tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19931365982878314422023-11-16T11:14:33.280-05:00But I Digress...Where everything is made up, but the points DO matter. And I'm up 3-0.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-79072273913902707302017-05-14T14:52:00.000-04:002017-05-14T14:52:32.887-04:00Parents are Idiots.<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
It feels like trying to defuse a bomb.</div>
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<br />No, seriously it does.</div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />Or maybe it's the feeling Bond has when he's trying to extract the core from a nuclear missile, or whatever.</div>
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<br />It's the feeling that one wrong move means everything is going to pieces.</div>
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<br />That's how I felt as I drove home trying to get my slightly feverish son, Logan, to fall asleep in the car. He's not a great sleeper to begin with, and even though it's a perfect day and the sun warms the car while the AC cools it and the rolling roads keep the car rocking smoothly as I carefully navigate the turns, I fear he'll stay awake back there until over-tiredness sets in and the screaming begins.</div>
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<br />I check the mirror every 30 seconds or so as we head towards home. I want to see if his heavy eyes have shut, if the yawns have ceased and been replaced by a chubby double chin as his head nestles into his chest.</div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />I'm cautious around every turn. Don't hit the brakes too hard, don't accelerate too fast, cut the green wire not the red one!</div>
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<br />30 seconds pass so I check the mirror again. Not yet.</div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />30 more. Head bobbing back and forth.</div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />30 more. Asleep. </div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />Victory. I exhale, feeling like I just navigated The Hurt Locker.</div>
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<br />I keep checking every 30 seconds or so. This time because I enjoy knowing he's asleep. I look back on this bald headed, big cheeked, toddler and the most indescribable feeling I've ever felt suddenly takes over.<br /></div>
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It's like my heart is growing, full to bursting with a feeling far happier than joy. Its a soul-crushing, heart-expanding, tears-fill-up-your-eyes, kind of joy that just absolutely ruins me. There's a pride that overwhelms my senses - a feeling of accomplishment - but not in myself. Not selfishly, like he's asleep so now I'm happy.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
More like, he's asleep so now he's happy.<br /></div>
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I wish you could feel it. If you have kids I think you have. It's why parents wouldn't trade anything in the world for their kids. No matter the sleepless nights, the restricted schedules, the bed time fights or the daytime tantrums.<br /></div>
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When you hold your sleeping baby, or see your sleeping child - the feeling is indescribable. Everything is worth it because this little creature, the one that took nine months to get here. The one you prayed for, or we're surprised by. The one who challenges you every single day is experiencing a sensation most adults have forgotten - contentment.<br /></div>
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I've reflected on this a lot this past year. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I mentioned my son is not a great sleeper. I don't handle it that well - my wife handles it with a supernatural grace. Like a Ginger Rodgers dancing on two turtle-doves while the Hallelujah Chorus is sung by 12,000 holy Angels kind of grace.<br /></div>
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I'll admit that when he doesn't sleep at night I sometimes (not that often, occasionally, not really much, ok all the time) get frustrated. Not with him for keeping us awake, but because he's not enjoying the peace that comes with sleep. When he doesn't want to eat and is picky, I'm upset not because he's not doing what I want, but because he's missing out on one of the best things life has to offer - eating.<br /></div>
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Like, literally one of the top 3 things in life. Behind sleeping and one other thing.<br /></div>
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As a parent of a young one I know I'll do anything to allow my son to feel the peace of a deep sleep or the joy of a face full of waffles or the excitement of seeing a balloon in the grocery store and shouting "Ba! Ba!". I want him to experience the best of life. I want him to feel happiness. I want him to feel content.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
A feeling that says, I'm happy exactly where I am, with exactly what I have, and with exactly who I'm with.<br /></div>
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That makes me think of my parents.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
I wonder if they feel this soul-crushing joy regularly when they think of their four sons.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
We have each grown up, married four of the best women on Earth, have successful jobs, serve in our churches and have authentic, deep, meaningful, life-changing relationships with God. Our lives are marked with purpose. Between us we have eight of the greatest children on Earth, and surely more to come. We are ambitious and hard-working, unique in our giftings and our personalities.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
We are, dare I speak on behalf of my brothers - content.<br /></div>
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I'm not fully sure how we got here. I imagine it was like the aforementioned bomb-disarmament or nuclear core extraction. Every meticulous move well thought out and pre-practiced. Every decision pre-planned, all the pitfalls and what-not-to-dos well understood.<br /></div>
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I like to imagine it that way because it's exciting and dramatic and sounds more like a Oceans 11 type of impossibly planned life than what it really was.<br /></div>
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In reality, after my first year of parenting, I've come to understand one thing.<br /></div>
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Parents are idiots.<br /></div>
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We are. We know nothing. We make it up as we go. We do our best not to mess it up and we rarely succeed. Our mottos each day are less "Live life to the fullest and experience the wondrous joys of learning!" and more "Let's just keep them out of the hospital!"<br /></div>
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In light of that, I wonder how I can raise my son to experience the joy and contentment I feel.<br />I look at my parents, my wife's parents, my in-law's parents, everybody's parents. I see hundreds of books written each contradicting each other. I look at my son and wonder what he'd prefer. I look at myself and wonder what I'm capable of.<br /></div>
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Then I think on the Creator. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The Bible says "Train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it". Which sounds great - except, which way is that exactly? Does the Bible have an opinion on attachment parenting or eating non-GMO certified-organic or watching cartoons or getting vaccines?<br /></div>
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Thankfully that same Bible says "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness" and "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
That I can do.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
I'm not the smartest parent, or the most creative. I don't really use Pintrest to come up with arts and crafts, or act as patiently as I should. But I can acknowledge God as the one who will raise my child, as the one who will make my paths straight and on whose understanding I will rely. It's less like disarming a bomb and more like pushing a boat off to sea not knowing how to sail. But I'm willing to do that. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: gotham, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
Because I live for that heart-expanding, soul-crushing feeling.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-4562580692154582072014-03-22T08:07:00.000-04:002014-03-22T08:07:47.886-04:00LegacyI enjoy thinking of the legacy of God fearing men like Shawn Kuykendall and Jordan Lewis, who both lost their battles to cancer this month. I like to think of the decimating impact they left on the enemy on their way out. As they went they laid a faith-filled, righteous beat down on the enemy, refusing to let him steal their joy or distract them from the truth. Jesus is enough.<br />
<br />
Shawn knew this, "Cancer won't beat me because it can't take away my hope and joy in the salvation that Christ provides me."<br />
<br />
See, it's not about us. It's never been about us, it will never BE about us. It's always been about Jesus.<br />
<br />
I want my home-going to leave scorch marks on the enemy, like Shawn and Jordan did. Hundreds of thousands heard the name of Jesus proclaimed as the source of strength, hope and salvation. In the depth of worldly crisis and pain, a singular focus remained on Christ and the hope that lies therein.<br />
<br />
Jesus wins.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of thousands will know the name of Jesus because of these warriors, these heroes, these sons and friends. Hundreds of thousands.<br />
<br />
Each day I wish to live like they did, so that when I go the name of Jesus is heard all over the city.<br />
Each day I want the enemy to live in fear of me and my God, that if I remain untouched on this earth then my impact reaches thousands. And when I die, the legacy of Christ in me reaches hundreds of thousands.<br />
<br />
The enemy has not won. In fact, he cannot. Jesus already has.<br />
<br />
Paul said it first in Philippians, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." Shawn said it too, "Live or die, I win."<br />
<br />
No guilt in life, no fear in death...THIS is the power of Christ in me.<br />
<br />
Now, go.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-12944857127326900832013-11-21T10:12:00.004-05:002013-11-21T10:12:29.167-05:00Mansfield's Book of Manly MenThere are few causes worthy enough to motivate me to dust off the old weblog, steal company time and write about something other than Fantasy Football. But here we are.<br />
<br />
Stephen Mansfield has written a book that you must read. The 'you' in this sentence refers strictly to males reading this blog, no offense women, but this is the way it must be.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnWDOem_-dM/Uo4fhBB38kI/AAAAAAAABy8/_hFEEbRudT4/s1600/mansfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnWDOem_-dM/Uo4fhBB38kI/AAAAAAAABy8/_hFEEbRudT4/s200/mansfield.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
<br />
We are of a generation who have had father's that have failed us, refusing to impose accountability upon us, and left us to our own <strike>demise</strike> devices. And even if you do have an excellent father, as I do, we are quick to shirk responsibilities, make excuses, and slowly decay in front of video games, fantasy football and the internet. No more.<br />
<br />
This book shows you how to be a man. It tells you what your father may not have. It is engaging, funny, convicting, empowering and direct. It pulls no punches, it fears not your reaction or your sensitivities. It calls you to action and sets you on your way.<br />
<br />
You don't need anymore words. Read this book or die (figuratively speaking).<br />
<br />
But seriously.<br />
<br />
(Amazon): <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mansfields-Book-Manly-Men-Invigorating/dp/1595553738/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385043595&sr=8-1&keywords=mansfield%27s+book+of+manly+men" target="_blank">Mansfield's Book of Manly Men</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-22704753065143984642012-09-19T10:09:00.001-04:002012-09-19T10:09:31.708-04:00InevitabilitySome things are inevitable. A quarterback with four neck surgeries not being able to throw 30 yards in the air, the Redskins losing to the Rams, replacement refs having their cars set on fire by fans. These are things you <i>knew</i> were going to happen. And if you know the Ducal Crown Fantasy Football League (DCFFL), you <i>know</i> we take fantasy football way too seriously.<br />
<br />
I mean, we made a website for our league (<a href="http://www.ducalcrownfantasyfootball.com/">www.ducalcrownfantasyfootball.com</a>).<br />
<br />
So, this next step was a foregone conclusion. My buddy Jimmy and I put our heads together and recorded a fantasy football podcast.<br />
<br />
I know, I know! We have a problem. But while you spend hours a day on Facebook, "going to the gym", or posting on Facebook about going to the gym when really putting Bugles on your fingers and pretending you're a witch while watching reruns of Pacific Blue, we spend our time in this little Ducal Crown world we created.<br />
<br />
Last night, Jimmy and I went to work recording a podcast that, in time, we think will become really good. We recorded it <strike>over Google Hangouts, which is why it sounds like I'm calling in over the phone</strike> in a radio studio and I called in over the phone because I was super busy meeting with clients and doing handshake exercises.<br />
<br />
In this 'episode', we talk about the paradigm shift with Fantasy quarterbacks, the surprise fantasy running backs and their value going forward, and each make bold predictions about a game this weekend. We had a ton of fun doing it, I hope you have as much fun listening.<br />
<br />
Each week we'll post a new episode. The format will change as we get more comfortable doing it and we hope to bring in other members of the DCFFL to weigh in on their Fantasy studs and problem children.<br />
<br />
Here are the ways you can listen:<br />
<br />
<b>YouTube-</b><br />
We recorded it in a Hangout, but removed the video of our faces (you all missed the gloriously deep v-neck I was wearing) and posted it to YouTube. Probably the easiest way to listen if you're at your desk.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ9Zruo-e9I&feature=plcp" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=wQ9Zruo-e9I&feature=plcp</a>
<br />
<br />
<b>RSS Feed-</b><br />
You can add it to your RSS feed (Google reader, BeyondPod, etc) and listen to it on your phone or in your car on your commute home.<br />
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/deepveesfantasyfootball" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://feeds.feedburner.com/<wbr></wbr>deepveesfantasyfootball</a>
<br />
<br />
<b>iTunes-</b><br />
iTunes is coming soon, Jimmy is setting up our account as we speak and we hope to have it available there as well.<br />
<br />
That is the "Deep Vee's Fantasy Football" Podcast, listen, check it out, have some fun and get ready for next week's installment!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-80240585042492749442012-09-12T12:59:00.005-04:002012-09-12T13:02:36.223-04:00Overreaction Tuesday!I'm taking a cue from the national media and celebrating today by overreacting to the Week 1 games. This happens each year, we're so excited for the season we forgo all logic and become shortsighted as soon as the first match-up is over thinking we can draw season long conclusions from one week. Let's not forget Bryan Gunst started 1-0 last year before losing 12 of the next 13 and becoming the Neo. Likewise, I've never won a Week 1 game in the Ducal Crown, going back 3 years to before we called it the "Ducal Crown". And I've had some success in the league #humblebrag.<br />
<br />
So, let's make like Austin, Gunst and Noord at a July baseball game and freak out over some insignificant crap that won't have a major impact on anything. Hooray football!<br />
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<b><u>Moose Tracks (TJB) vs. Wreck-It Ralph (Neil)</u></b><br />
