The continual rise of a star, the Cristiano Ronaldo Story.
In season one Ronaldo was slept on. Ronaldo expected the season 2 draft to be his big break but he was slighted again. This is his story.
Clark Kent: Ronaldo, how did you feel you performed in your first NSFL season?
Cristiano Ronaldo: I know I wasn’t the best player at my position, but I don’t think the stats show everything. I was on one of the best teams in the league. The Otters played very well and were rarely stuck in their side of the field needing to punt across the field for big yards. When I was called on I did my job the best I could and I felt it was impressive considering I only played 6 games and was competing with players who had 14 games of experience and an entire off season that I did not. I still managed to tie for 4th best punting average in the league.
CK: Where did you expect to go on the day of the draft?
CR: Round or team?
CK: Why don’t you give us both, if you have them?
CR: Well I was expecting and hoping to be drafted to the Otters. I spent the latter half of the season with them and I had a good time. I experienced my first playoff game and had to cope with the loss of falling short with those guys. I told other teams when the scouting messages were pouring in that I wasn’t going to hold out, but I did not want to play for them, I was very happy with my current team. I will admit was not a vocal leader or anything in the locker room but I contributed and talked to some of those guys. I expressed interest in the team and I was told that I was valued and wanted to be brought back. I believed them for two reasons. 1. I had no reason not to believe them. 2. It made sense. The Otters did not have a good kicker on the roster aside from me. I filled a position that they needed on the team. I have been in touch with one of the Otters GMs following the draft and I do believe he was sincere in wanting me back but other members of the leadership did not feel the same. More frustrating is that I was sitting around in rounds where they were taking players who are simply put, worse than me. No offense to these guys but Ben Green only has 74 TPE and he barely does tasks or logs on. Isaiah McGinn has 94 TPE and is a solid player, but there were a lot of safeties that were available in this draft of similar caliber. I do not think I am being arrogant declaring that there was only one kicker in this draft of my ability. I was by far the best kicker available at a position with limited active players. I should have gone earlier in the draft, in the 4th or 5th round maybe, would have been reasonable. Teams are taking random guesses on backup players when a starter is sitting there. That’s what I think anyways.
CK: Any idea why you feel to the 6th round?
CR: I think one factor was I expressed loyalty to a team during the pre-date process that to be honest was not returned. I believed in the Otters and my value to the team so I semi-intentionally harmed my draft stocks with other teams so I could go back to play with the players I enjoyed playing with. I feel like some of them were just using me to get a cheap player of value, much like they did with another, more high profile player in the league. I think it also has to do with teams undervaluing special teams’ players. Personally I think that makes even less since in this league then in real life because kickers can do both positions. I entered the league with the intent of just punting mostly because it would open up more roles for other players in the league. Nobody asked me if I would placekick until the Outlaws drafted me on Wednesday. I will be serving as their place kicker and punter in season 2.
CK: You mentioned that you felt kickers were undervalued, what IS their value?
CR: Well I think it comes down to them being valuable and filling two starting roles on a team, while also being limited in the league. How many active kickers are there? I don’t know if there are 8 kickers earning TPE every time and I am doing, I think, every single thing. I think that creates value for me. I think, you can also look at my contract and see that the Arizona Outlaws general manager A. Dwyer knows what he is doing. I will be honest and say I did not want to play for the Outlaws, but A. Dwyer paid me a rightful salary and is properly valuing kicker. I am hoping that, with my contract and the effort of the Outlaws, I can not only take care of myself and my family, but other kickers in the league is well.
CK: Anything else you’d like to share about your draft experience?
CR: I was waiting around for a long time. I was sad when I saw the results. But I think it is going to be part of my journey as a player. This is God’s plan for me and I will trust in the Lord. I am happy that A. Dwyer trusts me as a player and I believe I am on good terms with him after having a conversation and testing his character. Today when I started the talks I did not want to be here and considered holding out, but I decided to respect the draft process and the league and play for the team that took me. I have a contract that I think is fair for both parties and if things go well, may be good for my long-term success and the Outlaws as well. I am happy to be on the Outlaws and be one of the top paid players in the league, I intend to live up to my deal. Thank you for interviewing me Clark.
CK: Thank you for sitting down and talking with me Ronaldo. I look forward to watching your career in the league.
@`Sanctus` @ADwyer87
Please give 90% of the payment for this article to Sanctus. I sent him questions over discord and he answered them for me.
