Season Review

[Bluecaterpillar]

Week 1 Recap........!!

And so I am back! I thought I would never live without EFS! But it’s been so many months, I learned how to grow strong! ;)
Anyway… Week 1 is almost in the book and what have we learned??

16 things I think I think after Week 1, in no particular order and not meant as a ranking (yet…!!):

# 1: Let’s start with the King, our Beloved President, the All-Seeing Eye of EFS (yes, yes, a little bit of ass-kissing never hurts!!!! :P)… close to be defeated by yours truly, the Rugbymen, last year’s joke of the league!!! How is that for an upset? Close enough to SF beating STL???

Tom always seems to find hidden jewels, so Chaun Thompson and the likes will help and the depth is there. The OL is still massive, Palmer and McNabb will be solid. Portis and Jones too + Willie Parker could be this year’s steal (there is always one or 2 RBs to steal per season… usually one in Denver, another one in the rest of the NFL!!). I guess Tom will just have to shore up his WRs a touch more, but he’s still very strong.

# 2: Urban Legend… Why him? Last year, my team lost Steve Smith after Wk. 1 and my season was downhill from there… So I wanted to extend my sympathy for losing J. Walker. Having Owens around is great, but it’s still only 50% of a great tandem. :X
Otherwise, I love this team… Youth everywhere, Brown and Coleman hot safeties, Suggs and Kearse hot DEs, Thurman awesome so far, Bulger a stinker on the field but a fantasy god… Depth, youth… as long as the injuries do not pile up, good vibes everywhere! :cool:

# 3: Oaktown Power: While I am at extending sympathy for early losses, this guy takes the trophy home… Bummer! Jenkins is gone again… No RBs (trading for one, though currently looking for one), an aging roster. Ouch, this could be a long, painful (as in injuries) year. Favre is a top QB without his top WR, Pennington sucked… Sorry, but the bad eye seems to have chosen you so far! :(

# 4: More sympathy? Bucky Rules III picked up one of EFS’s worst team… Thanks for joining, bud! And thanks for accepting such a stinker!! :dude::shock:
So, how are you doing so far? Well, Briant Young won’t be averaging 48 points, but Umenyiora won’t stay at 4 either!

All in all, this is a team in therapy and I like the early signs: Derrick Johnson could be the stud he was projected to be, the LBs look solid, the CBs can always be fixed, ditto with OLs.
Obviously, a nice little DE and a couple of stud WRs are probably 1 draft away, but don’t bank on a 300 ppg repeat for Bucky.:cool:

# 5: JJ was a scoring machine in 2004 (to my surprise) and 2005 is off to a fast, furious start. I see no stopping these 2 guys and their studs. It’s going to be a tough challenge for the Division, yours truly included. Yuck.:P

# 6: Kiss of Death, last year’s early winner of “Ricky Williams ruined my season� – though our Aussie turned things around in a hurry and gave us all a nice lesson in scrambling and made nice gold with shit.
Off to a good start, similar to last year’s.
The main concern has to be the QB position, 1 game away from disaster…
I would not be surprised if our Kangaroo-man hit the trade box for QB and WRs or bid nice UFA $$$ on a rising WR.

# 7: Buffalo Soldier has some DEF issues to fix, but the OFF provided its share of relieving surprises… Stephen Davis can still run, McCardell still catch, ditto Keyshawn Johnson. Moss always could. Jeff Wilkins was 1999 vintage.
I am guessing some UFA $$$ for his secondary will shore things up, but Buffalo had a good week with guys in their second career.
Question is: can the trick last all year??

# 8: Son of Marc… It’s the aging thread that brings me to the Sons. This roster’s stars are aging and the rookies will be asked to do a lot – but it’s going to be tough to repeat last year’s prowess and have another ticket to the SB Final.
Honestly, on the face of it, I’d say that this roster has the potential for the biggest slide, from 13-4-1 record to 8-8ish.
QB is a major concern and an injured Harrington would be disastrous. Dillon is in his last year (or damn close). The WR corps is thin. Ditto the DL.
This is a solid team – my point is whether it’s a 13 wins team… Consider me a doubter.