<b>Final: TJB 125.24 - 118.72 Neil</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #1:</b> Neil's team is just as bad as we thought! His lack of a legit RB1 will be his undoing, schedule him as a bottom-four team already.<br />
<br />
<b>Truth:</b> As much as it pains me to say it, Ralphie's team isn't in as bad of shape as we think it is. Julio Jones and Brandon Marshall are serious talents and will compete as top 5 Fantasy wide receivers this season. Hm, where have I heard this before? Oh yes, it was what Neil and I were preaching at the draft when he took them back to back in the 2nd round and you all laughed at him. You realize Julio did all that (6 for 108 and 2 TDs) in 2.5 quarters? Peyton looks to be in good shape, able to make the smart throws and with a limited running game he's good for a TD or two each week. Doug Martin has established himself as a strong play at RB2 and if Ryan Matthews can come back and do what he did last year, I think Neil's team (carried by those WRs) is in good shape to surprise us.<br />
<br />
I realized I just spent an entire paragraph praising Neil's team. I'm going to sand blast my face to get this moment off of me. Let's move on.<br />
<br />
<b>Overreaction #2:</b> TJB has no holes on his team, he'll coast through the season as a top 2 team.<br />
<br />
<b>Truth:</b> His team is stacked right now. Brady, McCoy, Graham are all first round talents, and Andre Johnson was dominate this week. Pierre Garcon might be the sleeper on this team filling in his flex spot with almost 20 points. But if you look deeper, and that's what I do...I look deep, you realize his bench is as desolate as Ricky's social life. His bench (before adding Stephen Hill of the Jets during Week 1 games) scored 29.6 points. 21 of those points came from Redskins future Hall of Famer Alfred Morris. Meaning four other guys combined for 8 points.<br />
<br />
It may seem like nit-picking, but Fantasy is all about depth and surviving the season. Bye weeks can kill records and players get hurt and miss time. If Andre and Garcon can stay healthy all year, I think this is a top four team. Unfortunately, Garcon is already hurt and Andre isn't exactly stalwart.<br />
<br />
<b><u>RG SPE (Noord) vs. </u></b><b><u>deSPEcable me (AJM)</u></b><br />
<b>Final: Noord 118.12 - 95.50 AJM</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #1: </b>Noord got lucky, his team is still lacking in key areas and relied too much on a miraculous 40 point performance from his Kicker and Defense and will (hopefully) lose the next 13 games to make up for the travesty that is beating me in Week 1.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>See above.<br />
<br />
This has been a presentation of "AJ's Bitter-Blogger Face".<br />
<br />
In reality, Noord may have hit a gold mine in Mike Bush, he may be the Mike Alstott of our generation. A solid player on a good team who gets touchdowns like rappers get money (I dunno, this is something kids say. I don't really listen to rap).<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #2: </b>The gaping hole at RB2 will become a gaping hole at RB1 when DeMarco Murray gets hurt. Plus, AJ's WR carousel is a recipe for disaster.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>The good news is Matt Stafford just had his worst game of the season (please, God). The other good news is I left 70 points on my bench. Let's not forget mine was one of the few teams that got BETTER after Week 1. CJ Spiller just earned himself a starting job after a 25 point performance and Fred Jackson's injury. He fills in my RB2 hole and goes along with DeMarco Murray swimmingly. The bad news is I still have to choose between Dez, Greg Jennings, Demaryius Thomas, Steve Smith and Antonio Brown. Last week, I guessed wrong. To be honest, I'm really banking on not having to face such elite special teams EVERY FREAKING WEEK.<br />
<br />
<b><u>B-Button Spin Move (Jimmy) vs. Pledge Prez Perry (Austin)</u></b><br />
<b>Final: Jim 124.06 - 92.72 Austin</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #1: </b>Jimmy's high scoring week firmly plants him in the top 5 of our league.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>Unlike Stafford, Matt Ryan just had the best week of his Fantasy season. I think you can expect decent numbers from his wide receivers (Stevie Johnson, Marques Colston and Nate Washington), but those guys aren't an every week threat to post 20 points, 10-15 is more realistic. Plus Nate Washington and Jake Locker got hurt on the same play. That's some bad Fantasy karma! I think he starts two good players at RB (Charles and Sproles), especially in this PPR league, but I won't be ranking him in my top 5 just yet. Those RBs are good, but not great. In Fantasy you have to have at least 2-3 great players on your team. Gronk is one great player, who is his second?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #2: </b>Jay Cutler and Robert Griffin can't carry Austin's team, Perry needs a real QB to return to championship form.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>Cutler and Griff outscored Stafford, Newton, Eli Manning, and a bunch more I don't have the time or resources to look up. Maybe the Skins don't score 40 every week (loljk, of course they will), but I do think we see a return to Fantasy relevance from Jay Cutler. With Perry's WR core on deck and MJD returning to the starting lineup, count me terrified of our Week 2 match-up.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><u>God.Bless.Day.Beers (Creas) vs. Need for SPEed (Sam)</u></b><br />
<b>Final: Creas 116.76 - 115.32 Sam</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #1: </b>Creasy squeaked one out here! He's lucky to get this win and we should worry about his wide receivers sustaining their strong Week 1 performance.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>Well, technically, he did squeak this win out. Ray Rice getting benched with 10 minutes left and Sam down by the 1.44 points he ended up losing by is the definition of "squeaking it out". That's a 10 yard catch away from being a big loser. But let's slow our roll, I think we were all a little surprised by Marshawn Lynch coming out and putting up a solid performance despite back spasms (85 yards with a few catches) and less surprised by Matt Forte being yardage eating machine again. The key to this team really is his wide receivers. Andrew Luck is relying on Reggie Wayne as a safety net and Miles Austin caught and ran for a (kinda) fluky touchdown. If Miles Austin's hamstring stays healthy and Austin Collie stays concussed, those two could return to their former status as WR1 and WR2 in this league.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b></b>
<b>Overreaction #2: </b>Sam's team is the ultimate paper dragon, they look daunting in projections, but on the field they'll continue to under-perform.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>I think what we saw from Sam's team was a let down to everyone but Creas. Josh McDaniel's says the game plan took looks away from Wes Welker (and his 2.9 fantasy points) intentionally. I think maybe his age, ongoing contract 'situation' and Gronkandez combination might just be the Patriots moving on from Welker in general. But that's reading too far into it and overreacting, which I promised not to do. The question is whether Brady can quit him, or if their brokeback relationship will continue to net 90+ catches this year (it probably will). Roddy clearly regressed to the WR2 on the Falcons, but for a team that is throwing a ton, that may not be a bad thing. As it was in preseason, the real test for this team will be whether or not Sam's keepers (Cam and Cruz) will return to their 2011 form, or if they were a flash in the fantasy pan. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><u>WheelsGoNonStop (Gunst) vs. Scobee Snacks (Ricky)</u></b><br />
<b>Final: Gunst 133.02 - 95.08 Ricky</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #1: </b>Bryan Gunst is leading an unstoppable force that will bring the Fantasy reckoning to all neophytes in this league. Prepare for total domination.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth: </b>I don't claim anyone to be the Champ this early in the season (unless I'm talking about myself). Put it this way, Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson and Kevin Smith will not play 16 games each this year. That's not exactly a bold prediction, but it is true. There are just too many health questions surrounding them already. But, if they do...congrats, Champ.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Overreaction #2: </b>Throw in the towel! Ricky's season is done! The risk has backfired! RANK HIM BEHIND NOORD!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Truth:</b> Losing Fred Jackson early in the first quarter and watching Mike Vick remind us that's he's not a quarterback, he's just super athletic, does not bode well for Ricky's season. But we shouldn't bail just yet. Chris Johnson and Darren McFadden are totally capable of carrying this team, if they produce like their talent dictates and stay healthy. And its not like Ricky is going from Vick to Carson Palmer, he'll start Phillip Rivers next week and try to rebound from this catastrophe.<br />
<br />
Oh, who am I kidding, it's more fun to be fire-and-brimstone with Ricky's team. Rank him last and call it a year, this dude is cooked. He picked a bad season to proclaim he's not trading his studs, cause I'd jump all over trading McFadden for an RB2 and a WR2 with WR1 potential (Demaryius Thomas, Jeremy Maclin, Antonio Brown, Marques Colston, Percy Harvin etc). Unfortunately, he's said again and again he's not trading his studs this year. The league laughs as he buries himself in an injury prone hole with no hope of getting out unless he recants his former statement. But, all the best to ya pal!<br />
<br />
----------------<br />
<br />
The lesson is to never overreact. UNLESS SOME IDIOT DEFENSE AND KICKER PUT UP 40 POINTS AGAINST YOU WHEN YOUR RB1 OUTSCORED BOTH OF HIS STARTING RUNNING BACKS COMBINED AND OMG I HATE FANTASY FOOTBALL!<br />
<br />
I'm just saying...keep your cool.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-21123804625580539952012-08-21T14:35:00.001-04:002012-08-21T14:35:21.271-04:00Grantland Contest Submission<br />
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<a href="http://www.grantland.com/" target="_blank">Grantland</a>, a website I frequent (initially because of my unabashed man-crush on Editor In-Chief Bill Simmons, but now because the content is good and I have to read something during the day), is hosting a <a href="http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/34971/fantasy-island-compete-to-be-grantlands-fantasy-sports-writer" target="_blank">contest to hire a Fantasy Football Writer</a>. Well, I like writing and I also like Fantasy Football, so I thought I'd give it a go. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Below is the 750 word (which, for me, felt like a straight jacket) submission on my "top five fantasy players and one (and only one) sleeper". </div>
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Before you read, I wanted to thank you for supporting my writing and visiting my blog and encouraging me when I get overly excited about things like this. A lot of you tweeted at me to submit something and that extra motivation helped me get to a final product.</div>
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Special thanks to Michael and Rae Bartlett for being my covert ghost editors, they are great and everyone should give them $100. </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Grantland Fantasy Island Submission</span></u></b>
</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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If you’re going to win Fantasy Football, or lose and keep your sanity,
you’ve got to pick players you trust, based on what you know. If Mike Wallace
is the “next best” wide receiver on the board, you don’t have to take him over
Dez Bryant, who you love because you think Miles Austin’s hamstrings are made
of silly putty. At the end of the day you want a roster you can be confident
going into battle with.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, here are Five Confidence-Boosting, Battle-winning, fantasy players (and
one sleeper).</div>
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<b>1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots – </b>Brady (and Aaron
Rodgers) are fantasy quarterback gods. They impose their will on and off the
field, putting the ball wherever they want and eliciting fearful sobs from
opposing fantasy owners. Brady has made two tight end sets the norm, and forces
you to guard both as elite receivers. His personal assistant, Wes Welker, gets to
any spot on the field and Brandon Lloyd is coming to replace the bungling Chad Johnson
as the deep threat. Brady will give you implausibly high scoring production all
year, redefining “elite fantasy quarterback” with another 5,000 yard season.</div>
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Don’t over think it. Get Brady (or Rodgers) and don’t look back.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens –</b> If
I’m not taking one of the aforementioned quarterbacking ramrods, sign me up for
Ray Rice. Arian Foster and Lesean McCoy are great, but Rice doesn’t have the
injury history of Foster and, like McCoy, his OC didn’t announce they’re
reducing his touches. Joe Flacco has the confidence of a middle schooler
changing in a public locker room. He’ll continue to dump it off to Rice whose
low posture and shifty running style will rack up mega-yardage. He had 76
catches in 2011 and is the best offensive weapon in Baltimore by a mile. Expect
Rice to slice through the line behind two-time All-Pro full back Vonta Leach to
another year as the most reliable fantasy running back.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>3. Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears</b>
– While everyone else in your league worries about how he’s “a little crazy,
right?”, rest easy in taking Marshall this year. These are grown men who choose
to have larger grown men launch their bodies at them multiple times a week.
Don’t you want your receivers to be a little crazy? Marshall had 88 catches for
1,200 yards and 6 touchdowns with Matt Moore’s pool noodle throwing him the
ball. Now he’s reunited with Jay Cutler and Jeremy Bates, the quarterback coach
who led the tandem to back-to-back 100 catch seasons in ’07 and ’08. He’s the
only receiving weapon the Bears have and you can expect a massive year from
him.</div>
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<b>4. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons </b>–
He’s the trendy pick this offseason and, try as I might to avoid it, I have to
include him. It’s common sense. I can rant and rave about his raw talent, speed
and YPC. Or I can remind you that the Falcon’s expect Matt Ryan to work in
three wide-receiver sets and out of the no-huddle offense more. Julio has elite
athletic ability, is in a faster offense and Roddy White and Michael Turner
both expect their roles to be reduced. If you’re not on the Julio Jones
bandwagon I assume you’re holding out for your Crystal Pepsi stock to rebound.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>5. Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints</b>
– Graham is in a passing offense with one of the top three quarterbacks
throwing him the ball and had 99 catches for 1,300 yards and double digit TDs
in 2011. Don’t. Over. Think. It. Graham is the ultimate tight end, long and
athletic with great hands and the leaping ability of a startled house cat. You’ll
feel confident drafting him and will be able to trust his production. With the
depth at wide receiver, Graham’s reliability is worth taking as early as the
second round.</div>
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<b>Sleeper – Jacquizz Rodgers, RB,
Falcons – </b>Skill, opportunity, and value. That’s what you’re looking for
from your late round sleepers and Jacquizz has all three. This Falcon’s team
wants to play fast and Rodgers can be the type of player Darren Sproles is for
the Saints, a matchup nightmare who can slide under and around defenders. Sproles
had 86 catches and 1,300 rushing/receiving yards last year, top 10 at his
position in standard leagues, top 5 in PPR. When Michael Turner runs out of gas,
Rodgers will see his role increase and has the potential to have a huge impact.
