Here, you can read Part One: The Beginning.
The DSFL Draft and Off-Season
After going undrafted in the S17 DSFL draft, Michael reached out to his father’s firm to help get his name out to each of the teams. Being represented by Ted Ferguson, Michael pleaded his case to many teams. Having only a single year of college production where he was considered option 1.b. and many teams drafting a runningback in the draft, Vincent’s stock was quite low. It didn’t help that Vincent has struggled most of his life being a receiving back, therefore decreasing his versatility in an offense. Eventually Vincent starts receiving some inquires, but most are in regards to his ability to play Linebacker. Michael was adamant about playing running back and would not consider switching positions, especially to the defensive side of the ball. Late one evening, Michael receives a call from the Kansas City General Manager, Mr. Squanch. ”Michael! How ya doing? Listen, we are looking to add you to our team and work as a committee with Orien Drake to lead the league in rushing this year. I know your dreams are set on hitting the NSFL as soon as possible, and I think our team will give you the opportunity that you need. I have the paperwork right in front of me to claim you on waivers, just say the word and I will send my raven to the league offices to confirm the transaction.” Michael grimaced at the fact of sharing a backfield once again, but gave a half chuckle at the General Managers joke. At least he hoped it was a joke and Mr. Squanch has heard of a fax machine. Knowing that he may not receive another call, Vincent decided to take the offer and make the best out of a not so opportune situation. Thank You Mr. Squanch, I would appreciate the opportunity to play with the Coyotes in the upcoming season. I will have myself primed and ready for training camp. You won’t regret this decision”
Weeks go by and Michael is in his father’s house getting his body and mind ready for training camp. He’s received a couple phone calls from players and coaches giving words of encouragement and explaining what to expect in the first couple days. A package with the playbook and some game film from previous seasons comes in the mail. Michael throws in one of the DVDs as he scans over the playbook. There are a whole bunch of sweeps, pitches, and read-options littered throughout the playbook, but very little north and south run plays. He looks up at the tape and sees everything being pushed to the outside. "Man, this is not what I thought I signed up for. Did they even watch any of my tape?” Vincent continues his off-season workouts until Training camp comes along. He rents a nice 1200-sqft apartment near the practice facilities and within walking distance of his favorite restaurant, Chipotle.
The first day of training camp comes by and Michael gets there early to scout out some of the team players that weren’t on the tapes he received. Everyone looked smaller than they did on tape, but that’s what you get for the way the list heights and weights at the semi or professional levels. Anything to gain a mental advantage against your opponents. A whistle blows, and the coach has everyone come into a circle. Listen here boys. For all you new folk, I am Coach Lee, the Head Coach and offensive Coordinator. We have struggled the past three years to repeat our appearance in the Ultimini, but I feel this year is different. We have a couple returning starters from last year, and we can only go up, but it all starts today. Work hard, think better than your opponent, and everything will fall into place. I want each of you to go with your respective positional coaches. D-backs, QBs, and receivers at the far end of the field, Offensive and defensive linemen with Coach Jacket over on this end, Linebackers go with him as well, and the backfield over on the sideline with Coach Jett. Alright! Let’s get after it. We’ll have the waterhorse set up soon, but work your butts off so you can enjoy it. Now Go!” Michael starts jogging over to the other backs when he hears “HEY! OPEN YOUR EARS! LINEMEN WITH COACH JACKET!” ”Coach, I’m Michael Vincent. You signed me as a runningback” Coach Jett looks Michael up and down, ”shit… Boy, tell my son how to eat vegetables like you! Better hope you can run as fast as everyone else, or we are gonna have a long season ahead of us.”
DSFL Preseason
Training camp is wrapped up, and the team is looking towards their first action against another team. Michael is feeling pretty good about how training camp went and is excited to get on the field that his father once coached on. The first preseason game comes and goes. A close one to the Luchadores, but the Coyotes fall by a score of 21-14. Vincent did not see the field. He confronts his running backs coach, Coach Jett, after the game in the lockerroom. ”Coach, why didn’t I see any snaps today? I thought everything was looking good?” “Well, you are new here. We didn’t feel you were ready for action yet, and If I catch you fumble one of those pitches like you do in practice, you aren’t going to get another chance, so consider yourself lucky I didn’t let you embarrass yourself out there today.” Michael focuses his time each week in practice, working to not fumble the ball. Preseason games two, three, and four all go by without Vincent seeing the field.
