(S22) - Ultimus Week

[PMoney]

8)
So far, my experience in the league has been great. Trying to explain the league to outsiders and the amount of time and effort that people can put into it would make most of us sound slightly mad. The amount of hopes and dreams put onto little dots in a questionable sim is immense. If you buy into it like most people seem to do though, its loads of fun.

On a fundamental level, the league consists of the sim and the players in the league. As we all quite rightfully hate the sim, the thing that really makes the league is the players and people you meet in the league. I feel lucky to have been part of the S22 draft class and to have been drafted by the Coyotes as the whole Locker Room was full of amazing people. I can’t name them all or that would nearly the 400 words, but the team spirit and game time atmosphere was what got me really hooked on the league. I know lots of them will go onto bigger and better things, in both life and the league (apart from Matty, he sucks lmap).

As far as my player goes, my DSFL season was great stats wise and we made the Ultimini so it’s almost everything you could ask for. Moving up to the NSFL as a true rookie was always going to be a challenge and put a dent in the stats column, especially in a low volume stat position such as DL. I missed my start of season stats goals by 1 TFL but was proud to be part of an excellent Yellowknife defence. The heartbreak of losing in the playoffs was the real disappointment of the year, but hopefully we can be back again next year with another very strong team to compete and finally win the Ultimus.

The draft is easily the most fun part of the league to me. Watching the S21 NSFL draft was what got me active in the league and being in both of the drafts as a player is even more exciting. The production quality is insane and really gets everyone hyped up for their new teams. I still get to partake in draft season now, with scouting for Kansas City. This is nearly as exciting as you get to look for new players joining the league and help get them interested in the league, as well as getting the best possible start to your teams’ season.

The league as a whole has improved in the short time I’ve been here. The infrastructure has improved, and I see a bright future for all the teams now. While nonsense still roams freely across the league, I feel most of it is more trivial and friendly. The ‘Choosing Kindness’ message that was put out last season is a very important one and this season has been put into practice better by most people. Competitiveness is fine, but once we go too far, the fun aspect of the league is lost so ensuring this message is continued in coming seasons is vital.


13)


15)

[goodfortunecoffee]

3) Write 800 words or more on something that interests you. It could be related to statistics, to a league issue you take seriously, or a niche part of history that doesn’t fit neatly into either of the above categories. This must be directly related to the league, so don’t wax 800 words about your team’s Werewolf server. Be warned that freedom comes with risk, and this category will be judged especially stringently for anyone trying to spew complete nonsense.

One of my favorite additions to the league since I've joined 9ish months ago has been the Casino. There's nothing like tapping into that degenerate gambler deep within my soul. I've had a lot of fun trying to out think the house and figure out who's gonna win, point margins, and combined points in games. I also really enjoyed Week 13, when there was a prop bet for how many touchdowns legendary quarterback LaFleur would throw. I think there should be more player prop bets included in possible bets. A big reason I feel this way is the fact that most player stats can't be sim tested easily. At least as far as I remember, you can only see total yardage stats for the team, first downs, and turnovers. And I think one of the reasons some users were discouraged to bet was the fact that they were getting the same results as Steg or whomever was setting up the lines and moneylines and whatnot. Adding some difficult to test bets would spice things up even more. Also another idea I have before the season starts is to set up some future bets. An obvious one would be odds for who wins the Ultimus, but there are unlimited other options. Who wins the MVP? Who wins the rushing title? How many points does the highest scoring team net over the season? Although I suppose any future bet involving awards would have to use the in-game awards and not the awards voted by the committee and GMs, for obvious reasons. I am writing this literally 90 minutes after the Ultimus XXII teams have been announced, and I'm hoping there will be some interesting prop bets for the championship, not dissimilar to Super Bowl prop bets. Create some sort of pool to enter for what the score will be after quarter 1. Another idea I have is for there to be more stuff to spend your money on. This probably sounds ridiculous but I really want there to be totally frivolous shit you can spend your money on. I suppose like the Casino, there can be some other sort of subforum where you can spend money perhaps to play some other mini-game. Like what we created some sort of role playing game within NSFL, where you make your player explore dungeons and fight monsters. Or whatever else. Something else fun and addicting to make you more motivated to earn money. I think there are a whole bunch of creative users in this community that aren't being utilized to their full potential. And building this whole other world could open up more league jobs. Or what if I wanna spend my league money on a nice house and a nice car? You could basically turn this mini-game into the sims, and buy a house and furnish your home. Or the board game Life. Could be especially fun if you have someone create a car dealership where there is only 1 unique copy of each vehicle. So everyone has to jump up and buy whatever they want and can afford before others buy it up. Or even have auctions! Maybe I'm getting carried away here, but I'm just spitballing some ideas of something else to do with money other than spending it on tpe. Basically money = tpe and I feel like that is some wasted potential. You might as well make creating podcasts or other media as straight up tpe gains like point tasks and predictions are. Speaking of point tasks I still really wish for there to be team point tasks, where teams have to work together to complete something and earn tpe for all parties involved. It doesn't have to be anything difficult, like have everyone play a game together or something on the forum. I also think that there should be point tasks that involve only creating a graphic. But the graphic isn't harshly graded like most graphics are. Create a team poster or draw your player mid-game or something else. Or I think there should be a meme contest. Winner gets money. Not sure how they would be voted on. Another change I would make to the forum would be to put statistical analysis articles in a new location. I dunno if we get enough of those to place in it's own subforum beneath Media. I suppose I kind of like the location because it means if I post something it won't get washed away in a sea of other media. But also it seems like a dead space. Perhaps what I really wish for is more statistical analysis articles to be created and less articles about pointless drama or back stories that feel more like fluff pieces for media money. I think it would spice things up a bit if there were article contests as well.