He’s the 48<sup>th</sup> running back off the board and worth the risk late.</div>
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----------------
</div>
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<br /></div>
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So there it is, let me know what you think (but only if you have nice things to say, otherwise, go away). </div>
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Also, if you're in any of my fantasy leagues feel free to use this advice against me (it won't help you anyways). </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-74286491804661753412012-08-08T12:32:00.002-04:002012-08-08T12:32:59.386-04:00The Ducal Crown Manifesto<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">We’re back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Year Three of the Ducal Crown Fantasy Football League is set to begin.
Although the pre-season Manifesto marks the official start, league activity has
taken off faster than a girl who just heard the words, “I’d like to introduce
you to my friend Neil.” The Ducal Crown is maturing rapidly; new rules are
emerging, the shape is starting to change, and we’re beginning to ask questions
we weren’t concerned with last year. At this rate, our league will be
able to grow facial hair before TJB.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">As we enter the exciting stages of Fantasy League puberty, let’s take a
moment to look back on a few of our changes, re-introduce the owners and figure
out what that new patch of hair is for.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Allow me to present to you the first annual Ducal Crown League
Manifesto. </span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">Changes</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">“I see no changes, all I see is--newly
developed and structured Fantasy league divisions to promote interleague play
based on geographic location--I mean, racist faces”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">The newest addition to our little family is interleague divisions. We
divided the league into a North and a South division so we can have control
over the schedule, force “cross-division rivals” (more on that later) and bring
new elements to the table. Do you become loyal to your Division wanting divisional teams to win if you’re out of the playoffs (like rooting for an NFC team as a Skins fan because the AFC is for coconut humping cromagnums)? Or are you
internally hostile and focused only on conquering your own division, even
rooting for the other side (like Redskins fans do for the Cowboys/Eagles/Giants and vice versa)? Or, are you like Sam, and won’t notice we’ve added
divisions at all until Week 13 when you’re deciding whether to start Evan
Royster, Roy Helu or Tim Hightower (all of whom you drafted)?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Divisional Break-Down</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>North Division</b> <b>(aka, Federales)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Austin Perry </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">AJ McGraw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Bryan Gunst</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Jimmy Hostetler</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Noord Noordhoff</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>South Division</b> <b>(aka, Stonewallers)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Eric Creasman</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Neil Morrissette</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Ricky May</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Sam Persons</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">TJ Beuerle</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Not that you care, but each team will play their division teams twice,
the opposing division once, and their Division Rival one extra time (14 games
total). And, since you asked, here are the Division Rivals:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Division
Rivals</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><i>Austin Perry vs. TJ Beuerle-</i></b> Our reigning champ meets his
Fraternal little brother in the fantasy world where they will go at it like enraged sea lions. They will also play each other in Fantasy
Football as Division Rivals, but that’s less weird than the other stuff they’ve
got going on. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My pick: </b>TJB over Austin 2-0</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><i>AJ McGraw vs. Neil Morrissette</i></b>- Neil and I have been
appropriately matched as rivals this year. I’m unconventionally obsessed with
Fantasy Football, spending hours of my time doing research, draft prep, and
tinkering with different strategies. He uses the same time to develop
strategies that don’t work. I formulate my own opinions based on analysis done
by professionals. He listens to the same analysts, but forms opinions that
backfire. I use 60% of my words each blog finding new ways to humiliate and
chide Neil for everything he does (totally undeserved), he spends 60% of his
time plotting my death by alpaca stampede (totally deserved).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My pick: </b>Naturally, we’ll tie our series matchup 1-1, and will have to revisit
next year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><i>Bryan Gunst vs. Eric Creasman</i></b>- Call it “The Matrix Revolution”
as these two Neos* fight for the honor of least inept of the last place
finishers. This is also a battle of SigEp giants, a former Regional Director up
against the current Alumni Volunteer Corporation President. Can I propose the
loser gets paddled?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Pick: </b>Tied 1-1</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><i>Noord Noordhoff vs. Ricky May</i></b>- These two owners are blood
thirsty and already have a wager on the season: whoever finishes higher at the
end of the year buys the other dinner, a drink, tickets for a romantic comedy
and, if they play their cards right, a good night kiss at the door (no tongue.
OK, maybe a little tongue. Actually, probably a lot of tongue. Ew).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Pick:</b> Ricky over Noord 2-0 (sorry Noordy)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><i>Jimmy Hostetler vs. Sam Persons</i></b>- Dubbed “The War of Northern
Aggression”, this Big/Little combination will slug it out in what has been
called “the lowest scoring matchup I’ve ever seen” and “wow, these teams suck”,
not to mention “I don’t really have a comment on Sam and Jimmy, you don’t have
to mention me in the blog. Seriously, AJ, just be cool for once.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Pick:</b> Sam over Jimmy 2-0**</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">*The Neo is the award for the
owner who finishes in last place. He is subject to a number of undesirable
responsibilities and humiliation.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">**These predictions made before
the draft, so it’s really a shot in the dark. Except for when I’m accurate,
then it’s because I’m a genius.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
League</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Without further ado, allow me to reintroduce the 9 most fearsome men in
Fantasy Football! (and Neil- had to get one last dig in.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">All quotes are from the owner’s themselves, all bracketed comments and keeper situations are from me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Noord
Noordhoff<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Team Name:</b> RGSPE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My emphysema laugh and ping pong skills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Movie Title that best describes the upcoming fantasy
season:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Magic Mike (only if I draft Mike
Wallace) <i>[And probably even if he doesn't. This guy loves Channing Tatum.]</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you were an NFL player, what would
you get arrested for?:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Drunk in public, public urination<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in One Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moneyball</span><i><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jimmy </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me<b> </b>(don't stop believing)
#hehateme</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Situation:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Grim. Very grim.
(Eli Manning in the 10<sup>th</sup>, and, maybe, Mike Bush in the 9<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Take:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We all love Noord’s confidence and optimism, and, to be honest, the
results have backed him up. He’s one of two teams to have made the playoffs in
consecutive years and has an overall winning record. I hate to say it, but I
think he’ll find a way to get it done this year and remain in contention. I
think his fantasy team feeds off his swagger. You know, if a big guy with a
shaved head and laugh that sounds like a blown gasket can have swagger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Neil
(Ralph) Morrissette<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Team Name: </b>Wreck-It Ralph</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><a href="http://www.wreckitralph.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.wreckitralph.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bacon Eating Champion</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win the league
this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By not
trading my starting RB's <i>[LOLOLOLOL! YEA! RIGHT!]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michael Crabtree</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Michael Crabtree</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jimmy and
Noord. Neo Bowl</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Additional Comments: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bet on Bookie Ralph's 2012 Lines!
Thank you very much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Situation:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Things have to go right. (Ryan Matthews in 6<sup>th</sup>, Ben Tate in
11<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>My Take: </b>I like Ryan Matthews in the 6th, he's got the highest upside of any running back this year, and, if Arian Foster's hamstring acts up we know Tate is a legit producer. Then again, Matthews has never played a full season and Tate is a backup who broke his ankle in 2010. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think we’ll see a slightly more
conservative game plan from Neil this year with a few calculated risks. He has
strong opinions on a few players, and it’s going to come down to whether he
nails those or not. Long story short, 7-7, no playoffs, blah blah blah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Ricky
May<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No Blaine, No Gain<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Blaine Gabbert is the Jags QB’ so I figured I’d take a
knock off of the old cliché “No Pain, No Gain” and go with “No Blaine, No Gain”
<i>[The analysis here is scintillating]</i></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite Personal
Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Bones….unfortunately not so “Bones” anymore….good ole home cookin and
occasional “drinks” will do that to a married man <i>[What are "drinks" are those different from drinks? Are they "special" drinks? Don't answer this...]</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite Personal
Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Boner…self
explanatory </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fantasy football, throwing a football better than Jimmy
Hostetler with a cast on each arm in pouring down rain, pretty much anything
athletic or academic, convincing Noord he's horrendous at fantasy football, Madden,…<i>[Wait, what?! Did he
just say “</i>pretty much anything athletic or academic<i>”!? Well, my goodness! I didn’t know we were in the presence of such a
high and mighty Lord of all sport and study! Shall we bow before you thine most
gracious leader of leisure and learning?! We are not worthy! WE ARE NOT
WORTHY!]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win
the league this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sheer
intimidation via Twitter and mass e-mailing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in
One Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Volume</span><i><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the
Neo this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noord – outside of our
rivalry, I just think he’s had such over-performances the last two years. Karma
is due to switch this year and flip him on his head.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the
Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me of course…I’m due,
simple as that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Situation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Injury prone (Mike
Vick in 14<sup>th</sup>, Fred Jackson in 5<sup>th</sup>)</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Take:</b>
Ricky texted me yesterday to tell me his wife (HIS WIFE!) said she could outdraft
me. This was entirely unprovoked (lol, jk) and I’m not sure how the mother of a
sweet, chubby cheeked baby could be so cruel. Apparently giant ego runs in the family,
except Katie can back it up. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">TJ
Beuerle<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[undecided] was TB2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Explanation of
Team Name</b>: TB2 is like RG3.
Gonna change it though cause two other people went RG3 themed after I did.
Pretty bitter about it. Probs going back to Moose Tracks. <i>[Probs.]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Least Favorite
Personal Nickname</b>: Guy that lost to Moose in a vote but still got in the league<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Important
Skills: </b>Making Neil feel
like some of his ideas are good, being able to piss anyone off in like 5 <span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">minutes, not falling for Ricky's dumb
trades, <u>not Noord<b><o:p></o:p></b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL
Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ryan
Kerrigan (also have a man crush on Tom Brady)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite NFL
Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eli
Manning<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </b>Jimmy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Most Likely to win
the Ducal Crown: </b>Gunst is in great
position with his keepers and draft spot, but question his ability to manage a
team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Keeper Situation:</b> Strong. Very Strong. (Jimmy Graham in 14<sup>th</sup>,
Lesean McCoy in 2<sup>nd</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Take:</b>
I can beuarely spell this guy’s name ceuorrectly, let alone preuovide coherent
fantasy analysiseus. What do you weuant from me? I’m just one meuan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Eric
Creasman<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God.Bless.Day.Beers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">: Who doesn't like Day Beers??? They make
everything better and I praise Him for giving them to me. <i>[I, um…sigh.]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">: Tuck. Mike Martin (Matt's Dad) likes to
compare some of my drinking binges with their family as a downhill skier just
going along, going along and then hitting the 'tuck' position pointed straight
downhill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Hand to hand combat,
negotiating, balling outrageous, drinking prowess (out drink out draft).</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">I've got Peyton man
love, we all know this.</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #222222;">Least Favorite NFL Player: </span></b>Everyone on my opponent's roster, [expletive]</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">If you were an NFL player, what would you
get arrested for?:</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"> Ballin' outrageous,
drunk and disorderly, public intoxication, making it rain<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this year: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Sam worries me, but
his keepers and high draft SHOULD keep him out of the cellar. Gunst should also
have the weapons to stay clear of the basement. I think Noord is due for a fall
but... I think the kid brings. Ricky. DOWN! (I have no idea)</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Most Likely to win the Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">AJ is hard to bet
against because he seems to find a way each year, luck or skill a W is a W.
So...by default and lack of faith in much other consistency I say AJ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Keeper Situation:</span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"> A quantity of quality. His
options are (Marshawn Lynch in 5<sup>th</sup>, Drew Brees in 2<sup>nd</sup>,
Julio Jones in 5<sup>th</sup>, Wes Welker in 3<sup>rd</sup>, Peyton Manning in
6<sup>th</sup>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">My Take: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.aa.org/">www.aa.org</a></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b>My Real Take: </b>I think we see another strong showing from Creas this year, if he chooses his keepers correctly. Banking on the wrong guys can ruin his draft, affect his strategy and leave his team compromised. I think he's already traded the rights to one of his keepers, which will be made official after the draft. In terms of fantasy management he might be making the smart moves early, mitigating risks and trying to take advantage of his excess of keepers and late round draft position. A forward thinking move from our resident geriatric, maybe I'll move him from 9th to 8th in my owner power rankings (heh heh).</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Jimmy
Hostetler<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">B-Button Spin Move<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: I've spent more money on video games than Neil makes in a
year. It's only appropriate that I have a video game related team name<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consulting maps<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win the league
this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hard work, determination, strong
leadership, throwing farther than Ricky<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Movie Title that best describes the
upcoming fantasy season:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The Princess Diaries<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not surprisingly and not for football stuff, but Rob Gronkowski
currently <i>[Yo soy fiesta!]</i>. On the field, Brett Kiesel right now. Dude and his beard are out of
this world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ed Reed, hands down. Guy looks homeless and plays like 6 games a
year.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in One
Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neil just because of all the hype
he's had around himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal
Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TJB has some stout keepers from what
I hear<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Additional Comments: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AJ enjoys the company of nude men <i>[I, um…sigh]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Situation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Half-way excellent.