# 9: Well, while we’re at 13-5, repeat or not, here are the Montana Grizzlies!!
I think this is the team to beat in Div. 3 and one of the reasons why his Div. opponent Son of Marc won’t repeat at 13-4-1… The Grizzlies are solid, younger, deeper, more consistent.
Up to a fast start, Driver’s stock rising, Holmes, Gonzo, top OL…
The Grizzlies will be tough to beat – all the way to the final 4. :cool:

# 10: Read Headed Step Mule is one, maybe 2 WRs away from the Final 4 club. The team has not changed compared to 2004, still deep, beautiful DEF, solid all around. Acquiring a top 5 or a couple of top 10 WRs would probably be the last thing needed for a solid, solid season, all the way.

Pay me later, but I would find a way to trade a RB for Bennett and Oaktown Power… or Roy Williams. I know I should not have written that… Darn it! :P

# 11: Talking about rise and fall of Div. dominators, I think our own Tennessee Walkers will lose the Div. crown to JJ… Who would be the culprits for such a fall? That would be JJ and yours truly: last year, we went 0-4 vs. TN… but I’d be surprised if this year’s series aren’t split… Those 2 additional losses will mean way out of the playoffs, too.
I think the team is extremely solid – one of my favs.
I just don’t think that 0-4 will repeat, that’s all.

# 12: While I am at it, how are the Rugbymen? Taking it one victory at a time, thank you very much. Taking Tom’s scalp would be enough satisfaction for the year!!!!!!
Now, I finished an awful 3rd to last in scoring in 2004 – somehow, I think I will not repeat that dubious misfortune – at least if the rash of injuries hit someone else’s roster!!!!! At one point, I had 13 guys on IR… tough to win games that way.
So I am just hoping to stay around and fight for survival in this extremely tough Division.

# 13: Wrapping up the Div., Tweeter…Another tough guy to play… Thinking of it, we could all end 8-8 or 10-8 or something uninspiring. The team was decent to good last year and a healthy LT is a reflection of the expected overall improvement… Another tough guy to play, really.

# 14: The Texicans… Tom was in a tough place last year, sharing the dubious honors of the losers circle. It pains me to say that I am not sure enough has been done in the off-season not to repeat things. The Division is the softest, by far, but wins will be tough to get against the league.

# 15: Our own Bolivian Ragamuffins (did I tell you I was in Bolivia from Aug. 23 to 27? Beautiful place, too!! Did not easy any Ragamuffins, though. None. Ah well, maybe next time?). I have always liked this team a lot. Extremely young, deep, with high octane potential.
Div. 2 was the toughest, most competitive Div. in 2004.
But I think the Ragamasters will be in the Final 4 this year. That’s my bold prediction of the week. They just have enough.
And if not in 2005? Fine… 2006, or 2007… This roster is meant for long-term domination!!


# 16: Pacific Rattlers… The very famous Pac Rats!! My dark horse candidate to make everyone else’s life miserable… The one per league team that can just about upset any other team, or stink up the joint. :D:D:D
So, which one will it be?
Well, it will depend on the week, but it will make my upcoming predictions crumble!!

OK… That’s it for this week!!!
I wish everyone tons of fun, a good football season and a good real life.
-Blue

[Pault351]

Blue, I found your review entertaining and revealing. I wrote the first week off after Sunday, then escaped on Monday with a 411-409 pounding of JJ (who killed me last year, lol.) BTW, JJ changed his lineup at the last moment, substituting a 3rd WR for a TE. His original lineup would have beaten me. His Bad. I hope to continue messing up your predix all year long. PacRats (Paulie)

[Bluecaterpillar]

Thanks Paul for the comments... the truth is, I have a crystal ball I will loan you for a small fee. It allows me to predict such events with great accuracy.
I also have a brigde in Manhattan for sale.

-Blue

[shageman]

Blue could not be more correct in the early analysis of my team "son of marc". Will this team be the STL, OAK & BAL teams of the past few years to make/win the SB, and then fall off the face of the earth? Hope not!

My kids WAY over-achieved last year, but it is still early... Here's to my team staying healthier than all of yours... CHEERS!

out-

son

[jkearns]

Pault351 wrote:
Blue, I found your review entertaining and revealing. I wrote the first week off after Sunday, then escaped on Monday with a 411-409 pounding of JJ (who killed me last year, lol.) BTW, JJ changed his lineup at the last moment, substituting a 3rd WR for a TE. His original lineup would have beaten me. His Bad. I hope to continue messing up your predix all year long. PacRats (Paulie)
If you are going to run smack, get it right. I replaced Hoover with Parker at the last minute. A net gain of 2 whole points. But, a lose is a lose...

