“I think it’s nice to know people have come to terms with it.”
After announcing his retirement at the beginning of the season, Orange County Otter running back Leroy Jenkins is just enjoying life. After an amazing first season, he began to disappear behind the growing passing offense in Santa Barbara Stadium. Now, Jenkins says that he’d prefer to pass the torch on to his younger teammates.
“After Elrich [Burnsman]’s record shattering rookie season, I knew that his speed was the way to go. I said the same thing when I came into the league, power backs are a dying breed. At the beginning, it was smarter to be stronger; but now it seems to be focused on speed. Being able to run around players is a lot more effective than running through them.”
While that part of his game was beginning to be diminished, Jenkins’ other skills began to show. Back to that rookie season: Jenkins had the most pancakes of any non-lineman and even beat out many linemen who had played almost every snap of the season. He continued his blocking throughout the rest of his career, but the real change came in S3.
“I don’t really know why, but Mike [Boss] just started throwing the ball my way a whole lot more. Of course, we were throwing more in general, but I wasn’t really expecting that many targets. It just happened.”
Between S2 and S3, Jenkins doubled his receptions to 46 and had taken the ball 387 yards through the air. Many believed that this would be a turning point in his career. It was, but it wasn’t the one anyone was expecting.
“I gave a lot to this league and hope to continue giving until the very end, but I felt like I was never going to be able to give enough to my teammates. I could’ve changed positions, many people have been doing that recently, but I didn’t think it would be right. I came into this league not expecting to be a star, I don’t want to try to do all these crazy things to be one. I’ve done my job for a few seasons and I hope that it’s enough to be remembered by my teammates for.”
Those same teammates have shown incredible solidarity for Jenkins, now starting on another great run for the Ultimus trophy. After losing the last three seasons in the Solis Trophy, the Otters look to mathematically be the strongest team in the league. This is thanks in part to a strange late career resurgence from Jenkins, who looks to be on pace to outperform his S3 numbers in both rushing and receiving.
“We’re calling it a ‘Year Long Retirement Party’, just like Grandpa Rossy and the Cubs. I’m not exactly that old, but it’s still nice to say I’ve got a lot left in me this season. I want to make sure that I get everything out and make sure to leave it all on the field.”
Some commentators are even suggesting the possibility of a Brett Favre-like fake retirement, but Jenkins already has plans for the future.
“Well, first I’m planning on moving in with my wife finally. Living on opposite parts of the continent doesn’t really help a relationship. She’s about to move on from the SMJHL and on to her SHL team. We’ve talked about it and that’s probably where I’ll be hanging around, being a trophy husband and all that. However, the call of football is strong and I’d like to get in the booth, maybe even go into coaching. Just because I can’t play, doesn’t mean I won’t be around. There’s finally a team in Chicago, so I will definitely try to be in contact with Ms. Jones over there.”
In the end, Leroy Jenkins has seen a pretty nice career. While his story is one filled with disappointment, that twinkle in his eye has never truly gone out. But there’s always the question that comes at the end of everything. As the Pet Shop Boys once said, “All the love that we had and the love that we hide, who will bury us when we die?” Basically, does Leroy believe that his legend has a chance to live on in the Hall of Fame?
“Probably not. I’d love to think that my 4 seasons here have been enough of a resume, but I never held my own position at any point in my time here at OC. I’ve really enjoyed my time here in the NSFL, but I don’t even have a ring… yet. We’ll see by the end of the season. But I really don’t see a bust in my future. Maybe as a coach.”
And so he rides off into the sunset. The man who was given a chance and was able to shine, at least for the short time he did. And while it’s not quite over and it’s still in the balance whether or not he’ll get his ring, we think he’ll be just fine.
GRADED
After announcing his retirement at the beginning of the season, Orange County Otter running back Leroy Jenkins is just enjoying life. After an amazing first season, he began to disappear behind the growing passing offense in Santa Barbara Stadium. Now, Jenkins says that he’d prefer to pass the torch on to his younger teammates.
“After Elrich [Burnsman]’s record shattering rookie season, I knew that his speed was the way to go. I said the same thing when I came into the league, power backs are a dying breed. At the beginning, it was smarter to be stronger; but now it seems to be focused on speed. Being able to run around players is a lot more effective than running through them.”
While that part of his game was beginning to be diminished, Jenkins’ other skills began to show. Back to that rookie season: Jenkins had the most pancakes of any non-lineman and even beat out many linemen who had played almost every snap of the season. He continued his blocking throughout the rest of his career, but the real change came in S3.
“I don’t really know why, but Mike [Boss] just started throwing the ball my way a whole lot more. Of course, we were throwing more in general, but I wasn’t really expecting that many targets. It just happened.”
