08-29-2019, 08:52 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-14-2019, 03:31 PM by goodvsevil1275.)
Note: The opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of NSFL Weekly or its members.
To the Editor of NSFL Weekly,
I’m not usually one to question your judgment. However, I do have some concerns to address. You put Marcella T?riki on your list of players to watch. As the sixth overall in the DSFL draft and first running back of the board, sure, we’ve all been expecting this rookie to shine. While her history as an athlete may seem promising, the biggest test for a player like this is consistency. Can Marcella T?riki come through for her team week after week, or is her performance as changeable as her career path?
The running back made a decent enough showing over the course of the prospect bowl with the Flint Sun Tropics. She managed to earn offensive player of the game twice despite putting up ultimately uninspiring numbers. Those numbers, when combined with a supposedly strong locker room presence and "long" history of athleticism, were enough to earn her a place with the Norfolk Seawolves for the upcoming DSFL season. Despite all that, T?riki’s pre-season performance was mixed, to say the least. While on the surface, her averages indicate no reason for immediate concern, her week to week performance was erratic at best.
The Seawolves’ first preseason game was a tragic 29-7 loss to the Pythons that saw T?riki fall below 4 yards per carry. A source close to the running back claims that this dip in her efficiency was caused by a minor ankle injury, which prevented her from utilizing her full speed and agility. It leads one to wonder if these supposed skills will ever truly manifest in this young player. I, of course, have my doubts there. Others claim it was simply a case of a rookie being unable to handle the real world pressure that professional football can bring. To those of you who doubt this is possible, I invite you to look at T?riki's numbers from her second seasons playing for the Oregon Ducks. When finally given substantial play time, her performance suffered. And yes, while she did make up the difference in her final season with Oregon, the fact that her performance dropped at all is still of concern to me.
Regardless of the underlying cause for her first game's poor show, her next game against the Seawolves, while still a loss, seemed to hold more promise. She brought herself up to 4.8 yards per carry, in addition making a 41 yard rush resulting in a touchdown in the third quarter. T?riki seemed pleased with her performance, as she was seen out with friends that night celebrating. Now, I’m not here to judge how athletes chose to spend their time off the field. But do we really support a player that abandons her team the moment she steps out of the locker room? Not a single other Seawolf was seen accompanying her on her post-game jaunt about town. You wouldn’t see this kind of behavior from someone like Gimmy Jarrapolo, I’ll tell you that much.
Week three against the Luchadores finally saw T?riki climb her way onto the leaderboard with her longest rush attempt since beginning with the DSFL. In her time with the Sun Tropics, her longest rush attempt was a paltry 16 yards. Against a preseason game against the Luchadores, T?riki opened the second quarter with a 56 yard rush to the endzone. Watching her sprint across the field was almost enough to convince me of this young rookie’s star power. She certainly looked like at home on the field in that moment, leaving her opponents in the dust. However, a certain feeling in my gut held me back from hopping on the T?riki bandwagon. Something just didn’t seem quite right to me, and one good moment just isn’t enough to convince me.
And my gut feeling was right! Just when things looked to be on the rise, T?riki fell flat once again, underperforming in the Seawolves’ rematch with the Pythons. She once again dropped below 4 yards per carry and failed to score for the team. Now, one bad game, I can understand. Players are human, after all. But to have the preseason bookended with such poor showings? This I cannot forgive. Not from someone who has been labeled as "one to watch". I'm watching, and I am DISAPPOINTED.
Moreover, the slander that her fanbase has been slinging against Seawolves’s Quarterback, Gimmy Jarrapolo is more than enough evidence that this running back is a bad apple. This New Zealand nobody has been given the chance to be on the same field as a living legend. And yet, does she stop her fans when they claim that she is carrying the team? Does she stand up for her teammate? No, she proves to be too caught up in her inflated ego and is thus incapable of recognizing greatness. She lets her fans blaspheme against Gimmy Freaking Jarrapolo. This Marcella T?riki has no right to even think negatively about the greatest quarterback the DSFL has ever seen, let alone permit such vile rumors to be perpetuated. How anyone can call this disrespectful little punk a rising star is beyond me!
Forget her 485 yards accumulated in preseason games, and ignore the 265 yards she earned in the first two weeks of the regular season. This running back is definitely not worth watching.
