Season Review

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 1
Lady and gents:
I am back for more!!
As far as I am concerned, this weekly column (we’ll see how long it lasts) is my buried hatchet in all of my personal league’s squabbles and my good wishes for a good, fun season.
This is not a ranking – not yet – but rather quick hits and thoughts about each of the teams.
:D:D

# 1: Ladies first… let’s take a look at… 5-Hole Fanatics (hey!! I said I buried the hatchet, not my doubtful sense of humor!!!!). This is clearly a team in rebuilding phase, with good cornerstones but not enough manpower. Brackett seems to be a hidden gem, Peterson is a star, there is youth at DL and DB, Ward, Gonzo… Some very good elements, just not enough of them to make it past The Fromunda Cheese.
Interesting league rivalry here, with 5-Hole at 0-4 vs. CC&7. :shock:

# 2: The Fromunda Cheese team certainly stands on its OFF to vie for wins in a very balanced Div.
The DEF is aging fast and will need a rejuvenated LB corps within 1 year.
The team is decent but it will be difficult to make it past CC&7. :P

# 3: so how good is CC&7’s team? Aside from an occasional egg from Culpepper, this has always been Div. 1’s team to beat. The OL needs consolidation and time (another RFA will fix that) and another top WR would be welcome. The rest is just fine and a fierce opponent.
Yet, it will be difficult to make it past TJ Gringos. :P

# 4: So what about our Champs, TJ Gringos? Last year was a great run, no doubt and renewed congrats. But also a touch of a fluke, with the Droughns factor. I know, I know: it helped me win in 1002 too. Honest, without Droughns lining up as a secondary RB and performing at 26 ppg, things could have been different.
Anyway, what’s up now? Well, I prefer this year’s team over last year’s!!
I think the 2005 TJ can make it to the top 4 outright, without tricks or Droughns.
Abraham & Freeney make a scary pair, D. Ware & Thurman another one. I think Hasselbeck is for real.
Only issue is at the receiving end of the team and I expect Jon will upgrade as he goes (such as picking Crayton off UFA). :D

# 5: Next off, let’s take a look at the highest scoring team since the league started: the Marauders. Can he keep it up? Can he go back to the Finals, a 3rd year running? There is no doubt this is an older and aging roster, filled with the fantastic Dolphins DEF. Heck, half of the Dolphins are on Ron’s squad!! :P
So far, this year, the trick is lasting. But that’s one game.
Well, that’s what I have been saying for 3 years and I have been wrong since the start!!!!
Let’s put it this way: I am yet again under whelmed by a team that has been running past me for 2 years… I just hope to be finally right! :shock:

# 6: I will get my own team of the way, Absalom x 2. Last year was just a nightmare… I have been whining about injuries for 12 months. So is there hope where I come from?
Well, it will all depends on injuries: I like my starters and consider my team Final 4 material, but my depth stinks and my DEF bench is too weak to go anywhere. My OFF bench is very solid, so I guess I would need a few more trades.
My 3-4 and young DBs are OK to take on my Div. foes. My OFF is deep and young.
Losing 2-3 defenders would mean the end of my season… so I am doing voodoo dances for health and prosperity!!

# 7: While I am looking at the Div., let’s review the Myrmidons. Keith took the long path towards youth in 2004 and did extremely well. So the future appears bright. Only problem is, Div. 4 is probably the fiercest in the league… As a matter of fact, it appears to me as the 2nd toughest of the 12 Divisions I survey (the palm goes to Div. 2 in 3030).
So wins are usually split in high scoring games.
What’s new? I think a better Portis, an awesome Holt-Moss tandem will be key, but I am afraid we’ll all end up close to 8-8. The difference maker would be a Freeney or Peppers or a Bulluck or Urlacher. Can you get one of these?

# 8: Bellies… Clint knows I have always thought highly of his team, often projecting it to go all the way. So I am sure he’s more disappointed than I am not to have gone there.
The power is there but age is majorly catching up and the window is closing. Want proof? Strahan, Sapp, Wistrom, Godfrey, Quarles…
There is plenty of youth on the OFF side of the ball, but maybe too much of it?
Bellies will probably hope for a couple of its young QBs to actually become studs and trade up for WRs and DEF, but I think this team is losing some its magic and huge fan no longer I am, says Yoda. :cool:

# 9: So who is my new #1 fan team? Tough to say at this point, though I like the Moonshines a lot. I think 2004 relative underperformance will not repeat and this could be one of the most improved 2005 teams. Driver and Owens form a nice pair, Lamont Jordan could be huge, Barnett, Lewis and D. Johnson form the best LB threesome in the league. This team has patches of ugliness, but is a nice dark horse. :dude:

# 10: What about CA United? Finally ready for an SB trip? It’s all there to be a challenger, but the Division is getting better and meaner. I love the depth and options on both sides of the ball, plenty of bench for trade baits, good cap management. The team is rock solid again, but the Division is getting better and meaner. Wait. Did I mention that the Division is getting better and meaner?

# 11: Want proof? Take a look at the NY Misfits. Interesting 4-0 rivalry vs. the Venoms – to be followed. And last year’s thorn in CA’s side.
Tom Brady, LT, Chad Johnson, Burleson, Coles… Young DEF, plenty of depth, powerful OFF, very solid OL… I think the Misfits have what it takes to make it to the Final Four, but this Division is getting better and meaner!!!!