[RansackTheUniverse]

6) After losing star QB Corvo Havran as the GM player to the expansion Honolulu Hahalua last offseason, the Baltimore Hawks entered the season with rookie Chika Fujiwara stepping in to lead the offense. This is a team that was and is filled with youth on both sides of the ball. With that in mind, it was always likely to be tough S22 for the Hawks. That turned out to be the case, as we finished the season at 3-10. The plus side of that is that we will be picking 2nd in the upcoming S23 NSFL Draft. After adding several key players in the S22 draft, we will be looking to fill any remaining holes in this season’s draft.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Hawks have very few holes to fill, and are very young across the board. I already mentioned QB Chika Fujiwara, who had his share of struggles last season as one of the youngest QBs in the league. However Chika has been a steady earner and a great locker room presence, and should be in line for a big step forward this season. Sticking with the passing game, we are losing future hall of fame wide receiver Errol Maddox to retirement. While those will be some big shoes to fill, we already have the guys for the job on the roster. Leading the way are Asher Quinn and Chris Kross, who are both over 500 TPE and multiple seasons away from being hit with regression. On top of these two, we have one of the top receivers from the S22 draft class, Nick Kaepercolin. Kaepercolin spent a second season in the DSFL with the London Royals, but will looking to make an immediate impact with the Hawks this season. At tight end we have S21 James Lewandowski who has been a steady earner and has the potential to be one of the top tight ends in the league in a season or two. The run game was a huge strength last season, as Apollo Reed and Darrel Williams became only the 2nd RB duo in NSFL history to both rush for 1000+ yards in a season. While Apollo Reed is now entering regression, Darrel Williams is still very young, and we also have Rick Skuff waiting in the wings. Skuff has been earning steadily and looks ready to get more involved in the offense this season. Definitely no need to change anything at RB. At offensive line we added offensive lineman Byron Dolls, who made the pro bowl as a rookie and is only getting better. However, with 4 bots still filling out the o line, this is the one position that we could realistically look to improve in the draft this season. Overall, this is a very young and active offense that should see some massive improvements this season without even adding a singe player.

Looking to the defense, we added some key contributors in last season’s draft; Derred De Ville, Ben Stackinpaper, Matt Hole, Nuniq Annastesia and Eldrick Avery should all be important pieces of this defense for seasons to come. With that said, defensive line, linebacker, and secondary could all use some additional pieces. Luckily, with the #2 overall pick, and Huskies GM player ready to step in at d line, we have the resources to address these needs.

Speaking of our GM, Duilio unfortunately had to step down, and while it is tough to see him go, we all have the utmost faith that Huskies will lead us back to the promised land. S23 should be an exciting season for the Hawks.


7) Eldrick Avery is entering his sophomore season with the Baltimore Hawks. With just a season in the books for Avery, there are already some notable positives and negatives to reflect on. Simply being called up to the NSFL for his rookie season has to be considered a win for Avery. Especially when you consider some of the players that spent an extra season down in the DSFL. The number one pick in the draft for example, Colt Mendoza, spent an extra season with the Dallas Birddogs. This gives Avery an extra season over many to rack up stats in the NSFL. Avery took pretty good advantage of this opportunity, tallying 15 passes defensed and 2 interceptions to go along with 46 tackles. The 15 PDs in particular was quite impressive, as it was good for top 15 in the league, and was among the best in the league for rookies. 10 seasons at that pace would result with 150 career PDs which would be top 10 all time (though I have a feeling that that may not be the case 9 seasons from now). While it is definitely too early to realistically consider the Hall of Fame, it’s always fun to dream. Avery’s rookie season was a good start to his career, and if he improves as his TPE increases it is definitely not out of the realm of possibilities. Eldrick wasn’t in the running for any awards this season, however he is in line to be one of the highest TPE earners in a few seasons as regression starts to hit some of the earlier draft classes. Awards are something that Avery absolutely has his eye on, though it will not be easy with the depth of talent that has recently entered the league at cornerback. Guys like Tyler Oles Jr, Brandon Booker, Zamir Kehla, Ben Stackinpaper, and Cadillac Harris should all be top corners for seasons to come and will provide some stiff competition for Avery.

