With my team, the Minnesota Grey Ducks, officially not part of the DSFL playoffs and thus my first season as a professional footballer coming to an end, I want to take the time to write something about my journey so far. I‘m not sure how interesting or appealing this will be for you to read, as this seems to be a media outlet with a target audience of nothing but professional footballers, so you've probably experienced more or less the same as I have, but maybe it will help future stars of league understand what to expect when starting off.
Pre-DSFL draft
My parents are great people and I value their opinions greatly. However, when they told me to reconsider my decision to become a pro and do something more down-to-earth with my degree in social science, I knew they would never understand what it‘s like to me to catch a football and score a touchdown. They were both good athletes when they were younger and they always supported my brother and me in every sports endeavor but to them playing football was something I did in college when I wasn't busy with classes. To me it was more like the other way around.
I was born in Denver, not exactly where most football pros come from and went to Oregon State, not exactly the hotspot for developing pro level athletes either but I knew I had to give it a try. So after I asked my uncle to become my agent to appear more professional and buying some thousand likes for the highlight videos I uploaded to YouTube, I felt more or less prepared for the DSFL draft.
Thankfully scouts saw the tapes and they generated enough interest for the scouts to send me some further questions – which were all awfully similar. Reading all these filled out forms has to be one of the most boring jobs in the whole league.
The first real test came in the form of the prospect bowl. Up against the best players of my age and aspiring DSFL players. I ended up on the Buffalo Ramblers and we won the bowl. So first trophy of my pro career, yay. The games were a great experience and I was as hyped as ever for the upcoming DSFL draft. The so-called experts didn't see me going in the first couple of rounds in their mock drafts, but that didn't bother me all that much. I knew some team would be smart and pick me up and thanks to my unquestionable talent they would not regret it.
DSFL draft and pre-season
In my eyes being drafted into the DSFL was an instant rise to fame and stardom. Women would call me non-stop, sports brands would want me to be the face of their next commercials and every child on the street would ask me for an autograph and tell me with big eyes that they want to become just as great as me when they grow up. Well, didn't go exactly as planned.
Minnesota drafted me 40th overall, not too bad although I had hoped to go a little sooner. I was called by exactly one sports reporter, some weird guy from England who looked like he had no idea who I am or how to play football. It was fun nonetheless to have someone ask me questions and pretend to be interested in what I have to say.
With the pre-season starting I finally got to meet all of my new teammates. What a talented bunch, no comparison to what I was used to from my college days. Especially our running backs pulled off big move after big move in training, so it was no surprise that we relied heavily on the running game in the season. Not the best conditions for a wide receiver like me, but hey, what matters most is that the team wins.
We finished the pre-season 3-1, I caught my first TD in a Grey Ducks uniform and I was convinced we were going to win another Ulimini this season.
DSFL season – Week 1-4
We started the season off with a win against the Luchadores, a low scoring affair in which I managed to get 49 yards. I was a happy player, thinking the future was bright and all weeks would be like that, just with more touchdowns for me.
Week two and we lose against the Birddogs. The expansion team. The one nobody bet a dollar on. Well, a fluke, obviously. I mean, sure, they played really well and we had a lot of stupid penalties, so we can all leave this game behind and never think about it again. Same with my personal performance. Let‘s just pretend this game never happened.
Another win, this time against the Buccaneers. A good team, we‘re on the right track. I‘m happy with my performance and glad to have such great teammates.
Let‘s just say week 4 wasn't as great. The Seawolves won, you don‘t need to know more about the specifics. Except that the refs really seem to hate us, throwing penalty flag after penalty flag.
Still at zero calls of women who longed to be my girlfriend. I decided to get a new haircut and write an extra amount of autographs after games to put myself out there. It‘s probably because I haven‘t scored a touchdown yet, no other reasonable explanation.
DSFL season – Week 5-8
We‘re 2-2 so far, could be better but nothing we can‘t turn around in the next weeks.
The game against the Pythons was another low scoring game with way too many penalties but we managed to win. Our defense was rock solid in most games but we had trouble scoring points. You know how some commentators revel when they watch a 3-6. Well I don‘t, I like touchdowns, that‘s why I‘m on the offense. But no matter, as long as we win all is good.
Week six was in Europe against another expansion team. The Royals proved that American Football can only be played by American teams. It was a very quiet flight home after yet another loss against a team that most people saw as an underdog. I had a good game but it wasn't enough.
I read several theories, how the home teams usually won and the away teams basically could stay at home because they wouldn't leave with a win anyway, so I was excited for our next matchup at home against the Coyotes. If there ever was such a bias towards the home team it certainly didn't work for us. Another loss, this time against a team that nobody underestimated and it became clear that our season would have more tough games than expected, no matter how good the Grey Ducks were in the past.