# 12: And the Venoms? Our very own Mrs. Boyle. Another team that banked on youth and improvement, it had a huge fast start in 2004 then faded into oblivion… We shared the same fate of late implosion and losing records. Aaargh! :X

So what’s in store for 2005?
I genuinely believe the team improved from 2004 and adding Holmes to Shaun Alexander, having a healthy Steve Smith could be the weapons needed to waste the other 3 teams’ season and sneak into the playoffs.
Right now, I am betting on the Venoms as my underdog favorite for a playoff spot.

With 4 solid Div. 3 teams, 4 solid Div. 4 teams, a couple of top dogs in Div. 1… what’s left for Div. 2???? Or can we just have 11 teams in the playoffs????

# 13: Tough love for Barry Sanders. The team has been depleted, is aging, has become a rebuilding project. That’s hard but I am pretty sure the 421 ppg average will come down by 10-15 points… So that’s a 2-year Div. winner who will NOT threepeat.

# 14: The dubious honor of having the worst scoring team in 2004 and worst scoring average since creation, STL 3 needs help. Keith’s intentions are solid, but he seems to be shooting all over the target and manages his squad more like a yearly FF team than dynasty league.
Interestingly, I think the DEF is somewhat solid, actually quite good and certainly enough for Div. 2 (one of the softest in my 3 leagues).
I see really nothing majorly wrong with the OFF weapons…
So where is the issue?
Partly picking the wrong starters, week in week out. And a very, very shaky OL, yielding only 70 to 80 points per week, compared to 120 to the OLs in the league. Those 40 points are tough to make up for with the rest of the roster.
Somehow, I think Keith does not deserve the worst scoring crown (right now, 5-Hole does)… Can he prove me right?

# 15: our very own Greyriders… This team is the prototypical roster of a nice, good looking team – but not a fierce one, not an outstanding one, so a head turner. Really, this is a 9-9 team. It’s nice. Not nice enough.
And the QB situation is just awful.
Awful.
A must trade, right here, right now.

# 16: We’ll wrap it up with Rob’s Park Avenue. Clearly put, I think Rob’s team is the most improved in his Div. and a top-3 improver in the league. This Div. being very soft, I see Rob taking the crown and the only playoff spot this Div. will get.
As a matter of fact, along with the Venoms, I see both teams as the ultimate disruptors and could make it to the Final Four.
I love what Rob has done over time and his OFF is one of the deepest, most diverse in the league. Young, energetic, high octane, it will pluck wins from the rest of the Div. … 12 Wins total?


That’s it folks!!
I hope you enjoy.
Cheers!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 2...

This fresh off the press: Ron Stolfi was nowhere to be found at his desk today. Instead, it is reported that he has been spending an inane amount of time worshipping the porcelain idol, sick as a dog, mourning over his loss vs. the 5-Hole Fanatics.
In an added newscast, it is rumored that Ron barely found the strength to get to his desk and fired the entire Marauders’ management. This has been a Fantasy version of a Texans clean-up… Ron fired his coaches, his assistants, his water boys, his voodoo personal trainer.
Then he went back to the toilet, where he is still stewing… not a pretty sight and quite a foul smell. Yuck.

In the meantime, 5-Hole Fanatics went to the Maybach dealership and splurged. Must be nice.

So what have we learned in Wk 2?
That Ron’s other team, Marauders Two, sit atop the overall EFS ranking…[/i][/b] congrats and all is not lost.

Also kudos to our very own Carolina Moonshines, #2 in the overall list. Nice.

OK… I gave awards in 3030 and I am going to stick to the formula!

Drums rolling, standing ovation, let’s start with…

The Win Of The Week…
[/b]You have figured this one out… 5th-Hole is our winner and I am eating my shoes while Ron is eating crow. I still don’t think this team can mount a season winning performance, but a win is a win… Drew Bledsoe had a glorious Wk 1 in the NFL – yet he could still be in a world of pain.
Think Dilfer is going to light up in Indy? Think again… etc. The list of analogies is long.
In the meantime, Ryan did it with 2 players not starting… See? Luck does matter!!!
As for Ron? He’ll get over it and move on. Still a top contender.

The Almost Win Of The Week…
[/b]Goes to… STL3 vs. the Venoms.
I dished it out so much to Keith and his STL3 that it is quite a nice surprise to see him sit atop his (very, very weak) Division and to have inflicted quite a spanking to Mrs. Boyle… No words on Mr. Boyle’s jealousy.
However, I think Park Avenue will turn things around soon… so enjoy the nice win while it lasts!

The Spanking Of The Week…
[/b]Nice award to get, with bragging rights, etc…
And this week’s winner? Bellies Cubed, with a one-way, 87 point margin win over CC&7…
87 points… Yikes.
That lopsided victory is mostly due to Culpepper’s career high 5 INTs… -30 points. Ouch.
Actually, CC&7 is still a solid team and look for a nice rebound this upcoming week… Westbrook will have fun again.
Congrats to Bellies: way to blow the competition away!!

The Shootout Of The Week…[/b]
Thanks to Carolina Moonshines and Park Avenue for lighting it up…
Carolina is exploding and the galore started after Owens first TD… What a display of fireworks… His OL put up monstrous numbers (132 points is gigantic for an OL, where yearly averages are closer to 85 points).
Rob’s Park Avenue tried to mount a comeback… If only KGB could start getting sacks and if Akers had not pulled lame (1 point)… If, if, if…
Anyway.

