Season Review

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 1
Well, fellow league members, I am back for the 3rd yearly edition of a weekly column… that will probably not remain weekly too long, because my schedule is just too loaded, but at least I am always starting with the best intentions in the Fantasy World.
This league is kicking its 3rd championship season, but with a total of 50% new owners over the first 2 seasons, only few long term rivalries have been able to develop.
I guess my #1 message is to wish everybody a wonderful season, fun and enjoyable.
However, my true wish is that most of you will decide to stick around for a lot longer than your previous owners and that we will really be able to enjoy a solid, long-term group.


Talking about rivalries… We have a nice one coming this week: the wannabe champs but ever-dwelling in the swamps, the green trolls of EFS 1002, the murkiest trader Fantasy has ever known: “the Swamp Dwellers� vs. your revered, all-mighty yet incredibly humble, the ever pleased with themselves (not playing with themselves), the 2004 World Champions (well, 1002 World Champions): “The Aquablues�.

Yep, week 2 and it’s already Him vs. Me.
I see that during the offseason, He has managed to con all the newbies into trading their best players for mirages of good players; He has managed to con all the newbies into getting Him out of Cap Hell. His greed knows no limit. He wants a 1002 title, then another one, then again. He will trade his mother for such a prize. So is the “Swamp Master�.
Luckily for all of you, Crazy Canucks fended him off in 2003… then yours truly, the Aquablues, playing with themselves, fended him off again. And again.
How is the pain, Mr. Swamp? I mean, a spanking during the regular season and then during playoffs.

Enough taunting.
The team to beat in 2005 clearly is the Swamps… Already a powerhouse, always drafting well, always trading extremely well, this is a beauty of team and my nightmare. A 2004 485 ppg nightmare……………

Enough taunting, I said.
Well, not quite… We can change victim, can’t we?

How about a small taunt towards Mr. Crazy “Teflon� Canuck?
I mean, I have been predicting his doom and fall and misery since week 1, season 1… What gave? The 2003 title.
Then, in 2004, I wrote: this time, he’s crumbling. He’s imploding. He will be miserable. What gave? 16-2 season (though yours truly took great, great pride in being responsible of 50% of those losses… To me, back then, it was as pleasurable as winning the title).
So what about 2005? Can Crazy “Teflon� Canuck pull another one?
Surely not would be my normal answer but I am sick of taking beatings on my predictions… so yes, I am guessing the Crazy Canucks will crumble into oblivion – but surely not…….. !!!!!!!!!!

Anyway… That’s how things shape up.
How about a quick hit on each team? Ready?

Team 1, Grandstand:
I never saw any real knock on this solid, young team – aside from drafting Charles Rogers!!
No, wait, this was a cheap shot: the kid has finally managed to play 1 game!!! And score? Yes, 5 whole points. How’s that for performance?
Otherwise, Grandstand team is solid and probably better than last year. 10-8 seems in order.

Team 2, No Fear:
An another Aussie in my league… I seem to be collecting them!! As a matter of fact, if I recall correctly, we originally had an Aussie in the league, back in 2003? Anyway.
This team had a very solid 2004 season, so can it repeat?
The DEF is under whelming and the secondary needs life support.
There is life in the OFF, but counting on the Drews to win the big one? I am not sure that’s possible. 10-8 would be nice.

Team 3, Aquablues:
Let’s cut the crap: I won many games last year thanks to Reuben Droughns playing (well) alongside Corey Dillon (playing well). So can I repeat? Considering I never thought I could win it in the first place?
I had to make serious cuts in the offseason for mildly aging players. I like my 3-4 as much as anybody’s – save Swampies, of course. My OL is yummy if Manning and Culpepper can dotheir magic. I have a huge issue at RB and it has plagued me since 2003… Bush will be mine in 2006!!!
So what gives? The team is slightly improved (in my loving eyes) over 2004 but not enough to be more than 12-6 – just like last year. Especially without Droughns.

Team 4, Darkspire Highlanders:
Talk about a rough transition… From playoffs and 10-8 to 5-13 and 15th in the league. Ouch.
The OFF juice is here to bring the form back, but the DEF mojo is lacking: I like the OB, but there is no ILBs on this team. So it’s reduced to playing a 4-3 and that DL is iffy at best.
Overall, it seems that real life has taken a huge toll on Ian’s Fantasy management and his DEF needs repair and good UFA work. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long, painful season. A 6-12 season – thanks to that OFF and OLBs.

Team 5, Crazy “Teflon� Canucks:
What can I say? It’s old, it’s bald, it’s supposed to lose, it’s doomed and it’s 16-2…
Joke aside, the DL is a blue collar dream. Opposed in style to the flashy names recruited by Swampies, Canucks went for less profile but hard work nonetheless. Who would have thought Pat Williams would score like Freeney??
The LB corps completes an aging DEF but one made of studs. This 4-3 or 3-4 has carried many wins. The OFF is very impressive, too.
Yes, you understand well: I am now converted. I am a believer. I think the Canucks are for real. 15-3 real.

I just hope this change of appreciation will jinx them forever and ever!!!!


Team 6, Reading Redskins:
This team was one of last year’s most improved… From 5-13 and last to middle of the pack, its only issue is to face the Canucks twice a year! Still, the work put in there has to be appreciated and the improvement was noticeable. So what’s in store?
It has a decent DEF – LeMar Marshall could have been the steal of the year at ILB – though the OB corps is on the weak side of weakness.
But really, deep down, the biggest knock on this team is its receiving corps. Or lack of.
I just don’t see a top 6 team with that bunch of WR2 or worse. 8-10 or similar. But not a playoff contender. Not now.

