Mike Boss has made it quite clear in the Orange County Locker Room that he's not content with the contract negotiations and is going to seek a paycheck elsewhere. I intend to examine all the possible landing places for Boss, even if they don't make much sense.
1. Colorado Yeti
The Yeti clearly have reason to need Mike Boss. Logan Noble violated rules and was suspended for all of season 3. The replacement Nicholas Pierno has given his best effort, but as of right now, he has 4 TDs and 29 interceptions. Hendrix and West have been pretty much non-existent in the offense due to the poor QB play and Boss Tweed can only do so much on his own. Mike Boss would immediately make this team into a contender again. Especially if Noble and Pierno swap positions and continue to help the franchise grow as key players.
2. Las Vegas Legion
Josh Bercovici has put in a good two years, but the result has been pretty bad. It might be time for Vegas to call it on the Berc Experiment and proclaim him the Osweiler of the NSFL. Boss would walk into what was once enemy territory and turn the division upside down. Alexandre LeClair, who is already one of the best WRs in the game, would easily dethrone Phelps or Westfield as the top WR, and it wouldn't even be close. It would make Connor Tanner a household name at TE and it would open up the game for Ardie Savea to go wild. Las Vegas would definitely walk out of the basement and into the #2 team in the division by landing here. Question is, does Las Vegas have the money Boss wants?
3. San Jose Sabercats
Ethan Hunt has made huge strides at QB this year, and I'm not going to knock his progress here one bit. He's a star and deserves recognition for his work, but signing Boss and trading Hunt to either Colorado or Orange County would really give the Cats a massive edge. Shawn Weston, Darren Smallwood and Break Bottles are great players and with Boss in the bay area, the Cats would replace Orange County and be the favorites to get that second playoff spot every year. They might only need a few key pieces on defense to overtake the Outlaws. Dare I say it, the Sabercats could be one solid offseason from being Ultimus Contenders, but that all starts with luring Boss to San Jose.
4. Orange County Otters
Mike isn't gone yet. Sure, contract negotiations are definitely at a stand still and it's looking bleak at this point, but let's look around the NSFL. What other offense has the weapons that work for Boss? He knows Bradley Westfield and Robert Phelps help him just as much as he helps them. Same for George Wright Jr. If Boss comes to his senses and sits down to the table with a clear head and realizes that pieces are already in place, and the management realizes that without Boss at QB, this team would be mediocre, a deal can get done. It will take some ego checks on both sides, but let's not rule it out at this point.
5. Arizona Outlaws
Whoa... Could you imagine? Like San Jose above, they do not need Boss. But the Outlaws are winners and winners get better at any position when possible. Boss is an upgrade to Bronko. Evans, Chess and Law are outstanding but would really be something if Boss went to the desert. It's not impossible either, because Arizona is one of the most well managed teams in the NSFL and could definitely find the cap space somewhere to pay Boss the salary he commands. Plus, Boss might take a cut just to be the guy on a team that would be almost a guaranteed 3+ Ultimus Cups with his presence there.
6. Philadelphia Liberty
Rove has had about as good of a rookie season as anyone could have imagined. Philadelphia is clearly a team on the rise and a lot of their young talent would greatly benefit having an arm like Boss settle in Eastern Pennsylvania. Fox North was once one of the most feared WRs in the NSFL, and he'd immediately re-assume that role with the signing of Mike. The problem I see is I really think the management has its heart set on developing Rove into their star, otherwise I'd have had them up higher on this list.
7. Yellowknife Wraiths
I don't see this as a likely spot either, since Orosz already is the #2 QB in the NSFL and could overtake Boss next year as the #1 if he lands on a squad with weaker WRs than Phelps and Westfield, which is most. It makes no logical sense to me why they'd waste the money on Boss for such a minor upgrade to the position. It'd require a position change by Orosz or Boss for him to sign in the tundra of Canada.
8. Baltimore Hawks
Baltimore is also very content on their situation. The Hawks have built up their entire offense around Scrub Kyubee and it would be a fool's errand for them to waste the cap on Boss when they need to address other positions, like finding active WRs to compliment Willie. It would reunite Trey with his old QB, but that's really the only upshot of the idea of Boss going to Baltimore. Hawks are already a threat to win the Ultimus, and the reason they didn't wasn't QB play. I'd be utterly shocked if Boss ends up here.
9. Retirement :cigar:
I said I'd cover all outcomes. This is one. Not a likely one but I have to cover all my bases. He's going to shatter the records for Yards and TDs this year, for sure. Maybe, with a bit of post-season luck the Otters claim the Ultimus and he decides to walk off into the sunset, like Peyton Manning and John Elway. I really think that's the dumbest thing he could do, but hey, you never know. Plus this theory requires the Otters to beat Arizona at home, in the Playoffs. Pssh, yeah right.