[Bluecaterpillar]

Week 2 ramblings…

This week is from Paris, France. Not Texas, KY or any other 120 Paris in the USA.
It was also 100% football on NFL.com. Shucks. Shucks. Shucked. :(

Only redeeming thing is being 2-0 in this league, though I got atomized in 1002 and had a heartbreaking loss in 1003. A 1-2 week. Shucked. :(:(

So, what did we learn in 2005-2, aside from the fact that Manning and Culpepper are worst than Boller and Frerotte? (OK, OK, not quite… not quite. But I thought it was worth trying to put a seed in there to convince Manning and Culpepper owners to trade with me…). ;);)

This week column is all about awards[/b]!!!

FIRST, The Win Of The Week…
And the award goes to……… Tennessee Walkers[/b][/b]!! Stomped the ’04 Champs Hollow Point[/b] 473 to 423, putting him at 0-2 while doing so. Nothing to worry about, but still, a stomp is a stomp.
This gamewas interesting because Hollow’s roster had what it needed to win it, but key players got benched and the receiving corps had a major collapse.
On the other hand, quiet TN mounted a beauty of a game and a massive DEF performance. This game was really decided on DEF matchups.

OFF vs. OFF: 240 Hollow Point, 211 TN… To bring in 262 points of DEF was massive. Of course, the Deltha O’Neal part seems lucky, but the Farrior-Thomas-Peterson-Spikes LB corps is N-I-C-E!!

Congrats!

The Almost Win Of The Week…
[/b]Goes to: JJ vs. Bucky Rules…[/b]
For many reasons: JJ’s team is still a scoring machine, just like last year. This team is built just like Tom Brady’s EFS scores AND real-life performance (ala Troy Aikman): consistent 20 ppg avg. per player, week in, week out… Of course, some slight bumps on the road, but this team is mostly about always the same numbers, a lulling efficiency.
However, the real winner of the week is Bucky Rules III: his 412 points are 50 more than last year’s top score (once) and 75 points above the entire rest of scores. N-I-C-E!! (again).
So trend or miracle? Ty Law, Tank Williams, Umenyiora (very underappreciated pass rusher), Derrick Johnson (the real deal?), Napoleon Harris: Bucky made this DEF look honest.
Improved OL, OFF… Yes, I think we’ll see a 50 ppg increase over last year and finish at 350 vs. 300.

The Heartbreaker Of The Week:
[/b]Drums, please… On the losing side of this dubious award: the Bolivian Ragamuffins[/b]! 384-377… think about it this way: if the whole thing about Home Field being screwed up is true, Bolivian would win this game. Now, is it true? Is there such an issue? Dunno and don’t care either.
But that’s a close one and both teams gave a good fight.
On the winning time of that one? The Montana Grizzlies[/b][/b]! Who, in fairness, lined up a better team on paper and got the stinker from Culpepper…

The Heartbreaker Of The Week, runner up:[/b]
More drums… more heartbreak for Tweeter and the Monkey Man![/b]
It gets worse: if the home field thing is true, these two guys would end up in a tie. And you all know how much I HATE ties!!! I mean, tie games are true, true stinkers, heartbreaking nightmares. I just cannot stand them.
Honestly, Tweeter lost Ogunleye in what was a sack fest and it’s bad, because Ogunleye got no love in what turned out to be an extremely defensive game from the Bears… 1 little sack away from winning!
The lucky b in this one? Thomas Cool’s Texicans[/b]. Sneaking by.

The Yawn Of The Week![/b]
Another dubious award… and this one goes to the Rugbymen vs. Pacific Rattlers[/b].
Anemic? Pathetic? Laughable?
That’s what you get when 363 to 312 is all because of Peyton Manning’s 6 points. Ogden (= Ravens!!) 2 points. 5 players summing 3 points… That’s tough to compensate.
And the Rugbymen failed to build on Wk 1 performance and reverted to their old scoring ways. A win is a win, but the avg. is pathetic and worrisome. I was hoping for more.