Team 7, The Menaces:
Relishing his anonymity, Mr. Daniel Snyder decided to enter EFS using an alias. Dennis “Menacing� Gazinkus.
But you’re not fooling us anymore, Mr. Snyder.
I mean, who else could have fired his head coach, OFF coach, DEF coach, waterboys, cheerleaders, assistant coaches, players, players’ wives, players’ pets, changed the grass, changed venue, changed stadium……… and still suck???????????????
Mind you, Mr. “Dennis� Snyder changed all of the above not once (2003) but twice (2004). See? Irrefutable proof. That’s what it is called.

So what is it going to be, this year?
Well, it looks a bit better. It looks cleaner. The OFF seems more likely to get it done, though to rely only on 3 OLB, one of which is a long-term health concern seems criminal. I am sure Dennis is hoping for a brilliant UFA pickup!
I think the OFF has also improved, mostly because Collins is now throwing to Moss. That helps. That’s 2 additional Ws per year. Driver also just got upgraded and the WR trio of Driver, Santana Moss and Andre Johnson sounds right.
Overall, this is better than before. Barring the plague of injuries suffered for the past 2 seasons, this team is 10-8, maybe 11-7 and sneaking in the playoffs, especially if it inflicts one of its 3 losses to the Canucks.

Team 8, TJ Chongos:
Jon had picked up the proverbial “worst orphan in EFS� – we all hear that story every year. Though in his case, it might have been one of the worst indeed.
The clean up has been done. Enough of it?
Not yet… It’s coming around and the DEF bears the mark of improvement. But depth, age, past losers, injuries are still a concern. Ditto for the very young, high potential OFF.
I mean, Eli Manning, Roethlisberger, tons of young WR1s.
I don’t think this is a 2005 contender, but Jon always draft well and barring PC issues, would have had a much, much better RFA. So couple draft and RFA, I think 2006, 2007 will be nicer.
2005? 7-11, maybe a touch more.

Team 9, Iron Workers:
This team is also an orphan in shambles, a perennial loser. So it’s going to be a long year!
Age and durability are huge concerns. Lack of receivers too. Overall, there is much work to be done on this team before it’s fun again. The 2005 draft was a good start, but only a start. In the meantime, 7-11 seems like a lot.

Team 10, Muckers:
Another perennial loser, royally f*****d up by the stupid Washington bunch. These guys were trouble since the 2003 draft and we ought to thank owners picking their teams up.
Yet, this team’s DEF strikes me as one of the most improved.
Its OL can be big and yummy. Bulger and Brady? Not too shabby. Clinton Portis? Rebounding.
Darrell Jackson and Hines Ward: 2 out of 4 needed receivers is better than its competition.
So, clearly, this is an improved team and efficient management. The lack of receivers will once again be a tough obstacle to overcome in 2005, but if the management stays equally smart throughout RFA and draft 2006, this team will be a contender. 10-8.

Team 11, Jokers II:
Actually one of the better teams from the Washington bunch, it was in the 2003 playoffs.
But if age was its biggest knock 2 years ago – and no youth was added by the old mgmt. – age is an even bigger concern in 2005… Sapp, Rice, Taylor, Zach Thomas, Junior Seau, Bruschi, Derricks Brooks: it’s easy to understand the 2003 playoffs, but hard to believe in the future. The secondary is also alarmingly empty. The OL pedestrian at best. The OFF? Aging!!
What gives? From 11-7 to 10-8 to 8-10. Saved by its offense and occasional elderly geritrol fire and bursts, like Taylor’s last week.

Team 12, Road Rage 1002:
Guess what? Another newcomer!!
But again, Gary got the better end of the shambles, just like Jokers II, inheriting an 11-7 team twice in a row.
Gary traded everything, even his 18-wheeler to Swampies!!
Will those trades pay off? Not sure, but the backbone is solid – though OLBs are extremely weak.
The OL is YUM-MY. Chiefs, Raiders, Chiefs, Raiders, Chiefs, Jets, Raiders, Chiefs… you get the picture!
Overall, this team is clearly the most balanced of its Div. and has a good shot at repeating 11-7.

Team 13, Raiderninerfan:
A California boy, eh? 4 words for you, CA boy: welcome to Swampies’ Swamp.
That’s right. You can collect the crumbs.
I actually like the work put in this team, though the OBs – again – are concerning. Nice OL, good OFF, decent receivers, solid RB… I don’t see why this team would repeat its 6-12 record… I would think 9-9 is more in order. Maybe better.

Team 14, Raven Maniacs 1002:
A Ravens fan, eh? 4 words for you, BAL boy: welcome to Swampies’ Swamp.
That’s right… You too can collect the crumbs!!
Joke aside, the original team was a very solid work from Bryon Brand. Solid and 12-6 in its first year. But then, what a slide… 3-15???????? What happened?
No idea, although mgmt went MIA.
Can this franchise be revived or is it condemned to last place for 2005?
No DEF, no OL, Brett Favre old and without Walker, Palmer not a stud just yet, boy: you do need help!!! And fast. In the meantime, bathing with the Troll, it’s going to be 5-13.

Team 15, Lugheads:
So, a timber man? Guess what, I have 4 words for you too: Welcome to Swampies’ Swamp.
You get the picture.
I actually think that Raiderniner and Lugheads can take a few wins away from Swampies, maybe 1 each, with the usual luck and all. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long 10-8 season.