(Rob Gronkowski in the 15<sup>th</sup>, BenJarvus Green-Ellis in the 14<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Take: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jimmy will unabashedly continue in
normal form knowing more about NFL football than Fantasy football and being
proud of it. Which is fine with me. Plus, anytime you can have a guy with four names on your team, you have to take it! I know its easy to bash Jimmy, but remember, he has two first round picks this year and Gronkowski. If Gronk does anything even close to last year, Jimmy will have a shot in almost all of his games. Can't count him out yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Austin
Perry<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pledge Prez Perry<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: "DJ Garlic Sauce" "Ducal Champ" is nice
too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: "Puke King"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Speed eating, finding late round studs, cell phone photography,
and slow pitch softball<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win the league
this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shonn Greene 2012<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris Cooooooley: luscious locks, nude twit pics, pottery<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jason Witten, boring, looks like Boomhower, is a vegetarian
(unconfirmed)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in One
Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teabag<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noord<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal
Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BGunst<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Situation: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Solid. (Hakeem Nicks in 8<sup>th</sup>,
Jordy Nelson in 9<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;"><b>My Take: </b>Perry comes in with his WR core locked up and the 5th and 11th overall picks (oh, did I forget to mention we introduced draft pick trading this year?). He's in good shape to have four studs on his team by round two. The key will be who is quarterbacking his team and who he can fill in at RB. He and I have both proved you don't need elite RBs to win the league, but they sure do help. The big question is whether Perry can avoid drafting Marques Colston and Shonn Greene for the 3rd year in a row.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">AJ
McGraw<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">deSPEcable me<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: It’s a championship winning name, can’t change it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Quickdraw<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: One-ball McGraw<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alliteration<b>, </b>Snark</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win the league
this year:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Same way I
won it two years ago, relying on the poor performance of other teams.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Movie Title that best describes the upcoming
fantasy season:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There Will be Blood<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in One Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Swindle</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Noord</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TJB</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Keeper Status: </span></b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Confident. (Matt
Stafford in 6<sup>th</sup>, DeMarco Murray in 15<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;"><b>My Take: </b>I love Stafford, but Murray scares me. His value is too good to pass up. If they can stay healthy, and I can get some supporting players around them I'm going to feel confident in my starting lineup. Unfortunately, your starting lineup usually doesn't win you fantasy titles. Your bench depth does. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Bryan
Gunst<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WheelsGoNonStop<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: My nickname is Wheels because Richard
Brammer knighted me so in myrtle beach. In one of the many
glorious songs that were written during undergraduate winter breaks, one of my
lines was "Wheels go non stop" and thus, my name was born.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Wheels or Gunssssssss</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: This is a trick question so you and everyone in the league
calls us this all year. I don't know. I guess Melissa's Brother. <i>[It took us 9 people to finally figure this out. Atta boy, MelBro!]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Movie Title that best describes the
upcoming fantasy season: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We Bought A
Zoo</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">London Fletcher</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Least Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Albert Haynesworth, or anyone on the Patriots</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you were an NFL player, what would
you get arrested for?:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Breaking and entering into the
Hidden Valley Ranch Factory</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noord (based on keepers and lack of
draft shenanigans to make up for them)</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal
Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me. If you don't think you're going
to win it all than why are you playing?</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Additional Comments: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is the draft BYOR or will ranch be provided free of cost?</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Status: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Solid,
like a well crafted turd. (Arian Foster in 3<sup>rd</sup>, AJ Green in 8<sup>th</sup>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Take: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ll have to check, but I
think Bdubs will be providing ranch for $.50.MelBro is looking at starting the year with Aaron Rodgers, AJ Green and Arian Foster. Arguably two first overall picks in his lineup, you gotta love that talent. Unfortunately, Foster's obvious (and necessary) handcuff is tied up on Neil's team so if Foster goes down, so could this team.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: 12pt;">Sam
Persons<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Team name: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Need for SPEed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explanation of Team Name</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Need for SPEed? Somewhat self explanatory. I called upon the
powerful 80's classic film Top Gun and did like everyone else and capitalized
our fraternity letters lol. Also, if I could make my avatar on Yahoo! a pic of
me playing volleyball shirtless in aviator sunglasses and tight blue jeans I definitely would. Moreover, I'm willing to get paid for such a photograph.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite Personal Nickname</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Sammy. My childhood name. Only my closest friends and family
call me this. (Side Note: there is also the AJ McGraw special
"Sam-a-lam-a-ding-dong")</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Important Skills: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ability to not know whats
happening in the league until a vote has already been taken and your vote
doesn't count. (I need to get a smart phone....)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How you're going to win the league
this year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
words of Jimmy<b> </b>McGinty..."You gotta have heart!" and perhaps a
little bit of luck. (Note: Jimmy McGinty was the head coach in The
Replacements)</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Movie Title that best describes the
upcoming fantasy season: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Expendables! Lets not kid ourselves we're all aging, but that doesn't mean this
season won't be filled with action, cheesy one liners and excellent pyrotechnic
displays! <i>[Sammy’s on the board!]</i><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Favorite NFL Player: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darrell Green, hands down. Great
football player, better person. Also, he likes tootsie rolls.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Your Fantasy Strategy in One Word: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray <i>[This is also Jimmy's exact strategy. LET THE WAR OF
NORTHERN AGRESSION BEGIN!]<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to 'win' the Neo this
year: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a
great bounce back last season. Creasman falls to the bottom of the barrel to
claim his 2nd Neo in 3 years.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most Likely to win the Ducal Crown: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm thinking there will be a surprise
this year at the top. TJB makes a major push for the Crown.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keeper Status: </span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Very
strong. (Cam Newton in 15<sup>th</sup>, Victor Cruz in 14<sup>th</sup>). OK,
wildly strong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="color: #222222;">My Take:</b><span style="color: #222222;"> Who wouldn't feel confident with a starting QB and WR2 coming to you in the last two rounds of the draft. Sam also cleverly acquired the 12th overall pick (from me) to go with his 3rd overall. At this point, in the second round he's looking at a team of Cam, Cruz, Welker, Ray Rice....that is a PPR scoring DREAM TEAM. Oh yea, I'm invoking the Dream Team label already. Muahahahaha, #sabotage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;">Here’s the final count-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Votes for Neo:</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Noord
leads with 5, Jimmy has 3. Are we looking at our Neo Bowl?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Votes for Champ:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> Tied
between Gunst and TJB, with 3-apiece. Could these teams represent the Federales
and Stonewallers in the title bout?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;">Pre-season is under way, and we draft August 25th....two and a half weeks from now. I couldn't be more excited. But, for now, I need to go look at myself in the mirror and tell myself how beautiful I am. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222;">Let the #DucalCrownChaos begin!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-8789379978195094432012-08-01T10:03:00.002-04:002012-08-01T14:52:15.588-04:00Ducal Crown Owner Power Rankings (Part II)<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[Editor's Note: We resume where we left off last week ranking the owner's of the Ducal Crown Fantasy Football league based on composite rankings from all the owner's in the league measuring </i><b>their skill as fantasy football managers</b></span></span><i style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Neil Morrissette guest writes these posts, all complaints can be directed to him @neilmorrissette.]</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><a href="http://andrewmcgraw.blogspot.com/2012/07/ducal-crown-owner-power-rankings.html" target="_blank">For Part I, CLICK HERE</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comments will now feature "Why this player should be higher" and "Why they should be ranked here".</span>
<br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6) TJ Beuerle (@DucalBurly)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10th Place Votes - 1</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Average Ranking - 6.5</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Comment: “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TJ has been known to party like he’s still in 1990 at Ducal Crown functions, but stays dry when it counts</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” (Expect so much more on this in the Ducal Crown Manifesto.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The newest member of the league, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“TJ is still wet around the pants.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of the members seem undecided on where to rank him due to the leagues unfamiliarity with him, and an up and down first year (0-5 start, 7-2 finish).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why TJ should be higher:</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TJ doesn’t take nothing from nobody</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (Then how does he get anything?)</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has the advantage of only playing in the league for one year, so his strategy can change and surprise people.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - ”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smartly acquired assets in a losing season to be in a great position this season.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (McCoy late 2nd rd keeper, Jimmy Graham in the 15th!)</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“TJ at 8.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (This is the world-class analysis we seek from our fantasy league.)</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4357176839839667" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why TJ should be here:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-<i> “Need to see repeated results over more than one year to rank higher.”</i></span><i><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- “I think he could be higher but needs to prove it first.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- “Bottom half of the league when it comes to football knowledge.”</span></i></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> - "We was, 'disoriented', during the Winter Meeting. You can count on us feeding him drinks at the draft and saying, "I'm telling you, Keyshawn Johnson is on the Cowboys now! He's starting!"</i><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TJ is ranked here mainly because he has played one season in the Ducal Crown, but I think it fits well. He was quite unlucky starting the season 0-5 last year, but rebounded to finish 7-7. Can you rank him above guys that have made the playoffs before? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He’s my sleeper to jump 2-3 spots in the rankings after another year in the league.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Mine too. I found the comments surprisingly weak about TJ. He is a douche. Talk more shit next time. Thanks.) <i>[Editor's Note: Touche.]</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, our four last place finalists. The guys who make playoff runs possible and dreams come true. The comments were here were (as you can assume) less than positive. So I took the liberty of manipulating some quotes to give these guys hope for the future.</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7) Eric Creasman (@DucalCreas)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10th Place Votes - 0</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Average Ranking - 6.7</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Comment: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I trust his fantasy judgement but doubt he will be hoisting the Ducal Crown any time soon.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Creasman went from worst to first in regular season play" </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It truly was amazing last year, when Eric made his run behind Drew Brees arm and Ray Rice's legs. There wasn't a single person who wasn't rooting for him in the playoffs (Mainly so AJ and Noord wouldn't win).</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember when Megatron and Stafford combined for 80 points in the first round of the playoffs last year and AJ decimated Creasy's hopes of a run at the title? That has to be the greatest fantasy playoff appearance of all time. "OF ALL TIME!" - Kayne West. #Boy got smacked. Oh whoops, I forgot to put [<i>Editor's Note]</i> at the start of this paragraph. I'm new at this.</span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Why Creas should be higher:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "A very realistic and witty member of the league, loves the use of #boy more than Neil loves wearing al paca boxer briefs."</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (So comfortable though.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "He made it far last year despite being the Neo the year before." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Everyone does realize prior years results have no effect on future play? Brand new team, and the worse you do, the higher first round pick. Last year, his was Adrian Peterson.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "Should have won last year, but I'm pretty sure he is drunk 24/7" </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(I view this as a positive thing) <i>[Editor's Note: STAFFORD TO MEGATRON AGAIN!!! THEY'RE UNSTOPPABLE!!!]</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "Made the playoffs, think he is on the rise."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Why Creas should be here:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "If you have a Neo you've got to be close to the bottom."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "Probably doesn't deserve to be this low...but he owns a Neo."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "I see him having the biggest fall this year."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Beautiful example of how fast the tables turn in fantasy football” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I predict the trend continues. Back to the Neo Bowl for Eric.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8) Bryan Gunst (@DucalBG)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10th Place Votes - 3</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Average Ranking - 7.5</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Comment: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“See the people below him. He kind of defaults to this spot.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Why Bryan should be higher:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "I give him a slight pass for last year and being on the road."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - "The Foster pick two years ago is looking very good"</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- "[The Neo] is much like a D.C. sports team, with expectations so low he is bound to overachieve."</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>- "Keepers lead the way</i></span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Why Bryan should be here:</u></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- "The Neo must wear his crown with (dis)honor"</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- "Poor trades last year showed lack of foresight and poor player evaluation."</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>- "You've had Foster on your team for three years now...why are you so bad?!"</i></span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>- "You'd have to pour ranch on the waiver wire to get Bryan to notice good pick ups."</i></span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will let a member comment sum up the Neo's future season:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Dude is set to be STACKED this year. Two great keepers (Foster in 2, AJ Green in 8) and the #1 pick...could kill it this year, or...blow it in a big way? I hope he does a more solid job this year, for his manhood's sake."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9) Jimmy Hostetler (@DucalJDean)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10th Place Votes - 1</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Average Ranking - 7.7</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Comment: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jimmy is salivating this year for some postseason action.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Or for sausage. Either works fine.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good old “Jiffany.” This name was used by multiple members in the comments section. Why this hasn’t stuck yet I do not know... <i>[Editor's Note: On it.]</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Jimmy should be higher:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You must applaud him for consistency”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (7-7 two straight years.) (No applause.) <i>[Editor's Note: Same exact win percentage as Neil over that time span (8-6, then 6-8). They're both .500 teams, but Neil is in the top five?]</i></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Result of misapplied knowledge rather than lack of knowledge.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sadly, those are the only 2 positive comments I could finagle out of three-quarters of a page of notes on Jimmy. What I do have are other reasons Jimmy should be called Jiffany:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Jimmy has the advantage of having his fiance as an outside consultant who has quietly been spying on the league for years.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Think his fiance runs his team to be honest.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Needs to just let Tiffany come draft for him. Actually, why does Tiffany still come to our drafts?”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “If they were ranked as a team they would be ranked a few spots higher.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“All the right tools, but hasn’t used them in recent years.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (I’m assuming that meant Tiffany’s advice?)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Jimmy should be here:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Consistent non-factor.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jimmy Dean talks about himself in the third person.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Neil thinks it is normal.) <i>[Editors Note: AJ thinks it is normal as well.]</i></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I feel like each year Jimmy is the team I am most comfortable playing.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am rarely scared of his talent, seems to settle on sub-par QB’s each year.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Roethlisberger....apparently the correct spelling for that was in Word, amazing work Microsoft.)</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “He will suck your D.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (/ST, you know, Team Defense)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can all agree Jimmy doesn’t deserve to be here...but Jiffany does. Some advice from your league mate, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I think this year will be big if he can take Brady and draft well late.” (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No shit, Sherlock.) </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[Editor's Note: Foul! Draft tampering! Someone alert the Olympic officials! I smell doping!]</i></span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10) Sam Persons (@DucalSPE)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10th Place Votes - I lost count...we’ll guess around 37.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Average Ranking - 9</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best Comment: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’ve seen increased interest this offseason, so this ranking may improve; but the league is competitive and catching up won’t ever get you ahead.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good news: Sam has not been the Neo. With this ranking you wouldn’t believe it. Let’s see what the league thinks, and if Sam should be at the bottom, all by himself. (By a wide margin.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Sam should be higher:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sam has assembled great assets for this upcoming season.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Cruz and Newon, 14th, 15th rd respectively)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Finishing school and being in a full time job will get him back into paying attention and winning."</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Once he stops drafting Redskins and Antonio Gates in the 3rd round, he may have a realistic starting lineup."</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b>- <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I'd be lying if I said Cam and Cruz didn't scare me." </span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Sam should be here:</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sam will have at least one Redskins player on his team at all times."</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Always a bad thing)</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Trading for an injured WR while you’re team is already bad will put you in the bottom two real fast.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Sam traded a healthy Andre Johnson for Phillip Rivers, then two weeks later traded Phillip Rivers for an injured Andre Johnson)</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “No idea, but I have very little confidence in his fantasy play.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “He is very erratic and confusing.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Needs to prepare a little more before I boost him in my rankings.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Hasn’t been engaged enough during the offseason to be considered a top fantasy owner.”</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- “Sam will trust his team to pull out wins, hit the inevitable losing streak, and be down for the count again this year.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam has had two seasons in the Ducal Crown, and two losing seasons. He has the second worst lifetime win percentage. He didn’t score many points last year, and had a lot of points scored on him. I think the motto here is don’t draft Redskins and you should be just fine. That's not me talking, that's Redskin fans everywhere talking. <i>[Editor's Note: sigh.]</i></span></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you to everyone for reading the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inaugural 2012 Ducal Crown Power Rankings</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. All power rankings spreadsheets can be found in the new 3rd tab of the ‘Ducal Crown History Book.’ Draft day is August 25th in Richmond, VA; the preseason Power Rankings analyzing those rosters will be released shortly there after. I hope this has given each and every member of the league something to think about, work on, and bitch about on twitter. Are you ready for some football?</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[Editor's Note: Yes.]</i></span></b></div>
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</b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-46500426455919790752012-07-25T09:39:00.000-04:002012-08-01T09:21:56.822-04:00Ducal Crown Owner Power Rankings<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5819802244659513"></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">[Editor's Note: I'd like
to welcome Neil Morrissette (@neilmorrissette) to the But, I Digress... Fantasy
Football blog (It's that time of year when Fantasy takes over). Neil will be helping me write posts for this season to keep the
league updated and fresh. I reserve the right to final edit, and will often
make snarky comments in this format. So there's something to look forward to.