Week eight came with another game against the Luchadores, a team we had already beaten in the pre-season and the regular season. I was confident. I shouldn't have been. I finally scored my first touchdown – which would turn out to be my only TD of the season – but we lost another close match. It was like no matter what we did, lady luck was never on our side. Too many games we lost in the last quarter. I was getting frustrated with my inability to help the team win. When you come from a college where you‘re used to being of the star players it‘s very humbling to see that no matter how hard you play, you‘re still just one of the average guys out there on the field.
DSFL season – Week 9-14
Week nine promised revenge against the Birddogs who had beaten us early in the season. Another ugly games with penalty flags left and right, another good performance by our defense but an offense that didn't manage to score. Another loss. Less surprising this time.
Buccaneers next up, another bad loss. They‘re not a bad team so it‘s kind of okay to lose against them but not in the fashion we did.
We still have a chance to make playoffs although it‘s no longer in our hands. We need to win the remaining four games and hope for a miracle. At the same time one of my team mates publishes an article, trying to understand why the team didn't perform the way we all hoped this season. Turns out I‘m the worst player drafted in the whole 5th round. Not my best day of the season. But whatever, sports analysts don‘t know the whole truth and we can still make the post-season. I guess it‘s not a spoiler to say we didn't.
Turns out we perform well under pressure. A win against the Seawolves keeps us in the race for the playoff spots, the week after that another ugly win against the Pythons. Doesn't matter, a win is a win.
If there was one team to crush all our hopes, of course it had to be an expansion team. The Royals beat us 27-10, so we end the season with a 0-4 against the expansion teams. The season is over for us, nothing left to play for.
At least we end it with another win, this time against the Coyotes. It doesn't really help though. I don‘t want to sit on the couch and watch other people have playing ball, I want to be one of them.
End of season
A disappointing season ends for me and my fellow Grey Ducks. Meanwhile the draft process starts anew and I get to answer the same questions again, only that they‘re sent by different people representing NSFL teams this time. Props to the people who come up with something a little different. Don‘t get me wrong, I know they‘re all just doing their job and they have to ask something to get a feel for you as a person but it‘s like repeating the same couple of sentences over and over again.
I've seen some mock drafts that predict me going in the fifth round again. Hopefully I won‘t be the worst player of the round again. Depending on which team drafts me I can also see me spending another season in the DSFL, so if that happens let‘s hope that it will have a happier ending than this one.
So for everyone who thinks about becoming a professional athlete: Go for it, definitely. But don‘t expect to be the star you are probably to yourself in your mind. Playing in a league in which everyone is good is a humbling experience. Your team won‘t win just because it did in the past. Luck has to be on your side too. And look out for those damned expansion teams!
(1,783 words)
Pre-DSFL draft
My parents are great people and I value their opinions greatly. However, when they told me to reconsider my decision to become a pro and do something more down-to-earth with my degree in social science, I knew they would never understand what it‘s like to me to catch a football and score a touchdown. They were both good athletes when they were younger and they always supported my brother and me in every sports endeavor but to them playing football was something I did in college when I wasn't busy with classes. To me it was more like the other way around.
I was born in Denver, not exactly where most football pros come from and went to Oregon State, not exactly the hotspot for developing pro level athletes either but I knew I had to give it a try. So after I asked my uncle to become my agent to appear more professional and buying some thousand likes for the highlight videos I uploaded to YouTube, I felt more or less prepared for the DSFL draft.
Thankfully scouts saw the tapes and they generated enough interest for the scouts to send me some further questions – which were all awfully similar. Reading all these filled out forms has to be one of the most boring jobs in the whole league.
The first real test came in the form of the prospect bowl. Up against the best players of my age and aspiring DSFL players. I ended up on the Buffalo Ramblers and we won the bowl. So first trophy of my pro career, yay. The games were a great experience and I was as hyped as ever for the upcoming DSFL draft. The so-called experts didn't see me going in the first couple of rounds in their mock drafts, but that didn't bother me all that much. I knew some team would be smart and pick me up and thanks to my unquestionable talent they would not regret it.
DSFL draft and pre-season
In my eyes being drafted into the DSFL was an instant rise to fame and stardom. Women would call me non-stop, sports brands would want me to be the face of their next commercials and every child on the street would ask me for an autograph and tell me with big eyes that they want to become just as great as me when they grow up. Well, didn't go exactly as planned.
Minnesota drafted me 40th overall, not too bad although I had hoped to go a little sooner. I was called by exactly one sports reporter, some weird guy from England who looked like he had no idea who I am or how to play football. It was fun nonetheless to have someone ask me questions and pretend to be interested in what I have to say.
With the pre-season starting I finally got to meet all of my new teammates. What a talented bunch, no comparison to what I was used to from my college days. Especially our running backs pulled off big move after big move in training, so it was no surprise that we relied heavily on the running game in the season. Not the best conditions for a wide receiver like me, but hey, what matters most is that the team wins.