The Lopsided Game Of The Week!
[/b]A fun award to give for 50% of the recipient… Shame and finding a rock to sneak under for the rest. And the winner is…….. Kiss of Death 70 point romp over Buffalo Soldier[/b].[/b] I wrote earlier that I thought BUF’s team was suspect. At least for this week, I was right!
Interestingly, this team has a bunch of decent scorers but depth and age are worrisome.
On the other hand, KOD put on a weird show: 7 players summed for 18 points… the rest of them for 420: 17 players, a very nice 25 ppg average. Good win, Aussie. Good win.

The Wake Up Call!
[/b]I wrote earlier I loved Urban Legend[/b] but I felt for the loss of Walker. At 0-2, it’s not time to panic at all… far from it, as a matter of fact. Still, a measly 343 points and 346 avg., the league’s worst, is a bit concerning for a team that has good depth, youth, star power, etc.
Not the owner’s fault, yet it must be tough to watch the NFL on Sunday…

No awards for our very own Red Headed Step Mules[/b], stepping over Sons of Marc[/b]. Yet, a good 2-0 start for the winner, a sore 0-2 for the loser… But it is sooooooo early, still.

Voila… This is your weekly bulletin…
Congrats to our Winners and see you all next week!!
-Blue

[Bucky Rules]

Blue --- I love the commentary. It makes the league much more interesting. However, I have to take exception with your thoughts on my team. If I only show a 50 point improvement over last season's pathetic 300 pt/wk total, I'll be sorely disappointed. I may not win many games, but I fully expect to be averaging at least 375 this season. :D

It's playoffs or bust in 2006.

[shageman]

So 'Son of Marc' goes 15-2 this year... Wecan't all be perfect! Just wait until my special teamers get hot; they'll be puntin' & kickin' this team into the playoffs.

out-

son

shageman

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 7

[/b]I had left you all in a treacherous lull, quieting down to a faint breath, just waiting for the right time to create a buzz and mercilessly review your teams and their respective rankings…
Now that you are all half asleep, I am pouncing!!

Here are the rankings going into Week 7… and it’s not pretty!!

This will be a fast start and without further ado… Hail to our #1: JJ…[/b]
A definition of insanity is to keep on banging your head on a wall and to hope that the wall will have headaches…:shock::shock::shock:
That’s what I kept on doing with JJ’s team… I could not see how he’s been 450 ppg since Wk. 1 2004… but it’s there. It’s an awesome average and a great W-L record.

This team is a beast, the 4 LBs extremely solid, the OFF firing on all cylinders (who had Bledsoe coming, pu-lea-ze???)… and JJ is my mid-season favorite to win it all. Congrats!

#2 Bolivian Ragamuffins… [/b]Honestly, I hesitated a lot between our own Bolivian Muffins and our Red Mules… Obviously, the mules have a better record but a lesser average by 20 ppg… So which team is better equipped to make it all the way? Well, Brian Griese going down made it easier for me and the Red Mules are in for a long end of the season.

#3 Texicans… [/b]the mounting injuries are a concern for sure, but any team able to fight off our Great and Wonderful President is worthy of a top 3 spot! Good job of creating a blue-collar team of steady, if not flashy, performers… The DEF is stout and should carry this team all of the way to the playoffs.

#4 Urban Legend…[/b] A nice roster but holding to this playoff spot by a thread… Quite simply, if Bulger is lost for any significant amount of time and Collins throws to a Moss-less team, hurt will start to mount. Considering the pressure within the Division (no team has a winning record!!![/b]), everything has yet to be played out.

#5 Rugbymen… [/b]I had shamelessly claimed that without so many key injuries in 2004, my team could have been better than #15… I am happy so far, though concerned about JJ and my steady, but lower average… Come the playoffs, a team needs the ability to score 500+ points any given week… Not sure I have what it takes. :X
[/b]
#6 Hollow Point…[/b] Never count out the President… :Dthat’s my brown-nosing policy and I will stick to it… :P:PAppropriately so.
Honestly, this team still has all it takes to repeat. Especially in a very soft Division.
[/b]
#7 Red Headed Mules… [/b]A solid team but injuries are mounting and QB is a concern – unless Alex Smith is the second coming of Peyton Manning… problem is: he has no receivers!!
That sound you heard is a toilet bowl.[/b]

#8 Tweeter & Monkey…[/b] When it is all said and done, this team solid, solid OFF will be carried down, better yet: dragged down, by its LB corps. I am amazed at the overall steadiness of scoring in this squad, but one of these many RBs has to be traded for an LB. At least.[/b]

