It was the first day of the offseason for the Philadelphia Liberty, with their 26-24 loss to the Colorado Yeti in Week 16 resulting in a 7-9 season which saw them miss the NSFC playoffs. One of the hardest workers on the team and always eager to improve, Brandon Booker arrived at the Liberty team facility before it was even light. This was as much out of necessity as it was by choice - if he didn't arrive this early then Simon Tremblay would beat him to the weight room and there was no way of telling how long Booker would have to wait to use the equipment if he did.
Brandon went to put his key into the lock, which he noticed looked much shinier than usual. As he tried to turn the key, nothing happened. He tried again, more forcefully, and still with no luck. Someone had changed the lock. They'd just forgotten to give him a new key, he figured. He took out his phone and messaged one of the members of staff he remembered worked the early shift. They'd come to open the door in a minute or two, he figured. Five minutes passed, then ten. Then fifteen. He called the reception desk at the facility. No answer.
He opened the the WhatsApp group he shared with the other defensive backs and the Philadelphia defensive backs coach Dennis Minott. Matt Cross and Wesley Eriksen were roommates, and usually turned up at the facility together a little after Booker. Or, he tried to. He'd been removed from the group. This no longer seemed like a coincidence.
Then, a notification appeared on his phone. It was a message from the general manager. "So, you've been traded..." the message began.
Booker gathered that the trade couldn't be made official until the beginning of the new league year, but Philadelphia had decided to cut ties with him ASAP. Locked out of the team facility, removed from the team group chats and without being linked up with his new team yet, Booker was effectively without a team for this part of the offseason.
Denied the opportunity to empty his locker or say goodbye to his former teammates in person, Booker reluctantly got back in his car and headed to the nearest Planet Fitness - not the ideal venue for your offseason workouts.
Brandon Booker finishes his time as a Philadelphia Liberty player having played four seasons in which he accumulated 263 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 15 interceptions, 56 pass deflections and 5 defensive touchdowns.
(430 words)
Brandon went to put his key into the lock, which he noticed looked much shinier than usual. As he tried to turn the key, nothing happened. He tried again, more forcefully, and still with no luck. Someone had changed the lock. They'd just forgotten to give him a new key, he figured. He took out his phone and messaged one of the members of staff he remembered worked the early shift. They'd come to open the door in a minute or two, he figured. Five minutes passed, then ten. Then fifteen. He called the reception desk at the facility. No answer.
He opened the the WhatsApp group he shared with the other defensive backs and the Philadelphia defensive backs coach Dennis Minott. Matt Cross and Wesley Eriksen were roommates, and usually turned up at the facility together a little after Booker. Or, he tried to. He'd been removed from the group. This no longer seemed like a coincidence.
Then, a notification appeared on his phone. It was a message from the general manager. "So, you've been traded..." the message began.
Booker gathered that the trade couldn't be made official until the beginning of the new league year, but Philadelphia had decided to cut ties with him ASAP. Locked out of the team facility, removed from the team group chats and without being linked up with his new team yet, Booker was effectively without a team for this part of the offseason.
Denied the opportunity to empty his locker or say goodbye to his former teammates in person, Booker reluctantly got back in his car and headed to the nearest Planet Fitness - not the ideal venue for your offseason workouts.
Brandon Booker finishes his time as a Philadelphia Liberty player having played four seasons in which he accumulated 263 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 15 interceptions, 56 pass deflections and 5 defensive touchdowns.
(430 words)
[OPTION]S24 (PHI): 16 GP, 73 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 3 sacks, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 2 TDs
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs
[OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats:
[OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]Trophies and Achievements:
[OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft
[OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs
[OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats:
[OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles
[OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs
[OPTION]=============================================================
[OPTION]Trophies and Achievements:
[OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft
[OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]=============================================================
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[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee
[OPTION]=============================================================
Player | Update | Wiki | Twitter