I’ve talked about the positives from Avery’s rookie season and his aspirations going forward, but I should also highlight the negatives. After a DSFL season in which Avery did not allow many yards or touchdowns, he faced some of the best receivers on the planet in his rookie season with Baltimore. As a result there were some definite low points to the season for Avery. A late season game for the Hawks against Yellowknife was especially demoralizing. The Wraiths put up 59 points and Avery was burned by Nate Swift for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. While 80 yards doesn’t sound too bad, it really could have been much worse, but the Wraiths were running the ball like crazy due to the lopsided score. As Avery gains experience, it will be important for him gain consistency and stop having games like these. However with that said, it was overall a successful rookie season for Avery, and one that he will look to build off of as he continues into his career.

[Number 82]

4) It’s down to the final four in both leagues. Choose one playoff team that is not your own from either league and recount how they got here in 400 words or more. What challenges and hurdles did they face in the regular season? Did they cruise into home field advantage or have to fight off contenders for the wild card? Are they led by MVP players on offense, or is a stifling defense the engine to their success? Don’t be afraid to go deep.

Coming into the season the Royals who were one of two expansion team a season ago would have their work cut out for them in the DSFL S22 Draft due to a number of call ups. While other teams did have call ups, expansion teams from S21 didn't exactly have the players that they could slot into any holes they needed to fill. Talented defensive players like Derred de Ville, Quinn Hughes and Cadillac Harris were among the 9 Royals from the defensive side of the ball who were called up by their respective NSFL teams, leaving a plethora holes in their defense. While their defensive unit was somewhat inconsistent during their inaugural season, it was not a surprise given that they were all rookies getting to grips with a new team, coaching staff and the style of play in the DSFL. If the defensive unit had stayed together, they very well could have been on of the best units in Season 22. As nice as it would be to think of what a unit comprised of their S21 Draftees could achieve given another season together, that's not the situation the Royals found themselves in. They got to work and by the end of the S22 DSFL Draft they walked away having drafted defensive talent Greedy Sly, Mikel van Perkins, Bob Bob, Lesean Paris Cooks and Eric Richards. While the Royals still had some holes defensively, they did good job of adding defensive prospects who by season's end appear to be in line to be drafted in the early rounds of the S23 NSFL Draft.

On offense, the Royals did lose some key pieces as well, the main one to note being running back Acura Skyline. Skyline was a key contributor in their offense and it would be fair to say that he made the offense tick. It's tough losing someone like that but did have Jacoby Batista slated to return for another season. Additionally, the Royals added Danny King via the draft a running back who developed well over the season. Some other notable loses to the Royals were to the offensive lineman with 3 lineman moving on. Offensive lines tend to be overlooked but they play an important role in protecting the quarterback and also creating lines for running backs. Good offensive lineman are hard to come by, not the flashiest of positions but losing some talent there was something that was a concern. They did retain the services of their quarterback Colby Jack in addition to a couple of talented receivers, Nick Kaepercolin and Susan Cash Jr along with tight end Donatello Arrabiata. Some solid pieces to form a passing attack that opposing defenses would have to respect.

After the first 4 games, the Royals had a record of 3-1 and were looking good, showcasing an offense which utilised their talent in the passing game. It was a new style of play for the Royals who had a season ago had one of the worst passing attacks in the league with Colby Jack coming into his own and leading the way on offense. In their week 5 matchup, they were pitted against Myrtle Beach who came into the season a favourites, but the Royals were on a roll and would win the game 21-18, putting them at 4-1 after 5 games and at the top of the DSFL North.

Their momentum would grind to a halt with the Royals dropping their next 5 games, leaving them with a 4-6 record. The holes in the offensive line were apparent and it affecting their offense. While they were below .500, with how things were playing out in the DSFL North, the Royals remained in the hunt. If there's something to be said about the team, it is that they were upfront and aware of their shortcomings and weren't phased by them. They would look to their strengths and weakness and continue to develop as a group. Their work was reward with a playoff birth. The London Royals secured a playoff spot in the DSFL North with a 6-8 record. While that record doesn't exactly look great on paper, they played hard and would not go down without a fight.