Between S2 and S3, Jenkins doubled his receptions to 46 and had taken the ball 387 yards through the air. Many believed that this would be a turning point in his career. It was, but it wasn’t the one anyone was expecting.
“I gave a lot to this league and hope to continue giving until the very end, but I felt like I was never going to be able to give enough to my teammates. I could’ve changed positions, many people have been doing that recently, but I didn’t think it would be right. I came into this league not expecting to be a star, I don’t want to try to do all these crazy things to be one. I’ve done my job for a few seasons and I hope that it’s enough to be remembered by my teammates for.”
Those same teammates have shown incredible solidarity for Jenkins, now starting on another great run for the Ultimus trophy. After losing the last three seasons in the Solis Trophy, the Otters look to mathematically be the strongest team in the league. This is thanks in part to a strange late career resurgence from Jenkins, who looks to be on pace to outperform his S3 numbers in both rushing and receiving.
“We’re calling it a ‘Year Long Retirement Party’, just like Grandpa Rossy and the Cubs. I’m not exactly that old, but it’s still nice to say I’ve got a lot left in me this season. I want to make sure that I get everything out and make sure to leave it all on the field.”
Some commentators are even suggesting the possibility of a Brett Favre-like fake retirement, but Jenkins already has plans for the future.
“Well, first I’m planning on moving in with my wife finally. Living on opposite parts of the continent doesn’t really help a relationship. She’s about to move on from the SMJHL and on to her SHL team. We’ve talked about it and that’s probably where I’ll be hanging around, being a trophy husband and all that. However, the call of football is strong and I’d like to get in the booth, maybe even go into coaching. Just because I can’t play, doesn’t mean I won’t be around. There’s finally a team in Chicago, so I will definitely try to be in contact with Ms. Jones over there.”
In the end, Leroy Jenkins has seen a pretty nice career. While his story is one filled with disappointment, that twinkle in his eye has never truly gone out. But there’s always the question that comes at the end of everything. As the Pet Shop Boys once said, “All the love that we had and the love that we hide, who will bury us when we die?” Basically, does Leroy believe that his legend has a chance to live on in the Hall of Fame?
“Probably not. I’d love to think that my 4 seasons here have been enough of a resume, but I never held my own position at any point in my time here at OC. I’ve really enjoyed my time here in the NSFL, but I don’t even have a ring… yet. We’ll see by the end of the season. But I really don’t see a bust in my future. Maybe as a coach.”
And so he rides off into the sunset. The man who was given a chance and was able to shine, at least for the short time he did. And while it’s not quite over and it’s still in the balance whether or not he’ll get his ring, we think he’ll be just fine.
GRADED
[OPTION]S32: CAR: 0 \ RUS: 0 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 35 \ REC: 582 \ RET: 3
[OPTION]S33: CAR: 395 \ RUS: 1756 \ RUT: 21 \ CAT: 14 \ REC: 124 \ RET: 1
[OPTION]S34: CAR: 196 \ RUS: 831 \ RUT: 6 \ CAT: 35 \ REC: 582 \ RET: 3
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S31: DNQ
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S31: DNQ
[OPTION]S32: CAR: 0 \ RUS: 0 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 7 \ REC: 67 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]S33: CAR: 47 \ RUS: 147 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 2 \ REC: 7 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]S33: CAR: 47 \ RUS: 147 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 2 \ REC: 7 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]S33 DSFL RBOTY
[OPTION]S33 DSFL MVP
[OPTION]Height: 6'2"
[OPTION]Weight: 195 lbs
[OPTION]Birthplace: Yakushima, Japan
[OPTION]Number: 23
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S22: CAR: 0 \ RUS: 0 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 0 \ REC: 0 \ RET: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S23: CAR: 23 \ RUS: 89 \ RUT: 2 \ CAT: 14 \ REC: 112 \ RET: 0 \ KR: 569 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S22: CAR: 0 \ RUS: 0 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 0 \ REC: 0 \ RET: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S23: DNQ
