Okay, I'm writing this article because it's about time I get a little more involved here in the NSFL/DSFL. I'm going to be going over a few things with how my career has started and where I wish to go from here on out. Pretty much a journal of what has happened with Gekyume Stokeley's career so far.
Chapter 1 - The Interesting Start
I came into the DSFL as a Walk-On/Free Agent. Right off from the get-go, I was in talks with several General Managers as they were trying to get me interested in joining their respective squads. I ended up setting my mind to joining the Tijuana Luchadores! They were number two on the waivers and I just had to get by the Portland Pythons. I received an email from the General Manager of the Pythons asking if I would like to join their squad. I replied with a firm decline and told him I wanted to be in Tijuana. A day later and I'm on a flight to Portland to join the Portland Pythons. I was confused and angry when I found this out. The reply I sent back to the General Manager wasn't seen somehow and they took picked me up off of waivers anyway. As I landed I demanded a trade immediately. I didn't want to be here and I wanted to play for Tijuana. A day later I thought about it and I changed my mind and told the Manager that I would indeed like to play here in Portland. I ended up starting a handful of games that year and came away with some okay stats in 6 games. I had 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. Not an ideal start but there was a lot of talent on this defense so It was hard to make plays when everyone else was feasting. Nonetheless, I had an okay season but an even brighter future.
Chapter 2 - NSFL Draft
During the offseason, I worked none stop to get better and my work ethic really showed to some scouts from the NSFL. I was contacted a week later by almost every pro team. I heard my name from being a possible 1st rounder to the 3rd round and anywhere in between. I ended up generating a lot of interest and even got contacted by the Yellowknife Wraiths about possibly being the #1 guy off the board. Hearing that got me super excited but I was also in talks with the Arizona Outlaws at 3. To be honest I wanted to go to Arizona but I also really wanted to go #1. That would've been a dream come true. Draft day came and as I waited for my name to be called the first two names off the board were both Quarterbacks. The analysts seemed to rave about them for hours. Finally, Arizona was up to pick and I heard them call my name. I made it mom, I really made it. Then moments later I felt distraught as the analysts were kinda dogging me? Were saying things like "Interesting pick here they needed a Quarterback" "He had a really subpar season" "surprise pick here folks". That just burned me up and just add fuel to the fire. In the second round, Arizona picked my Python teammate Linebacker Leighton Lee and at first, I questioned the pick because I'm a Linebacker? Why do you need another? Also, Quarterback was a huge need for this team and there were some pretty good ones available. I was informed moments later by the General Manager that they had a plan at Quarterback and wanted the dynamic duo in Stokeley and Lee to man their defense for years to come and I was okay with that for sure.
Chapter 3 - Contract Talks
From the moment I was drafted I knew what I was worth but it seemed like Arizona had some contract issues and we had huge differences in what we thought my contract should be. I was going over all my options and I just kept telling myself I'm worth more than this and at one point I was thinking of holding out which would have hurt my progression and image as a player. In the end, I took what I could even though I felt like it should have been more. Now I had the option to make even more money if I stayed down in the DSFL for one more year or go straight up to the NSFL. I ended up talking to my boy Leighton and we decided that we'd go where ever together so we can stay that dynamic duo. We ended up choosing to stay in Portland for one more season to try and ball out with this amazing defense we've got lined up.
Chapter 4 - Preseason
I balled out in the preseason putting up these stats in 4 games played, 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 passes defenced. As you can tell that's a huge leap in totals from my previous year in which I played 6 games. I could really see my progression from all my hard work throughout the offseason. I'm going to make the two teams that passed on me in the NSFL draft regret their decision.
Chapter 5 - Season 2 halfway point
The Portland Pythons are 1st in their division and 2nd in the league record-wise sitting at 6-2. We haven't lost at home and we pride ourselves on an elite defense that doesn't seem to be showing in the stat sheets. So far this season in 8 games I've produced 65 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 pass defensed. My tackles are obviously up but my all-around play isn't quite there. I obviously have room to grow but I'm getting there. I seem to be one the better pass rushing Linebackers in the DSFL so I do have that going for me. All I need now is to but everything I've learned together and start to really dominate this league like I know I can.
TL
R
Had some trouble with GMs but it's solved (All personal problems, nothing agaisnt the GMs) and struggled first season but seems to be blossimg into a great player as he should since Gekyume was drafted with the 3rd pick in the draft.