Team 16, Swamp “Swampies� Dwellers:
Aka. The Trolls, or Swampies.
The team to beat in 2005. Simple as that.
I am on it this coming week.
But keep a couple of stats in mind: it scored 459 ppg in 2003 and 485 in 2004…
The worst part? It’s improved since then. So last week’s 388 could be its lowest score of the year. As a matter of fact, with optimal selection, he would have scored 551 points.
551.
551.
551.

I am not afraid. I am shaking.

I mean, have you seen this DL? Abraham, Peppers, Mathis, Suggs, Will Smith, Dewayne White, Henderson? Sick.
Urlacher, Morgan, Vilma? Sick.
The entire Eagles OL. Sick.
Manning throwing to LT and Gates? Sick.
Moss, Chad Johnson, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Roy Williams? Sick.
I hate this troll!!!!!!

OK. That’s it for the preview.
Go kill some trolls and enjoy the football year.
Next up is from Paris… France, not KY or TX.
Cheers!
-Globetrotting Blue.

[Bluecaterpillar]

What news am I missing????
Dan Cody, an obscure OB/DE, on IR for the Ravens, being bid 4 years for 1.5 Mil = 6Mil total??? Why not bid Calmus for 4 years and 3 or 4 Mil., too???

I guess you guys have gone nuts over something I missed. I am sweating it, too.
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 2:

Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it.
I mean: I wrote a whole spiel in 1003 about how the “blow out win� of the week was an 87 point difference between 2 teams, so I’d rather not talk about it. Plus, my English is not prolix enough to find a super superlative to qualify a 200 point difference.
So let’s not talk about it, OK?

Anyway: who are the morons who gave up so much fire power to only one owner?
Or, alternatively, maybe we could vote Him out of the league and pick His team apart? I never liked Trolls anyway, and this one stinks.

Well, forget it, I won’t talk about it.
Plus, it was over when Chad Johnson scored on his first touch. I knew I was dead. By 200 points.

So…….. in my other 2 leagues, I dwelled on last week’s results and awards and such foolishness. However, in 1002, because I won’t talk about it, I decided to move on (what’s else?) and start my weekly match-up predictions. We’ll probably see power rankings after Wk 3, going into the first double headers.

In the meantime……..
MATCHUP # 1: UGLIEST SWAMP STINKERS vs. LUGHEADS: 520 vs. 470
These 2 combined for 1052 points last week. Another love fest coming up?
Hasselbeck and Manning are both likely to put up 50 points, but honestly, I don’t see how the Swampies will drop a game here. It’s going to be a high scoring affair, in the 990 points, with plenty of sacks on both ends. But Moss and Johnson will light it up again and when it’s all said and done, Lugheads will ask: “who are the morons who dealt away their best players to Him?�.

MATCHUP # 2: RAVENS vs. RAIDERNINERS: 360 vs. 340
East Coast vs. West Coast, eh?
On the East side, we have an interesting DEF formation for the Maniacs, a 6-3-2, which I am guessing can try to bank on 6 x 18 points = 108 + 72 points for the other guys. The OFF will add 180 points and this will be a 360 scoring thing.
I like the true to form 4-6 formation, by the way… Go Ravens!!!!

On the West side, we have a standard 3-4 front (Raiders & Niners indeed!!!). The strength is in the DL, but the OFF will have a long weekend. Warner will be throwing a lot, Holmes could have a tough time finding holes. I think the DEF will rally but this team will be on the losing side of a 340 result.

MATCHUP # 3: GRANDSTAND vs. NO FEAR: 410 vs. 340
Impressive DEF for Grandstand, lining up a good potential of 220 points. The OFF is on the softer side, with another 190 points or so… 410 sounds about right and maybe more because it’s time for the DEF to have one break out week.
So, is there Fear in No Fear? The DB corps is hurting a bit, so is the rest of the DEF. 160 points would be nice. Owens and Randle El will help, Javon is gon’, this team is already in a world of hurt… I see no future above 340 points and a loss.

MATCHUP # 4: AQUABLUES VS. DARKSPIRE: 450 vs. 380.
Can Ian’s wit match Aqua’s blues? I said I would not talk about last week, but com’on! I have something to prove. After such a torching, I can only hope to rebound, no?
If Witherspoon does start, I think my DEF has a slight edge. Not much, but enough on the OLBs to compensate for weaker DBs and similar DLs. So that’s 210 vs. 190…
My OFF is more suspect, but the pundits predict some of the softest matchups for my WRs… If they are right, I will receive a healthy 70 points from them and that should be just enough to overcome Culpepper, Kevin Jones and Westbrook… So another 240 vs. 190…
A bit of my pride could be back by Sunday night!!!

MATCHUP # 5: TEFLON CANUCKS vs. REDSKINS: 435 vs. 385
I actually like the Skins team this week, at least to put up a good, solid fight. This being said, now that I am a Canucks convert, I think Justin’s Skins stand no chance and even a good fight won’t be enough in one of the rout of the week… (still secretly hoping I can jinx the Canadians!!!).

MATCHUP # 6: TJ CHONGOS vs. THE MENACES: 375 vs. 410
Jon is soooooooo walking in my shoes, after dropping EL STINKO last week: 254 points? Question is: did he only set DEF starters in Wk 2? OFF only? I dunno, but that team scored 60% of any given team.
I know I won’t talk about my own humiliation, but Jon came and asked to share some space under my rock, so I obliged.
254 points. Talk about a world of hurt.
Versus “you know who�, it would have been a 300 point blood bath!!!!!!!

So what’s in store for Wk. 3? On paper, I could see the Menaces sneak above 400 points for 2 weeks in a row (YEAH!!! Let’s get a party started!!!!!!!). The Chongos could be in for a tough OFF weekend and that’s where the match will be lost. Tough one to drop.