DSFL Regular Season
Frustrated from his lack of attempts in the preseason, Vincent is as determined as ever in practice. He finally gets consistent at catching pitches and has become an asset in the passing game. In week one, The Coyotes played against the luchadores on their home field. On the first possession for the Coyotes, Vincent gets his name called: Sweep to the left. He was ready for it. Everyone lines up, Michael the lone back in the backfield. Longshaw is making adjustments at the line and sends Harrison in motion. The ball is snapped, and Michael was barely paying attention and hesitates. Jay already in his motion and Michael stretches as far as he can to tip the ball back to his body. Wozniak broke through the blockers, and comes up on Vincent, but is easily shed from the weak leg tackle. Another defender is on him and is stiff armed to the ground. Looking for blockers, Vincent pivots and heads up field. Thad Kassel gets a hand on him and rips Michael down by the collar. ”HEY! REF! Where’s the flag?! put your glasses on and call the game!” Vincent would use that as fuel for the remainder of the game, racking up eight more carries and finishing with an efficient 7.2 yards per carry. Michael would also record a catch for five yards and a drop. The coyotes lost that game by 12 points. The next week, Vincent would only record 3 carries for 14 yards in a 38-0 shutout loss. Michael confronts his coach after the game. ”Jett, Coach Jett, What’s going on? I am showing I can handle the ball. Why are you still not utilizing me? Is 7 yards a carry not good enough? What is going on?” “First off, its only 6.6 yards per carry, and you are a one yard carry away from having the same stats as your counterpart over there, OD, not to mention you can barely catch a pass. But I’ll tell ya what, if we are getting demolished again out there next week, I will throw ya a bone and put you in for a couple of plays, but don’t come crying back to me saying I didn’t give you a chance. Now get showered up and get on the bus. We go a long drive to san Antonio.”
Week three and the coyotes are geared up and walking into a storm of boos from the stands. The Crowd is rowdy and it is deafening 15 minutes before kickoff. Vincent doesn’t touch the ball until halfway through the first, but cranks off a 15 yard run and sets up a nice block on the next play to give the Coyotes their first lead since the first half of week one of the season. Vincent gets four more carries for 7, 0, 6, and 4 yards respectively before looking up at the scoreboard and seeing the team down 24 with two minutes left in the half. Coach Jett walks over, places his hand on Michael’s shoulder, and says ”Don’t tell me I never did nothing for ya. Here’s your bone. don’t let me regret it.” ”I am ready sir… coach, you wont regret it”. With absolutely terrible field position, Vincent’s number gets called twice, and he breaks off a 12 yard and an eleven yard run to get the possession going. Two incompletions and a failed third down later, the team punts and doesn’t see the ball until the second half. With the team doing nothing else remarkable the rest of the game, Vincent quietly put up his best game of the short season, going for 102 yards on 17 carries. The Coyotes get drubbed again, losing 41-7, but things are looking bright for them.
In their next game, Vincent takes the reigns and rushes for over 100 yards once again as the Coyotes get payback and defeat the marshals 24-14 in front of the home crowd. This continues Vincent’s dominance of the run game as he racks up 100 total yards in 6 of the next 7 games, with the other game being 86 yards. The Coyotes finish the season with a 6-8 record after starting 1-4, with Vincent leading the league in rushing efficiency with a minimum of 5 attempts per game. Vincent eclipsed 100 total yards in 9 of his final 12 games played in the regular season, and would have been a fine candidate for running back of the year if it were not for other outstanding performances from around the league. Vincent was able to get half the monkey off of his back as he finally made the move to back 1.A., but still could not solidify himself as a premier workhorse back. The Coyotes made the playoffs as the fourth seed, and lost to the Pythons by a score of 27-17. Vincent did not play well, only rushing for 74 yards on 16 carries as Orien Drake carried the load and nearly doubled up Vincent on yardage. Michael once again failed to show up on the biggest stage.