#9 Oaktown…[/b] Well, I am glad I helped securing Shaun Alexander… ;)
The team is still solid for now but my overall concern about an aging roster remains acute and I think age will send this team in heavy rebuilding mode during the offseason.
[/b]
#10 Grizzlies…[/b] Kyle Vanden Bosch? Robert Mathis? Top stars?
Daunte Culpepper? Maximum stinker?
There is something rotten in the kingdom of the Grizzlies.
Between Gonzo and Culpepper losing 30 ppg as compared to 2004, you have the 30 reasons for a very underwhelming season.
Nothing’s dead, but the pulse is faint. Then again, the Division stinks…!
[/b]
#11 TN Walkers… [/b]OK, count them with me… 15 players with some sort of injury. 15. 25% of the roster. And the mgmt. gone soft and partially absent. I feel like Mike has decided to cut his losses and go on a sabbatical… Can’t blame him, either.
[/b]
#12 Son of Marc…[/b] I don’t know about the future, but I do feel like this team will be 2-9 by the end of Week 8… Tough position to be in and make the playoffs… Gone with the year, the higher aspirations!
[/b]
#13 Bucky Rules…[/b] Mostly, I am saluting the effort of our new owner and the ability to get a full 50 ppg increase over last year’s stinker. Good job!
QB is still a huge, gaping hole but Matt Leinart will take care of fixing it!
A work in progress – nicely done.
[/b]
#14 Buffalo Soldier… [/b]I genuinely don’t know when this team’s season started to go south, but the Division is simply too strong and overwhelming. Left with the crumbs, the Buffalo Soldier will also contemplate Matt Leinart… especially if Moss is out for any period of time. Ouch. The hurt will go deeper.
[/b]
#15 KOD… [/b]Kangaroo!!! Wazzup, man??? What’s going on? Have you lost your touch? Your cool? We cannot call you “Mate!� anymore?
On paper, this team looks solid… Then again, anybody listing 1, 2, 3, 4 punters… FOUR??? FOUR? This is not Aussie Rule football, mate!!! :P:P:P
You need LBs and WRs… Try to trade a punter for one of these!!!
[/b]
#16 Pac Rats…[/b] Anybody scoring less than the Bucky Rules deserves no respect.
Anybody with Peyton Manning on their roster and ranking dead last in scoring deserves no respect.
Sorry, but the Pac Rats have left the building.
Week 8 and 10 will bring in 4 more losses. Ouch.
Reggie Bush, meet your new owner. :D:D:D

That’s it for this week… Good luck to all… some need it more than others!!
Cheers!

-Blue

[shageman]

At 2-6, Son of Marc is only 2 games back of first in the division, actually outscoring our leader the Griz by a couple points/week. You'll see my trade for Brady start my comeback right now... If only I could get a healthy RB (A. Green, C. Dillon & L. Suggs... ouch)

A temporary setback, long season yet!

out-

son

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 9[/b]

Week 9 is upon us… 7 games left to go.
That technically means that no team is eliminated from Playoffs contention, though a few owners are flirting with the inevitable specter of 2006. It’s time to get tough or get going. Which one will it be, punk?

Let’s have a quick look at our updated ranking going into the final stretch of the regular season…

So, who’s on first? Who’s at first?

I had to ponder my own cherished Rugbymen vs. JJ for a while. First, of course, I did not want to jinx my own team. But more importantly, I looked at JJ’s depth and scoring history. I mean, it boiled down to the fact that my top ILB and top RB are both injured, on top of many other starters, while JJ is free of any major blow and his relative slump is mostly due to Holt’s minor injury…

So, for the time being, our #1 ranked team is… JJ.[/b] Weeks 9 & 10 look manageable, this team should finish with 12 to 13 wins and is playoff bounds. So far, still #1 seed, too.

So, who’s on second?

#2 Bolivian Ragamuffins [/b](=)… Frankly, our Bolivian friends hang in there by the thread of my inertia and lack of willingness to promote the Red Headed Step Mules… But the next 2 weeks will be decisive… I think the breaks and off weeks slightly favor the Ragamuffins for weeks 9 & 10, but this is going to be by a hair off my donkey.