947 total points: way to go ballistic there… That’s 300 points more than the Bore of the week…

The Bore Of The Week…[/b]
300 points less!!! That’s right. 30% less!!
Thanks Barry Sanders and NY Misfits for not making it interesting. Not one bit!!
Of course, Manning’s lowest yardage did not help.
Everywhere I look at Barry’s roster and scoring, there is pain. Monstrous pain.
Hope you get better soon.

The Heartbreaker Of The Week:[/b]
Drums again, please… On the losing side of that one? Yes, yes, the Absaloms…
When Homefield advantage is taken care of, the final score will show 409-419… Nice win for the 2004 Champs, Jon’s TJ (last congrats for last year’s victory!!!!!).
I just needed a sack, a measly sack… Suggs, Geathers, Erasmus James, Pollack? Not one sack, thanks. Zilch.
A heartbreaking loss.

The Surprise Of The Week:
[/b]Honestly, the final award of the week goes to Tom’s Cheese… Nice win vs. the Myrmidons, whom had the stronger team on paper and real NFL matchups… But Tom created a solid line up and grabbed the win. It’s an important one, too – as all wins will count dearly in a very disputed Div. 1.

Nothing much to report on CA United… Still winning, nicely.
OK… This week’s NFL action will be fun for all of you to watch. Me? I will be drunk and happy in Provence – and without internet connection. No football, no TV, but nice food, nice wine, nice company.

Cheers to all.
Message to Ron: don’t get better quickly, especially not this week: we’re facing up.

[teamshrink]

Thanks for the kudos. Bellies are old, but we're proud :)

[Park Avenue]

Blue,
Any chance we get another round of your review or rankings on week 3?

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 3
[/b]
Well, after a week of simmering in my pride for losing to Ron’s team, and also a week of driving, flying, training (new word!!) for 2000 miles, I am finding just a little bit of time to post some rankings… Just something for you all to do while waiting for Noon…
Over here, in Europe, I won’t get to see any games (for a month :(:(:() and on top of that, I have to wait until 7:00 PM to log to NFL.com… Sucks, sucks, sucks…

On the other hand, Lobster Salad and Ossobucco veal shanks served with an ’89 Pomerol and an ’89 Medoc sounds about right for my lunch: if you cannot do bad food and football, settle for great food and no action!!

Cheers to all and peace and love to my #1 fan, Tom Saunders.

Remember that the rankings evolve every week but are meant as a projection towards Wk 13 and the 6 teams making the playoffs…

#1: Congrats to the Myrmidons!![/b][/b] Once upon a time, Keith’s team stunk. A lot. He traded all his stars for future stars, waited patiently… His window of opportunity is opening and the team is scoring many, many points. The roster is young, deep and although the DEF needs some work, the OFF power is impressive. I still think Div. 4 is the toughest in the league, so nothing is set in stone until Wk 13, but impressive start so far!!

#2: Carolina Moonshine… [/b]Well, here’s the caveat: was last week’s dump a sign of times to come, or just an aberration on an otherwise high-octane team? Losing Chad Pennington is going to hurt and the OFF is a bit shaky to keep it up, so watch out after NY Misfits!!

#3: CC&7:[/b] Although 5-Hole Fanatics is scoring higher, he’s also not setting a lineup, not taking care of his team, etc… So we could have an orphan waiting to happen. In the meantime, I like the CC&7 team better and I think Culpepper is turning it around… As a matter of fact, I think that Jon’s TJ should have the upper hand but I am not certain he’s putting much or enough work in his team as compared to the CC&7.

#4: Park Avenue:[/b] I wrote earlier that I thought this team was one of the most improved ones in the league and playing in the weakest division… I like the 461 and 466 scores and I think Rob will run away with it in his Div. – and more!

#5: CA United:[/b] Though off to a slow start in terms of W-L, this team is still heavy with fire power. A huge scorer all last year, I can vouch for writing that nothing is played within 3 weeks… Heck, I was 8-1 after 6 weeks and finished 8-10… What’s the point? CA has all the toys to pull a playoff trick. Though mounting injuries are a concern…

#6: Marauders:[/b] difficult not to give a spot to the Finalist 2 years running… Plus, I just got spanked, so why not… I still think this team lost its touch, but with Ron, there’s never anything really predictable. So let’s not write him off!!

#7:[/b] To prove that winning does count… Iwill rank the NY Misfits[/b] higher than what I think they deserve… But they’re off to a good start, so maybe there is some staying power in there. I doubt it, but I reward the 3-0 start – the only one in the league!!![/b]

#8: You know what?? I think I made a huge mistake………[/b][/b] [/b]Right now, the toughest Division is #3, not #4… So, as a sign of growing respect, I am going to stick a 4th team in there – in the top 8, no less!!! Venoms[/b] – last year’s surprise turnaround, is worthy of playoff spot. After all, it is possible that the Div. 3 will spot 3 teams in the final 6…!!

#9: 5-Hole Fanatics…[/b] A surprising good start though the mgmt. is still absent and failed to set starters in Wk. 3… The team has shown some spark – I still wonder about the overall “dynastic� mgmt. of the ownership – but results do count!! Plus, the team was never a bad one to start with (thanks to “Gone Crazy� Zabel).[/b]

#10: TJ Gringos…[/b] Jon’s team could be, should be, would be higher… if it was scoring more points. Jon is a bit more absent this year than last and somehow, missing some fine tuning to his mgmt… This could be costly, considering the fierce competition from teams 9 to 16.