Now reaching the playoffs in just the second season of existence is quite the achievement, especially with the losses their incurred to start the season. Facing Minnesota, the Royals be on the road and up against a very tough defense. It would be fair to say that the Grey Ducks were favorites. Up against home field advantage, good offense coupled with stifling defense, the Royals certainly had their work cut out for them. Trailing 3-10 with 31 seconds left in the 4th, Colby Jack would connect with Donatello Arrabiata. With PhastBawl able to convert the extra point, the Royals would send the game to overtime. Just as they defied the odds to make the playoffs, the Royals would grind out a win in overtime via a 29 yard field goal by PhasBawl. The Royals defense showed up and contained Minnesota. Their rookies developed nicely and coupled with experience from their returning players, the Royals were definitely no slouches.

Facing Tijuana in the Ultimini, the Royals run would come to an end in what was a tightly contested matchup. Going down 10-6, the Royals certainly put up a fight. No the end they wanted, but in all they had quite the season.

Code:

901 words

7) Selflessness is one thing, but ultimately everyone wants to hear their own player’s name mentioned among the greats. Take some time, in 400 words or more, and discuss how your player’s (or past player’s) career is going so far. Are you matching any expectations you set out for yourself? Do you see yourself on a potentially award winning or Hall of Fame career trajectory? If your player is just starting out, what goals and visions do you have for yourself?

Shawn Dawkins entered the Developmental Simulation Football Draft after 3 seasons at the University of Chicago. I'd say there wasn't really much expectation that Dawkins would be a highly touted prospect or get selected in the early rounds of the Season 21 DSFL Draft given the depth of talent of the defensive backs in the Season 22 Draft Class. To my surprise he ended up being selected 19th overall by the Portland Pythons. One thing I wanted Dawkins to be in his career was a return specialist in addition to being a solid defensive back. A player who could line up at safety and slide over to corner should it be needed, a contributor not just on defense but someone who was a threat on special teams who could return a kick or punt for a touchdown and give his team good field position.

For his rookie year it appeared unlikely that Dawkins would be returning kicks given the talent that the Pythons had on hand. The focus was more on building Dawkins into a solid starter at safety. Goals for the rookie season weren't overly ambitious, record an interception, score a defensive touchdown and get a couple of sacks. For the team perspective it was about getting Portland competitive and in the hunt for the Ultimini. Overall, I guess I would call Dawkins rookie campaign solid, it wasn't really anything spectacular about it. Was able to record an interception and a few sacks over the season but relative to the defensive backs in the DSFL the numbers Dawkins put up over the regular season didn't really stand out. This was fine though, and if I'm honest I wasn't really expecting much. While it would be nice to leave more of a mark on the stat sheet, the Pythons played well enough to claim a spot in the playoffs which was nice.

With a loss to Kansas City the focus shifted to next season. Would it be in the NSFL for whoever drafted me, or would it be returning to Portland for another year of development. Dawkins was selected by Honolulu in the 4th round, again this was earlier than what I had expected but I was really happy to be drafted by Honolulu. Excited for the opportunity to be part of the foundation of their secondary and the inaugural rookie class for the team. While Dawkins would be spending an additional year developing in the DSFL, it was a chance to build off the rookie year. I was aiming to be in the running for the Defensive Back of the Year award but by the end of Season 22 in the DSFL, Dawkins didn't really have the numbers to be in that conversation. Somewhat disappointing to be honest, but it is what it is. Dawkins isn't a finished product, far from it. There's still a lot of improvement left to go and heading into Season 23 with a possible call up to Honolulu, expectations are higher despite the average start to his career. Becoming a contributor in the secondary and in the return game is something that I hope to be able to accomplish with Dawkins. I doubt the Hall of Fame is on the cards for Dawkins, but I hope that with time that Dawkins will have earned a Safety of the Year, Returner of the Year and hoist the Ultimus with Honolulu.

Code:

575 words

[Cincyfan96]