MATCHUP # 7: MUCKERS vs. IRON WORKERS: 405 vs. 370.
For the IRONMEN, McNabb and James are worth drooling over. They’re in for nice numbers. Yet, Bulger will also light it up… This is such a tough matchup to predict, because both teams are so close. They are split 2-2 all time, so I cannot even go by history!
Let’s just say I favor the Muckers’ depth and I think the WR will make the difference. Go Muckers!

MATCHUP # 8: JOKERS vs. ROAD RAGE: 335 vs. 390.
Interestingly, the Jokers and my team share the dubious honor of having the stinkiest RB corps in the league… That’s not good. That’s actually terrible and I am quite sure that the 2006 draft will address those gaping holes.
In the meantime, this game could turn ugly and I cannot see how Road Rage loses it.
Long, long weekend for the Jokers. Long, long year, come to think of it!

OK… That’s it for the day, week and everything else.

Congrats to Bobby for his romp… If only I was not one of the morons who traded (repeatedly) with him…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 3[/b]

Last week, I had left my 1002 review last because I was so mad at the pounding I had received, I was thinking about quitting. Not quite, but still. So this week, I’ll change the pace and revert… Though I still lost and that stinks!!
If you add the injury to useless Chad, I am in deep doo… This year does not have “repeat� written all over it. Actually, it has “back to 2003� written all over it!!!

Anyway…
So, how did I fare at prognosticating? I did 12/14 at the freebie on Yahoo!...
What about the EFS version?

Swamp Trolls did kill the Lugheads, a bit more so than I had thought. Check.
Nice W for Raiderniners over Raven Maniacs… Missed that one by a mile!
On the money for Grandstand’s point and W. Congrats… Good 3-0 start, too.
Got it 100% inversed for Aquablues vs. Darkspire… Ian takes that one and what’s left of my pride (that’s not much!).
Canucks are Teflon made. 3-0. Check.
On the money for Dennis’s win over the Chongos. Nicest start for Dennis in 3 years!!
Muckers got killed by the Iron Workers. Missed!
Solid win for Gary’s Road Rage over the Jokers. Check.

So 5-3 and almost 5-3 vs. the spread... That’s a decent start!!

And plenty enough information to post the first update of the Season’s Power Rankings!!
You asked for it… you got it!!!!

For the newbies, the rankings are based on expected ranking from 1 to 16 at the end of the SB week, with the Top 6 spots for the playoff teams. Hence, a team ranked #1 to #6 can actually finish higher than a Divisional leader…
And………. They’ll evolve every week!!

#1… No surprise: The Swampies. Nothing else to see, say, hear, comment, chat, bash…
If only Manning could tear his rotator cuff and LT his ACL… Nah!! Only Pennington and Spikes get such favors. Yuck.

#2: The Canucks. See? This year, at last, I am giving credit where it is due. Good job, steady scoring, same ol’ same ol’…

#3: The Lugheads get the nod here. They won’t pass Swampies for the Div. Crown and will not get a bye week in the playoffs, but they have a chance to go all the way. I really like the uniform scoring, player by player, position by position. Nice.

#4: Grandstand gets the nod in a tough, balanced Division… 3-0 is a solid start but it will not be easy to keep it up.

#5: I like the Road Rage at this point… This team only needs a solid WR to put a deeper gap between its strength and the field.

#6: The Aquablues are free falling… Technically from 3 to 6 in a week, this could become a deeper funk soon. Right now, I hope I can still mount something… but it is fainting!

#7: The Menaces… I like what Dennis has been doing and he has the benefit of a soft Division, behind a strong leader. All the “Snyder� shuffling finally paying off???

#8: The Muckers have a real chance of making it to the top 6 and forge its way to the Playoffs. I like the team, I like its potential, its depth, its youth… A few solid double-headers could make this team… or break it. Duh.

#9: Iron Workers have been scoring nicely and it should be bouncing back and forth within #6 to #10… A typical “middle of the pack team� – but always a threat to make it awful for everyone else’s aspirations and to sneak into the Playoffs.

#10: Raiderninerfan has huge depth issues, but for its WR corps… Well, maybe even for its WR corps. All in all, too many holes, too long of a season. Only this high because of Wk 3’s romp!

#11: Jokers II could actually end up below the Maniacs – sooner than later. What saves the team is a weaker 3rd Division than the 4th… But that’s not much of an edge.

#12: Raven Maniacs belong to the end of the rankings, but Walt knows his stuff and seems to be spending a lot of time on reconstruction. So why not living above his means and grabbing a spot in the middle of the pack?

#13: I am sticking Ian’s Darkspire here because of his first 2 scores – but in reality, if Culpepper brings in 35 ppg per game, this team belongs a few spots above… Not enough to be playoffs bound, though.

#14: Reading Redskins could need some serious injection of EPO soon, or fall all the way to #20 or more! Take away Vanden Bosch, Winborn is gone, Harrington could be too, Laveranue Coles’s value sunk faster than Enron’s stock, Leftwich is bound to a few ugly games. All in all, a world of pain!

#15: No Fear should be fearful. Bledsoe’s resurrection should not last, the RB corps is dreadful (I speak with an acute knowledge of the condition!!), there’s no LB to speak of. Come to think of it, this team is bound to finish #16!! Wake up, Aussie!!