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S24: CAR: 192 \ RUS: 744 \ RUT: 6 \ CAT: 7 \ REC: 59 \ RET: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S25: CAR: 232 \ RUS: 860 \ RUT: 4 \ CAT: 19 \ REC: 140 \ RET: 2 \ KR: 977 \ PR: 44 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S26: CAR: 54 \ RUS: 213 \ RUT: 3 \ CAT: 72 \ REC: 818 \ RET: 8 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S27: CAR: 179 \ RUS: 633 \ RUT: 4 \ CAT: 38 \ REC: 329 \ RET: 2 \ KR: 100 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S24: DNQ
[OPTION]S25: DNQ
[OPTION]S26: DNQ
[OPTION]S27: DNQ
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]Height: 6'1"
[OPTION]Weight: 180 lbs
[OPTION]Birthplace: Chicago, IL
[OPTION]Number: 13
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S13: Comp: 213 // Yards: 2306 // Comp%: 55 // TD: 10 // INT: 14 // Rating: 66.3
[OPTION]S14: Comp: 231 // Yards: 2100 // Comp%: 58.5 // TD: 11 // INT: 10 // Rating: 71.7
[OPTION]S15: Comp: 180 // Yards: 1595 // Comp%: 54.9 // TD: 7 // INT: 14 // Rating: 57.4
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S13: Comp: 45 // Yards: 485 // Comp%: 57.7% // TD: 3 // INT: 2
[OPTION]S14: DNQ
[OPTION]S15: Comp: 11 // Yards: 130 // Comp%: 55% // TD: 1 // INT: 1
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S16: Comp: 216 // Yards: 3106 // Comp%: 55.7% // TD: 18 // INT: 7 // Rating: 89.8
[OPTION]S17: Comp: 202 // Yards: 2267 // Comp%: 62.2% // TD: 18 // INT: 8 // Rating: 94
[OPTION]S18: Comp: 302 // Yards: 3652 // Comp%: 57% // TD: 18 // INT: 16 // Rating: 77
[OPTION]S19: Comp: 326 // Yards: 3716 // Comp%: 56.4% // TD: 11 // INT: 15 // Rating: 71.4
[OPTION]S20: Comp: 347 // Yards: 4275 // Comp%: 56.5% // TD: 28 // INT: 12 // Rating: 85.2
[OPTION]S21: Comp: 267 // Yards: 3242 // Comp%: 57.5% // TD: 24 // INT: 8 // Rating: 89.2
[OPTION]S22: Comp: 236 // Yards: 2864 // Comp%: 53% // TD: 8 // INT: 11 // Rating: 68.8
[OPTION]Career: Comp: 1896 // Yards: 23,122 // Comp%: 56.9% // TD: 125 // INT: 77
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S16: Comp: 21 // Yards: 231 // Comp%: 65.6% // TD: 3 // INT: 3 // Rating: 79
[OPTION]S17: Comp: 18 // Yards: 186 // Comp%: 48.6% // TD: 0 // INT: 1 // Rating: 52.3
[OPTION]S18: DNQ
[OPTION]S19: DNQ
[OPTION]S20: DNQ
[OPTION]S21: DNQ
[OPTION]S22: Comp: 16 // Yards: 184 // Comp%: 57.1% // TD: 1 // INT: 1 // Rating: 74.1
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]
[OPTION]Height: 5'9"
[OPTION]Weight: 185 lbs
[OPTION]Birthplace: Brookfield, IL
[OPTION]Number: 23
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S4: Tackles: 50 \ PDs: 15 \ INTs: 4 \ DTDs: 1 \ KR: 493 \ PR: 418 \ RetTD: 1
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]DSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S4: DNQ
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S5: Tackles: 60 \ Sacks: 2 \ PDs: 4 \ INTs: 1 \ DTDs: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S6: Tackles: 50 \ Sacks: 6 \ PDs: 5 \ INTs: 0 \ DTDs: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S7: Tackles: 92 \ Sacks: 0 \ PDs: 4 \ INTs: 2 \ DTDs: 0 \ Catches: 16 \ RecY: 171 \ RecTD: 3
[OPTION]S8: Catches: 71 \ RecY: 1239 \ RecTD: 6 \ YPC: 17.5 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S9: Catches: 70 \ RecY: 1168 \ RecTD: 3 \ YPC: 17.0 // KR: 711 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S10: Catches: 68 \ RecY: 1348 \ RecTD: 9 \ YPC: 19.8 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S11: Catches: 71 \ RecY: 1003 \ RecTD: 5 \ YPC: 14.1 // KR: 956 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S12: Catches: 47 \ RecY: 685 \ RecTD: 8 \ YPC: 14.6 // KR: 315 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S13: Catches: 53 \ RecY: 805 \ RecTD: 8 \ YPC: 15.2 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]Career (Defense): Tackles: 202 \ Sacks: 8 \ PDs: 13 \ INTs: 3 \ DTDs: 0
[OPTION]Career (Offense): Catches: 396 \ RecY: 6419 \ RecTD: 50