GRADED
In season one Ronaldo was slept on. Ronaldo expected the season 2 draft to be his big break but he was slighted again. This is his story.
Clark Kent: Ronaldo, how did you feel you performed in your first NSFL season?
Cristiano Ronaldo: I know I wasn’t the best player at my position, but I don’t think the stats show everything. I was on one of the best teams in the league. The Otters played very well and were rarely stuck in their side of the field needing to punt across the field for big yards. When I was called on I did my job the best I could and I felt it was impressive considering I only played 6 games and was competing with players who had 14 games of experience and an entire off season that I did not. I still managed to tie for 4th best punting average in the league.
CK: Where did you expect to go on the day of the draft?
CR: Round or team?
CK: Why don’t you give us both, if you have them?
CR: Well I was expecting and hoping to be drafted to the Otters. I spent the latter half of the season with them and I had a good time. I experienced my first playoff game and had to cope with the loss of falling short with those guys. I told other teams when the scouting messages were pouring in that I wasn’t going to hold out, but I did not want to play for them, I was very happy with my current team. I will admit was not a vocal leader or anything in the locker room but I contributed and talked to some of those guys. I expressed interest in the team and I was told that I was valued and wanted to be brought back. I believed them for two reasons. 1. I had no reason not to believe them. 2. It made sense. The Otters did not have a good kicker on the roster aside from me. I filled a position that they needed on the team. I have been in touch with one of the Otters GMs following the draft and I do believe he was sincere in wanting me back but other members of the leadership did not feel the same. More frustrating is that I was sitting around in rounds where they were taking players who are simply put, worse than me. No offense to these guys but Ben Green only has 74 TPE and he barely does tasks or logs on. Isaiah McGinn has 94 TPE and is a solid player, but there were a lot of safeties that were available in this draft of similar caliber. I do not think I am being arrogant declaring that there was only one kicker in this draft of my ability. I was by far the best kicker available at a position with limited active players. I should have gone earlier in the draft, in the 4th or 5th round maybe, would have been reasonable. Teams are taking random guesses on backup players when a starter is sitting there. That’s what I think anyways.
CK: Any idea why you feel to the 6th round?
CR: I think one factor was I expressed loyalty to a team during the pre-date process that to be honest was not returned. I believed in the Otters and my value to the team so I semi-intentionally harmed my draft stocks with other teams so I could go back to play with the players I enjoyed playing with. I feel like some of them were just using me to get a cheap player of value, much like they did with another, more high profile player in the league. I think it also has to do with teams undervaluing special teams’ players. Personally I think that makes even less since in this league then in real life because kickers can do both positions. I entered the league with the intent of just punting mostly because it would open up more roles for other players in the league. Nobody asked me if I would placekick until the Outlaws drafted me on Wednesday. I will be serving as their place kicker and punter in season 2.
CK: You mentioned that you felt kickers were undervalued, what IS their value?
CR: Well I think it comes down to them being valuable and filling two starting roles on a team, while also being limited in the league. How many active kickers are there? I don’t know if there are 8 kickers earning TPE every time and I am doing, I think, every single thing. I think that creates value for me. I think, you can also look at my contract and see that the Arizona Outlaws general manager A. Dwyer knows what he is doing. I will be honest and say I did not want to play for the Outlaws, but A. Dwyer paid me a rightful salary and is properly valuing kicker. I am hoping that, with my contract and the effort of the Outlaws, I can not only take care of myself and my family, but other kickers in the league is well.
CK: Anything else you’d like to share about your draft experience?
CR: I was waiting around for a long time. I was sad when I saw the results. But I think it is going to be part of my journey as a player. This is God’s plan for me and I will trust in the Lord. I am happy that A. Dwyer trusts me as a player and I believe I am on good terms with him after having a conversation and testing his character. Today when I started the talks I did not want to be here and considered holding out, but I decided to respect the draft process and the league and play for the team that took me. I have a contract that I think is fair for both parties and if things go well, may be good for my long-term success and the Outlaws as well. I am happy to be on the Outlaws and be one of the top paid players in the league, I intend to live up to my deal. Thank you for interviewing me Clark.
CK: Thank you for sitting down and talking with me Ronaldo. I look forward to watching your career in the league.
@`Sanctus` @ADwyer87
Please give 90% of the payment for this article to Sanctus. I sent him questions over discord and he answered them for me.
GRADED
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