8) I’m likely a bit more “green” of a rookie than this question is intended for as I am just getting started, but I still feel that I can provide some insights into the process of starting out as a first time NSFL participant. I was recruited to this new adventure by my buddy Mithrandir and initially was skeptical of his description – quite honestly it sounded like a lot of work for very little payoff. What began to change that was the culture that I have begun to discover here. It’s clear that this little world is full of football nerds, graphic dorks, and computer geeks all posing as jocks who could totally take you down in a game of backyard football. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure many of you could – I’m certainly not a 6’3” LB in real life! But I have really loved getting to be a little part of that dynamic, talk a bit of smack and have a lot of fun with folks I wouldn’t have otherwise connected with.
The longer I’ve followed football, the more fascinated I’ve become with the coaching and managing aspects of the game, and so it has also been really exciting to get to be a part of my own version of these behind the scenes moments. Lately, I’ve had lots of GMs and Scouts for DSFL teams reaching out to me to ask about my plans for my player and the kind of team I’m looking to be a part of. I’ve been invited to discord groups and gotten to see first hand a few different “locker rooms” to see what this game really can become. To watch folks who for the most part have come from the same background as me – knowing maybe a person or two at most in this group – talking comfortably and referencing each other’s personalities, likes and dislikes is pretty awesome to see. You guys are creating something good here. In the midst of having to social distance and stay at home, you’ve opened up a new world of communication and friendship open to people all over the world.
I’m excited to be drafted, to get to invest in a single team and build some friendships there and work towards being a regular contributor for a playoff run and dynasty build! Do I know everything that I need to do? Absolutely not. But thankfully so far GMs, scouts, and random other people I’ve come into contact with have been more than willing to help nudge me in the right direction. I’m super thankful for the way things have started and I can’t wait to get on the field and get some W’s!



14) Adam Schell – Coverage LB
Stats:
TPE Banked: 2
(MAX: 80) Strength: 62
(MAX: 90) Agility: 65
(MAX: 25) Arm: 1
(MAX: 90) Intelligence: 55
(MAX: 25) Throwing Accuracy: 1
(MAX: 85) Tackling: 55
(MAX: 85) Speed: 77
(MAX: 65) Hands: 35
(MAX: 25) Pass Blocking: 1
(MAX: 25) Run Blocking: 1
(MAX: 100) Endurance: 65
(MAX: 25) Kick Power: 1
(MAX: 25) Kick Accuracy: 1
TOTAL TPE – 71

My goodness, Adam has horrible arm strength for someone who claims to have been a former QB…no wonder he switched to LB! That aside, up-and-coming DSFL LB prospect Adam Schell has a lot to offer. He is smartly investing early and often into speed and strength, two attributes that are king in the world of simulation football and that are sure to do him well as he begins his young career in the DSFL. Because of his above average participation and improvement for a first-time player, Adam is an intriguing prospect. There certainly is still more unknown about him than known, as we don’t have highlights or past DSFL footage to reference, but his time at the University of Kentucky saw him serve as a 3 year captain and a finalist for defensive player of the year his senior year. These leadership qualities along with the dedication he has already shown in film studies and interviews with scouts leads us to believe he has the potential to be an every-down starter at any of the LB positions as he helps his team to shut down opposing TEs and wreak havoc on opposing QBs with his excellent poise in zone defense in particular. A year in the DSFL should only have him hitting harder, cutting faster, and ready to make his mark on the league.



17) My pick for the DSFL Playoffs MVP is Friedrich Vequain, Wide Receiver for the Tijuana Luchadores. In a fairly messy two games from a quarterback perspective, it came down to playmaking when deciding this award for me. In their first matchup Vequain pulled in the Luchadores’ lone touchdown with a HUGE touchdown on third down with two minutes remaining to tie the ballgame and eventually send it to overtime. His burning speed came in handy in this game with both the longest gain on one play of the game of 23 yards as well as nearly 30 more yards than any other receiver in the game at 6 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.
The DSFL championship game against the Royals quickly became a defensive battle in which the Luchadores’ quarterbacks struggled immensely. Yet despite this, when the ball came Vequain’s way, he made big plays. Turning 5 catches into 4 first downs in a game where every yard counted, Vequain made his impact known and led his team through the trenches of a hard fought game to bring home the title.
It wasn’t always pretty in these playoffs, but just as he did all season long, when his team needed him Vequain came through in big ways as he led his team to a DSFL championship. Should he depart for the NSFL this offseason, his speed will be sought after in a big way.

[muse316]

7) Selflessness is one thing, but ultimately everyone wants to hear their own player’s name mentioned among the greats. Take some time, in 400 words or more, and discuss how your player’s (or past player’s) career is going so far. Are you matching any expectations you set out for yourself? Do you see yourself on a potentially award winning or Hall of Fame career trajectory? If your player is just starting out, what goals and visions do you have for yourself?