#11: Bellies…[/b] Somehow, I have paid tremendous respect towards Clint’s team – without true results so far!! Looking at the roster, I am seeing some concerning DEF and QB and WR holes and this team is losing some steam.

#12: Absalom Absalom…[/b] I am free falling a bit more than I would like and my DEF is really concerning… What gives? A bad feeling in my mouth, some sore losses and a poor ranking!! :X

#13: STL3:[/b] I give Keith’s team more credit than Tom Saunders does and I think that I had under-estimated it a bit… As a matter of fact, it seems to be turning around and could mount a decent challenge. The overall spending manage is out of whack, but the team has some solid performers!

#14: The Fromunda Cheese… [/b]In Tom’s mind, he should not have had this team which is the worst orphan ever… I disagree a bit and I think there is winning power within the roster… Don’t look now, but with time, UFA, RFA and rookie picks – the foundations are solid and the results could come soon (2006).

#15: Barry Sanders… [/b]Mounting injuries, Peyton Manning playing like the second coming of Joey Harrington, proxy mgmt… The list could be longer but why beat a dead horse?

#16: Greyriders…[/b] At 0-3, there is a burning smell under somebody’s derrière… I have the feeling that Mike will soon fire his GM, coaches, etc. And hiring a QB would be a good idea, otherwise it’s going to be a long 4-14 season… Yuck!!

That’s it for this week!!
Get ready for the double-headers and an update soon… maybe Tuesday?

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 4

Well, I figured that the best way to spend some time on a train going 200 MPH between Bordeaux and Paris was probably to write a quick update on our rankings… Wk 4, 5 games in…
25% of the season has played out, but nothing’s jelled. As a matter of fact, I don’t see any team making huge strides – except for the “Eagles� on the league: the Carolina Moonshine…

What a huge week!!
530 points… Must be nice to have Neil Rackers on the roster!!! He’s scoring more points than Peyton Manning!!! Yes, read that twice!! :D:D:D

Anyhow… Onto the rankings…

#1: Congrats to the Moonshines!! (+1) I know it’s not the best record in the Division or in the league, but the scoring is overwhelming and I see only a major QB hole as a reason for slowing down…

#2: Myrmidons (-1)… A place lost for 2 good reasons:
=>The Moonshines fire power
=> Week 5 is going to be brutal… no QB, no Randy Moss… Ouch. That’s going to be a long week and one I hope to be taking advantage of…….:D:D:D

#3: TJ Gringos (+7)… Who said I would not be a fickle? I basically swapped CC&7 for TJ. I wrote before that I thought TJ’s team was the strongest and this week scoring was the 4th game in a row above 420 points… Nice. Nicer than his competitors.

#4: Park Avenue (=)… nothing’s changed! Still like the team, wk. 5 will be all right, still like the overall odds… But I am moving STL3 up a lot, so there’s some pressure mounting!!

#5: NY Misfits (+2)… Little by little, this team has the makings of a playoff winner… Though keep in mind that the Venoms and Absaloms were both something like 7-2 before totally collapsing in 2004… Nothing’s for too long in this business…!

#6: CA United (-1)… Still a major contender. Top scoring contender… Actually, if it were not for NY’s W-L record, CA would be #5, for sure. Maybe this coming week?

#7: Marauders (-1)… The entire DIV. 4 is falling, so is Ron’s team. Still a top 6 dog, though and surely ready to fight for his life.

#8: CC&7 (-5)… The rules of weights and balances… When TJ rises, CC&7 falls!! This team will have only 1 good ILB during wk 5, lost Jake Grove and has no true backup OC… Momentum will be hard to keep but the Div. is soft.

#9: STL3 (+4)… Gotta give it to Keith: he bids on everything that moves, but scores a nice avg. of 410 points doing so. I prefer Rob’s team’s fundamentals, but right now, Keith is a contender.

#10: Absaloms (+2)… The only consistent things about this team are how bad its DEF unit is and how reliable McNabb has become. The rest is a huge, painful headache!!

#11: Bellies (=)… Clint’s team is doing all right – but my unwavering support has be wavering and I no longer see this team as a top contender… Just a nightmare team: one of these guys who can steal a legitimate W from any other team, any week… But will finish 8-10 and spoil it 8 times!

#12: Fromunda Cheese (+2)… The Fromunda still scores and benefits from the free falling 5-Hole Fanatics... I still think the Zabel core has some fire power.

#13: Venoms (-5)… The overall scoring would be nice in any other Div.
In this killer Div., Anna is getting… killed. :P:P
Simple as that. Mounting injuries are a huge concern and Wk. 5 is a tough bye list. Ouch. One more Loss coming.

#14: 5-Hole Fanatics (-5)… Talk about a brutal, brutal egg laid during Wk 4… 9 players scored less than 3 points, 6 of them posted eggs. Ouch.
And Wk. 5 figures a bye list bigger than the yellow pages… So that’s one more loss coming, for sure.

#15: Barry Sanders (=)… Bottom dwellers still dwell at the bottom… Nothing new here, pain and suffering.

#16: Greyriders (=)… I don’t know whether it’s my doing or not, but Mike’s emails are all faulty… He might have decided to totally shut it down, until next year… ‘cuz this team ain’t going up, that’s for sure… Enjoy your year off!!!

That’s it folks… Next update from Cologne… I will have many beers. Many.
And little time for NFL news… So little. So many beers, though!

