BY macnificent
Before anyone ever cared where I would select in the OFL draft. I was a kid from Somerglen. Spending summers playing pick up football games, and honing my craft of the Nintendo 64. People there have seen my grown up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with the OFL is bigger than fantasy. I didn’t realize that four weeks ago. I do now.
Remember when I was living up there on Burling in 2009? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was way over my head. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have drafted the same players. OFL, for me, has been almost like crack for other kids. These past five years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of my original team Dinosaur as my first start.
I changed to MACnificent because of you guys. We made sacrifices to keep OFL together. I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that’s exactly what we did! I’ve talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life.
I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and buffalo bill didn’t get along. … He and Pick TItty didn’t get along. … The OFL couldn’t put the right league together. That’s absolutely not true.
I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.
In the OFL, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.
I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m selecting 1st overall.
