Welcome back to NSFL tonight!
As always, I am your host, Jack Mehoff. Tonight we have a special treat for you as we are now joined, in studio, by Baltimore Hawks first round pick, and the seventh rookie taken in the Season 2 NSFL Draft, Ricardo Sandoval. Ricardo, welcome to the studio! Let’s just get right to it.
How does it feel to now be a member of the defending NSFC Champs, the Baltimore Hawks?
It feels absolutely amazing to be on such a great team. The minute I heard from the GM of the Hawks, I knew I had a great opportunity to be a part, dare I say, a large part of a playoff team and hopefully an Ultimus contender. I could not ask for anything more as a player than a supportive front office behind me, a great team around me, and a successful season ahead of us, and that's what Baltimore provides for players.
I’m sure that will make Hawks fans everywhere happy to hear. Now, the Baltimore Hawks are known for having a fantastic front 7, with 4 of them being named to the Pro Bowl this past season. How do you fit in, and is there any pressure on you to perform right away being the 7th overall pick?
Being a first rounder, there will definitely be some immediate pressure, but nothing that I'm not expecting from the fans of such a fantastic, prestigious organization. I've been dealing with pressure my whole life, from the moment I stepped onto a football field, I’ve felt that pressure... And I worked through it. I always deliver.
As is no secret, you and first overall pick, Antonio Sandoval, are brothers. One has to assume that by being brothers that play positions in direct competition with each other, there's going to be a lot of trash talking between you two. How do you handle being the 2nd brother chosen?
Just lower expectations set for me that make people more impressed by comparison when my stats say 10 sacks and his say 10 sacks allowed. :shrug:
Will being division rivals and playing each other twice a year create stress on your relationship?
I don't think so, as long as he can handle taking two losses, we should be quite alright. He's used to taking a backseat to me. He's a big boy.
In some families, parents may struggle with which child to root for but, yours is a little different. Could you tell me about that?
Yes, in my family, it IS a little different. As a child, my parents were deported back to Mexico, as they had been here illegally. It was a crushing blow to me and my brother, who have since only seen them twice. This is why I have founded the charity Abandoned Angels, founded in San Jose, but now that I am on this East Coast, I have moved it here, in Baltimore, which is actually a sanctuary city, a city that allows illegal immigrants and does not actively seek to deport them. My charity helps children whose parents have been deported to cope with the loss, and uses football as a way to keep them off the streets. I hope some players are willing to spend some time helping with the charity. If you are, message me and we can get something arranged, maybe have a media piece on it. It really is a great cause.
I am deeply sorry that happened to you. It’s incredibly impressive to me that not only were you and your brother able to overcome such a dire situation, but, someone as young as yourself is actually doing something to help fix the same problem for others. Kudos to you. Actions like that are what make NSFL teams such an important pillar in their local communities.
I hate to bring the atmosphere down a little, but, I have to ask. It's become a bit of a tradition in the NSFL that teams try their best to draft players that played as a waiver wire acquisitions with them the year before. The Otters had that chance, yet, passed on you with the 6th overall pick. How do you respond to that?
I'm not too mad about it, they thought I'd like to see an Ultimus trophy sometime in my career, so they let me play in Baltimore. :cigar: Don't @ me...
One of the many story lines to follow this year, that’s for sure. On a more positive note, former Otters team mate, Trey Willie, was also passed over by the Otters and drafted by the Hawks. How does it feel to know that you'll have at least one familiar face in the locker room?
I was exhilarated when I got a message from Trey that read, "looks like we're going across the country together." At first, I thought, "Man what did the Hawks have to trade to get a top 4 pick? Then I saw he was drafted at number 10, and I knew the Hawks got a steal in this kid. An absolute baller, he's got the speed, hands, and agility of a seasoned veteran. According to Rony Tomo anyways. He's my guy for NSFL info
That first Hawks- Otters game will certainly be one to watch.
Being born in San Diego and playing football at San Diego State, there were concerns with how you will handle cold weather, and is rumored to be one the reasons the Yellowknife Wraiths passed on you. Baltimore will have at least one game with snow on the field, possibly a few. Are you more excited or concerned to be playing football in the snow?
I'm very excited to be playing football in the snow. My favorite games of last season were in Yellowknife and Baltimore. If you look historically at the now-gone NFL, the greatest Vikings team of all time played under Bud Grant, famously never used heaters on the sideline, toughed it out, and it got into opponents’ heads. That's a benefit I know that will be in our favor in Baltimore.
My final question for you, Ricardo. Everyone knows that there are two things Maryland does well, football and crab cakes. Clearly, you've got the football side covered. Where do you stand on the crab cakes?
I don't yet know really where I stand on crab cakes. Recently, my teammate and new friend Owen Taylor said he was gonna take the new guys out on the town and make sure we had some, so I'll have to get back to you on that, haha!
Well, I have to say…you are in for a treat. Ricardo, it’s been a pleasure having you here tonight and I hope we can have you in studio again soon.
This is Jack Mehoff for NSFL tonight saying, goodnight.
Please split pay 50/50 between @cosbornballboy and myself. Thanks!
GRADED
As always, I am your host, Jack Mehoff. Tonight we have a special treat for you as we are now joined, in studio, by Baltimore Hawks first round pick, and the seventh rookie taken in the Season 2 NSFL Draft, Ricardo Sandoval. Ricardo, welcome to the studio! Let’s just get right to it.
