are a half game behind Hard 8. To help them punch their ticket to the dance, they need to add a veteran player to their offense who can help lead a unit that sits second to last in points scored.
Look no further than Tyler Gurberg. The receiver who made All-Star last Fall Season, currently leads every single player in FPF with 23 receiving touchdowns. Not just 6 v 6 or 5 v 5, I am talking about all divisions. Putting Gurberg with Les Verges Folles pass-catchers in Nicolas Prince, Thomas-Charles Paradis, and Philippe Mathiew, could push the group to another level.
Hard 8 – Thomas Coutu
This team has a roster that surpasses 20 players. Talent isn’t the problem with this team, consistency is.
To help give this team a little continuity and more importantly some wins, I am giving them Thomas Coutu. With 374 sacks and 13 interceptions, the veteran would help a team that is lacking defensively. They are the only team in Division 2 besides Flag Slayer Corp, without a defensive touchdown. The team’s five INTs are tied for second to last.
Coutu can carry the load on the other side of the ball too, as evidenced by his 279 receiving touchdowns. With 31 TD passes on his resume, he has shown he can also play Quarterback in a pinch if needed.
Shot O’clock – Samuel Nadeau-Piuze
This team reminds me of the Atlanta Falcons, in that they are top heavy. With the trio of Quaysie Gordon-Maule, Gucci Omombo, and Jeanslee Alexis, they have their Bijon Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. The group carries the offensive load and is usually the main reason why they win or lose.
The Jimmy-Lee Janvier and Kirk Cousins comparison is pretty accurate, as both passers never saw a deep throw they didn’t like and have their fair share of bad interceptions.
To give the team some help, and keeping with their top-heavy theme, I am giving them one of the best Receivers in FPF history, in Samuel Nadeau-Piuze of Flag Moi L’Sac/D’quoi. With nearly 10,000 catches and 249 touchdowns and counting, the veteran who has been in the league since 2009, is still getting in done. Need more proof? He is in the Top 4 in every major receiving category in Co-Ed 5 v 5. Adding him would be like the current Falcons signing an in his prime Julio Jones.
Party Crashers – Hakim Kasbi-Filliatrault
I mentioned earlier when I was talking about their entertaining loss this past Monday versus Camping Boutin, the Party Crashers have size, speed, and athleticism in abundance.
The one thing they are lacking that stuck out like a pimple in the loss, was their inability to tackle. I counted at least five plays where Camping Boutin Receivers caught the ball short of the first down marker, and then proceeded to break one, two, and in some cases three tackles to extend the drive.
Giving the Party Crashers Kasbi-Filliatrault, would see them get a player who has finished in the top 5 in tackles in Division 2/B for two straight seasons, and could possibly be in need of a change of scenery.
Flag Slayer Corp – Nicolas Schaefer
Switching Quarterbacks is always a risky move. Chemistry and timing with Receivers is so crucial, that you can’t just put anyone behind the Center/Snapper. Making a change is equally as hard when that player is a Captain.
Ryan Kharouf is the face of this team, whether they go by the name Never Overtime, or Flag Slayer Corp. Talent has ever been a question with the veteran passer, as he has arguably the strongest arm in FPF, and is above average when it comes to accuracy. The main problem with his game is decision-making.
This year’s team lacks top end talent in Rhami Aboud and Mack Desources, but they still have playmakers in Karim Madji, Marc Haddad, and Jean-Samuel Cournoyer. Unfortunately for Flag Slayer Corp, the remaining skill players haven’t helped the team pickup wins.
Quarterback Nicolas Schaefer might still be looking for his first championship, but you can’t argue with his resume, as he led Mangoose to the Division B Finals last summer. Just like Kharouf, Schaefer also has a strong arm and athleticism.
With 62 interceptions and nearly 300 tackles, Kharouf has shown himself to be a solid defender. Perhaps using his size and speed at Receiver could be the key to energizing the lowest scoring offense in the division.