Luke Skywalker started off his rookie year with a bang. Nominated for 3 DSFL season 21 awards (winning 1 and coming in second for the other 2), Skywalker showed a lot of promise. He finished his first year with 12 touchdowns and a passer rating of 73.4, and was ultimately drafted into the NSFL team Honolulu’s Hahalua. Things were looking great, and many had high expectations of Skywalker as he entered into his sophomore season.
Unfortunately, like many sophomore years, Skywalker showed a slight regression in his skills. Although he still had the highest passer rating in the Norfolk Seawolves (69.9%), Skywalker’s lack of touchdowns (4 for the whole season) and percent completions (53.1%) forced the Seawolves to place Skwywalker in a more back seat role in favor of his teammate S. Ramza. His sophomore year would find Skywalker and the Seawolves with a win/loss of 8/6, a win/loss ratio good enough to get into the playoffs. However, similar to his freshman year, the Seawolves would have a heartbreaking loss in the first round. Skywalker finished his sophomore year slightly disheartened, expecting no accolades or Pro-bowl nominations. Instead, Skywalker went into the offseason with a resolve to do better.
The off—season has begun with Skywalker spending his mornings in the gym and with his trainer, developing and honing the skills he will require to dominate in year three. Although he was capped out on using TPE in the DSFL, Skywalker is slowly amassing TPE. With already over 400 TPE under his belt in just his 2nd year, Skywalker is constantly improving himself in order to be prepared when he can spend his TPE to boost his attributes. While he knows he’s no Havran yet, Skywalker has dreams that one day, he too could be the elite quarterback that his teammates can trust and depend on to bring home the W. He knows that his hard work during his time in the DSFL, while sometimes discouraging, will just teach him patience and teamwork that he will need in the NSFL.
Skywalker has only 2 seasons under his belt, and while his sophomore year was somewhat of a disappointment, Skywalker and others have high hopes for this up-and-coming, determined quarterback. While dreams of Hall-of-Fame worthy careers help fuel the drive, Skywalker, for now, hopes that his dedication will help bring the Seawolves and the Hahalua’s to the Ultimini and Ultimus trophies, and bring joy to his hometowns. A street named after him would be pretty sweet too.

(416 words)



8) This task is exclusive to non-recreate rookies of the S22 class and later. In 400 words or more, how has your experience been in the league? Who have you met that has made your time here more fun, friendly, and exciting? Have you been satisfied with your player’s early start? What was it like being drafted for the first time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for the entire league that you think should be implemented?

The NSFL has been a lot of fun. I found comments about the NSFL on Reddit. I assumed at first it was a dirty or horrific site just due to the common terminology of NSFL being “not safe for life,” but as comments kept referring to players, pass completions, or just general trash talk, I decided to take a look and was pleasantly surprised.
My first season at the NSFL was somewhat difficult. While the webmasters and the commissioners/GM’s do an amazing job in providing guides for incoming rookies, there was still a very steep learning curve required to understand the setup of the league. I had never done a simulation league before, and spent a great deal of time reading about the set up, TPE, and spending TPE before I felt that I had a somewhat good grasp on what I was suppose to do. I made a lot of mistakes my first “year,” posting new topics instead of responding to threads, randomly incorporating in TPE’s, spending TPE’s on stats/attributes that had nothing to very little to do with my position, etc. I had also never used Discord or Twitter before, and didn’t realize until several months in that the icons on the left of the screen for Discord were messages from individuals/GMs.
All in all, my first year experience would have been discouraging had it not been for the other members of the NSFL. I have yet to come across a rude or belligerent person in the league. Everyone looks out for one another, gives great advice, and, most importantly, is super forgiving to rookies and their mistakes. The knowledge that one will be forgiven if an error is made allows rookies to branch out into the league and try out new things that they may have been to scared to do before. For example, I’m not great with photoshop, but I’ve gotten better in submitting GFX’s because the graders are not only encouraging, they also provide great feedback on what could have been done better, and how to do so.
Finally, I’d like to give a special shoutout to Bex. I had assumed that the commissioner would be too busy to talk to individual players, but Bex is everywhere, providing pointers, jokes, and encouragement in the discords while simultaneously leading the Seawolves and the NSFL. Her presence alone made a huge impact on my decision to keep playing in the NSFL, and, no brown-nosing but with absolute sincerity, she’s awesome.
The only comment that I’d make about the league is that the website is not super intuitive. It took me a while to figure out where my player’s season stats were, as well as how to find information to answer the trivia questions. Also, it wasn’t until week 3 of my rookie year that I realized that the games were being played in a youtube channel, and it took me a few weeks to figure out where to go to buy equipment/training for my player (I think I kept putting it in random bank topics originally. Many apologies about that).
Overall, I think the NSFL is a great way to “play” football. Especially during this stay-at-home era, the NSFL has given me a chance to live outside of my home, and the players and leaders have made the experience amazing to the point I keep trying to get friends to join. Keep up the good work everyone!

(570 words)

[Rindiee]

SHL PT

14) Make a scouting report for any of the NSFL or DSFL draftees. Show their stats, abilities, TPE, highlights, or dead relatives. I’m joking about that last one, please don’t put dead relatives on the scouting report. Written option available for 200 words or more.