So, without further rambling and spotlight stealing...here's Neil.]</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Welcome back to the fantasy
football season! It feels so good to say that. And with training camps (and
pre-season injuries) just around the corner, our beloved Ducal Crown has been
busy on the Twitterverse talking everything fantasy football related. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Most of you (the 10 guys
who play in the league and Tommy Carrico) who read this blog realize that the
Ducal Crown has always had a weekly blog with awards or rankings or some
general theme attached to it. Well, this year get ready for 2! That’s right; in
addition to the esteemed A.J. ‘Comish’ McGraw’s weekly posts, I will be joining
him in producing Ducal Crown member led Power Rankings. These weekly rankings
will be based solely off the average of how the 10 guys each rank the owners’
in the league, including themselves. I’ll be sharing their thoughts on each
team, it’s chances at the playoffs, weaknesses, strengths...look for a
different theme to the comments each week, while the rankings will always be
the teams from 1-10 from ‘best’ to ‘worst.’ Expect a lot of stats and an
argument for and against each team's particular ranking that week. </span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">With that said we have
no teams yet since the draft is still 32 (!!!!!) days away. So in this first
set of Power Rankings, I’ve asked my league-mates to rank the owners in terms
of <b><i>“their skill as fantasy football managers.”</i></b> Lets see how they
did together <i>(If it is in italics, it’s a quote. Or some interpretation of
one)</i>:</span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">P.S. I know everyone
wants to know the new team names for the year, the draft order, how bad Noord’s
keepers are and all that other exciting stuff, but I’ll leave the updates and
most of the quips to A.J. for his inaugural pre-season post. The ‘Ducal Crown
Manifesto’ if you will. I expect to be crapped on heavily. <i>[Editor's Note: Thy crapping shall commence. As it is said, so it shall be done.]</i></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Owner </span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skill’ Power Rankings</span></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">1) AJ McGraw (@DucalAJM)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">First Place Votes: 9</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Average Ranking: 1.1</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Best comment - <i>“Unless
his unnatural obsession with the sport diminishes, he’ll likely stay at the
top.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As one member
proclaimed, <i>“results tell the story.”</i> So true. AJ has had a winning
record in both two seasons of the league, has a 3-1 playoff record (most games
played and most games won), and has a title (2010) under his belt. AJ was
described in multiple lights by his peers: “<i>Trading fiend”, “cocky”,
“smartest trader in the league”, “bastard.” </i> <i>[Editor's Note: These
guys really know me!] </i>We all agree he has a keen eye for fantasy, evidenced
by 9 out of 10 owners voting him at the top. (Don’t worry, we’ll get back to
that missing vote.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why AJ should be here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”AJ has a patent on the, “lol okay” messages in regards to
trading and now Ricky has to pay him royalties. </i>(I’m going to add Noord to
that as well.) <i>AJ will throw out a trade, frame it 4 different ways, and
always seem to get a yes at the end.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”May not “win” in the draft, but I have a begrudging faith in
his season.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”He is #1 because he cares way too much” </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-”Has made smart trades to secure good position
each year down the stretch.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-”He preys on others to get great deals and for
some reason they bite.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”Very prepared and puts in lots of time”</i> (It’s true, we
mock together)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why AJ shouldn't be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”Results tell the story: one title followed by a
runner-up...don’t like the downward trend.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”Back to back 8-6 regular season records is no domination like
AJ may claim”</i> (Actually true, as 7-7 each year has meant out of the playoffs,
and 8-6 or better has meant in.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i>”If AJ doesn’t make a run one year, may actually have to get
off twitter and work.”</i> (Thus leading to worst results in future years I’m
assuming...)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“My question is whether his head gets too big for our
championship crowns.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Typically has good
luck”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Simply put, AJ deserves
to be #1. Two solid seasons, played in two championship games, owns a
championship. Despite what I deem not great fantasy luck (Jamaal Charles knee
injury week one - 3rd rd keeper 2011, Randy Moss deciding football was beneath
him suddenly in 2010 <i>[Editor's Note: Brady in '09, Romo in '10]</i>), is “<i>able
to re-mold his team positively each and every year.” </i>Will be tough to
unseat at the top.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">2) Austin Perry
(@DucalChamp)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Second Place Votes - 4
(had to give some sort of stat here)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Average Ranking - 3.0</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Best Comment - <i>“He
has a Ducal Crown to his name. Means something.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Is it a surprise the
other Ducal Crown champion is at #2? Obviously a testament to results mattering
the most among all the league owners, and just how much everyone wants that
beautiful trophy. Austin has just the 4th best winning percentage in the
lifetime of the league (53.57%).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why Austin should be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“While humble, Austin will throw his trophy and @DucalChamp
twitter handle in your face when needed.”</i> (He did bring his own sound
system to the winter meetings...humble?)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Shown an ability to find keepers late in drafts that end up
propelling him through the year.”</i> (Hakeem Nicks 9th rd, LeGarrette Blount
15th rd in 2011; Jordy Nelson 9th rd, Nicks 8th rd in 2012...I’d say they are
just OK keepers.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>”His continued upward trend is a concern for all others to be
wary of.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Like other things in his life, he has gone from average to
above average in his two years in the league.” </i>(Ha.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why Austin shouldn’t be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “<i>Main benefactor of the “Year of the QB”</i>”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“I have to see how he does without the most dominant fantasy
player [Aaron Rogers] on his roster before I put him in the top 2.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Don’t know how well he did Year 1 because I wasn’t in the
league.”</i> (</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmCQAlMCK4aydGVNU01pUk5Xcl9OdHFFcTFwR1kxRGc"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Ducal Crown History Book</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> is there for a reason. Use it!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Bad RB’s killed him the first year.” </i>(7th place finish)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Only because he is defending champ”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Biggest question is
deciding if his success was skill or simply a team riding the magical hot pants
of Aaron Rodgers.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">There are two clear
schools of thought on Austin: he either got lucky and rode Rodgers/Jordy
combination to the crown, or he has shown an ability to identify good players
late in drafts to succeed. Admittedly, he trades the least of all league
owners. Put best, <i>“we’ll see what happens this year when Phillip Rivers is
steering his ship.” </i>Theres your blackboard motivation Austin. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">3) Ricky May
(@DucalCrownBones)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Second Place Votes - 3</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Average Ranking - 3.2</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Best Comment - <i>“Consistent
performer that usually has a strong team. Problem is, his team lacks identity.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Outside of trade talks,
the league has heard Ricky say a total of 40 words.”</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> <i>[Editor's Note: lol]</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I could stop there. But
I won't: <i>“Favorite saying: I am giving up more than I am getting bud, I’m
giving you 4 players for one.” “Legit think he would trade his own son for the
right price.” “Draft is irrelevant, since he will trade his team by week 3.” </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Who hasn’t woken up to
the 5am trade offer you declined last week? I wish I never had. But seriously, <i>“If
there is one member in the league everyone respects, it is this guy.” </i>As
pointed out, <i>“Ricky has the highest win percentage in the league.”</i>
60.71% to be exact.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why Ricky should be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>”Relentless and one of the most experienced FF guys in the
league.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>”Arch nemesis of Noord”</i> (Yes, I’m putting this in the
good category.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>”Always gets off to a hot start”</i> (6-0 in 2010, 5-1 in
2011)<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- ”S.O.B makes it work”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- ”Trades with purpose and pursues what he
wants”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- ”He was right about Graham being a Top 3 TE. I
respect that.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(I don’t. I’m still
bitter)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“He’s been right outside the playoffs each year but at least
he cares”</i> (No doubt he cares, and he made playoffs year one. Actually won
in 2009 before ‘Ducal Crown’ was officially formed.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Why Ricky shouldn’t be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-”Until he shows an ability to trust his player
assessment/rankings then I can’t trust him.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-”He does a lot of things. Not good things, but
a lot of things!” [Editor's Note: see previous note.]</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-”Prone to making emotional decisions and
overthinking easy ones, like starting the Bears #3 WR in the playoffs on a
hunch.”<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I think 3rd in the
rankings is perfectly correct for Ricky. He is a persistent fantasy star (18-10
career record), but has yet to win in the playoffs (0-1). I, and the rest of
the league, expect a championship run soon. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">4) Neil Morrissette
(@DucalRalph)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">2nd Place Votes - 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Average Ranking - 4.9</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Best Comment: <i>“Neil
has put more time into fantasy football over the past year than Ricky has put
into baby pictures on Facebook.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Going to skip the blurb.