NSFL Draft
After the DSFL Season, Michael made up his mind and declared for the NSFL draft. Not that he had a choice, but he would not be regulated down to play with the DSFL again. Few teams reached out to Vincent prior to the draft. He was seen as a one trick pony who needed a side kick to be efficient. He would disappear on the brightest stage and let the team down. And knowing his father, a long career in the NSFL is unlikely to happen. Some said he lacked focus to improve himself, but deep down, Michael knew all the pundits were wrong. He had too many red flags to take a chance on, and his draft stock would plummet from an early round two selection to a late 6th round selection by the most generous of draft gurus. Some even had him repeat as and undrafted player. Despite everything coming to him easy early in life, his adult career has been nothing but cards stacking against him.
One team that was interested in Vincent from the start of the offseason was the Yellowknife Wraiths. They had talked to Michael extensively during the offseason and had multiple scouts come by his personal workout. Everything was lining up for the Wraiths to take him in the draft. Michael even started scouting out housing in the area. The draft finally came and Michael was at his families home in Colorado. Suit on, faux red carpet and stage set up because he wanted the feel of the situation even though he was not invited to the live draft site. He was so confident that the wraiths were going to pick him, that he only purchased a Wraiths hat and had it next to him on the couch for when his name would be called. The first running back off the board is Marcella Toriki. Of course, she had the best stats and could not say anything wrong during the season. She could probably become a politician or commissioner after her playing days. A well spoken player. The next running back doesn’t come off the board until the 14th pick when the Outlaws select Ruff Ruff. He lead the league in touchdowns, which is how you win games. The wraiths are up. ”I am not projected to go this high any more, but a man can dream.” “With the 17th pick in the NSFL Draft, the Yellowknife Wraiths select… Mathias Hanyadi, Running back, San Antonio and the University of Massachusetts.” ”Fuuuuuuu…….” There goes Vincent’s chances of landing with the wraiths. The next running back drafted is Fuzzy Dotson. ”Who is he? He barely had 200 total yards last year? I guess production doesn’t mean what it used to any more…”
The draft carries on. The third round ends and the fourth round begins. [/color=red]”SERIOUSLY?!?! A KICKER?!?!”[/color] towards the end of the fourth round, The Wraiths are back on the clock. They are known for having a loaded backfield and it’s a ‘next man up’ mentality in that committee, so it may be the best situation for Vincent, and he leans forward to the edge of his seat when he hears the pick is in. ”With the 37th pick in the NSFL Draft, the Yellowknife Wraiths select… Orien Drake, Running back from Kansas City, and the University of Oregon.” ”Un-freaking-believable. Orien gets drafted before me? To the team that scouted me so hard? The Outlaws have the next pick, they already drafted a back, so I am going to bed. Good-freaking-night.” All of a sudden, Michael’s phone vibrates on the glass table. ”Dad – Work? Are you trying to pull my leg or something? You’re in the same room as me…” Matthew Vincent, Michael’s father, shakes his head back and forth, but tries to conceal a smile. Michael answers the phone, ”Hello, this is Michael” “Hi Michael, Tom Ozzborne, I am the General Manager of the Colorado Yeti.” Michael’s face lights up finally understanding that he never switched the GM office number in his phone from when his father was there. "Michael, we really liked what we saw from your tapes at App State and with the Kansas City Organization. We are finalizing a trade to move up to the current pick. Are you excited to become a Yeti?” ”uh, yea, yes, uh Thank you so much. I appreciate it, uhm, Yes, I am excited. I cannot wait to meet with the team. Thank you, thank you.” “Now I am gonna let you get back to the draft so you can see your name get called, but I will get a hold of you later tonight to discuss everything. Tell your pops I said Hi and hope we can all meet sometime for dinner. Talk to you later Michael, and remember, Hashtag Yeti Noises!”
Part 3 of the Michael Vincent Saga: The Grind coming... probably not soon.
