This post is going to come off slightly pretentious and boast a braggadocio tone, but it's the truth for my player. To this moment, my player has not encountered an authentic, "Welcome to the League" moment, at least not on the field. Crooks helped guide Cal to their first bowl appearances in almost 18 years. Crooks finished his career in college with an upset win over the Clemson Tigers. Upon entering the DSFL, Crooks slid into the slot corner role and started racking up tackles left and right. Crooks amassed over 120 tackles his first DSFL season, proving to be a key linchpin to the Royals defense en route to a surprising Ultimini appearance against Tijuana. Unfortunately, the Royals lost 10-6, keeping the high-powered Luchadores in check most of the game.
The shocking part came when Crooks did not make the pro bowl, likely due to only having 4 turnovers to his credit, despite being instrumental to the Royals reconfigured defense. Determined to cement his name in some stature in DSFL lore, Crooks returned for his sophomore campaign, where he moved to the outside and proved his worth as a shutdown corner. Crooks finished his second season with 19 pass deflections and 4 interceptions and, as expected, made his first pro bowl.
With two playoff appearances in two seasons, Crooks felt it was time to move on and let his proteges take the helm in London. Crooks moved onto Baltimore where he moved back to the slot corner position. His first game, he finished with 8 tck, 2 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF/FR --- not a bad debut. Crooks also can say he intercepted both Wolfie McDummy and Daxter Banks this season, the two leaders for QBoTY. The one thing that still irks him is that his seemingly arch-nemesis, Kai Sakura, continues to get the best of him, whether in the DSFL or ISFL. Despite all of that, the toughest adjustment Crooks has to make is handling the roster fluidity in the ISFl. With an expansion draft looming, Crooks may find himself only spending one season with the Hawks. He might be picked in the expansion draft, and if not, he might become a highly sought free agent if he elects to go that route ---- something he has never dealt with yet to this point in his career and key career defining decision that will definitely shake up the ISFL landscape. Having that much power is scary, more than it is exhilarating.
The shocking part came when Crooks did not make the pro bowl, likely due to only having 4 turnovers to his credit, despite being instrumental to the Royals reconfigured defense. Determined to cement his name in some stature in DSFL lore, Crooks returned for his sophomore campaign, where he moved to the outside and proved his worth as a shutdown corner. Crooks finished his second season with 19 pass deflections and 4 interceptions and, as expected, made his first pro bowl.
With two playoff appearances in two seasons, Crooks felt it was time to move on and let his proteges take the helm in London. Crooks moved onto Baltimore where he moved back to the slot corner position. His first game, he finished with 8 tck, 2 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF/FR --- not a bad debut. Crooks also can say he intercepted both Wolfie McDummy and Daxter Banks this season, the two leaders for QBoTY. The one thing that still irks him is that his seemingly arch-nemesis, Kai Sakura, continues to get the best of him, whether in the DSFL or ISFL. Despite all of that, the toughest adjustment Crooks has to make is handling the roster fluidity in the ISFl. With an expansion draft looming, Crooks may find himself only spending one season with the Hawks. He might be picked in the expansion draft, and if not, he might become a highly sought free agent if he elects to go that route ---- something he has never dealt with yet to this point in his career and key career defining decision that will definitely shake up the ISFL landscape. Having that much power is scary, more than it is exhilarating.
