The Curious Case of Marcella T?riki



This truly shocks me as somehow the Sabercats let Toriki just walk on over to New Orleans after just ONE season at the helm as their lead back. San Jose spent a 5th overall selection on this player and essentially got no return on it, leaving them without a legit threat at RB. Why did the Sabercats bend to Marcella's needs and grant them a 1 year contract out of the draft? Why does the league not protect teams in these cases and provide better compensation in these cases? Do draft picks hold any value at all? Should we trust players?

So many question with so few answers. We will go back and dissect some reasons as to why this may have happened, starting off by going to the DSFL where she was drafted 6th overall by Norfolk. The Seawolves finished 3-11 and missed the playoffs, relying HEAVILY on running plays through Toriki who hammered home 430 rushing attempts (The next closest was 301) to take home trophies for offensive rookie of the year and performance of the year, but she did not win the RBoTY award which was given to Ruff. Ruff Ruff averaged more yards per attempt and had more rushing touchdowns, with his team going a respectable 8-5-1. Empty calorie numbers by Marcella and it makes people think that she may have some dirt on the coach to be used this much.

Regardless of all those signs, she is picked by SJ with the 5th selection as they were in desperate need of a legitimate RB. Bjørn Ironside, fellow Norfolk teammate, was taken first overall by the New Orleans team and this will come into play later. Toriki has a very productive season as the #1 back with the Sabercats and is awarded offensive rookie of the year, with the Cats going 4-9. Last in their conference and no play off appearance, especially given that their QB in Dan Wright did not perform all too well.

Marcella made an announcement about testing Free Agency which sent the entire league into a frenzy with several teams desperate to land a player of her caliber. This puts San Jose in a difficult position that they SHOULD NOT have to deal with. Imagine the message this sends to others in the LR and team,, or their fans. This running back they spent such a valued asset on just said they don't care and nothing can stop them from leaving.

Yikes.



She inks a deal with NOLA, citing various reasons as to why she joined this team but this does not particularly seem to be about numbers but potentially entering a system where she can run and get winning football. See, the Second Line already have a star back in Gump who just came off an Offensive player of the year season and is not someone that will take a back seat but this will be brought up later. She has a few teammates out of Norfolk here which included first overall pick Ironside who is highly touted. Comfort. This is one of the reasons she has picked New Orleans as her destination as she seemed to have difficulty adapting to the west coast for whatever reason that may be.

So a lot of people believed maybe Gump could be some receiving back but you know what was strange? It did not happen at all. Both RBs ended up as last options for receiving and instead they just slanted HEAVILY in favor of running the ball. Both Forrest and Marcella have similar styles but it's not as if NOLA were world beaters despite their quick turn around that earned their management GMoTY honors on an 8-5 record. Nola has a great QB in my opinion but they fail to surround him with legitimate talent so they cater to this run heavy offense.

Maybe they could have, you know, given Francisco some ACTUAL WEAPONS TO THROW TO! He has a Vinny Valentine who is on his last legs and a bunch of younger talent-- They dropped the ball here by not making use of their stash of assets to make a move for a proper WR. Anyways ...

They draft Mack Arianlacher(1ST OA), Austin McCormick(3RD OA), Mason Blaylock(8TH OA) in the first round alongside Jed Podolak in the second who converted to a wide out. All this while adding Toriki. San Jose only got a QB at 2nd overall and Quindarius Tyerucker in the second as the RB replacement for what would be Marcella's departure from the team. Where's the compensation? I don't see it at all.

The Butchers tried to lure her with a lucrative deal but she chose to go to a favorable spot in New Orleans who have a bright future and should project to win titles if all things go according to plan. Does Gump switch to some sort of quick WR to give Marcella full reign of the running game?Maybe that is part of what happened with the Sabercats ... She demanded a ridiculous amount of running in strategies like in Norfolk and they refused to bend to her will so she turned to Free Agency to find a place that would give her to things.

A comfortable winning environment with 'friends'.
A strong running game.


She claims she wants more communication, but why? She just came off a successful rookie season and shouldn't have too much of a say in how management builds the team. I believe her to be entitled, selfish and mentally weak. At least Ashley Owens struck out on his own to be a star and Austin still had other options to replace him. San Jose needs every piece it can get and I don't see them getting ANYTHING out of her walking out on them.

They should have been given one of those firsts in all honesty but New Orleans just get free assets to stockpile because apparently there is NO compensation. What's stopping bad franchises from staying that way? What does it do for the morale of the Sabercats that their future star RB just walked out on them like they meant nothing? Absolute disrespect and Marcella spit on the face of San Jose by pulling this stunt. If she had a sliver of honor she would have picked New Orleans and have them make a trade so that SJ gets something but nope. New Orleans gets o have their cake and eat it too.

This has me confused that I don't see any rules regarding this? Why are players allowed to do whatever they want? You can just peace out on a team that actually spent a high pick on you? I am not a fan. The mentality of Toriki is not that of a winner and I am not going to empower her, no.

I am going to shame her. She should go back to playing Rugby.

(01-15-2020, 01:35 AM)UpperNet Wrote:Ok how do you know so much for a rookie? You got to be a secret recreate or something

(01-15-2020, 01:54 AM)Sermokala Wrote:Bold move going after the commishiner but you basicaly say a lot of nothing and repeat yourself constantly in this article. I don't even know what you are acuseing who.

(01-15-2020, 03:58 AM)Boomcheck Wrote:Nah it's perfectly normal to get drafted in the first round and walk away after the first season.

(01-15-2020, 02:11 AM)Sermokala Wrote:Its almost as like thats not an issue in it of itself.


How dare she activate a clause in her contract that both the team and the player agreed on that is fairly common with other peoples contracts.


The problem I have isn't so much that you are making a "gee this is a werid thing that happened why is no one talking about" the issue with you that I have is that you don't even entertaine the clear option that maybe it was the team and are just going "rabble rabble" without entertaining that hte team did something or that she walked out of the team that drafted her beacuse she wanted to go to Nola.

Clearly neither has wanted to talk about the situation and you should respect their wish's until those wish's change.