11-04-2021, 02:07 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-10-2021, 07:07 PM by allbetsonjames. Edited 1 time in total.)
The rumor mill is abuzz with speculation as to Cedric Wilkins II’s future with the Philadelphia Liberty organization. It is reported that Wilkins, entering his rookie season with the Liberty, was absent from team training camp, instead arriving just this morning, a single day in advance of the team’s preseason contest with the Yellowknife Wraiths. Wilkins, normally a hound for the spotlight, avoided the prying eyes of the public for much of the offseason, only appearing briefly at a press conference in his hometown of Baton Rouge; since that time, Wilkins had been missing until arriving at Yellowknife Airport.
Philadelphia General Manager Lip Chap, speaking to the press just this week, commented briefly regarding Wilkins’ absence, “It's obviously a little concerning for us as no one has heard from Cedric in a couple of months, and at this point we are more worried about his safety than anything”. Chap, commonly regarded as the more unusual of Philadelphia’s general manager duo, continued, “we acknowledge that he did need to make the trip from London to Philadelphia, and our working theory at this point is that he thought he had more time to report to camp, so instead of flying he took a 17th-century tall ship. Wilkins is, as you all know, a real fan of history and we assume he wanted to see what the trip to the New World was like for them. It would also explain why he has not returned any phone calls nor e-mails, as there is no cell service on the high seas”.
This statement from Chap, although arguably less-than-credible, carried some truth; Wilkins, previously believed to have been in Baton Rouge, instead arrived for the preseason from London. The London Royals organization, however, had no knowledge of the situation, simply noting that the cornerback was not a part of their roster and had not been with the team since the conclusion of the previous season.
Some have speculated that Wilkins’ visit to the United Kingdom was merely a stop along the way, and that he may instead have arrived from Germany; however, Chap’s partner, Lip Stashe, did his best to quell rumors that Wilkins had taken interest in Berlin, noting that these types of absences are “something we have to deal with regarding some players”. Stashe, holding his cards much tighter to his chest than Chap, continued, “I've talked to the coaches and leaders on this team. We all know CWII will show up and will help this team win football games. We've put a really good football team together and he's a big part of that”.
Despite his absence from team activities, Wilkins is indeed expected to start this season, and the organization hopes he will play a key role for their defense and special teams. Per Chap, “In Cedric’s two seasons playing for the Royals, the one thing that really stuck out to us was his nose for the ball and his unique blend of size, instincts, and athleticism. While we don't want to give away too much, I can tell you that [Defensive Coordinator] Wesley [Andrews] has been giddy since we drafted Cedric.”. Chap, asked about any concerns he had with the rookie missing training camp, continued, “The difference in speed of the game between the DSFL and ISFL is going to take some adjustment for Cedric, but with veterans like CJ [Sonjack] on the roster, we expect Cedric to be a quick learner and an impact playmaker for us from day one”.
Wilkins, briefly intercepted by the handful of reporters willing to make the trip to Yellowknife, declined to comment about his decision to forego training camp. His lone remark as he and his entourage pushed past waiting tape recorders was to say, “I know the playbook, I have the talent, I’ll be ready”. Whether Wilkins’ assertion is correct remains to be seen, but one thing is certain; the Philadelphia Liberty have plenty of cause for concern about the newest addition to their secondary.
Philadelphia General Manager Lip Chap, speaking to the press just this week, commented briefly regarding Wilkins’ absence, “It's obviously a little concerning for us as no one has heard from Cedric in a couple of months, and at this point we are more worried about his safety than anything”. Chap, commonly regarded as the more unusual of Philadelphia’s general manager duo, continued, “we acknowledge that he did need to make the trip from London to Philadelphia, and our working theory at this point is that he thought he had more time to report to camp, so instead of flying he took a 17th-century tall ship. Wilkins is, as you all know, a real fan of history and we assume he wanted to see what the trip to the New World was like for them. It would also explain why he has not returned any phone calls nor e-mails, as there is no cell service on the high seas”.
This statement from Chap, although arguably less-than-credible, carried some truth; Wilkins, previously believed to have been in Baton Rouge, instead arrived for the preseason from London. The London Royals organization, however, had no knowledge of the situation, simply noting that the cornerback was not a part of their roster and had not been with the team since the conclusion of the previous season.
Some have speculated that Wilkins’ visit to the United Kingdom was merely a stop along the way, and that he may instead have arrived from Germany; however, Chap’s partner, Lip Stashe, did his best to quell rumors that Wilkins had taken interest in Berlin, noting that these types of absences are “something we have to deal with regarding some players”. Stashe, holding his cards much tighter to his chest than Chap, continued, “I've talked to the coaches and leaders on this team. We all know CWII will show up and will help this team win football games. We've put a really good football team together and he's a big part of that”.
Despite his absence from team activities, Wilkins is indeed expected to start this season, and the organization hopes he will play a key role for their defense and special teams. Per Chap, “In Cedric’s two seasons playing for the Royals, the one thing that really stuck out to us was his nose for the ball and his unique blend of size, instincts, and athleticism. While we don't want to give away too much, I can tell you that [Defensive Coordinator] Wesley [Andrews] has been giddy since we drafted Cedric.”. Chap, asked about any concerns he had with the rookie missing training camp, continued, “The difference in speed of the game between the DSFL and ISFL is going to take some adjustment for Cedric, but with veterans like CJ [Sonjack] on the roster, we expect Cedric to be a quick learner and an impact playmaker for us from day one”.
Wilkins, briefly intercepted by the handful of reporters willing to make the trip to Yellowknife, declined to comment about his decision to forego training camp. His lone remark as he and his entourage pushed past waiting tape recorders was to say, “I know the playbook, I have the talent, I’ll be ready”. Whether Wilkins’ assertion is correct remains to be seen, but one thing is certain; the Philadelphia Liberty have plenty of cause for concern about the newest addition to their secondary.