I’ll let the comments speak for themselves (and my inflated ego...).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Reasons Neil should be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “<i>Certainly the most improved over the last few years.</i>”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “This hurts my heart to put you here, but you’ve been above me
every year.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “I hate satisfying Neil and his ego. That
being said, he isn’t afraid to take risks.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Cold calls Matthew Berry.” </i>(Look, we got in his fantasy
book. Deal with it.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i> “It’s not gambling if you’re going to win”</i> (All about
that cash flow.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Reasons Neil shouldn’t
be here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- ”Has continued to make emotional and reactive decisions that
have hurt his team.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “Call your team the ‘Dream Team’ again and you
will be the worst manager.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Deal, Wreck-It Ralph is here to stay.)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“You’re going to trade away the title again...own it.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “This may be high for a guy that traded away
Stafford, McCoy, Vick and himself out of a playoff spot.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Don’t forget Sproles and Gronkowski!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">To sum it up, <i>“I see
a direct correlation between his fantasy football skills and his gambling
abilities. High risk, high reward. Will this strategy ever pay off for a
title?”</i> And, <i>“One day it will pay off, or continue to kill him.” </i>(Bookie
Ralph is still taking bets. +500 I don’t win a title in the next 3 years. $5
bet wins you $25. You all knew I had to mention it.) </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“Neil is a gambler so he
falls for a risky trade from time to time, but he claims to have learned from
his past. If Ralph can keep his impulse for making moves at bay, he can move
into and stay in the top 3rd of the league.”</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> (Booyah bitches!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">5) Matthew Noordhoff
(@DucalNoord)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">1st Place Votes - 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">2nd Place Votes - 0</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">10th Place Votes - 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Average Ranking - 5.4</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Best Comment: <i>“Always
proposes one sided trades and thinks they are actually fair. At least Rick and
AJ know they are trying to dick you.” [Editor's Note: Hey!]</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Noord has one fantasy
football adage to his name. <i>“Fantasy football is mostly luck.” </i>How true
when people are saying <i>“Give him props for getting this far with suspect
teams.”</i> Noord is a solid 16-14 overall with a runner-up and 4th place
finish.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Reasons he should be
here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“Noord is more committed to his team and the league than Sam
is to making ‘Merica quotes at Brickhouse.”</i> (OK, slow your horses. Thats
‘Merica you’re talking about!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i> “You can’t downgrade a guy because [injuries] HAVEN’T
happened to him” </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “Purely on record, he belongs.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “Even when it struggles, Noord trusts his team
and it has paid off.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Personal Reasons he
shouldn’t be here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- </span><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">“I’m going to rank myself
first because I’m sure everyone does.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Now read that sentence again...)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Real reasons he
shouldn’t be here:</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i> “I’m ranking him here because I don’t know that his style is
sustainable.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- “Two years in a row can’t be fluke; until you
look at his teams.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">- <i>“His team is horrendous but gets hot just in time to sneak
into the playoffs.”</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">-<i> “Never liked what he’s done with his keepers, and thats part
of managing a team.” </i>(Woodhead, Manningham - 2011; Eli, Mike Bush - 2012)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> -
“He hasn’t had to recover from a crippling injury to a key player and is harder
than a frozen turd to trade with.” </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">(Boom. Roasted.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> - <i>"Doesn't understand logic."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><i> - "...and he's a complainer."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Matt is ranked here despite back-to-back playoff berths due to the league's perception that he has the most risk involved in his strategy. He's also </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">perceived</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> to be the most likely of the Top 5 to fall off and win the Neo any given year. What would it take for Noord to be respected more? Probably a dominant regular season in the 12-4 range. Can't call that fluke <i>[Editor's Note: You clearly don't know this league.]</i>. You can, however, <i>"Boo.This.Man." </i>Go for it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><i>[Editor's (final) Note: Tune in for Part II later this week to see who ranks in the bottom five! Hint: It's the five guys we haven't mentioned yet.]</i></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-14828462699789640592012-05-21T13:28:00.000-04:002012-05-22T10:25:43.458-04:00The Best Day in a Fantasy LeagueI've written in this space before that it is a goal for me to be a published author. I've also written at length about my weird obsession with Fantasy Football. You recognize it as the period of time from September to January when you stop reading my blog because it's on one topic.<br />
<br />
What happened Friday joined those two together in a spectacular, and terrifying, way.<br />
<br />
First, the foundation.<br />
<br />
My fantasy league is ridiculous. The ten of us, alumni fraternity brothers from college, take the game too seriously and let it dominate too much of our social lives. Which, is a paradox because our social lives are 93% fantasy football, 5% Facebook, and 2% watching Netflix in our rooms alone drinking warm Fresca.<br />
<br />
The ten of us have dedicated League twitter handles so we can talk to each other during the day wihtout filling your feeds with completely irrelevant thoughts and pure nonsense, like an episode of <i>Community</i>.<br />
<br />
It was this, combined with the mid-May football lull, that ended up sparking a Fantasy Insider account: @DucalSchefter, created in light of ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter- the first to report on all NFL news, rumors and controversy. And it was this silly creation that opened an unexpected door for our league, and turned a "silly creation" into "the single greatest thing to ever happen on Twitter ever since forever".<br />
<br />
<strike>What happened was</strike> What HAD happened was, one of our guys tagged Matthew Berry in a tweet about the creation of @DucalSchefter, pointing to how ridiculously awesome our league was. Matthew Berry is ESPN.com's Senior Fantasy analyst/writer/podcast host and whatever else you'd call someone who gets to play Fantasy sports for a living. Demi-god comes to mind.<br />
<br />
Matthew Berry happens to be in the process of writing a Fantasy Football book (due out Summer 2013) and wants input from fantasy players on creative, weird, and fun stories, traditions, etc to include.<br />
<br />
Well, when @DucalJDean tagged Berry in a tweet I certainly didn't see it ending in him and I exchanging emails the rest of the night. He replied to Jimmy (JDean) saying the DucalSchefter idea was funny and to email him more info on it and our league.<br />
<br />
As Senior Fantasy Blog Writer (an irrelevant, and made-up, title), I stepped in and gathered ideas from the rest of owners to compile together in a write up for Berry. This was 3:30pm Friday. I tweeted back to Berry saying I was league commissioner (another irrelevant title) and wrote a blog for the league and would send him a write-up that evening. We tweeted back and forth for a little. I gave him more information on the DucalSchefter account, and he gave our league the greatest gift ever:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MatthewBerryTMR">@MatthewBerryTMR</a><br />
"<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DucalAJM"><s style="color: #ad6666; text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="color: inherit;">DucalAJM</b></a><span id="goog_1650888560"></span><span id="goog_1650888561"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> That's really hilarious. Please send that exact descrip plus more about your lg. Twitter, whole thing. U guys r def in the book."</span><br />
<br />
"Def in the book"!? DEF IN THE BOOK!?! We're going to be in a book?! For def?!<br />
<br />
For the next half-hour I frantically scribbled notes in my Top-Flight wide rule spiral notebook as the league fed me ideas. I spent the next 50 minutes on the train trying to settle my excitement, change my pee stained underwear, and put coherent words onto paper.<br />
<br />
When I got home (after calling ahead to have Michele set up the laptop for me to maximize writing time) I transposed scribbled pen into neat lines of computerized ink. Read it a dozen times, edited it ten more and finally sent it to the league for review.<br />
<br />
After reading it a dozen more times, and editing it a few more with feedback from the league I finally had it: an email packed with too many exclamation marks, over-compensation, and a write-up about our fantasy league to send to Matthew Berry for his book.<br />
<br />
<b>From: Me</b><br />
<b>To: Berry</b><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">TMR-</span><br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Thanks for reading about us! Here's the tweets, then the write up (I attached the write-up in Word if it's easier for you. A picture of a tweet mentioned in the write-up shows up there). </div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Obviously let me know if you have questions or need/want anything else! Awesome to get a chance to work with you!"</div>
<br />
<br />
You won't see the text I sent him. Hopefully that will be in a book in less than a year and you can all buy it and the League will autograph it for you ($5 per signature, $2.50 for mine).<br />
<br />
I awaited reply. To say it was done anxiously would be an understatement. Obviously whenever you provide your text in the email and then also attach it in a Word Doc JUST IN CASE, it's safe to say emotions are running high.<br />
<br />
Exactly 5 minutes later I got it:<br />
<br />
<b>From: Berry</b><br />
<b>To: Me</b><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Terrific. Do you have a picture of the trophy? Thinking of a separate chapter on trophies."</span><br />
<br />
What I didn't tell you was that in the body of the text I refer to our trophy (the Ducal Crown) as "a Stanely Cup you can wear on your head". In reality, it is more of "a trophy you hold in your hands".<br />
<br />
My heart stopped beating blood and starting pumping pure panic. We needed to make a new trophy and get pictures of it and send it to him in 5 minutes, or he'd know my exaggeration and black list me from the internet forever (I NEVER said I was behaving rationally).<br />
<br />
I scoured the internet for photos of us with the trophy to combine it with photos of a Homecoming Crown one of the guys had won years ago in college. It would have to suffice. Until I found this picture:<br />
<br />
<img alt="trophy and crowns.jpg" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4967531b17&view=att&th=137625e38f8b614f&attid=0.1&disp=thd&realattid=f_h2dwga9f0&zw" />
<br />
<br />
Me crowning current champion Austin (complete with literal crown and a banner that says "Suck it #boy" in the background). It would have to suffice.<br />
<br />
I tried to act cool sending our not-quite-as-described trophy picture to Berry 14 minutes later.<br />
<br />
<b>From: Me</b><br />
<b>To: Berry</b><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969);">"</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yea no problem. Here's a pic of me crowning the new champ from our Winter Meeting.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And a few more for good measure<b>.</b><span style="background-color: transparent;">"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
3 minutes later-<br />
<br />
<b>From: Berry</b><br />
<b>To: Me</b><br />
"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Great. By the way, I noticed @Ducalschefter only has 8 followers. Ten of you in the league, right? Interesting, no?"</span><br />
<br />
WHY ARE YOU BUSTING MY BALLS TMR?! WHY!? At this point I'm horrified. I'm already in panic mode over the trophy picture issue, and now I get an email (which I can only assume) is him questioning the entire validity of the account and our league as a whole. I assume he thinks I'm one lonely guy with 10 twitter accounts who plays imaginary fantasy football by myself.<br />
<br />
I type about 10 emails in reply, erasing each because they sound incriminating, back-peddling, or suspicious.<br />
<br />
I settle on:<br />
<br />
<b>From: Me</b><br />
<b>To: Berry</b><br />
"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">haha, it's an off season thing that's just started up recently (you can see first post May 13th). might have to fine the two guys for not following yet!"</span><br />
<br />
Nervous laughter? Check. Unasked for justification to cover you back? Yup. Weak joke? Check. Unnecessary exclamation mark? You know it.<br />
<br />
It was 8:01pm.<br />
<br />
I left the house for dinner with friends. Two hours later Berry responded:<br />
<br />
<b>From: Berry</b><br />
<b>To: Me and the League</b><br />
"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Don't go twitter bombing him now guys, but I did pass along this email to Schefter. He thought it was funny. Thanks guys. Matthew"</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
The real Schefter has now read our story and "thought it was funny". I assume that means he read it, and sharply blew air out of his nose while smirking and shrugging his shoulders. I'LL TAKE IT!<br />
<br />
This, of course, did not lead to twitter bombing Schefter, it <i>did</i> however open the floodgates for the League to email bomb Berry. After one particularly wandering email that concluded with information about a newborn son and how, one day, he'll be in this league, we finally stopped replying to Matthew Berry. I'm fully expecting the restraining order in the mail.<br />
<br />
The frantic pace of the day was incredible. Something <i>I</i> wrote might actually end up being published in a real book. Like, permanently. I can have it on my shelf. Forever. (Give me a break, for a writer being published the first time is a big deal, even if it's in someone else's book.)<br />
<br />
So I took a moment that night, before I went to sleep, to pull up what I had written (and had been inspired and edited by my nine good friends) and gave it a re-read. The idea that this text might be permanently in a book crowded my brain and overwhelmed my thoughts. I sat with a goofy grin on my face and read.<br />
<br />
And I could not be more serious when I say this: I hated every word I wrote.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Look for the book on-shelves in Summer 2013! (or don't)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-86768707213374989632012-05-10T09:28:00.002-04:002012-05-10T09:28:50.213-04:00An Unpopular OpinionIn a secular society it is inevitable for gay marriage to be legalized. Supporters will rally behind cries of 'Equal Right for All' and any argument of "traditional" or "religious" beliefs will be condemned as archaic, hateful, and discriminatory. I think it is absolutely inevitable. But maybe my faith is weak.<br />
<br />
As a Christ follower, however, my beliefs do not (and should not) waiver. It would be unacceptable for you to expect them to. Should my religion, my guiding Holy text, be reduced to an emotional opinion that sways with the lightest breeze of peer pressure? Surely not.<br />
<br />
Although, I must clarify some things. As a person who believes that homosexual relationships are equally sinful as any that engage in premarital sex, I also believe they are as sinful as people who lie, curse and have weak faith. I hate all groups equally. Which is to say I hate none of them at all, because I surely love myself.<br />
<br />
The problem is, rebuke is often confused for hate. Rebuke is a sharp word for calling out wrong behavior, it does not imply hatred. Disappointment, perhaps, but not hate. We now have a culture that mistakes laws or commandments that rebuke an action or a people's behavior as "God loving gays less" (or not at all).<br />
<br />
This is so categorically untrue it is literally making my head hurt. But I'll tell you why we've reached this point in our society.<br />
<br />
When your moral stance is that every law and decision should serve the sole purpose of making each individual as happy as they can be, subscribing to their emotional whims, you're doing it wrong.<br />
<br />We've lost our worldview, sacrificing it for individualism.<br />
<br />
I believe the Bible lays the foundation for the most successful society we can live in. Mainly because it was inspired by the very God who created humans and the ability to conceive society. Jesus never said, "I love you, therefore do whatever makes you happy even if it is sin in my eyes."<br />
<br />
I believe the most egregious failures in our society do not stem from an institution failing us (and certainly not from gay people), but from a people who are broken and living in sin. When we procreate we become parents who fail our children. We can all agree we've seen children raised without accountability for their actions. Excuses are easily made for them and the responsibility of parenting is dodged, excused and passed on to someone else if possible.<br />
<br />
Men fail women because they are afraid of responsibility and never learned the role of being a man in the first place. Women fail men appealing to their desires to receive vacant and fleeting attention that is a meager, and temporary, substitute for love.<br />
<br />
Children are birthed who lack strong guidance and mature parents to teach them how to contribute to society and they are set loose on the world without any inclination of what <i>responsibility </i>means.<br />
<br />
We fail each other.<br />
<br />
We fail to learn what good parenting is, and we pass it on to our children. And now we have a society crying out to appease <i>individuals</i>, instead of desperately trying to figure out how to sustain this generation and set the next one up for success.<br />
<br />
In life hard decisions must be made. Unpopular ones even. But when they align with the Holy Bible I will be unwavering in my commitment to it. To do anything else would sacrifice my entire relationship with Christ.<br />
<br />
I am a Christ follower. I cannot call myself that and also say I support gay marriage. One of those two things would be a lie, or at the very least, compromised.<br />
<br />
It does not mean I hate gay people. I believe marriage is a construct made for more than just <i>happiness.</i> It should, (although the aforementioned failures of accountability have led to easy divorces, the normality of premarital sex, and the availability of abortions which has bastardized the whole system), it <i>should</i>, however, be procreating whole families who teach children how to become functional and beneficial members of society. Who learn to help others, support the economy, earn a living and have a family for themselves. Marriage should pass on a moral code that makes this place one worth living in. I believe this is only done by a man and a woman, as designed by the God of the universe.<br />
<br />
Just because it has failed many thus far does <i>not</i> mean I should sacrifice my belief, hope and determination to make it what it was meant to be. Should I give up because my faith is weak? Because I run the risk of being called bigoted?<br />
<br />
Yet I see the legalization of gay marriage to be inevitable. We no longer live in a nation where the majority subscribe to a higher, godly calling. We live in a nation that subscribes to the individual and calls it justice for all. I simply cannot waiver on my belief because it is what you want to hear.<br />
<br />
But, surely, disagreement and hate are separate things entirely.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-20143277787397408012012-05-03T09:46:00.001-04:002012-05-15T09:39:28.984-04:00Cake - A Short Story<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Muddled in an endless search up and down the aisles of
the grocery store, my frustration was reaching critical levels. I resolved to break
the most basic law of mankind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Excuse me, can you give me directions to your cake
section?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The apathetic high school student lazily mumbled back to me, “Far back…next
to the deli.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I began my journey down a well stocked aisle of
cereal. Sixty brands of cereal for these fat American kids to cry over. My mood
was worsening, saturated with growing anger, but I was determined to follow
through with my plan. Sliding between a mother and son arguing over the
nutritional value of Pop-Tarts, I pulled the collar of my jacket up around my
neck in a subconscious effort to block out the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Family. Kids. Responsibility. It all left a bitter taste
in my mouth. I’m a 20 year old college kid, as far as I’m concerned being caged
in a monogamous relationship was akin to drowning. I had bigger plans for my
life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Cakes. Finally. Resisting the urge to grab the one on
top and go, I sorted through them until I found one that matched the occasion.