[tcs3700]

Alex,

From here,I would like to be kept from mention in your weekly reviews.

thanks

Tom- team 3- the fromunda

[Park Avenue]

Can't hand the heat Tom? I actually enjoy reading about your stinky "Fromunda Cheese".

[tcs3700]

No Rob I think I can handle the heat and have proven so,justPOLITELY saying thatI'm as tired of hearing everyone's opinions as they are of hearing mine without having to call in dad to threaten sending me to bed without dinner.

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 7

Where in the heck is Absalom’s GM??
1) Cozily spending some time at Tom Saunder’s house
2) Playing golf and reviewing law cases with Ryan Cobbs
3) Back home for a while, chilling…

If you replied 1 or 2, you need to get your head checked for holes!!

No, the correct answer is #3: He’s back!! Yes… that’s right: for at least a couple more days (until Monday, actually, before leaving for Chile)… So I barely have time to sneak in a small review for each of my 3 leagues and off I go, again.

What kind of rankings do we have going into Week 7?

Hail to the King and our #1…
[/b]Picking this team was mostly a choice between choosing the GM with the best record and the GM most likely to win it all – projected to Wk. 16… So between NY Misfits sole perfect record and the Carolina Moonshines………. I had to select the Moonshines, though honestly, it was a toss up – but not with the Misfits: with CA United.
On the other hand, Mike’s Moonshines are extremely thin at QB and LBs… Injuries could change everything.

#2 Park Avenue[/b] (+2)… One thing is for sure: Rob ain’t dominating his Division the way I thought he would. On the other hand, he’s had few injuries to his roster and I don’t think that losing Griese will be too bad: Favre should do the trick. As a matter of fact, the DEF could improve and this team could win it all.

#3 TJ Gringos[/b] (=)… Jon is doing all right, but here’s the bad knock: it is entirely possible that this team loses 3 out of the next 4 games… His bye weeks for #8 and #9 are brutal. Brutal. So this ranking is far from being set in stone and CC&7 should be breathing down Jon’s neck.
Enjoy Week 7 – while it lasts!

#4 Bellies [/b](+7)… What??? Shooting up 7 positions? Do I need severe detoxification? Spend some time at the Fromunda’s? No, no, nothing that bad… I just have always liked the Bellies and I think this team is taking advantage of its lousy Division. The Myrmidons should be here, but not Moss-less. So it’s the Bellies for now!

#5 CA United[/b] (+1)… The scoring machine is alive and well… At this point, it’s a toss up between CA United and the Moonshines… If Roaf had been playing, CA United would be scoring 10 ppg more per game and be ranked #1… Who ever doubted the importance of Offensive Linemen?

#6 NY Misfits[/b] (-1)… Congrats for the only perfect record in the league. It won’t last 18 games.
But while it’s here, I salute it!
First loss this week? No QB is always a bad omen.

#7 Myrmidons [/b](-5)… Realistically, Keith has still a great shot at making the playoffs. However, I suffered through losing Moss during 2004 and it was not a pretty sight. Udeze is gone too, DJ Williams ditto, the OLBs suck, Collins without Moss will stink a lot more… I see a lot of pain going forward – the only redemption is a now sucky Division 4.

#8 CC&7[/b] (=)… This team is in a neck to neck race with TJ Gringos for the lead of another under whelming Division… I think it will benefit from the brutal stretch waiting for TJ’s.

#9 STL3 [/b](=)… Keith should get the award for most under appreciated team of the year… A bit like the Venoms of 2004, Keith has done a great job on a shoe string budget and heavy, heavy spending restrictions. The team is extremely healthy and still very much in the race for a playoff spot. Congrats so far!!

#10 Marauders [/b](-3)… Ron and his Dolphins are losing a little bit of steam… Always a contender, but the edge is no longer has sharp and dominating as it used to being. Last year’s final stretch was awe inspiring, so Ron can only hope for a repeat season.

#11 Venoms [/b](+2)… Week 7 is going to be tough, but this team is the best of the worst teams… Hardly a ringing endorsement, but after the Venoms, I see no hope for playoffs… Not even a slice of a chance. At least, Anna has a glimmer going for her.

#12 Absaloms [/b](-2)… How to save a bad season? Dunno. Maybe indeed I need to go spend some time in Florida – instead of touring the world. In the meantime, I am stuck with an OK team missing a DEF soul and a couple of OFF playmakers. Great.

#13 No Comment[/b] (-1)…

#14 ex-5-Hole, Orphaned [/b](=)… One thing is sure: Thomas will put in the work and moves to improve this roster. In the meantime, I am glad we got rid of an owner who wanted to play a Yahoo! version of EFS… Not cool for the future owner, but Thomas is a good start.

#15 Barry Sanders [/b](=)… As always… Good core of players, needing some long time nurturing.

#16 Greyriders [/b](=)… Injuries, blood, sweat, tears… Nothing promising until 2006.

That’s it for this week…
The next 3 weeks should solidify most of the rankings until the end of the year… It’s now or never for losers such as yours truly…!!
Cheers!

[mski]

Well, the true #1 will be revealed over the next 3 weeks as Carolina Moonshine & C.A. United battle twice. Both teams are hoping NY Misfits come back to earth soon.javascript:emoticon(':X', 'images/emoticons/mad.gif')

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 9[/b]

One of the 2 things I have always appreciated the most about this league – and keep on harping about, on and on, through this column – is (1) its group of owners… a committed, fun, communicative and trading bunch, which makes the overall experience even better; (2) since 2004 an uncanny balanced league… Parity reinvented – and that makes it more fun than runaway leagues with power shared within 3-4 teams and the rest left in the dust, ala 1002.