#16: Jon’s TJ are in a funk… I am not sure it will last because I still like the improvements made to the team, but current scoring is anemic and the LB corps needs a jump start… Thinking about it, the WR corps does too…

OK… That’s it for the week. We’ll know a lot more after the 1st series of double-headers.
Cheers to all and more next week!!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 8

Well, it seems like I have been updating my other 2 leagues and leaving this one a bit to itself… Why, would you ask? Well, why touch a team that scores 566 points? I mean, why break the magic? :D
OK, OK… I am being a pompous donkey. But man, if I am not going to brag about 566 points, nobody will for me, right? Not the Swampies, not the Canucks… and certainly not Walt’s Maniacs (as we know how the man feels about the dominating and unfair triumvirat dictating its will upon this league and its befuddled minions). :cool:

So, 566 reasons to brag. :shock:
I won’t win the title, because I just don’t see how Swampies won’t take it… But then again…
On any given Sunday………………â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â⠂¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â¦..

And now, back to Earth and onto our updated rankings!! :(

As the tradition demands, Hail to the King… At #1, the Swampies (=)… The team is too stout… and I beg to disagree with Walt, but Bobby did not ask for anybody’s help in obtaining such obscure stars, such as Mathis, Tillman, Locklear… He just got Dansby against the league’s best scorer… Congrats, really. In my book, we are all willing adults submitting to thy will.
Unbeaten.
Unbeatable?:(

#2 The Canucks (=)… nothing’s really new here, though Week 7 showed a beatable team… Too bad its opponent did not show up!!
How much time will Ray Lewis miss?:?

#3 The Aquablues (+3)… Not that I am taking a commanding lead of my Division: quite to the contrary, Grandstand still owns the tie-breaker. But my average has been going up and so far, losing Pennington but picking up McCown has been OK… The lack of running game will still kill me down the road – but my WRs and DEF should carry me to the playoffs… After that, it’s 566 or 300.
Any given Sunday. :dude:

#4 Iron Workers (+5)… The biggest jump in otherwise very steady, almost boring rankings. But Iron is taking a commanding option in his very, very weak Division… McNabb and the Edge are nice features, the rest of the team is blue collar but decent every week. Nothing wonderful here… yet, a good mid-season W-L record.
Congrats, too.

#5 Lugheads (-2)… Nice winning record in the shadow of the Swamp Master. Life must be tough in the swamp and this is not a team of stars… but it gets the job done, week in, week out. Actually, just like the Iron Workers, I am impressed with the steady scoring of these 2 teams. Cool.
There is a life without stars? But a Championship?.........

#6 Grandstand (-2)… On the good news front, Crowell is filling up nicely for Spikes.
On the bad news front… this team has even less of a running game than mine. And considering we’re going at it head to head, this could be the undoing of an otherwise solid start of the season. Losing Deuce was a big, big hit. Much more so than losing Pennington (for me). The DEF is getting weaker, too.
Plus, this Division is mine. Mine. MINE!!!! :P

#7 The Menaces (=)… on the outside, but finally, finally, finally looking in. There is nothing set for this team, but Brunell and Collins are surely getting it down. It’s going to be a long shot to the playoffs and the LB corps – err, sorry, lack of – is a big, big concern. Still, in the race. By a hair.

#8 The Muckers (=)… Is it only me, or are these standings not moving? Same old muckers, though hanging in here by a thread… Road Rage is peeking and wants this spot. However, Road Rage is also opening an hospital near you, with his 9 injured players and counting. Ouch.
Obviously, one team’s pain is another’s gain.

#9 Raiderninerfan (+1)… An OFF that’s getting the job done, but not enough of it. That’s a shame, because the team has some nice performers, but too few of them.
And the Division is still too brutal. Too brutal. Too swamped.

#10 No Fear (+5)… Another nice jump, but not by his own feet – err, sorry once again, feat. Ahahah… French humor. Or lack of.
Anyway. The Aussie is jumping because we have four 1-9 teams. Yes. 4.
So of course, this makes room at the middle of the rankings!
But Bledsoe is making me lie and getting it done. At least, that’s one positive…!

#11 Road Rage (-6)… If the Iron Workers own the biggest jump in the rankings, Gary’s Road Rages are the dubious owners of the biggest splash… What a drop. :shock::shock:
Not so much a big drop in the Division… But that’s a weak, weak, weakest Division.
No, the drop is in the playoffs race. And it is no longer looking good!
I love some key, future pieces of this team, such as Cadillac and Thurman… but the window for a 2005 playoff spot could be closing quickly…
2006, then? Solid foundation, at least.

#12 Reading Redskins (+2)… It’s getting dark down there, in the pits of the rankings, but there is still a glimmer of hope for this team. After the Redskins, it’s all over…

#13 Raven Maniacs (-1)… Well, it’s all about 2006, now… It’s going to be one long offseason, but Walt is collecting picks and will have some RFA firepower.

#14 Darkspire (-1)… I don’t know whether Ian’s team non-performance is the biggest surprise of the year, or whether there is something rotten in the EFS kingdom.
I mean, the roster is nice, it should score decently. Sure, there are some holes at LB and on the DEF front, but the OFF should be clicking. Westbrook, Culpepper, one of the many Joneses, Marvin Harrison and his 87th TD duplet… So what’s wrong?
I suspect that Ian’s real life is taking a huge toll on his extreme mgmt. and that the team is just suffering from hardcore reality.
So hang in there, Dellmaster!

#15 TJ… (+1) Honestly, there is no way TJ’s team should not be ranked last – not with losing Ahman Green for the year. That’s just too lethal. The team is going, gone, gone.
Again, the team has a nice backbone of good players, but bad luck is taking a full toll…
Anyway, so why isn’t Jon ranked last?
Because…

#16 Jokers II (-5)… I am suspecting Marty is going orphan on us and his 1-8 dead team.
Losing Griese and not replacing him or trading for another QB… Losing most of its running game.
There is only so much that Marty can ask from his DEF Miami Supermen (man, these Thomas-Taylor guys have be studs for what? 10 years? 15 years? Dunno, but they’re always, always up there…)… So age, injuries, holes… everything is dooming this team… and the dreaded “starters set by system� is not boding well.
Hang in there, Marty!!