Nothing too fancy. Yellow frosting on a vanilla cake. Old white guys like vanilla, right? <i>You are what you eat</i>, I laughed to
myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I hurried up to the register to pay, thrusting the
cake at the cashier with one hand and digging around in my back pocket with the
other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“$15.19 is your total.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
For cake?! I could eat for two days off of that!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I pulled out a wrinkled ten dollar bill, a few ones,
and dug around in my front pocket for the change. College kids, we live off the
coins we find.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
After counting out the last four pennies, I grabbed my
receipt and quickly headed for the door almost running into a middle aged woman
in an obnoxious fur coat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Excuse you!” she exclaimed condescendingly, with a
look that reeked of “I’m better than you-ness”. You’d think she’d never seen a
black man in Philadelphia before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mostly unfazed, I gathered myself and jumped in my ’85
Honda Accord. My mom bought this piece of crap 9 years ago when it was brand
new, and bequeathed it to me. I fired up the engine, thankful, at least, to
have transportation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p> -------------------------------------------------</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
A terrible easy listening version of a New Edition
song played in the elevator as it ascended to the top floor. I always felt out of place in this building.
Something about the dark, polished wood and regal carpeting made me feel like
an unwelcomed guest. I swallowed that
thought as the elevator chimed and the polished mirror doors slid open to
reveal a familiar site.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Hi Mrs. Betty,” I said to the older, round woman
behind the secretary’s desk, “I brought something for Mr. Clifton.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“That is exceedingly kind of you, Carl. I’ll make sure
he gets it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I was kind of hoping I could give it to him myself…to
wish him a happy birthday?” I said in a inquisitive voice, for some reason. I
was feeling out of place, despite having been here so many times before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Mr. Clifton was the Dean of Students at Temple
University. I had been working, for minimum wage mind you, in his office over
the last few months doing administrative work. I hated coming to the Admin
Building, but Mr. Clifton was one of the few older white men I respected on
this campus. He’s always been generous to me, and even though I finished the
envelope stuffing project he hired me on to do, he’s always found a reason to
keep me around.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Last week he had me re-organize his filing cabinet in
alphabet order. Two weeks prior I was putting it in reverse alphabet order. He’s
a good man. One of the few.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Well,” Mrs. Betty replied, “If you can wait a few
minutes he should be getting off a conference call momentarily.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I sat on the stuffed, red leather couches studded with
brass buttons on the seams. I looked around at the paintings of the campus on
the wall and a new feeling of out-of-placeness came over me. Stronger than before.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
What am I doing here with a cake for this man? Mr.
Clifton is too busy for me, and I doubt he cares if I brought him a cake for
his birthday. He’s going to think I’m such a needy loser. I really am a momma’s
boy; I latched on to the first strong male figure in my life and am acting like
a child to get him to notice me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The red leather couch was beginning to get unbearably
uncomfortable. My collar felt tight and I kept fidgeting where I sat, rubbing
my shaved head, re-tucking my shirt. I held the cake on my lap, and then set it
on the table. Then put it back in my lap.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I was considering heading for the door and leaving the
cake with Mrs. Betty, when she made my decision for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Carl? You can go back into his office now.” She smiled
at me. She was a kind lady, but in this moment I hated her timing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I wiped my hands on my pants, picked up the cake (now
back on the table) and walked into Mr. Clifton’s office. I didn’t know what to
say at first. Happy birthday! Here’s a cake! Please be my father-figure!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
This was not a well developed plan. I guess I hadn’t
figured what I would actually do when I got here. Thankfully, Mr. Clifton broke
the silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Carl! What can I do for you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I just came by to say Happy Birthday, sir. It’s been
a real pleasure working with you and, um, here. I brought you something.” I
sounded like such a foolish child. If my face could turn red, it would have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
“My guy! Thank you
so much! Put it here on my desk.” He responded seemingly genuine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
We chatted briefly
and I left. Relieved it went better than I expected. Of course it did. He’s
generous, authentic, and actually cares for people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I turned down the
collar on my jacket as I got in my car thinking maybe people weren’t as bad as
I make them out to be. I just needed someone to shake me free from my solitary
world of self-loathing. It was a good day. I had a real smile on my face and
felt encouraged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I was thankful for
Mr. Clifton, and his old, white butt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-71919651929799435452012-04-30T15:30:00.000-04:002012-04-30T15:36:34.255-04:00AttitudesI've been thinking about people's attitudes. As such, you must now read my writing on my thinking about people's attitudes. It is the never ending circle of literary exposition, and I'm glad you're here.<br />
<br />
If our lives were movies our characters would, obviously, be the headliners. We'd be the Clooneys, Downey Jrs, Streeps, and Therons. Yet, for some reason, if we were really honest, and chose by the way we actually viewed ourselves, we wouldn't cast those actors.<br />
<br />
We'd cast someone like Michael Cera, or a softball catcher, or *shudder* Katherine Heigel.<br />
<br />
We all too easily forgo reason and place heavy emphasis on every insecurity and imperfection we have. I've heard this sentiment elsewhere, but forgot where, so its mine now: When we look at other's Facebook's and Twitter's we see their highlight reel, but when we look at ourselves we see all the hidden things we hate about ourselves. And we unfairly put ourselves down in comparison.<br />
<br />
It's true, you may be the only person who knows about your struggling body image, damaged relationships, or the weird mole on your chest that could pass as a third-nipple. And while everyone else appears to have it all together, we cast ourselves as the victims, the unworthy, and the unloved everyday.<br />
<br />
Our natural tendency is to have a bad attitude towards life and others because we view ourselves as the downtrodden underdog. We think that everyone else is happy, successful and has less back hair, whereas we are self-centered, jealous, and lost. It's this feeling that everyone else has wronged ME and its THEIR fault I'm unhappy!<br />
<br />
But don't forget, everyone has their own weird mole-nipple.<br />
<br />
The thing about having a "good attitude" is that it's often contingent on other things going well. If its a beautiful day outside, you just got paid, got plenty of sleep and someone gave you an excellent compliment this morning its easy to be positive and peppy. And when you oversleep your alarm, are late to work, and thus, your morning meetings, are unappreciated for your hard work and forgot to pack your go-gurt! Then a "bad attitude" is expected, and, perhaps, might even be justified.<br />
<br />
The problem is in the truth that if nothing particularly good happens today, our attitude will still hesitate on the edge of bad-ness.<br />
<br />
Attitude is one of those things that you choose. You can't choose your personality, but you can choose behavior. And what is your attitude if not a way that you behave?<br />
<br />
Avoid the temptation to cast yourself as the one everyone is against. Be a person who chooses to have a positive attitude outside of circumstance. Avoid the lie that you are the only person who matters. Be selfless.<br />
<br />
Avoid Katherine Heigel. Be Robert Downey Jr.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-45335341775930972032012-04-06T09:50:00.000-04:002012-04-06T09:50:17.694-04:00Baja, MexicoEvery once in a while we are given an opportunity to do something meaningful. Not necessarily life-altering, grandiose or miraculous. But meaningful.<br />
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You and I are at one of those moments. Me, out of choice. You, because you clicked this link and are reading this blog and it's too late to back out now! I gotcha!<br />
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I'm going on a missions trip to Baja, Mexico with my wife, a few members of my church and a legion of smelly high schoolers (just kidding, some are in middle school). We will have the opportunity to do a good work in the people of Baja's lives, meet some of their needs, share a life enhancing message with them, and probably get diarrhea from eating the local food.<br />
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I sense you know where I'm going with this. Instead of viewing this as a careless money grab (unless that sort of thing works for you), I'd encourage you to see it in a different light.<br />
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I am blessed with the gift of being able to <b>go</b>. To take time off work, to partner with my church, and to help lead this missions trip with Michele, friends and, again, legion of smelly teenagers. Your gift may not be the same. Your gift may be that you are able to <b>give.</b> In the same way that LeBron James is gifted at basketball, I am gifted at watching him play basketball. We are both equally good at things related to basketball, so I am LeBron James and together we will win basketball games for Jesus! (or something...)<br />
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I digress. My gift is being able to go, your gift is being able to give. I want you to be a part of this trip with me. I want you to feel like you made a difference in the lives of people on the other side of a different country. And, in reality, you will have. These trips don't happen without money (the sad, but accurate, truth).<br />
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So, lets do something meaningful. Partner with me as a friend, brother, sister or stranger. Not simply so that I can go. I'll find a way somehow. But join me in doing something bigger than ourselves today. Join me in meeting the needs of people you don't know, and may never meet.<br />
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Follow this link: <a href="https://admin.everynation.org/giving-tendays/?missionary=100312322" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-left;" target="_blank">https://admin.everynation.org/<wbr></wbr>giving-tendays/?missionary=<wbr></wbr>100312322</a><br />
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It's already set up to donate to me and for my trip, all you have to do is enter how much. I'd encourage you to act now, in the moment. It's easier than shopping online (cause I already picked out what you're going to buy me, and now you don't have to worry about choosing which of the 12 items in your shopping cart you're actually going to buy).<br />
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Help me use my gift of 'going'. Otherwise I'll be forced to use my gift of 'watching LeBron James play basketball'. And I think we both know which one is more enjoyable. For both of us.<br />
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Feel free to email me with questions at andrew.j.mcgraw@gmail.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-68988058629491581752012-03-02T09:22:00.000-05:002012-03-02T09:22:41.624-05:00RG Troi?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">The debate rages on. Do the Redskins sell out this draft (and some of next year’s) to start a monogamous relationship with Robert Griffin, the third of his name? Or do we flirt with big name free agents, consummating in a deadly love triangle between two-game super star Matt Flynn and I-can’t-turn-my-head-left-but-am-still-a-Super-Bowl-winning-quarterback-so-pay-me-$25 million-a-year-Dan-Snyder-you-midget Peyton Manning?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Well I’m back from my hiatus to answer this question for you. So buckle up, kids, it’s about to get rusty.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Obviously there are many factors in play here. Is Shanahan planning to build for the future, or the final two years of his contract? How much are the Skins willing to trade for RG3? The Browns, who have better trade chips than the Redskins, are also in the running and (at this point) in better position to trade up for him. Did I just make you read a paragraph on things you already knew? Is your mouse hovering over the "close window" button?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Fine, let's get into it by dissecting our options.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Robert Griffin III</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">My case for RG3 is simple, if you have the opportunity to take a potential franchise quarterback, you have to do it. At all costs. It’s worth the risk because of the following:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">1. If <span style="text-indent: -24px;">we don’t take RG3, who is starting under center for us next year? Certainly not Rex Grossman again. Peyton Manning? A huge injury risk who still, after an entire year off, still isn’t close to being fully healthy or throwing at normal strength. Matt Flynn? Another uncertainty with limited game experience and will cost more than RG3 in free agency. Ryan Tannenhill? A rookie out of Texas A&M with a much more limited skill set than Griffin? What are our real options here? Doesn’t Griffin present the best upside and long term value? I just don't see a better alternative at this time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">2. </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">The fear is that RG3 will cost too many draft picks, and he will. But let me remind you- the Giants traded the San Diego Charges two first rounders, a third rounder, and a fifth rounder for Eli Manning in the draft. Griffin will cost the Redskins a similar, if not slightly higher price. Eli gave the Giants two Super Bowl wins and multiple years in the playoffs. Was that price not fair? Heck, for two championship rings I’d say the Giants got a bargain! I believe that is the kind of potential RG3 can bring to a team.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;">3. </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -24px;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">If the Browns draft him, and he’s a super star, we’ll officially be the most embarrassing franchise in the NFL. And I ain't having that.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Peyton Manning</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Look, I love Peyton Manning. I’ve rooted for him on multiple occasions and think he’s one of the best quarterbacks of all time. But severe nerve damage in your neck? Four neck surgeries? It’s uncertain he’ll ever return to 100%.