Think about it: since 2004, when 12 teams finished between 7-10 and 10-8, so basically all with 1 ½ games of each other and parity, we currently have 9 teams within ½ game of each other.

And that’s just plain cool.

Of course, I know a few owners (I am one of them :cool:) who wish he/she could trash the rest of the league into 18-0 submission… But this balance is remarkable and makes every game count double. And it makes for WILD swings in the rankings, too!!!!!!

Anyway… This was my “Peter King� moment.

But this “moment� stemmed by the last 2 emails from our departed owners… Boy, will I ever miss them.
I just hope we’re lucky enough to keep Tom Cool and Tom Lorenz after 2005… or that similar owners fall onto us…
Say, maybe we should interview the future owners????!!!!!!

OK…
What else?

Neil Rackers has my vote for my mid-year MVP. I mean, when a kicker scores more than Peyton, you have to give the guy credit for being hot, hot, hot. Hotter than spicy tamale.
Go Neil!!
And this is no joke: Rackers has been a solid part of Carolina’s insane weekly average.
Vanderjagt: 9.00 ppg. Rackers? 31+. ‘Nuf said!

Talking about the Moonshines… Are they still our #1???
Nope.


2 weeks ago, it was a toss up between CA United and the Moonshines… this week, I give it to CA United!! Our new #1!!
[/b]The true CA United has finally been showing… The top scorer of 2004 is coming back strongly, the team is firing on all cylinders, it’s gaining speed… All in all, based on 2004 and current 2005 form, I think CA United should have the best overall record and finish with the #1 seed.
But it’s a close race.

#2 STL 3 [/b](+7)… Well, as I have said before to justify such a jump… been wrong many times already today and will be wrong again!!
Keith went from 13th to 9th to 9th to 2nd… Nice progression.
What can I say? I like the results under absolutely cash-strapped mgmt. (remember the shrewd analysis by a departed owner – well, at least I am not the only wrong one).
So, congrats to Keith, though it’s one tenuous, tenuous lead over Park Avenue.
Plus, to an extent, Park has the better team on paper and has been unable to capitalize…
Good job here!

#3 TJ Gringos[/b] (=)… Though Jon suffered a bit from the slow pace of trading matters, I still think he can take over his extremely weak DIV. – but nothing is set in stone down there, where the bottom feeders live… So it could very well be down to the wire, Wk. 13, before it’s all decided!!

#4 Myrmidons [/b](+3)… Keith has a nice jump because of the void in DIV. 3 and Bellies failure to capitalize on his Week 5 to Week 7 lead drops his team and raises Keith’s. Simple, no?
I think both teams will have a shot and this race will also be decided at the very last second…
Cool, eh?

#5 Moonshine [/b](-5)… Ooooops!! A bomb has been dropped!
Well, it’s all about sharing the love, isn’t it?
Plus, Carolina could reclaim the #1 seed and Week 14 off… but the battle is going to be a tough one for sure.
I am still amazed at this team’s firing power. Really impressive stuff so far.
But my concerns at LB and QB will remain until Wk. 16… is there enough here to win it ALL?

#6 NY Misfits [/b](=)… In an impressive twist of fate, it could be that 3 teams from the same DIV. will qualify for the playoffs… It had happened in 2003 when teams 13, 14 and 15 all went to the playoffs… Redux?
Looks like it, though Mat has been losing a touch of steam.
Congrats so far!!

#7 Park Avenue[/b] (-5)… Moonshine and Park Avenue dropping 5 places each.
Ouch. Bruised and battered.
I really thought Rob would win his DIV. out right… More, he would dominate it.
It has not been so… and the 273-278 EGGGGGS sure justify the 5-spot drop…
I mean, 273?? Wazzup, dog?

#8 Bellies [/b](-4)… Just like with Park Avenue, I thought the Bellies could put away his DIV. during Week 5 to 9… It hasn’t been so. Instead, Myrmidons is hanging tough.
And honestly, the Marauders and Absaloms won’t go away without a fight… So Bellies had a window and they dropped the ball.
Fitting, eh?

#9 CC&7[/b] (-1)… Ouch for Daunte Culpepper. What a waste of a year.
Better off drafting Neil Rackers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CC&7 is very much still in the hunt, as a matter he is the leader of his DIV. But the DIV. just got a lot better with both foster Toms and Jon will push hard.
Another interesting fight, all the way until the end!

#10 Marauders [/b](=)… The wannabe Dolphins are fighting through… Just like the Absaloms, it’s technically still alive, but the pulse is faint.

#11 Absaloms [/b](+1)… Been doing better and still technically in the hunt… though honestly, I am not dreaming. However, my team can make it hell for real contenders and steal 2-3 valuable wins from them. That’s about it. Otherwise, it’s Disarray Central.

#12 Venoms [/b](-1)… I am ranking a nice team this low only because I see almost no hope for playoffs in such a tough DIV. Between CA, Moonshine, NY… No way Anna can make it happen.
It’s unfair, because her team strength is closer to #7 or #8 in the League, but this extremely tough DIV. is killing her.
By the way, the oft “left aside� DB position (by most EFS owners) is costing Anna at least 20-25 ppg vs. her tougher opponents. I know a thing or two about this: my DB corps is worse!! :X
So?
Well, there is no such thing as an unworthy position at EFS.
[/b]
#13 Fromunda [/b](=)… Our Beloved and Grand President will try hard to make a contender out of this team… the roots are solid but earlier damage is heavy. He can dream about winning… but, dream only, Prez. Dream. ‘Cuz we ain’t yielding in here!!