We finished the pre-season 3-1, I caught my first TD in a Grey Ducks uniform and I was convinced we were going to win another Ulimini this season.
DSFL season – Week 1-4
We started the season off with a win against the Luchadores, a low scoring affair in which I managed to get 49 yards. I was a happy player, thinking the future was bright and all weeks would be like that, just with more touchdowns for me.
Week two and we lose against the Birddogs. The expansion team. The one nobody bet a dollar on. Well, a fluke, obviously. I mean, sure, they played really well and we had a lot of stupid penalties, so we can all leave this game behind and never think about it again. Same with my personal performance. Let‘s just pretend this game never happened.
Another win, this time against the Buccaneers. A good team, we‘re on the right track. I‘m happy with my performance and glad to have such great teammates.
Let‘s just say week 4 wasn't as great. The Seawolves won, you don‘t need to know more about the specifics. Except that the refs really seem to hate us, throwing penalty flag after penalty flag.
Still at zero calls of women who longed to be my girlfriend. I decided to get a new haircut and write an extra amount of autographs after games to put myself out there. It‘s probably because I haven‘t scored a touchdown yet, no other reasonable explanation.
DSFL season – Week 5-8
We‘re 2-2 so far, could be better but nothing we can‘t turn around in the next weeks.
The game against the Pythons was another low scoring game with way too many penalties but we managed to win. Our defense was rock solid in most games but we had trouble scoring points. You know how some commentators revel when they watch a 3-6. Well I don‘t, I like touchdowns, that‘s why I‘m on the offense. But no matter, as long as we win all is good.
Week six was in Europe against another expansion team. The Royals proved that American Football can only be played by American teams. It was a very quiet flight home after yet another loss against a team that most people saw as an underdog. I had a good game but it wasn't enough.
I read several theories, how the home teams usually won and the away teams basically could stay at home because they wouldn't leave with a win anyway, so I was excited for our next matchup at home against the Coyotes. If there ever was such a bias towards the home team it certainly didn't work for us. Another loss, this time against a team that nobody underestimated and it became clear that our season would have more tough games than expected, no matter how good the Grey Ducks were in the past.
Week eight came with another game against the Luchadores, a team we had already beaten in the pre-season and the regular season. I was confident. I shouldn't have been. I finally scored my first touchdown – which would turn out to be my only TD of the season – but we lost another close match. It was like no matter what we did, lady luck was never on our side. Too many games we lost in the last quarter. I was getting frustrated with my inability to help the team win. When you come from a college where you‘re used to being of the star players it‘s very humbling to see that no matter how hard you play, you‘re still just one of the average guys out there on the field.
DSFL season – Week 9-14
Week nine promised revenge against the Birddogs who had beaten us early in the season. Another ugly games with penalty flags left and right, another good performance by our defense but an offense that didn't manage to score. Another loss. Less surprising this time.
Buccaneers next up, another bad loss. They‘re not a bad team so it‘s kind of okay to lose against them but not in the fashion we did.
We still have a chance to make playoffs although it‘s no longer in our hands. We need to win the remaining four games and hope for a miracle. At the same time one of my team mates publishes an article, trying to understand why the team didn't perform the way we all hoped this season. Turns out I‘m the worst player drafted in the whole 5th round. Not my best day of the season. But whatever, sports analysts don‘t know the whole truth and we can still make the post-season. I guess it‘s not a spoiler to say we didn't.
Turns out we perform well under pressure. A win against the Seawolves keeps us in the race for the playoff spots, the week after that another ugly win against the Pythons. Doesn't matter, a win is a win.
If there was one team to crush all our hopes, of course it had to be an expansion team. The Royals beat us 27-10, so we end the season with a 0-4 against the expansion teams. The season is over for us, nothing left to play for.
At least we end it with another win, this time against the Coyotes. It doesn't really help though. I don‘t want to sit on the couch and watch other people have playing ball, I want to be one of them.
End of season
A disappointing season ends for me and my fellow Grey Ducks. Meanwhile the draft process starts anew and I get to answer the same questions again, only that they‘re sent by different people representing NSFL teams this time. Props to the people who come up with something a little different. Don‘t get me wrong, I know they‘re all just doing their job and they have to ask something to get a feel for you as a person but it‘s like repeating the same couple of sentences over and over again.
I've seen some mock drafts that predict me going in the fifth round again. Hopefully I won‘t be the worst player of the round again. Depending on which team drafts me I can also see me spending another season in the DSFL, so if that happens let‘s hope that it will have a happier ending than this one.
So for everyone who thinks about becoming a professional athlete: Go for it, definitely. But don‘t expect to be the star you are probably to yourself in your mind. Playing in a league in which everyone is good is a humbling experience. Your team won‘t win just because it did in the past. Luck has to be on your side too. And look out for those damned expansion teams!
(1,783 words)
![[Image: 8m5vv9L.png]](https://i.imgur.com/8m5vv9L.png)