The DSFL Draft and Off-Season
After going undrafted in the S17 DSFL draft, Michael reached out to his father’s firm to help get his name out to each of the teams. Being represented by Ted Ferguson, Michael pleaded his case to many teams. Having only a single year of college production where he was considered option 1.b. and many teams drafting a runningback in the draft, Vincent’s stock was quite low. It didn’t help that Vincent has struggled most of his life being a receiving back, therefore decreasing his versatility in an offense. Eventually Vincent starts receiving some inquires, but most are in regards to his ability to play Linebacker. Michael was adamant about playing running back and would not consider switching positions, especially to the defensive side of the ball. Late one evening, Michael receives a call from the Kansas City General Manager, Mr. Squanch. ”Michael! How ya doing? Listen, we are looking to add you to our team and work as a committee with Orien Drake to lead the league in rushing this year. I know your dreams are set on hitting the NSFL as soon as possible, and I think our team will give you the opportunity that you need. I have the paperwork right in front of me to claim you on waivers, just say the word and I will send my raven to the league offices to confirm the transaction.” Michael grimaced at the fact of sharing a backfield once again, but gave a half chuckle at the General Managers joke. At least he hoped it was a joke and Mr. Squanch has heard of a fax machine. Knowing that he may not receive another call, Vincent decided to take the offer and make the best out of a not so opportune situation. Thank You Mr. Squanch, I would appreciate the opportunity to play with the Coyotes in the upcoming season. I will have myself primed and ready for training camp. You won’t regret this decision”
Weeks go by and Michael is in his father’s house getting his body and mind ready for training camp. He’s received a couple phone calls from players and coaches giving words of encouragement and explaining what to expect in the first couple days. A package with the playbook and some game film from previous seasons comes in the mail. Michael throws in one of the DVDs as he scans over the playbook. There are a whole bunch of sweeps, pitches, and read-options littered throughout the playbook, but very little north and south run plays. He looks up at the tape and sees everything being pushed to the outside. "Man, this is not what I thought I signed up for. Did they even watch any of my tape?” Vincent continues his off-season workouts until Training camp comes along. He rents a nice 1200-sqft apartment near the practice facilities and within walking distance of his favorite restaurant, Chipotle.
The first day of training camp comes by and Michael gets there early to scout out some of the team players that weren’t on the tapes he received. Everyone looked smaller than they did on tape, but that’s what you get for the way the list heights and weights at the semi or professional levels. Anything to gain a mental advantage against your opponents. A whistle blows, and the coach has everyone come into a circle. Listen here boys. For all you new folk, I am Coach Lee, the Head Coach and offensive Coordinator. We have struggled the past three years to repeat our appearance in the Ultimini, but I feel this year is different. We have a couple returning starters from last year, and we can only go up, but it all starts today. Work hard, think better than your opponent, and everything will fall into place. I want each of you to go with your respective positional coaches. D-backs, QBs, and receivers at the far end of the field, Offensive and defensive linemen with Coach Jacket over on this end, Linebackers go with him as well, and the backfield over on the sideline with Coach Jett. Alright! Let’s get after it. We’ll have the waterhorse set up soon, but work your butts off so you can enjoy it. Now Go!” Michael starts jogging over to the other backs when he hears “HEY! OPEN YOUR EARS! LINEMEN WITH COACH JACKET!” ”Coach, I’m Michael Vincent. You signed me as a runningback” Coach Jett looks Michael up and down, ”shit… Boy, tell my son how to eat vegetables like you! Better hope you can run as fast as everyone else, or we are gonna have a long season ahead of us.”
DSFL Preseason
Training camp is wrapped up, and the team is looking towards their first action against another team. Michael is feeling pretty good about how training camp went and is excited to get on the field that his father once coached on. The first preseason game comes and goes. A close one to the Luchadores, but the Coyotes fall by a score of 21-14. Vincent did not see the field. He confronts his running backs coach, Coach Jett, after the game in the lockerroom. ”Coach, why didn’t I see any snaps today? I thought everything was looking good?” “Well, you are new here. We didn’t feel you were ready for action yet, and If I catch you fumble one of those pitches like you do in practice, you aren’t going to get another chance, so consider yourself lucky I didn’t let you embarrass yourself out there today.” Michael focuses his time each week in practice, working to not fumble the ball. Preseason games two, three, and four all go by without Vincent seeing the field.