Sincerely,
GimmyFan69
To the Editor of NSFL Weekly,
I’m not usually one to question your judgment. However, I do have some concerns to address. You put Marcella T?riki on your list of players to watch. As the sixth overall in the DSFL draft and first running back of the board, sure, we’ve all been expecting this rookie to shine. While her history as an athlete may seem promising, the biggest test for a player like this is consistency. Can Marcella T?riki come through for her team week after week, or is her performance as changeable as her career path?
The running back made a decent enough showing over the course of the prospect bowl with the Flint Sun Tropics. She managed to earn offensive player of the game twice despite putting up ultimately uninspiring numbers. Those numbers, when combined with a supposedly strong locker room presence and "long" history of athleticism, were enough to earn her a place with the Norfolk Seawolves for the upcoming DSFL season. Despite all that, T?riki’s pre-season performance was mixed, to say the least. While on the surface, her averages indicate no reason for immediate concern, her week to week performance was erratic at best.
The Seawolves’ first preseason game was a tragic 29-7 loss to the Pythons that saw T?riki fall below 4 yards per carry. A source close to the running back claims that this dip in her efficiency was caused by a minor ankle injury, which prevented her from utilizing her full speed and agility. It leads one to wonder if these supposed skills will ever truly manifest in this young player. I, of course, have my doubts there. Others claim it was simply a case of a rookie being unable to handle the real world pressure that professional football can bring. To those of you who doubt this is possible, I invite you to look at T?riki's numbers from her second seasons playing for the Oregon Ducks. When finally given substantial play time, her performance suffered. And yes, while she did make up the difference in her final season with Oregon, the fact that her performance dropped at all is still of concern to me.
Regardless of the underlying cause for her first game's poor show, her next game against the Seawolves, while still a loss, seemed to hold more promise. She brought herself up to 4.8 yards per carry, in addition making a 41 yard rush resulting in a touchdown in the third quarter. T?riki seemed pleased with her performance, as she was seen out with friends that night celebrating. Now, I’m not here to judge how athletes chose to spend their time off the field. But do we really support a player that abandons her team the moment she steps out of the locker room? Not a single other Seawolf was seen accompanying her on her post-game jaunt about town. You wouldn’t see this kind of behavior from someone like Gimmy Jarrapolo, I’ll tell you that much.
Week three against the Luchadores finally saw T?riki climb her way onto the leaderboard with her longest rush attempt since beginning with the DSFL. In her time with the Sun Tropics, her longest rush attempt was a paltry 16 yards. Against a preseason game against the Luchadores, T?riki opened the second quarter with a 56 yard rush to the endzone. Watching her sprint across the field was almost enough to convince me of this young rookie’s star power. She certainly looked like at home on the field in that moment, leaving her opponents in the dust. However, a certain feeling in my gut held me back from hopping on the T?riki bandwagon. Something just didn’t seem quite right to me, and one good moment just isn’t enough to convince me.
And my gut feeling was right! Just when things looked to be on the rise, T?riki fell flat once again, underperforming in the Seawolves’ rematch with the Pythons. She once again dropped below 4 yards per carry and failed to score for the team. Now, one bad game, I can understand. Players are human, after all. But to have the preseason bookended with such poor showings? This I cannot forgive. Not from someone who has been labeled as "one to watch". I'm watching, and I am DISAPPOINTED.
Moreover, the slander that her fanbase has been slinging against Seawolves’s Quarterback, Gimmy Jarrapolo is more than enough evidence that this running back is a bad apple. This New Zealand nobody has been given the chance to be on the same field as a living legend. And yet, does she stop her fans when they claim that she is carrying the team? Does she stand up for her teammate? No, she proves to be too caught up in her inflated ego and is thus incapable of recognizing greatness. She lets her fans blaspheme against Gimmy Freaking Jarrapolo. This Marcella T?riki has no right to even think negatively about the greatest quarterback the DSFL has ever seen, let alone permit such vile rumors to be perpetuated. How anyone can call this disrespectful little punk a rising star is beyond me!
Forget her 485 yards accumulated in preseason games, and ignore the 265 yards she earned in the first two weeks of the regular season. This running back is definitely not worth watching.
Sincerely,
GimmyFan69