#3 Texicans[/b] (=)… The Texicans are valiantly repelling the always lurching Hollow Point… Z is always a factor (hehehe!) and Z has been scoring like a monster. However, Week 10 almost look like a certain double loss for Hollow while Tom Cool’s team should be all right.
One thing is certain, though: the Texicans won’t win it all relying solely on Reggie Wayne and an injured Darrell Jackson… A third WR or TE is needed in there ASAP!!

#4 Grizzlies[/b] (+6)… What a JUMP!!! Whoa! Honestly, I had to scrutinize how the Grizzlies got it done through weeks 7 & 8… Did you see him line up 6 DBs, who scored a nice 120 points? And Brees, throwing for a career game? :dude::dude::dude:
So all in all, the logic would say that this DIV. is Urban Legend’s.
The losses of Culpepper, slumps of Holmes and Gonzo, the injuries… everything should go against the Grizzlies. But he’s grinding it and for that, he’s won the EARLY GRINDING AWARD of the YEAR!!!
[/b]
#5 Rugbymen [/b](=)… Realistically, I wanted to brag about my League’s best record, best scoring, best best best… But, also realistically, anybody who brags too much tend to fall hard and injuries worry me. Mounting injuries. Not good: they left a bad taste in my mouth in 2004!
Yet, my 4-3 is rock solid and this DEF wins games. Nice.

#6 Hollow Point [/b](=)… Always lurching indeed, with an amazing roster depth… But Wk 10 could be a long one. I am guessing the fight between Hollow and Texicans will be like the one between JJ and Rugbymen: to the finish, until Wk 12 or even 13, to see who’s in as a Div. Winner and who’s only Seeded… :P

#7 Red Headed Mules [/b](=)… Another extremely tight battle vs. the Ragamuffins… It’s on a week to week basis. I like the 8-3 record but I am concerned with the 398 ppg avg… This team needs 2-3 huge playmakers and that might not happen until RFA + rookies 2006.

#8 Urban Legend [/b](-4)… The law of rankings… just like gravity!!
When a Grizzlie jumps, a Legend falls. Simple, eh?
I have always liked this roster a lot… But key injuries during the season will eventually prove too hard to overcome. This team is built to be a long term dynasty, so it’s only about patience.

#9 Tweeter & Monkey[/b] (-1)… It’s just a tough, tough, tough DIV. and JJ and the Rugbymen are not going to give wins away for free. Prying Ws won’t come easy and this very solid team is just a hair away from making it to the Playoffs… Even LT’s top year is not enough.
I still think this team needs 1 top 5-10 ILB and a top 5 OLB to make it to the next level.
Plus Aaron Brooks and Tim Rattay as QBs? Must be Cajun humor.

#10 Oaktown Power[/b] (-1)… Our #10 team marks the unofficial limit between those teams with a shot at making the playoffs and the great void until 2006 RFA. Simple as that. After Oaktown, it’s miracle and co.
As for Oaktown? 2 more weeks for a glimmer of hope. After that, see you in Sept. 2006!!!

#11 TN Walkers [/b](=)… 4-10 after week 10? Just a bad season for a good roster… Again, my guess is that Mike is busy with real life. That happens, too.

#12 Bucky Rules [/b](+1)… My renewed congrats for 4 more wins in 2005 (so far) and 68 more points. Cool… That trend could mean serious championship hopes for 2007. Not bad. I am sure the Cardinals wished they could have had that kind of turn around since 1905 or so!!!!

#13 Buffalo Soldier [/b](+1)… OK, the Moss thing was not a disaster. Which, in turn, could be a curse in disguise, because Keith will no longer end up with the 1st or 2nd pick of the upcoming rookie draft!!;)

#14 KOD [/b](+1)… So there is life in Australia. Not bad, but too late.
A bold prediction for 2006-2007? McPherson will pan out to be all right.
And down to only 3 punters – though one of them is OUT… Much better!!
25% better… that’s a start!! :P:P

#15 Son of Marc[/b] (-3)… A quote from the past:
<<I don’t know about the future, but I do feel like this team will be 2-9 by the end of Week 8… Tough position to be in and make the playoffs… Gone with the year, the higher aspirations!>> :?
‘Nuf said…
2-9 indeed.
Out.