Chapter 1 - The Interesting Start
I came into the DSFL as a Walk-On/Free Agent. Right off from the get-go, I was in talks with several General Managers as they were trying to get me interested in joining their respective squads. I ended up setting my mind to joining the Tijuana Luchadores! They were number two on the waivers and I just had to get by the Portland Pythons. I received an email from the General Manager of the Pythons asking if I would like to join their squad. I replied with a firm decline and told him I wanted to be in Tijuana. A day later and I'm on a flight to Portland to join the Portland Pythons. I was confused and angry when I found this out. The reply I sent back to the General Manager wasn't seen somehow and they took picked me up off of waivers anyway. As I landed I demanded a trade immediately. I didn't want to be here and I wanted to play for Tijuana. A day later I thought about it and I changed my mind and told the Manager that I would indeed like to play here in Portland. I ended up starting a handful of games that year and came away with some okay stats in 6 games. I had 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. Not an ideal start but there was a lot of talent on this defense so It was hard to make plays when everyone else was feasting. Nonetheless, I had an okay season but an even brighter future.
Chapter 2 - NSFL Draft
During the offseason, I worked none stop to get better and my work ethic really showed to some scouts from the NSFL. I was contacted a week later by almost every pro team. I heard my name from being a possible 1st rounder to the 3rd round and anywhere in between. I ended up generating a lot of interest and even got contacted by the Yellowknife Wraiths about possibly being the #1 guy off the board. Hearing that got me super excited but I was also in talks with the Arizona Outlaws at 3. To be honest I wanted to go to Arizona but I also really wanted to go #1. That would've been a dream come true. Draft day came and as I waited for my name to be called the first two names off the board were both Quarterbacks. The analysts seemed to rave about them for hours. Finally, Arizona was up to pick and I heard them call my name. I made it mom, I really made it. Then moments later I felt distraught as the analysts were kinda dogging me? Were saying things like "Interesting pick here they needed a Quarterback" "He had a really subpar season" "surprise pick here folks". That just burned me up and just add fuel to the fire. In the second round, Arizona picked my Python teammate Linebacker Leighton Lee and at first, I questioned the pick because I'm a Linebacker? Why do you need another? Also, Quarterback was a huge need for this team and there were some pretty good ones available. I was informed moments later by the General Manager that they had a plan at Quarterback and wanted the dynamic duo in Stokeley and Lee to man their defense for years to come and I was okay with that for sure.
Chapter 3 - Contract Talks
From the moment I was drafted I knew what I was worth but it seemed like Arizona had some contract issues and we had huge differences in what we thought my contract should be. I was going over all my options and I just kept telling myself I'm worth more than this and at one point I was thinking of holding out which would have hurt my progression and image as a player. In the end, I took what I could even though I felt like it should have been more. Now I had the option to make even more money if I stayed down in the DSFL for one more year or go straight up to the NSFL. I ended up talking to my boy Leighton and we decided that we'd go where ever together so we can stay that dynamic duo. We ended up choosing to stay in Portland for one more season to try and ball out with this amazing defense we've got lined up.
Chapter 4 - Preseason
I balled out in the preseason putting up these stats in 4 games played, 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 passes defenced. As you can tell that's a huge leap in totals from my previous year in which I played 6 games. I could really see my progression from all my hard work throughout the offseason. I'm going to make the two teams that passed on me in the NSFL draft regret their decision.
Chapter 5 - Season 2 halfway point
The Portland Pythons are 1st in their division and 2nd in the league record-wise sitting at 6-2. We haven't lost at home and we pride ourselves on an elite defense that doesn't seem to be showing in the stat sheets. So far this season in 8 games I've produced 65 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 pass defensed. My tackles are obviously up but my all-around play isn't quite there. I obviously have room to grow but I'm getting there. I seem to be one the better pass rushing Linebackers in the DSFL so I do have that going for me. All I need now is to but everything I've learned together and start to really dominate this league like I know I can.
TL
RHad some trouble with GMs but it's solved (All personal problems, nothing agaisnt the GMs) and struggled first season but seems to be blossimg into a great player as he should since Gekyume was drafted with the 3rd pick in the draft.
![[Image: HT.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/662312805495472138/862340648676884540/HT.png)
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