#14 Greyriders[/b] (+2)… At 4-7, Mike has salvaged his season and is mathematically in the hunt. All of a sudden, I am wondering whether he’s happy or depressed of never trying to trade for a QB… I know I tried to get something done with Mike, but his emails were all MIA. Now, he’ll still wins away from contenders and kill some hopes.

#15 ex 5-Hole Orphaned[/b] (-1)… Tom Cool has been on a UFA rampage, but heavy injuries and key holes have already taken their toll. In a way, it’s a shame that Tom did not join earlier – the team had the meat to be dangerous.

#16 Barry Sanders [/b](-1)… One team has to be last, last, last… its feet roasting at the hot flames of Inferno, slowly roasted by a devilish schedule. Honestly, this roster has a better core than a lot of teams listed above. But at 2-9, the season is close to over. I’d like to already predict a strong 2006 comeback. In the meantime, show is over.

That’s it for now… This League won’t be set until Week 12 and 13… so plenty of suspense coming our way!

Cheers!
-Blue

[Park Avenue]

nice work blue. My team has been decimated with injuries but I hope to make some moves in the near future to give my team a boost. STL is going down this week.

[st.louis]

gotcha bud, maby next time. lol i amy b willing to make a deal or two,whats available around the league

[Bluecaterpillar]

Well... I guess I will be the first one to extend CONGRATS, massive ones too, to Keith and the STL3, aka. SUPERBOWL CHAMPS!!
Well done, nicely managed... I wanted to post an email from a former owner, basically disparaging (what else?) Keith's moves in UFA and his aggressive bidding style, UFA tactics, etc.

Well, in the end, the former owner is just that: long gone... and Keith's style is vindicated in the best way possible: he is our NEW CHAMP!!

Congrats for a great year, fighting and grinding and winning through it all.
Good job going for the kill and spending all the money to get it.

On a personal note, I wanted to thank Keith for being a solid owner since day one and an active owner, always trading, bouncing off ideas, etc.

Anyway... Good job for now.
Now, 2006... I am going to build a solid DEF and finally will end up controlling the world!! At least the EFS 1003 world!!

I hope everybody will renew... I am a bit worried about some of us having dropped off, including Mike Haugh. I hope everybody will be back, that we will keep Tom Cool and that a solid owner will replace Z.

Cheers to all and Happy New Year!
-Blue

[Park Avenue]

congrats STL! You had a nice run. I look forward to taking you out next season.

[Bluecaterpillar]

As posted in 1002 and 3030, I am alive and kicking and will be trying to do some sort of weekly review on this board and emailing it to the League... Time has been very spare in the last months, but I will try to find an hour here and there.

To me, 1003 is still the most balanced and unpredictable of my 3 regular leagues so this year is going to be cut-throat... There won't be anyone running away with it, unlike 1002... It's going to be fun!!
-Blue

[Park Avenue]

As always, I eagerly anticipate your comments Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

Thanks Rob... but my weekend started 0-3, so I am licking my wounds... I am in a temporary retreat mode and thinking of Grand Strategies to crush my opponents. In plain English? I have been in the loo all day.

Sad thing is my only W came in a freebie Yahoo! lg I play with brothers and in-laws and nephews... I beat my 12-yr nephew. Yeah. I rock. All that EFS for that?

Anyway, I will try to dump something funny and entertaining!!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

2006 WEEK 1
Well, I think I am back for more, but do I feel rusty. It’s been a brutal year professionally. Anybody flying out there, I have already accumulated 126,000 base miles and it’s only September… Make that a rough 300,000 with bonuses and tidbits. And mostly flying ala Peter King: squeezed between 2 unattractive large males on the cheapest ticket money can buy.

Hence the silence in the offseason…
Plus, I feel beat. I am nurturing a pounding headache that’s only close in nastiness as the pounding I took at EFS this weekend. 0-3. What a start.

Anyway… It’s a bit early for rankings, so let’s do a “random tidbits� column, shall we?
AND BOY, IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK… IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

In team order but for the #1 SPOT, reserved to our current 2005 Reigning Champs:

1) STL 1003
So, can the Keith REPEAT???
Just like an amazing 9 other teams, he’ll have to do so a shoestring budget… We’re all broke. Keith had be broke all along, ala Snyder, so who cares, right? Still: there is a cash shortage in 1003. Big time.
Anyway: congrats for putting up a W without a starting QB. Awesome. 415 points and waiting for Roethlisberger to be healthy.
STL’s team is healthy, deep and has so much RB firepower… Repeat? Dunno. But he’s going to give us all a good fight.

2) TJ Gringos
Jon has been ON and OFF, already has 7 injured players, took a 319 beating. The roster is deep but carrying an hospital on one’s team is not fun.
Javon Walker and Droughns better get back in Fantasy shape, in a hurry.

3) CC&7
Talk about injuries… 7 guys also marked + Snee out and Kerney iffy (but he’ll play).
This team’s biggest concern? Its OL, especially if Snee is out for a while. That’s one thin line.
Interesting stat? Jake Grove + Jake Plummer = -21 points. Way to go negative!
And yet? A win!! Congrats… I would not have put 2 pennies on it!