Considering I am a S23 NSFL prospect it makes the most sense to evaluate no one other then myself. For those of you who don't know... I am Tyrone Woods S22 LB prospect playing in the DSFL for the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers. This past season was one I was quite impressed with too be honest. Especially because I was playing NB this past season, opposed to LB. This season I posted 118 tackles (10th best in the DSFL), 8 sacks (tied for 3rd in the DSFL) and 11 pass deflections (tied for 5th in the DSFL). There's no doubt that my season was quite an impressive one, given how my Myrtle Beach Buccaneers underperformed as a team. To round all of this of, I am currently sitting at roughly 270 TPE. If the TPE tracker was updated i'd be able to do give an accurate estimation of where that puts me among the rest of my class, but of course I can't do that at the moment. However last time I checked I was roughly top ~5, and I have been max earning the whole time. With that being the case, i'd imagine not much would have really changed in that regard and i'd still be among the top of my class, and definitely among LB's.

17) Present your argument for the playoffs MVP. Show their stats and impact on the games that they played. Written option available for 200 words or more.

It only makes sense that the person who gets awarded as the playoffs MVP, is the person who is the anchor of his team, and led them all the way from a Wild Card berth to a Ultimus victory. That person is none other than Colorado Yeti QB Wolfie McDummy. In their wildcard game, the Colorado Yeti took the Sarasota Sailfish to poundtown, with a 36-14 victory. McDummy threw for over 200 yards, completed 50% of his passes (18/36) and rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown. In the NSFC Championship, the Yeti beat the then favorite for the Ultimus, Yellowknife Wraiths by a mere 17-16. Again, McDummy had a quiet game throwing for only 187 yards, but was efficient enough to get the job done, as once again he rushed for a TD, on a single attempt that was 28 yards to the house. In the Ultimus, the Colorado Yeti faced who had arguably just as high as a chance to win the Ultimus as YKW, and that was the Orange County Otters. In a game where the Yeti were down 21-3, McDummy and the Yeti came back and had a huge 15 points in the 4th quarter to lead them do a very narrow margin of victory at 25-24. In the Ultimus McDummy threw for 198 YDS, 1 TD and an INT, and also rushed for a TD once again. This is easily justified due to the fact that Colorado had all the odds against them to win the Ultimus, yet they did just that. Odds are they wouldn't have accomplished this feat had they not had Wolfie McDummy at the helm.

[Reno]

7) Tier 2 - 438 Words
So far, the career of Tree Gelbman has been a pretty mixed bag when you look at everything. A late round draft pick that came out nowhere to have a dominant rookie season in the DSFL is nothing to shake a stick at. Coming 2nd in Tight End of the Year voting (albeit losing to an inactive) that same rookie season is also pretty impressive. The issue was that when you ride that high that early in your career you’re bound to regress, and regress she did. A sophomore season that was a direct downgrade in all stats across the board due to a shift in playbook and the addition of a stacked wide receiver group hurt her stats. A third season would be a bounce back year in terms of numbers but the issues of the team would overshadow the season that Tree had in Kansas City.

The expectations I’ve set for myself have been altered a few times along my brief journey so far in the world of simulation football. Beginning with my rookie season, my goal was to just make the playoffs and maybe receive a nomination for tight end of the year here and there and I’d be happy. The problem with these shortsighted goals is that achieving them doesn’t really leave you with much. After one season Tree finished 2nd in Tight End of the Year and made the playoffs, so where does that leave you? So you raise the bar; Tree wanted to win the Ultimini and win Tight End of the Year awards, but then this creates an issue when you can’t win either award and it leaves you hungering for more. To answer if I’m matching any expectations, I’d say yes and no. I’ve accomplished minor goals here and there, like getting drafted in a respectable position to the NSFL and earning at a decent rate, but Tree isn’t that household name yet that I want. I want Tree to pop into peoples minds when they think of the all-time greats at the tight end position.
So what does the future hold? It holds a lot of uncertainty going forward, but Tree is looking to take on that uncertainty head on. It was a slow start for the career so Tree will likely have to have several seasons of amazing growth to put up numbers that could even get her considered for the Hall of Fame years down the line. With the encouragement and newfound motivation that comes with actually playing in the NSFL now I can guarantee we’ll be seeing her in the Hall of Fame one day.