How does it feel to now be a member of the defending NSFC Champs, the Baltimore Hawks?
It feels absolutely amazing to be on such a great team. The minute I heard from the GM of the Hawks, I knew I had a great opportunity to be a part, dare I say, a large part of a playoff team and hopefully an Ultimus contender. I could not ask for anything more as a player than a supportive front office behind me, a great team around me, and a successful season ahead of us, and that's what Baltimore provides for players.
I’m sure that will make Hawks fans everywhere happy to hear. Now, the Baltimore Hawks are known for having a fantastic front 7, with 4 of them being named to the Pro Bowl this past season. How do you fit in, and is there any pressure on you to perform right away being the 7th overall pick?
Being a first rounder, there will definitely be some immediate pressure, but nothing that I'm not expecting from the fans of such a fantastic, prestigious organization. I've been dealing with pressure my whole life, from the moment I stepped onto a football field, I’ve felt that pressure... And I worked through it. I always deliver.
As is no secret, you and first overall pick, Antonio Sandoval, are brothers. One has to assume that by being brothers that play positions in direct competition with each other, there's going to be a lot of trash talking between you two. How do you handle being the 2nd brother chosen?
Just lower expectations set for me that make people more impressed by comparison when my stats say 10 sacks and his say 10 sacks allowed. :shrug:
Will being division rivals and playing each other twice a year create stress on your relationship?
I don't think so, as long as he can handle taking two losses, we should be quite alright. He's used to taking a backseat to me. He's a big boy.
In some families, parents may struggle with which child to root for but, yours is a little different. Could you tell me about that?
Yes, in my family, it IS a little different. As a child, my parents were deported back to Mexico, as they had been here illegally. It was a crushing blow to me and my brother, who have since only seen them twice. This is why I have founded the charity Abandoned Angels, founded in San Jose, but now that I am on this East Coast, I have moved it here, in Baltimore, which is actually a sanctuary city, a city that allows illegal immigrants and does not actively seek to deport them. My charity helps children whose parents have been deported to cope with the loss, and uses football as a way to keep them off the streets. I hope some players are willing to spend some time helping with the charity. If you are, message me and we can get something arranged, maybe have a media piece on it. It really is a great cause.
I am deeply sorry that happened to you. It’s incredibly impressive to me that not only were you and your brother able to overcome such a dire situation, but, someone as young as yourself is actually doing something to help fix the same problem for others. Kudos to you. Actions like that are what make NSFL teams such an important pillar in their local communities.
I hate to bring the atmosphere down a little, but, I have to ask. It's become a bit of a tradition in the NSFL that teams try their best to draft players that played as a waiver wire acquisitions with them the year before. The Otters had that chance, yet, passed on you with the 6th overall pick. How do you respond to that?
I'm not too mad about it, they thought I'd like to see an Ultimus trophy sometime in my career, so they let me play in Baltimore. :cigar: Don't @ me...
One of the many story lines to follow this year, that’s for sure. On a more positive note, former Otters team mate, Trey Willie, was also passed over by the Otters and drafted by the Hawks. How does it feel to know that you'll have at least one familiar face in the locker room?
I was exhilarated when I got a message from Trey that read, "looks like we're going across the country together." At first, I thought, "Man what did the Hawks have to trade to get a top 4 pick? Then I saw he was drafted at number 10, and I knew the Hawks got a steal in this kid. An absolute baller, he's got the speed, hands, and agility of a seasoned veteran. According to Rony Tomo anyways. He's my guy for NSFL info
That first Hawks- Otters game will certainly be one to watch.
Being born in San Diego and playing football at San Diego State, there were concerns with how you will handle cold weather, and is rumored to be one the reasons the Yellowknife Wraiths passed on you. Baltimore will have at least one game with snow on the field, possibly a few. Are you more excited or concerned to be playing football in the snow?
I'm very excited to be playing football in the snow. My favorite games of last season were in Yellowknife and Baltimore. If you look historically at the now-gone NFL, the greatest Vikings team of all time played under Bud Grant, famously never used heaters on the sideline, toughed it out, and it got into opponents’ heads. That's a benefit I know that will be in our favor in Baltimore.
My final question for you, Ricardo. Everyone knows that there are two things Maryland does well, football and crab cakes. Clearly, you've got the football side covered. Where do you stand on the crab cakes?
I don't yet know really where I stand on crab cakes. Recently, my teammate and new friend Owen Taylor said he was gonna take the new guys out on the town and make sure we had some, so I'll have to get back to you on that, haha!
Well, I have to say…you are in for a treat. Ricardo, it’s been a pleasure having you here tonight and I hope we can have you in studio again soon.
This is Jack Mehoff for NSFL tonight saying, goodnight.
Please split pay 50/50 between @cosbornballboy and myself. Thanks!
GRADED
[OPTION]Johnny Snuggles || CB || Yellowknife Wraiths || Hall of Fame [OPTION]Height/Weight: 6'1", 205 [OPTION]Number: 21 [OPTION] Draft History: S13 #1 Overall [OPTION]=========================================== [OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:[OPTION] Ultimini Champs: S12 [OPTION] Defensive Rookie of the Year: S13 [OPTION] Pro Bowl: S14, S15, S16