That’s it for this week…
And if you must ask, where in the world is Alex today? That’s Santiago, Chile.
Cheerios to all!!
-Blue

[Dennis the Menace]

Alex:

You've been ragging on my LB's all season. The top 4 are only averaging 20 points each! Jeez. And that's not counting Nguyen, who should be back in the next week, and Tinoisamoa, who can't crack the starting lineup.

You wanna rag on someone, pick on my kickers. Those guys are killing me. I could probably have done worse, but someone already picked up Cortez.

Now, wecan't hang with the Swamp Meister or the Canuck, but the Menaces will give everyone else a run for their money... assuming we stay healthy. Big assumption for a team with an emergency room annex to the locker room.



Dennis

The Menaces 1002

[Bluecaterpillar]

Hey!!
I don't rag... I pick on... or I hitch.
As for the IBs... sure, N'Guyen should be back soon... and his is a tackling machine. But that's an if, 'cuz your team has been battling injuries since 1920 or so.
I mean, I think you have almost invented the injured player concept and all of its subtle variations. :shock:

I will give you Demorrio, who's been wonderful and Marcus Washington, a nice pickup for the year... Stil 2 1/2 players out of 4 needed to score 80 to 100 points a week... I can sense some offseason acquisition, right?

Anyway... I am done ragging... Your team is off to its best start ever -- that's worth cheering for!!

Say... are you really painting the lockers in pink? ;)
-Blue

[Dennis the Menace]

Just the visitor's locker room, a la Iowa. I hear it works wonders on reducing the aggressions of the opposition. Makes 'em kinder and gentler.

The Menaces need all the help we can get.

Our offseason personnel purge can only go so far. This year, we've implemented a massive facilities renovation program at Menaces Megadome. We've done the pink locker room thing. We've cut a hole in the roof so that the sun always shines into the opposition's eyes. We've installed intermittent malfunction generators into the opposition's bench coolers and headset lines. We've moved the parking area for visiting fans nearer to the City Dump, and far, far from the stadium. We've taken out the Bud and Miller in the visiting side concession stands and brought in kegs of Blatz and Dixie. We've removed the comfortable seating from the visitor's side of the stadium and installed old seats from Southwest Airlines jets and benches from jury rooms in courthouses. We've imported some of the muck from the Superdome (they had some surplus) after the hurricane, and installed it in the walls of the visiting coaches' offices.

And, of course, we've made improvements on the home side of the stadium, too. Now, we have waitresses from Hooters serving concessions in the stands. Instead of halftime marching bands, we have wet T-shirt contests - pointed at the home side, of course, and stocked with Playboy models. Each seat has its own insulated beer coozie built right into the plush, comfortable seat. Our locker room has been remodeled: each locker contains a High Definition TV / DVD / VCR unit, a humidor, a clothes press, and a kitchenette. We've provided Swedish masseuses to each of the players, both for before and AFTER the game. Our medical facility resembles the Mayo Clinic in state of the art technology and staffing (and boy do we need it!). Our coaches' offices are palatial and are almost as well stocked as the VIP suites overlooking the field. We even supply cooks for the Brats and BBQ in the home parking lot tailgate parties.

We're poised for a Super Bowl run, I tell ya.:D



Dennis

The Menaces 1002

[Bluecaterpillar]

OK... I will be the first one to extend CONGRATS to Bobby for an outstanding 19-0 year, top of the league, top of EFS, top of the tops... Top Dog, no losses, carefully dismantling everybody.

Good job, all along. And all in all, though I do think that sometimes some trades where borderline (mostly back in 2003), I wanted to congrat Bobby for picking up such guys as Larry Johnson, Robert Mathis (a UFA I dropped for not seeing his future potential), Ike Taylor (UFA 2005), drafting Vilma and not Calmus (though a Buktus Award winner), believing in undersized Cato June, going for both Boldin and Fitzgerald (come on, who wanted 2 WRs of the same losing team... 1, OK, but both?)...

All in all, I wanted to give Bobby his due for being the best FF Mgr. of the Year, not only in lg 1002 but for the whole EFS. GREAT JOB!!
And it's been a tough personal Fall season for him, so double congrats.

Cheers to all, thanks for those of you who picked up orphans, thanks for joining in and I hope you will all renew.
Next year, Manning is going down, so is LT and I will regain my SB crown!!

-Blue

[Raven Maniac]

I would also like to congratulateSwamp Dweller. Having accomplished the same record in League 7 and losing only 1 game in another league I know it takes a fair amount of skill and a lot of luck (injuries, etc.) to pull off an undefeated season. I have been around EFS for a number of years and never went undefeated before and would not be suprised if it does not happen again.

I am looking forward to next year, so I hope everyone renewsand we can begin to makeour league more competitive.

Happy New Year!

Walt - Raven Maniacs

[Bluecaterpillar]

Raven Maniac wrote:
I would also like to congratulateSwamp Dweller. Having accomplished the same record in League 7 and losing only 1 game in another league I know it takes a fair amount of skill and a lot of luck (injuries, etc.) to pull off an undefeated season. I have been around EFS for a number of years and never went undefeated before and would not be suprised if it does not happen again.

I am looking forward to next year, so I hope everyone renewsand we can begin to makeour league more competitive.