10) Tier 3 - 241 Words
I have a feeling that Tree should have received a more serious consideration in terms of the Tight End of the Year voting for this previous DSFL season. While Tree did not have a season that would warrant winning the award, as Arrabiata on London clearly deserves that award, I still feel that she should be nominated for it based on the stat line that she managed to put up despite the situation that Kansas City was stuck in. Tree managed to finish with 423 receiving yards which was the 4th most in the DSFL among tight ends but managed to accomplish it despite the Kansas City offense undergoing a major overhaul and having to work with a rookie quarterback still developing his talents while first, second and third place already had quarterbacks who were as good as they could possibly be in the DSFL level. Tree also carried a much more important role in the struggling Kansas City offense, she was the safety valve for Covington to dump off to whenever they needed that short gain for a first down, and to me the Tight End of the Year shouldn’t be based entirely on stats, but rather how those stats helped the team. Kansas City might not have had a great season, but without Gelbman the season might have gone even worse and that is why I think she should receive some serious consideration for Tight End of the Year.

13)

[JBLAZE_THE_BOSS]

Mike Boss Jr: DSFL Scouting Report

They say a good thing happens only once. Well, they might change their tune after “they” see Mike Boss Jr take the field for the first time. The first son of perhaps the greatest quarterback in football history is ready to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he is looking to create his own legacy. Boss Jr has all the intangibles his father boasted. MBJ, as he has been dubbed, has the ferocious competitive spirit that made his father the best. He has a great sense of the game and the situations, keeping his composure when under pressure from swarming defensemen. MBJ does not turn the ball over frequently, he almost never fumbles and rarely will throw a ball into double coverage. Coaches are raving over his pocket presence; he tends to hold the ball until the final possible second before getting it to a receiver. Sometimes he holds onto the ball too long, which results in a sack. MBJ is a massive man so he isn’t easy to bring down, but sometimes his size and lack of mobility make him a sitting duck in the pocket. MBJ has all the genes and the desire needed to become a Hall of Famer. Now, he just needs to be diligent and not try to get by on his father’s success.

[TheManWhoSoldTheWorld]

PBE Affiliate PT
Task 8
My experience so far in the National Simulation Football League has been so many things, all of them positive. I've seen so many legends here that I recognize from other sim leagues, such as the Pro Baseball Experience and the legend iamslm22, Mavfatha, caltroit_red_flames, the whole lot of people that made the Pro Baseball Experience happen are all here. Considering that it was highly influenced by this site in the beginning (kind of like how the US inspired revolutions across the world, as well as constitutions), it makes sense. I am elated to see so many familiar faces, as well as some new ones, such as woelker11, who approved my rookie page and was kind enough to reach out on discord to make sure I had everything all good. I will say that I am a bit disappointed that no Developmental Simulation Football League teams wanted to pick me up, which sucks in general, but many teams are solid at running back with their current situations, so I am understanding but still a bit salty about it. I really hope that I get picked by a team in the Developmental Simulation Football League draft that gives me opportunities to run and catch, because as a do-it-all tailback I have the ability to do both effectively. I have made sure that I can switch positions if needed by investing a lot of my TPE in speed, which is a crucial attribute/rating if you want to be versatile for the National Simulation Football League. I can easily switch from running back to wide receiver, or can go to free safety or strong safety, hell, even cornerback. I am appreciative that the update scale has made it easy for me to upgrade this statistic quickly enough to where I can be considered an elite speedster and perhaps lead back for a team if I continue to upgrade my secondary attributes, such as endurance, agility, and strength, among others. I haven't been drafted YET, but I'm excited for the many teams that are interested in my talents so that I can take the National Simulation Football League by storm after the Season 24 draft. I have been satisfied with my start in TPE earning so far, and hope that these opportunities will increase once the cash starts flowing in from contracts, media, and hopefully a league job as a fantasy manager and/or rookie mentor. Can't wait until the day.
409 words
Task 14
Myles Smith is a candidate for possibly one of the best running back prospects I have seen in a long time. Coming from Oklahoma City, Myles looks like better than his uncle Emmitt Smith did when he graduated. He had led his team to the state championship single-handedly, with multiple games of over 300 yards from scrimmage, most of it on the ground. He then committed to a crowded Florida running back room, where he beat out the ranks in his freshman season and was their lead back all four years after, never red-shirting. Following the likes of strong Florida running back such as Fred Taylor and the aforementioned Smith, Myles dominated the SEC, never winning a championship due to some crap recruiting by Florida, but earning multiple Doak Walker awards, a Maxwell, and a Heisman in his senior season. His final college career stats consisted of 5,921 career rushing yards (good enough for 8th all-time), 59 career touchdowns, and another 1,042 yards from receptions, along with 12 touchdowns there. Myles is a do-it-all back who has some receiving experience and can run da bawl. I give him a A- grade and expect him to go in the 4th round due to other running back talents being more highly touted on teams' boards.
220 words