DSFL Regular Season
Frustrated from his lack of attempts in the preseason, Vincent is as determined as ever in practice. He finally gets consistent at catching pitches and has become an asset in the passing game. In week one, The Coyotes played against the luchadores on their home field. On the first possession for the Coyotes, Vincent gets his name called: Sweep to the left. He was ready for it. Everyone lines up, Michael the lone back in the backfield. Longshaw is making adjustments at the line and sends Harrison in motion. The ball is snapped, and Michael was barely paying attention and hesitates. Jay already in his motion and Michael stretches as far as he can to tip the ball back to his body. Wozniak broke through the blockers, and comes up on Vincent, but is easily shed from the weak leg tackle. Another defender is on him and is stiff armed to the ground. Looking for blockers, Vincent pivots and heads up field. Thad Kassel gets a hand on him and rips Michael down by the collar. ”HEY! REF! Where’s the flag?! put your glasses on and call the game!” Vincent would use that as fuel for the remainder of the game, racking up eight more carries and finishing with an efficient 7.2 yards per carry. Michael would also record a catch for five yards and a drop. The coyotes lost that game by 12 points. The next week, Vincent would only record 3 carries for 14 yards in a 38-0 shutout loss. Michael confronts his coach after the game. ”Jett, Coach Jett, What’s going on? I am showing I can handle the ball. Why are you still not utilizing me? Is 7 yards a carry not good enough? What is going on?” “First off, its only 6.6 yards per carry, and you are a one yard carry away from having the same stats as your counterpart over there, OD, not to mention you can barely catch a pass. But I’ll tell ya what, if we are getting demolished again out there next week, I will throw ya a bone and put you in for a couple of plays, but don’t come crying back to me saying I didn’t give you a chance. Now get showered up and get on the bus. We go a long drive to san Antonio.”
Week three and the coyotes are geared up and walking into a storm of boos from the stands. The Crowd is rowdy and it is deafening 15 minutes before kickoff. Vincent doesn’t touch the ball until halfway through the first, but cranks off a 15 yard run and sets up a nice block on the next play to give the Coyotes their first lead since the first half of week one of the season. Vincent gets four more carries for 7, 0, 6, and 4 yards respectively before looking up at the scoreboard and seeing the team down 24 with two minutes left in the half. Coach Jett walks over, places his hand on Michael’s shoulder, and says ”Don’t tell me I never did nothing for ya. Here’s your bone. don’t let me regret it.” ”I am ready sir… coach, you wont regret it”. With absolutely terrible field position, Vincent’s number gets called twice, and he breaks off a 12 yard and an eleven yard run to get the possession going. Two incompletions and a failed third down later, the team punts and doesn’t see the ball until the second half. With the team doing nothing else remarkable the rest of the game, Vincent quietly put up his best game of the short season, going for 102 yards on 17 carries. The Coyotes get drubbed again, losing 41-7, but things are looking bright for them.
In their next game, Vincent takes the reigns and rushes for over 100 yards once again as the Coyotes get payback and defeat the marshals 24-14 in front of the home crowd. This continues Vincent’s dominance of the run game as he racks up 100 total yards in 6 of the next 7 games, with the other game being 86 yards. The Coyotes finish the season with a 6-8 record after starting 1-4, with Vincent leading the league in rushing efficiency with a minimum of 5 attempts per game. Vincent eclipsed 100 total yards in 9 of his final 12 games played in the regular season, and would have been a fine candidate for running back of the year if it were not for other outstanding performances from around the league. Vincent was able to get half the monkey off of his back as he finally made the move to back 1.A., but still could not solidify himself as a premier workhorse back. The Coyotes made the playoffs as the fourth seed, and lost to the Pythons by a score of 27-17. Vincent did not play well, only rushing for 74 yards on 16 carries as Orien Drake carried the load and nearly doubled up Vincent on yardage. Michael once again failed to show up on the biggest stage.