Happy New Year!

Walt - Raven Maniacs


Impressive, too!!
So you taught JPN a lesson in Lg. 7 and everybody else as well.
Dunno if you recall that I fostered a team there, for about 2 months... Do you know how it fared? I think it was team 7, for sure it was in JPN's Division?
Thanks for letting me knowand congrats for the feat!!!
-Blue

[Raven Maniac]

Team 7- 11/6/377 won division, elminated in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

[Bluecaterpillar]

Yes, yes, 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.
In the meantime, welcome to LaCroose and let's have a great season!
-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS
[/b]Fourth year already?? Yikes… I had not realized that I wasted so much valuable time on FF in the past 3 years and was gearing up for a fourth. Ouch. That hurts.
I was once young and active and played sports; now I am old, bold and the only sports are fantasy and remote-controlled (un poco de Madame when she feels like it, too). Well, who cares, right? IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON AND I AM BACK FOR MORE!!

I will start this yearly column with bold predictions regarding our Wk. 2 matchups.
I base these very scientific predictions on rosters set up as of Sat. 00:00:01 GMT and full rosters, just in case.

Are you ready?

MATCHUP OF THE WEEK: SWAMPIES Vs. AQUABLUES… L-W
The real question is: swampies is enjoying a 19-game winning streak: can he be stopped?
A fellow competitor suggested to spike his Gatorade with arsenic. Not a bad idea, really.
I suggested to lock him up in his swamp and let him rot… pretty good suggestion, IMO.
But really, the best way is to give him a good ol’ fashioned spanking and this is the week to get it done!!!
In last year’s matchup, Swampy aligned 4 or 5 Eagles OL playing against SF and scored 900 points – at least.
In this rematch, I prefer my DBs (though both Pola and Sanders are listed as Q); based on Wk. 1, the DLs are a wash but Swampies as a better matchup with Mathis vs. Carr; the ILBs are a wash and I might change Seward for Pierce anytime; Merriman could be the 24 points final difference on DEF scoring… we’ll see. But I think I can hold the DEF within about 20 points.
However, baring no changes, I do have the upper hand with 2 Colts and 2 Chargers and 1 Seahawk, neutralizing his own Charger and Seahawk… I think I can muster 20 points back here and it evens the matchup.
QB… Peyton is going to put me 20 back but the more he does, the more my OL benefits… Still, I see McNair at 20, Peyton at 40… But the RBs could be even, 20ish each.
Gates and Shockey are monsters but Heap has a good matchup and McNair loves TEs… and Wayne? Well, I hope he gets 40% of the points from Peyton, since Stockley is still iffy.
Fitz and Johnson are better than any of my options and I am wavering… but here’s the kicker (punt intended): Koenen does win me this game…
All in all, it could be a 515 to 505 affair but I think I can squeak that one by.
Maybe even thanks to the HOME FIELD ADV!!

That’s it… that was the long one… Wish me luck everyone because if I fail, I will never hear the end of Mr. Swampy.

RAVENS @ GRANDSTAND: L-W
Grandstand is 3-0 all time going into this game and I think it squeaks by a 4-0… Palmer is too iffy, the DEFs are imbalanced… I prefer Ravens’ OFF but not by enough to compensate the DEF matchup.

LUGHEADS @ NO FEAR: L-W
Another 3-0 rivalry, Lugheads has never lost vs. No Fear. The 4-3 seems more powerful than the 3-4, but all in all, I see an Aussie Win, with Owens and Walker and Foster being the key factors because the Snake Jake is OK at home and can air it out… We’ll see, it’s going to be close, but I can smell the historical upset!

RAIDERNINER @ SACK EXCHANGE: L-W
Can LT and Williamson carry the SACK to a victory? I think so. I also think Warner is going to be sacked 4-5 times this weekend and it’s going to be a long weekend. I don’t believe the hype and although he will put a lot of yards up, I think he’ll be miserable all day and could yield the INTs. These 2 teams are struggling a bit but Sack will get it done.

MUCKERS @ CRAZY CANUCKS: L-W
Aka: can Geritol still win? Because I have been predicting the Canucks retirement ever since our vet draft, 3 seasons ago!!! :P:P:P
But Ray Lewis is back, Bulluck never went anywhere, Shaun Alexander will have a field day whereas Portis won’t start, Torry Holt and Mason will hit paydirt vs. only Ward… It’s not a fair matchup: Canucks will kill the Muckers and Geritol will take a big W. ;)

JOKERS @ REDSKINS: L-W
I’d rather not chose a winner here… They scored 372 and 371 points, they’re 2-1 historically but nothing convincing… the roster are fairly equal: Jokers’ DB is far superior but the LB corps ain’t; DL is a wash; I do prefer this week’s Redskins’ OL; but overall, Redskins WR corps will get the job done and get a W… not a big one, but with Home field adv. on top, sure… they’ll win it.

ROAD RAGE @ DENNIS: L-W
Can Pennington win another one?
Gary is forced on starting a 4-3 or a poor OOP 3-4 (Thurman’s absence could be the deciding factor here!) so that’s not good… Dennis’s DEF will get it done. On the other side of the ball, Gary will be smokin’… but Dennis will hang in there and get the big W!

LaCrosse in Tijuana: L-W
The freight train will have to stop at the border and tired by a night of partying and easy girls and tequila, it will be blind-sided and drunk and will lose… Too bad… TJ is a fun town but don’t go partying before a big game! :shock:

There, you have it… 8 HOME WINS… No road victories this week…
See you all next week and again, wish me luck against the Dark Emperor of the League.
Cheers!

-Blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

Currently being destroyed by the Swampies and it's barely 2nd half of the first set of games... Anyone can loan me an unmarked, untraceable gun? That's the best way to deal with the Troll laying in the swamp.
Because right now, not only am I losing big time, but Koenen is also on his way to be worth negative points.
When does the nightmare end??
And yes, running my big mouth gets in me in trouble... I am going to be stampeded by the Troll. OUCH.
:shock::shock::shock:
-Bruised, battered, blue blue blue

[Bluecaterpillar]

WEEK 3 FOOLISH PREDICTIONS

Well, I am back for more beating, since I fearlessly and foolishly predicted that the Swampies could be beaten… it won’t happen, so let’s have fun and focus on rankings from #2 to #16.

But talk about an arsch beating. It was painful to even watch the PM games, since most damage was done by H1 of the AM games. OUCH. :shock:

So let’s recap…
Swamp Dwellers atomized by sorry team, 590 points to 411…
The Ravens got a nice, high scoring, 455 performance win vs. Grandstand… I missed that one too!
Lugheads killed the Aussies, standing at 4-0 all time and tossing my prediction to the garbage can…
Sack Exchange did get the predicted win and it’s time for RaiderNiner to worry about 2006 and focus on 2007.
Crazy “Geritol� Canucks also got the W… That little Canadian bugger is really a man of steel, ain’t he?
The Jokers piled one more on my mistaken projection and got a good, 435 to 311 thumping of the Redskins.
Since I was wrong most of the week, it seemed fitting for Gary’s Road Rage to squeak a 4 pt win by Dennis “Not Such a� Menace. To think that Chris Gamble’s gamble lost you that game… :shock:Pretty sorry! :P
And to wrap it up, LaCrosse killed the TJ tourists…

So out of 8 Home Wins… we really got the worst of me and my record is a depressing 2 for 8 (0.250).

Let’s see how Week 3 shapes up:
GRANDSTAND @ NO FEAR: L-W
[/b]Adalius Thomas has been a beast, hasn’t he? I mean, the only thing we’d need is Adalius to be traded to the Swampies… then he’d be at 640 every week! Grandstand is playing a solid 4-3, Delhomme will post some decent numbers.
On the other hand, No Fear’s scoring has been anemic… yet I think I will predict an upset and No Fear grabbing the win. Hey! I have been wrong so often, why not take risks?

AQUABLUES @ SACK EXCHANGE: W-L
[/b]So what if I was humiliated all last week? So what if Culpepper will finally have a good game for the Sacks? So what if Koenen is useless? This week is re-re-re-revenge week and I will pound the Sacks into submission.

CRAZY CANUCKS @ REDSKINS: W-L
[/b]This week, I really like the Redskins DEF… it should play solid and has a bunch of good matchups. The OFF however looks shaky and then, there is Geritol in action.
I am actually surprised Ron has not yet signed Morten Andersen… should happen any minute now! In the meantime, it will be a no contest Canucks victory.

THE MENACES IN TIJUANA: L-W
[/b]Jon’s TJ Boys have been rock solid, haven’t they? Gerald Hayes is also quite surprising, nicely anchoring the ILB, Julian Peterson returning to form, Eli Manning on steroids, Ronnie Brown ready to rump over the Titans and score 2 TDs, Reggie Williams shaking off his bust reputation. Really, this is the turn around team of the early season.
Dennis will be doing the watching and will be firing his mgmt. – again. :D

LACROSSE @ MUCKERS: W-L
[/b]On paper, this does not read like much of a challenge: the LaCrosse have been scoring high, the Muckers begging for points. But Portis is coming back, could have fun in Houston, Michael Vick will light it up, the DEF looks honest… So can the Muckers pull the upset?
Nope. LaCrosse will run with this one and the Edge will run over 100 yds. for the first time since Indy.

JOKERS @ ROAD RAGE: L-W
[/b]It looks like the entire Jokers’ DB is on a bye week or a stretcher: that’s an ominous sign. On the brighter point, Brad Johnson and Frank Gore have been solid – yet I bet they’re in for a weekend of pain…
On the other hand, our Road Ragers are facing an interesting dilemma: which QB to start in Wk 3? Jon Kitna vs. the sorriest Packers? Alex Smith because he’s been on fire, ala Grossman? Mark Brunell because it’s only the Texans after all? Nice quandary, eh?
While his DEF is underwhelming, the OFF will have a great weekend and carry the Ragers to a W.

RAIDERNINERS @ RAVENS: L-W
[/b]An interesting match up of teams that will be playing runner ups all year long, to the Monster of the Swamp and to the surprising Lugheads… I am not sure what to make of this matchup, but I like Cole as a symbol of the Ravens’ better squad mgmt. going into the week… so he gets the W.

LUGHEADS @ SWAMPIES: L-W
[/b]Can the Lugheads keep it up and get an upset win? Nope. Not this week.
Not even a fair contest, really…

There, Gents… you have it.

See you next week for the results and have a great weekend!
-Blue

[boglok]

As always, you're picks are always entertaining. It looks like you upped your percentage this week. Going from a 2-6 record to a stellar 3-5 this week. I wonder which is worse, the Madden curse or having Blue pick your squad to win during the week :shock:

I look forward to your picks this week!



Swampy

[The Jersey Jokers]

Come on Blue. Since you've stopped predicting games, my team is in complete free fall and outof control.

Help me out bro' and start picking against me again, please. I've got to reverse this losing pattern and quickly. :cool:

[Road Rage]

I was thinking the same thing. ALEX lets get back to work here......



Gary

Road Rage