#16 Pac Rats [/b](=)… miserably stuck in last position, miserably looking at White, Bush or Leinart to rebuild hopes of grandeur! Down here, in Hell, hope is called Future. Good luck. Hang in there, bud’…

Cheers to all!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

And now what?
Congrats to Tom Cool for knocking me off... I felt the jolt of joy for a few seconds, when De. Hall returned an INT for a TD on MNF... There, 12 points to win the game, eventually lost by 9. But a player had to be dumb, stupid, dumb and stupid, too and rough the passer. Thanks Demorrio for ending my season. Much appreciated.
Not that I blame the guy (how about 1 sack, Mr. Freeney and not an egg? That too would have saved my season!!)... but still: when you see the points being in for 5 seconds, jumping for joy... and then called back?
Not Cool.

Thomas Cool.

Anyway... As you could all tell, I jinxed it when I ranked myself higher than our upcoming Champ... Smart money is on JJ, who's been scoring like he's on steroids or something.

Good luck to the Final Four and happy Holidays to everybody!!
Enjoy football a bit less than gifs and in turn, gifts a bit less than Thy Neighbor's Wife... :shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::dude:
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

Well........ Sometimes, it's a mixed bag of emotions to be right about predictions. Because I wish I had been wrong and to have gone all the way.
I wrote back in Wk 1:

<<# 15: Our own Bolivian Ragamuffins... I have always liked this team a lot. Extremely young, deep, with high octane potential.Div. 2 was the toughest, most competitive Div. in 2004. But I think the Ragamasters will be in the Final 4 this year. That’s my bold prediction of the week.
And if not in 2005? Fine… 2006, or 2007… This roster is meant for long-term domination!!
>>

Congrats to the new 2005 CHAMPS!!
The Domination came in early, but it was relentless and overpowering.
In the end, there is only one 3030 CHAMP, and it's a Ragamuffin. Whodhavthught?

Good job. The team is young, deep, solid. And it's double congrats for being in a extremely competitive Division.

I hope everybody will be back on board in 2006... Our TN Walkers have been partially MIA but the rest of the league is hardcore. It's great to belong and I am always thankful for the freebie.

Happy New Year to all and congrats once again to the Raggamaster.
Next year, your scalp, ring, bowl, crown will be all mine!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

Hey hardcore freeloaders!!
As posted in 1002 and 1003, I am alive and kicking, though barely and swamped by an intense work schedule, but I will try to keep a review going, some predictions, some lighttrash talking and something to read.

Let's see who follows in the steps of Hollow Point and the Raggamasters...
2006 hunting seasonis OPEN!!!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 2[/b]

Gentlemen: yes, I am back for some more punishment and imposing my biased shortsightedness on you. I never know for all long I will be able to keep up the ramblings, but I am starting our 2006 season with one of my “Awards� column.

I started Wk. 1 0-3 across 3 leagues and only managed a W in a freebie family league against my 12-yr old nephew… Pretty crammy.
Wk. 2 is barely better: 1-2, so 1-5 total… the freebie lg. yielded a fun crushing W vs. one bro-in-low… so while it’s not redeeming for EFS, it’s pleasurable for family bragging rights.

So, where are westanding in 3030??
Drum roll, please and let’s unveil the latest AWARDS!!!

FIRST, The Win Of The Week…[/b]
MONTANA GRIZZLIES[/b] get a huge, massive scoring W vs. our 2005 Champs, the not-to-shabby BOLIVIAN RAGAMUFFINS[/b]. At 504 to 452, this is our highest scoring game and a very big lift for the Grizzlies. The ever reliable Mathis, the surprising Adalius Thomas led the way and the Rags were taken down by a miserable -3 pts from their XK and starting Charlie Batch.

Honestly, I am surprised by the lineup selected by the Rags… Leaving D. Ware out, starting Batch vs. Roethlisberger…
Anyway… Our 2005 Champ took it up the chin and the Grizzlies are the lg.’s highest scoring team, at 469 avg… impressive.

The Roadkill Of The Week…[/b]
If you have kids, don’t let them watch the final score between the LIBERTY MULES[/b], piling a merciless 140 points on ZONE BLITZ[/b]… I was on the end of one of these in 1002… I lost 400 something to 600 something… yup. The guy is bullet-proof and a monster.
Anyway… Liberty quickly disposed of its opponent. Zone Blitz had Eli and his 58 points as a QB, but no one to throw at… 25 points on the WR corps is a sure way to torpedo a season!!