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]NSFL Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S5: Tackles: 9 \ Sacks: 0 \ PDs: 0 \ INTs: 0 \ DTDs: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S6: Tackles: 8 \ Sacks: 1 \ PDs: 0 \ INTs: 0 \ DTDs: 0 \ KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S7: Tackles: 8 \ Sacks: 0 \ PDs: 0 \ INTs: 0 \ DTDs: 0 \ Catches: 2 \ RecY: 18 \ RecTD: 0
[OPTION]S8: Catches: 3 \ RecY: 40 \ RecTD: 0 \ YPC: 13.3 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S9: Catches: 3 \ RecY: 45 \ RecTD: 0 \ YPC: 15 // KR: 43 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S10: DNQ
[OPTION]S11: Catches: 4 \ RecY: 29 \ RecTD: 1 \ YPC: 7.2 // KR: 54 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S12: Catches: 11 \ RecY: 208 \ RecTD: 1 \ YPC: 18.9 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]S13: Catches: 6 \ RecY: 55 \ RecTD: 0 \ YPC: 9.2 // KR: 0 \ PR: 0 \ RetTD: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]S5: Ultimus Trophy Winners
[OPTION]S6: Ultimus Trophy Winners
[OPTION]S12: Ultimus Trophy Winners
[OPTION]S13: Ultimus Trophy Winners
[OPTION]Height: 6'4"
[OPTION]Weight: 260 lbs
[OPTION]Birthplace: Chicago, IL
[OPTION]Number: 3
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S1: CAR: 207 \ RUS: 995 \ RUT: 4 \ CAT: 19 \ REC: 148 \ RET: 1
[OPTION]S2: CAR: 191 \ RUS: 640 \ RUT: 2 \ CAT: 23 \ REC: 142 \ RET: 3
[OPTION]S3: CAR: 123 \ RUS: 359 \ RUT: 5 \ CAT: 46 \ REC: 387 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]S4: CAR: 123 \ RUS: 357 \ RUT: 6 \ CAT: 69 \ REC: 533 \ RET: 2
[OPTION]Career: CAR: 664 \ RUS: 2351 \ RUT: 17 \ CAT: 157 \ REC: 1210 \ RET: 6
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Playoff Stats
[OPTION]S1: CAR: 15 \ RUS: 59 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 2 \ REC: 11 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]S2: CAR: 13 \ RUS: 32 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 0 \ REC: 0 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]S3: CAR: 0 \ RUS: 0 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 6 \ REC: 19 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]S4: CAR: 6 \ RUS: 16 \ RUT: 0 \ CAT: 4 \ REC: 17 \ RET: 0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]S4: Ultimus Trophy Winners
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Record:
[OPTION]NSFL S1: OC Otters: 9-5-0
[OPTION]NSFL S2: OC Otters: 8-6-0
[OPTION]EFL S1: Notre Dame University: 0-14-0
[OPTION]NSFL S3: Chicago Blues: 10-4-0
[OPTION]NSFL S4: Chicago Blues: 5-9-0
[OPTION]NSFL S5: Chicago Coyotes: 3-7-0
[OPTION]PBE S7: Milwaukee Swans: 50-50 (Lost World Series 2-3)
[OPTION]NSFL S17: Chicago Butchers: 8-5-0
[OPTION]NSFL S18: Chicago Butchers: 5-8-0
[OPTION]===========================================
[OPTION]Trophy Case/Achievements:
[OPTION]NSFL S1: Finished 2nd in league (2nd in conference)
[OPTION]NSFL S1: Solis Trophy Runners-Up
[OPTION]NSFL S1: GMs of the Year Runners-Up
[OPTION]NSFL S2: Founded DSFL Franchise, Chicago Blues
[OPTION]EFL S1: Joined Notre Dame University as Athletic Director
[OPTION]NSFL S2: Finished 3rd in league (2nd in conference)
[OPTION]NSFL S2: Solis Trophy Runners-Up
[OPTION]EFL S1: Resigned from Athletic Director position with Notre Dame
[OPTION]NSFL S3: Finished 1st in league (1st in conference)
[OPTION]NSFL S3: Noble Trophy Semifinals Runners-Up
[OPTION]NSFL S4: Finished 5th in league (3rd in conference)
[OPTION]NSFL S5: Joined DSFL Franchise, Kansas City Coyotes
[OPTION]NSFL S5: Moved DSFL Franchise, Kansas City Coyotes from Kansas City to Chicago, creating the Chicago Coyotes
[OPTION]NSFL S5: Retired from Leadership Positions in the NSFL
[OPTION]PBE S7: Co-Founded MiPBE Franchise Milwaukee Swans
[OPTION]PBE S7: Finished Runners-up in MiPBE World Series
[OPTION]PBE S8: Resigned from MiPBE team Milwaukee Swans before the start of the season
[OPTION]NSFL S17: Joined NSFL Franchise, Chicago Butchers
[OPTION]NSFL S19: Resigned from NSFL team Chicago Butchers before the start of the season
[OPTION]NSFL S21: Appointed Interim GM of Chicago Butchers
[OPTION]NSFL S21: Staged a violent military coup to gain control of Chicago Butchers
[OPTION]NSFL S21: Retired from all Leadership Positions
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Quote:"There is no such thing as a person who can call themselves truly not lonely. There are only those who choose to hide it."
-Chizuru Ichinose