Today in Free Agency we saw the biggest contract to grace the NSFL in Bercovici’s blockbuster deal with the Legion. While it isn’t the 5 year contract that he originally was offered but had to be rescinded due to legal protections, he has a 3 year, 21 Million dollar deal. Now that the Legion officially have their man, did Bercovici officially become the most overpaid man? So, what has Bercovici done to become the highest paid player? Well, he has basically done nothing to earn this distinction.
First let’s look at where he was on the depth chart. He played for the Orange County Otters last season, and was a third of the QB controversy that they had. Along with Bercovici, the Otters also had Ethan Hunt and Mike Boss as QBs (although Hunt was traded during the season). He got the least amount of playing time among the three, only playing 4 games total. Hunt’s numbers are a little skewed however since he was traded, so he’ll be able to start the whole season while Boss and Bercovici still combined to start the whole season with the Otters. So, you have Hunt, someone who was traded away, but was the starter the first few weeks, you have Mike Boss, someone who started a good portion of the season but was an interception machine, and you have Bercovici, someone who brings drama wherever he goes and someone who had about 4 games of play. Which one of those 4 deserves to have the blockbuster deal fall in their lap? Well, I’m not going to say Bercovici deserves it that’s for sure.
Let’s look at Bercovici’s stats in the 4 games he was able to play. He completed 50 of the 93 passing attempts he made. He threw for 581 yards in those 4 games, and had 53.8 completion percentage. His longest pass was 40 yards, he threw for 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and had a 69.3 QB rating. Now looking at these stats nothing really jumps off the screen, he has no stats that seem to be above average, no stats that make me think he deserves to be the richest man in the NSFL. Could this be a product of his depth chart positioning? A situation where he never got the chance to start could be the cause, and he could have a breakout season with the Legion this season. Could this be the stepping stone that Bercovici needed, a team that actually wanted him and his circus act that follows, that allows him to step up and start playing like a superstar? I don’t have faith in the drama parade that is Bercovici, but if he proves his naysayers wrong and can lead the Legion to the playoffs he will be able to show the Otters why they chose wrong at QB.
What happens if he doesn’t pan out? How do the Legion escape the handcuffs they placed on themselves if he doesn’t have a breakout season? They surely won’t be able to trade Bercovici to get rid of his contract, no one will want a failed QB who is unable to stay out of the media’s eye. If they cut him it will push him to the dead cap pile instead of the starting QB spot. This could be a horrible deal for the Legion, and for an expansion team having a gamble like this go wrong could push the team back 3 seasons and make them the laughingstock of the NSFL. To me, this deal is a huge make or break deal, where the ticking time bomb that is Josh Bercovici could come out the only winner, as he’ll walk away with the robbery of a lifetime that is the deal the Legion gave him.
Do I want to see Bercovici do well? Of course, wishing for a player to not do well only makes me look bad, and I want to see the Legion be a competitive team that challenges for a playoff spot. Do I think he will produce in accordance with the deal he got from the Legion? No, I think this is going to end up a failed project where Bercovici is run out of Las Vegas, but running with the last laugh as he stole that money from Las Vegas. I think the deal he got is nowhere near the value that someone with his amount of time played, with his stats, and with his drama act that follows. Good luck Las Vegas, may your QB show you something he hasn’t shown me, a starter.
(765 words, ready to be graded)
Graded
First let’s look at where he was on the depth chart. He played for the Orange County Otters last season, and was a third of the QB controversy that they had. Along with Bercovici, the Otters also had Ethan Hunt and Mike Boss as QBs (although Hunt was traded during the season). He got the least amount of playing time among the three, only playing 4 games total. Hunt’s numbers are a little skewed however since he was traded, so he’ll be able to start the whole season while Boss and Bercovici still combined to start the whole season with the Otters. So, you have Hunt, someone who was traded away, but was the starter the first few weeks, you have Mike Boss, someone who started a good portion of the season but was an interception machine, and you have Bercovici, someone who brings drama wherever he goes and someone who had about 4 games of play. Which one of those 4 deserves to have the blockbuster deal fall in their lap? Well, I’m not going to say Bercovici deserves it that’s for sure.
Let’s look at Bercovici’s stats in the 4 games he was able to play. He completed 50 of the 93 passing attempts he made. He threw for 581 yards in those 4 games, and had 53.8 completion percentage. His longest pass was 40 yards, he threw for 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and had a 69.3 QB rating. Now looking at these stats nothing really jumps off the screen, he has no stats that seem to be above average, no stats that make me think he deserves to be the richest man in the NSFL. Could this be a product of his depth chart positioning? A situation where he never got the chance to start could be the cause, and he could have a breakout season with the Legion this season. Could this be the stepping stone that Bercovici needed, a team that actually wanted him and his circus act that follows, that allows him to step up and start playing like a superstar? I don’t have faith in the drama parade that is Bercovici, but if he proves his naysayers wrong and can lead the Legion to the playoffs he will be able to show the Otters why they chose wrong at QB.
What happens if he doesn’t pan out? How do the Legion escape the handcuffs they placed on themselves if he doesn’t have a breakout season? They surely won’t be able to trade Bercovici to get rid of his contract, no one will want a failed QB who is unable to stay out of the media’s eye. If they cut him it will push him to the dead cap pile instead of the starting QB spot. This could be a horrible deal for the Legion, and for an expansion team having a gamble like this go wrong could push the team back 3 seasons and make them the laughingstock of the NSFL. To me, this deal is a huge make or break deal, where the ticking time bomb that is Josh Bercovici could come out the only winner, as he’ll walk away with the robbery of a lifetime that is the deal the Legion gave him.
Do I want to see Bercovici do well? Of course, wishing for a player to not do well only makes me look bad, and I want to see the Legion be a competitive team that challenges for a playoff spot. Do I think he will produce in accordance with the deal he got from the Legion? No, I think this is going to end up a failed project where Bercovici is run out of Las Vegas, but running with the last laugh as he stole that money from Las Vegas. I think the deal he got is nowhere near the value that someone with his amount of time played, with his stats, and with his drama act that follows. Good luck Las Vegas, may your QB show you something he hasn’t shown me, a starter.
(765 words, ready to be graded)
Graded
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