NSFL Draft
After the DSFL Season, Michael made up his mind and declared for the NSFL draft. Not that he had a choice, but he would not be regulated down to play with the DSFL again. Few teams reached out to Vincent prior to the draft. He was seen as a one trick pony who needed a side kick to be efficient. He would disappear on the brightest stage and let the team down. And knowing his father, a long career in the NSFL is unlikely to happen. Some said he lacked focus to improve himself, but deep down, Michael knew all the pundits were wrong. He had too many red flags to take a chance on, and his draft stock would plummet from an early round two selection to a late 6th round selection by the most generous of draft gurus. Some even had him repeat as and undrafted player. Despite everything coming to him easy early in life, his adult career has been nothing but cards stacking against him.
One team that was interested in Vincent from the start of the offseason was the Yellowknife Wraiths. They had talked to Michael extensively during the offseason and had multiple scouts come by his personal workout. Everything was lining up for the Wraiths to take him in the draft. Michael even started scouting out housing in the area. The draft finally came and Michael was at his families home in Colorado. Suit on, faux red carpet and stage set up because he wanted the feel of the situation even though he was not invited to the live draft site. He was so confident that the wraiths were going to pick him, that he only purchased a Wraiths hat and had it next to him on the couch for when his name would be called. The first running back off the board is Marcella Toriki. Of course, she had the best stats and could not say anything wrong during the season. She could probably become a politician or commissioner after her playing days. A well spoken player. The next running back doesn’t come off the board until the 14th pick when the Outlaws select Ruff Ruff. He lead the league in touchdowns, which is how you win games. The wraiths are up. ”I am not projected to go this high any more, but a man can dream.” “With the 17th pick in the NSFL Draft, the Yellowknife Wraiths select… Mathias Hanyadi, Running back, San Antonio and the University of Massachusetts.” ”Fuuuuuuu…….” There goes Vincent’s chances of landing with the wraiths. The next running back drafted is Fuzzy Dotson. ”Who is he? He barely had 200 total yards last year? I guess production doesn’t mean what it used to any more…”
The draft carries on. The third round ends and the fourth round begins. [/color=red]”SERIOUSLY?!?! A KICKER?!?!”[/color] towards the end of the fourth round, The Wraiths are back on the clock. They are known for having a loaded backfield and it’s a ‘next man up’ mentality in that committee, so it may be the best situation for Vincent, and he leans forward to the edge of his seat when he hears the pick is in. ”With the 37th pick in the NSFL Draft, the Yellowknife Wraiths select… Orien Drake, Running back from Kansas City, and the University of Oregon.” ”Un-freaking-believable. Orien gets drafted before me? To the team that scouted me so hard? The Outlaws have the next pick, they already drafted a back, so I am going to bed. Good-freaking-night.” All of a sudden, Michael’s phone vibrates on the glass table. ”Dad – Work? Are you trying to pull my leg or something? You’re in the same room as me…” Matthew Vincent, Michael’s father, shakes his head back and forth, but tries to conceal a smile. Michael answers the phone, ”Hello, this is Michael” “Hi Michael, Tom Ozzborne, I am the General Manager of the Colorado Yeti.” Michael’s face lights up finally understanding that he never switched the GM office number in his phone from when his father was there. "Michael, we really liked what we saw from your tapes at App State and with the Kansas City Organization. We are finalizing a trade to move up to the current pick. Are you excited to become a Yeti?” ”uh, yea, yes, uh Thank you so much. I appreciate it, uhm, Yes, I am excited. I cannot wait to meet with the team. Thank you, thank you.” “Now I am gonna let you get back to the draft so you can see your name get called, but I will get a hold of you later tonight to discuss everything. Tell your pops I said Hi and hope we can all meet sometime for dinner. Talk to you later Michael, and remember, Hashtag Yeti Noises!”
Part 3 of the Michael Vincent Saga: The Grind coming... probably not soon.
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