4) Sack Exchange
Our favorite SHARKS… Wazzup, Mr. G?
It’s going to be one long year and a world of hurt. But at least, that will be 2 top 2 rookie picks in a row. I feel your pain, sharks. I do. It’s hard to be a Great White without front teeth.

5) Hometown Heroes
Kyle Vanden Bosch keeps on surprising me. Not you? Come on… a top 5-10 DE for minimum salary. What a gem! I thought the guy would bust 15 games ago!
Otherwise… Who is your offweek QB? Or your plan B what Bulger gets hurt, again?
Time to pray for Tarvaris to start!
But who need a QB when you don’t have a WR to throw to??
Sack exchange, meet your competition for 1.1!!!

6) Park Avenue
My only fan… Thanks though!!
I think Rob is a perennial contender but he has yet to reach the playoffs. What’s up, there? I am pulling all the time, I am rooting like crazy… what’s going on? It must be the Cleveland OC curse!!!
Seriously, I don’t see anything wrong with this team. Just a tough Conference. I see depth everywhere, good players…
Good first win… yet 394 ppg won’t get it done, chief.

7) Greyriders
He and Jon are in the same league: ON and OFF again…
A potent offense could get it done. My biggest concern is how old the DEF is. Maybe not for 2006, but it’s going to be a closing window for 2007 and beyond. Of course, there is M. Lewis, Polamalu and Tatupu: we all get rookie picks. But D. Edwards, Godfrey, Strahan, Rucker, Derek Smith… and the tough, tough breaks of Foley and Greenway. Ouch.
Age and bad luck: a recipe for a tough year… The OFF will score a lot, but not enough.

8) Barry Sanders won the Heisman a long while ago
Sean Jones finally paying back? Nice 1st game. It’s been what? 5 years?
Peyton? Fantasy God, along with LT.
13-5, 10-8, 6-12… it looks like it’s time to climbing back up.

9) Road Rage
Hey! I lied… another fan!! Thanks Gary!
You got yourself a reconstruction project with this team. It’s going to take a while and a healthier and deeper ILB corps. Actually, I think IB and WR are two of most key positions in Enh. Scoring and you need mucho help at both. Good luck trading out there!

10) Carolina Moonshine
Last year’s scoring average Champ… What’s new? Nothing. 469 points and kicking. Another strong, strong start. I am impressed.
And last year’s “MVP� Rackers is fittingly replaced by Wilkins’s 50 point effort. Kickers do it all for the Moonshines, year in, year out.

11) CA United
Another high octane team… Man, this Conference is BRUTAL!
With Green, KoRo, Jurevicius, Stockley hurting, it could be a tough early schedule. And dropping games against the Moonshines and NY Misfits is not a good deal.

But 338? It almost wins you the EGG OF THE WEEK award… but not quite…

Because the EGG OF THE WEEK is laid by the NY MISFITS:
Our league’s winningest team, at a healthy 37-16-1… 0.700 winning %. Impressive.
But dropping 0-1 and 360 points? YUCK!
And the Brady bunch could be in for a tough start of the season, too.

13) Marauders
ROOOONNN!!! Alive and kicking, eh?
Riding its Miami roster as always, gets a solid, convincing DEF driven W.
I have been predicting the aging demise of the old Miami guard ever since we got started, so I guess I have been wrong 3 years going…

Also… Ahman Green at 0.400 is my sleeper cheap pick of the early season.

14) ABSALOMS
YUCK. I really thought my team would be better… well, maybe it is, but poor player selection did me in. Simple as that. Issue is: even with optimal player selection, I would only have scored a meager 418. BARF.
I need to go fix my team.

15) Bandits
Ready for another award? Here is the DUBIOUS VICTORY AWARD (aka “a W is a W� award)… DRUM ROLL, please… 317 points can get you a win, scoring against 280!!
Yes, it can happen!!
Congratulations.
Better pick it up after this!

16) Necromongers
Aka. “ALL ROOKIE TEAM�, aka “The Blue Contract Team�… but 317 points too. That’s going to be a long year.
No starting QB, almost no RB, young non-starting studs everywhere.
Sure, this is a team for the future… but the present is going to HURT!!

OK guys… That’s a wrap. I hope I can get back in the groove and I will try to keep on posting.
Cheers to all and thanks for playing!
-Blue

[marauders]

Alex,

Fantastic Week One Review - I Love it - nice work - very nice work

And 126,000 air miles - WOW - that's a lot of metal detectors

BTW - The Marauders are BACK - refueled with some 2005 injured players BACK ON THE FIELD - and I agree with your analysis - the window of opportunity is starting to close on the Marauders - but my crafty vets will carry me another year

My LG1003 surprises from Week One:

Bandits get a WIN scoring only 317 points - say what ??

StLouis 3 gets a WIN with NO starting QB and no interest in getting a QB - ??????

Great Job Alex- Keep Up The Good Work

THE MARAUDERS

[Bluecaterpillar]

CONGRATS TO CA UNITED FORTHE CHAMPIONSHIPWIN...!!

Yes, finally... everything comes for who he waits long enough... at least, that's what I hope for 2007.......!!!!
I know Travis had been fighting the tide of being the highest scoring team and trophy-less, so congrats and good, sound championship!!

See you all next year and let's keep this fun league going a few more years!
-Blue and impatient