Discuss, where do you think he'll end up?
(1040 words)
GRADED
1. Colorado Yeti
The Yeti clearly have reason to need Mike Boss. Logan Noble violated rules and was suspended for all of season 3. The replacement Nicholas Pierno has given his best effort, but as of right now, he has 4 TDs and 29 interceptions. Hendrix and West have been pretty much non-existent in the offense due to the poor QB play and Boss Tweed can only do so much on his own. Mike Boss would immediately make this team into a contender again. Especially if Noble and Pierno swap positions and continue to help the franchise grow as key players.
2. Las Vegas Legion
Josh Bercovici has put in a good two years, but the result has been pretty bad. It might be time for Vegas to call it on the Berc Experiment and proclaim him the Osweiler of the NSFL. Boss would walk into what was once enemy territory and turn the division upside down. Alexandre LeClair, who is already one of the best WRs in the game, would easily dethrone Phelps or Westfield as the top WR, and it wouldn't even be close. It would make Connor Tanner a household name at TE and it would open up the game for Ardie Savea to go wild. Las Vegas would definitely walk out of the basement and into the #2 team in the division by landing here. Question is, does Las Vegas have the money Boss wants?
3. San Jose Sabercats
Ethan Hunt has made huge strides at QB this year, and I'm not going to knock his progress here one bit. He's a star and deserves recognition for his work, but signing Boss and trading Hunt to either Colorado or Orange County would really give the Cats a massive edge. Shawn Weston, Darren Smallwood and Break Bottles are great players and with Boss in the bay area, the Cats would replace Orange County and be the favorites to get that second playoff spot every year. They might only need a few key pieces on defense to overtake the Outlaws. Dare I say it, the Sabercats could be one solid offseason from being Ultimus Contenders, but that all starts with luring Boss to San Jose.
4. Orange County Otters
Mike isn't gone yet. Sure, contract negotiations are definitely at a stand still and it's looking bleak at this point, but let's look around the NSFL. What other offense has the weapons that work for Boss? He knows Bradley Westfield and Robert Phelps help him just as much as he helps them. Same for George Wright Jr. If Boss comes to his senses and sits down to the table with a clear head and realizes that pieces are already in place, and the management realizes that without Boss at QB, this team would be mediocre, a deal can get done. It will take some ego checks on both sides, but let's not rule it out at this point.
5. Arizona Outlaws
Whoa... Could you imagine? Like San Jose above, they do not need Boss. But the Outlaws are winners and winners get better at any position when possible. Boss is an upgrade to Bronko. Evans, Chess and Law are outstanding but would really be something if Boss went to the desert. It's not impossible either, because Arizona is one of the most well managed teams in the NSFL and could definitely find the cap space somewhere to pay Boss the salary he commands. Plus, Boss might take a cut just to be the guy on a team that would be almost a guaranteed 3+ Ultimus Cups with his presence there.
6. Philadelphia Liberty
Rove has had about as good of a rookie season as anyone could have imagined. Philadelphia is clearly a team on the rise and a lot of their young talent would greatly benefit having an arm like Boss settle in Eastern Pennsylvania. Fox North was once one of the most feared WRs in the NSFL, and he'd immediately re-assume that role with the signing of Mike. The problem I see is I really think the management has its heart set on developing Rove into their star, otherwise I'd have had them up higher on this list.
7. Yellowknife Wraiths
I don't see this as a likely spot either, since Orosz already is the #2 QB in the NSFL and could overtake Boss next year as the #1 if he lands on a squad with weaker WRs than Phelps and Westfield, which is most. It makes no logical sense to me why they'd waste the money on Boss for such a minor upgrade to the position. It'd require a position change by Orosz or Boss for him to sign in the tundra of Canada.
8. Baltimore Hawks
Baltimore is also very content on their situation. The Hawks have built up their entire offense around Scrub Kyubee and it would be a fool's errand for them to waste the cap on Boss when they need to address other positions, like finding active WRs to compliment Willie. It would reunite Trey with his old QB, but that's really the only upshot of the idea of Boss going to Baltimore. Hawks are already a threat to win the Ultimus, and the reason they didn't wasn't QB play. I'd be utterly shocked if Boss ends up here.
9. Retirement :cigar:
I said I'd cover all outcomes. This is one. Not a likely one but I have to cover all my bases. He's going to shatter the records for Yards and TDs this year, for sure. Maybe, with a bit of post-season luck the Otters claim the Ultimus and he decides to walk off into the sunset, like Peyton Manning and John Elway. I really think that's the dumbest thing he could do, but hey, you never know. Plus this theory requires the Otters to beat Arizona at home, in the Playoffs. Pssh, yeah right.
Discuss, where do you think he'll end up?
(1040 words)
GRADED
[div align=center]