The Heartbreaker Of The Week:
STL 3030 [/b]is on the sorry end of this award, losing to HOLLOW POINT[/b][/b]… The loss is only by 16 points, which could have easily been covered by NOT starting Dexter Jackson and lining up Jermaine Philips instead…
Hindsight is 20-20, but that one hurts a lot.
Our 2004 Champ and ex-Pdt. is the happy squeaker of the week… “A win is a win�!!!

The rest of the games were fairly pedestrian… so let’s do a quick review on the anonymous teams, not lucky enough to get one of my prestigious awards:

The Texicans:[/b] still going strong after a huge 2005 finish, the team is sporting a happy 4-3, at least 10 Guards (minimum) for a total of 20 OLs (minimum) and Rex Grossman is the stud of that team. Come on? Who would have thought? Interestingly enough, when he fades out (he will) and gets hurt (he will), Matt Hasselbeck will carry the team to another playoff year.

Tweeter:[/b] What’s wrong with this picture: no ILB, no QB, almost no WR… And yet, the guy can still kick my arsch? Life just ain’t fair!

PAC RATS:[/b] Peyton Manning. He rules.
I met Paul in WA and that was fun… it’s always neat to put a face with a team… anyway… his team can grind it like few others and it’s going to be an interesting year… PAC RATS vs. Texicans: every point will count!!

Sorry schmucks Rugbymen:[/b] Well, I traded my soul and reborn playoff team (after finished 15th in 2004) for Bush and Leinart… Right now, I am in hell! Fantasy Hell!
Funny thing is, at 0-2, I am only 1 game behind in my Conf!

JJ:[/b] I’d have to check but I don’t think this team had ever scored ONLY 350 points… I mean, this team’s output has been insane, at 448 points since inception and 442 points last year.
350? What happened?
No OL, that’s a start.
And I hear The Edge is asking for a trade, now that he has his guaranteed Arizona millions in the bank… poor fellah… stuck in Arizona? Isn’t that cruel and unusual punishment?:P

BUCKY RULES:[/b] I’d have to check but I don’t think this team had ever scored 393 points… must be all those players he got when I traded for Bush and Leinart. Don’t remind me, please.
Roll reversal, eh? And the BUCKS now have as many Ws as in 2004…
Joke aside, I like the effort and the rebuilding of the roster… pretty neat.
And Branch will start soon, so thank me once again for being such an idiot!!!! :shock::shock::shock:

URBAN LEGEND:[/b] One of my favorite teams since draft day and I think that Thurman, Walker, Owens, Cotchery, etc. are going to carry this roster to the Final Four.

OAKTOWN POWER:[/b] Another team I always liked but the start of the season has been underwhelming. Yet, the roster has a lot of fat and I the Conf. is TOUGH… Starting 0-2 is not good, not when the Top 2 teams are scoring 100 ppg more than yours.
Is this a Carolina hole or a Tamba Bay hole? (I think the Bucs are too old, too fluky, the Conf. is too tough… they are primed for “one per year top to bottom� award).
Anyway: time to put it in gear!!

DoKBoX 3030:[/b] Thin LBs is a concern… Health is an even bigger one. Our favorite Ceramic Salsa could be in for a long one…

Team Grape Ape:[/b] Here’s an idea: trade one of your 53 ‘backers to DokBoX… or 2, or 3…
Otherwise, what’s the fat for? Anyway… good grinding start of the season and good follow through from last year’s finish.
At 388 ppg, this team is still the 7th highest scoring but the Conf. just seems too tough for anything more than 10-8 this season.

Voila… This is your weekly bulletin…
Congrats to our Winners and see you all later!!
-Blue

[Jenstad]

I give up....lead the whole league in scoring this week and still cant win. Just not my year when I dont win with 455.

[Bluecaterpillar]

I give up... Led the league in worst performance ever.
I stink so bad I offend the league... and myself.
I stink so bad and so much, I must be French.
Wait... I am!
That's it... I am sticking to my 3-0 stupid Yahoo league... I cannot play with big boys.

Puke.
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

CONGRATS TO THE MULES!!!

We have a new Champ and it's a beaut'... well, no, wait... it's a Mule.
Ah well, even a donkey can find its ass every now and then (arf, arf, arf).
Congrats for a solid season, sorry I could never pitch in, let's hope my rookies bloom some day and see you all in 2007...

Please renew... since it's a free league, please do try!!!
Cheers to all and Happy Holidays...
-Blue and Brady Quinn... err, 1.1, again... 2 years running!