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i>But isn’t 85% of Manning still better than half the quarterbacks in the league?</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Probably, but it’s unsustainable. It’s like putting a bandaid over the stump where your leg used to be. Let me ask you this- ever sleep weird on your pillow and when you wake up your neck is sore in one spot? And during the day if you turn your head and stretch that muscle it makes you dribble pee down your leg in pain? Imagine having had four neck surgeries to repair a nerve in that neck. Now imagine having 300lb lineman and Adonis-figured linebackers trying to hit you as hard as they can. Imagine trying to look off safeties and whip your head around to hit your receiver in stride on an out-route. Try going through a five-read progression in 4 seconds while avoiding pressure.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">There is a long way for Manning to go to return to form. I’m not certain I want to bank my future on another big name Free Agent who will cost too much and, likely, underperform.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I do love that signing Manning will mean also signing Reggie Wayne. It gives us an experienced (and legitimate) number one wide receiver, and a guy Peyton is comfortable with throwing to. We can ignore the fact that both are past their primes.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Matt Flynn</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We’re not getting Matt Flynn. We just aren’t. He’ll end up in Miami back under Joe Philbin, or be franchised by the Packers. When the Redskins do free agency, they go big (Manning) or go-screw up draft picks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Ryan Tannenhill<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">The only way I want to see Tannenhill on the Redskins is if he’s on the bench behind a full-strength Peyton Manning, scribbling on a clipboard frantically. I am not comfortable drafting him with the sixth pick and starting him the next season. He’s a bigger uncertainty than Griffin, and allows us to keep all of our draft picks, but he's a guy you draft and sit behind someone worth learning from (ie, not Rex Grossman). You can’t convince me he’ll do more in his rookie year than Grossman did last year. I also don’t see Shanahan banking his final years on a guy who will likely end up in the Blaine Gabbert and Jimmy Clausen arena.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Matt Barkley<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Some even say let’s fill out our position needs this year and take Matt Barkley in next year’s draft. That’s as logical as me buying a Ferrari and Louis Vuitton man-purses for all my friends because I think I’ll win the lottery next year. There’s no guarantee we’ll even be in position to get Barkley. What if he’s projected to be taken first overall and we have the 10<sup>th</sup> pick? Is it worth it to pay more for Barkley next year than Griffin this year? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Give me Griffin, give me hope and give me some excitement. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-12337190273459613982011-12-29T11:51:00.001-05:002011-12-29T11:51:57.300-05:00Ducal Crown 2012: A Year in Review<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">First of all, I want to congratulate Neil on winning the Ducal Crown Fantasy Football league in 2012!! Hm? Oh, Austin won? Then why is Neil orgasmically celebrating Austin’s victory on Twitter? Running nude through the streets with “Austin Perry 2012!” painted on his chest? Making paper mache footballs with and eating glue?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Who knows, he’s spent a lot of time on an alpaca farm.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In seriousness, a hearty congratulation goes to Austin Perry for winning the league this year. He defeated what can only be described as the fiercest and most adept of competitors (me) in a rigorous battle of will. By “will” I refer to my pleading sobs to Aaron Rodgers to ‘Stop it!’ as he threw touchdown after touchdown to Jordy Nelson Sunday night.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Alas, it seemed destiny for Austin to take the league this year. After losing star RB Darren McFadden to injury for the last half of the season and suffering early season injuries to Aaron Hernandez, Hakeem Nicks, and Marques Colston, it never seemed Perry’s team would be fully healthy. Nothing inspires confidence in a team like starting Shonn Green, LeGarrette Blount or Beanie Wells at RB. Then again, Aaron Rodgers covers a multitude of line-up sins.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">And so it was that the “Pledge Prez Perry’s” took the title out of my feeble grasp, and so the trophy passes on to a worthy opponent. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Don’t worry though. I’ll get it back next year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Shall we do end of year superlatives then?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>1. Austin Perry – The Champ<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">No need for anything clever here. Trust me; it never gets old forcing people to refer to you as “The Champ.” So enjoy it, Champ.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We often say winning in Fantasy Football is somewhere along the lines of 80% skill and 20% luck. Perhaps it’s 50/50. Austin winning, however, shows us some very interesting things about Fantasy Football.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->You don’t need to make a million trades or waiver wire transfers (that won’t stop me though). Austin made only a few small trades, nothing major, and largely stuck with the lineup he drafted, despite it having Marques Colston and Shonn Green in it….again.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->You don’t need stud RBs if you want to win a title, you just need a rock solid QB. The starting RBs in the championship game were: (for Austin) Shonn Green and LeGarrette Blount, who combined for something like 10 points; (for me) Darren Sproles and Willis McGahee (who combined for somewhere around 22 points. How did I lose this again?!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><!--[endif]-->What really helps is having elite QB’s favorite targets as your WRs. Perry started Hakeem Nicks, Marques Colston and Jordy Nelson (Eli’s, Brees’, Rodgers’ favorite targets). I started Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, and Antonio Brown (oh yea, that’s how I lost this week). I lost Greg Jennings to injury, Big Ben didn’t play and thus couldn’t throw to Brown, and Demaryius Thomas….crap.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">So maybe that’s the strategy to follow. Or maybe that’s just that worked this year. We’ll have all offseason to speculate and mock draft and try to discover sleepers, but until this time next year…let the Champ reign.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>2. AJ McGraw – Most Likely to Have a Lot Less To Say Next Year</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Ya know, cause I got stomped in the finals. At the end of the year my bench looked like this: Matt Ryan (backup QB), Kevin Smith (a good start, but hurt most the year), Donald Driver (picked up because Jennings was out), Greg Jennings (out for regular season), DeMarco Murry (IR), Jamaal Charles (IR, keeper potential).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">That’s three players on my bench who were out for the remainder of the regular season or beyond. One backup quarterback (just in case), an injured RB and a 36 year old WR.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Things get desperate at the end of the year, hence Demaryius Thomas starting for me in the title bout. No matter though. My twitter handle may be a bit shorter these days, but the fighting spirit lives on. I now have the meaningless honor of saying I’ve been to back-to-back title games. But we’ll talk more about meaningless honors later.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>3. Eric Creasman – Best In Show<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Kudos to a guy for playing FF the way it should be: losing to me in the playoffs. TAKE A NOTE AUSTIN!!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">He went from worst-to-first this year (regular season), and rode good draft picks (Brees, Welker) and good trades (acquiring Mendy, Ray Rice, and Marshawn Lynch) to a 10-4 record, and a spot a top the league, before suffering the unrelenting torture of Matt Stafford throwing to Calvin Johnson.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In case anyone needed a reminder, in our playoff matchup Stafford and CJ combined for 80 points. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">After posting 173 points the following week, Creasy should be cutting his (or my) wrists, had he got past me no team would have stopped him in the finals. Instead, in the spirit of good competition, he bought me a funny t-shirt, made his gripes on Twitter, and got over it fairly quickly (doubtful, I think he’s still griping, but who wouldn’t?).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>4. Matt Noordhoff – Most Likely to Think Everyone Hates His Team, Him Personally, and His Family<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Kudos for a stellar run from everyone’s least favorite team on paper to a rock solid playoff team. I’ve given him credit before on the moves he made to get himself into playoff contention, so let’s turn our focus to the created hate Noord brings on himself.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">First, I deserve a fair amount of blame. I lived with Noord for two years, ate about 1,300 meals with him during college, and know how he works. So, for example, let’s say I’m at work and need a distraction but know that no one is on Twitter. I’ll send out a tweet like, “How pissed is @mattnoordhoff gonna be when he loses this week?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">All you have to do is wait a few minutes and then….. “clearly you haven’t looked at my matchups this week #boy. You aren’t even close to me in points either. #enjoy4thplace”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In his defense, I think he meant “I’ll be enjoying 4<sup>th</sup> place while you go on to the championship game….again, sir.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Point being, we know the man’s buttons, and deep down we all love when someone is the villain. We poked and prodded Neil when his team was dominating, then we fought with Ricky when he was on top of the league. Once those two Fantasy Failures dropped out of the playoff race we were happy to have Noord available to deliver the trash talk.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It’s why we play Fantasy Football in the first place, isn’t it? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>5. Neil Morrissette – Most Likely to Resume the Role of the League’s Little Brother, aka #PhillyNeil, aka League Villain<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Oh #PhillyNeil, how we’ll miss you. Last year we watched Ricky trade his way out of the championship game, and this year we saw Neil give away stud players for guys who joined his team and immediately injured themselves (Ryan Matthews, Matt Forte, Cedric Benson, Desean Jackson….I consider him as having a permanent mental injury). To note, he gave away Lesean McCoy, Mike Vick, Rob Gronkowski, Matt Stafford and Darren Sproles. Ouch. Let’s change subjects.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I suppose his unquenchable thirst for praising Austin comes from a deep Fantasy kinship they share. You see, Neil beat me early in the season on the back of his Kicker and Defense combining for 40 points. In the title matchup, Austin’s kicker posted 16 points and his defense posted 17. In my defense, Dallas kicker Dan Bailey netted me an impressive 1 point. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I hate Dallas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I look forward to next year’s draft when Neil’s insatiable desire to talk up his team irrationally comes back. Secretly I’m hoping he keeps Tebow. Why shouldn’t the most polarizing player in our league have one of the most polarizing players in the NFL?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It’d make me hate on Neil less. Probably.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">No. It wouldn’t.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>6. Ricky May – Most Likely to Disappear after the Trade Deadline Passes<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">That silence you heard after November 18<sup>th</sup> was all of our cell phones going quiet. We stopped receiving 15 text messages a day from Ricky proposing every possible trade conjurable. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In fact, the only tweets Ricky had to offer during the playoffs had to do with the championship game… that he was playing in…in his work league.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">To be honest, our league wouldn’t be the same without a guy like Ricky. Sure the constant trade offers get annoying, but he also feeds all of our desires to make trades and keeps the league interesting. And, let’s be honest, who among us didn’t get a little feeling of satisfaction when on the trade deadline Ricky made moves to acquire Fred Jackson, Mike Vick and Adrian Peterson? All of whom missed all, or most, of the games the rest of the season. It was like karma.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>7. Jimmy Hostetler – Most Likely to have the most <s>Bi-curious</s> Bi-Polar Team<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Either everyone on his team scores, or no one on his team scores. On paper your matchup against him looks good. Starting RBs? Jon Stewart, Mike Tolbert, James Starks, or some combination of the like. Big Ben at QB, and his only real threat is Gronkowski at TE. If you don’t pay close attention you’ll miss his guys scoring TDs and piling up yardage in meaningless NFL games. Next thing you know you’re down 15 with no players left.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Or, his team lays a massive turd of an egg and you roll on him without losing a second of sleep.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">What we do know, is trading Cedric Benson and some change for Rob Gronkowski was the move of the year (once again, at Neil’s hand).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>8. TJB – Most Likely to Win the League Next Year<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">You know, if you don’t believe in karma. Owner of one of the top five teams in the league, he missed the playoffs then lost two consolation games to secure (as of now) a top three pick. He has two of the best keeper options (Lesean McCoy in the 2<sup>nd</sup>, and Jimmy Graham in the 14<sup>th</sup>) and a top 3 pick, meaning Aaron Rodgers, Ray Rice, and someone like Matt Forte will likely end up on his roster. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Assuming those guys stay healthy that’s a fearsome core to build around. Then again, TJB spent most of this year in the 20% Luck category. 100% of it being bad. Seriously, how does a team with Brady, McCoy, Turner, Miles/Laurant Robinson, Holmes, Graham, etc etc miss the playoffs and then lose both games in the consolation round?!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Either he’s had really bad luck, or sneakily good luck. He’s in great position heading into next year’s draft.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>9. Sam Persons – Most Likely Read this Four Days After I Post It</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It’s not that Sam isn’t around much, it’s that we don’t really know where Sam ever. Perhaps the other 9 of us are too consumed with FF. I dunno though, I don’t see anything wrong with spending an entire day looking at your Ducal Crown Twitter Feed waiting for someone to talk Fantasy with you. It’s one of my few joys in life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Ultimately, Sam was the beneficiary of an incredibly tight league. Heading into the last few weeks he was still in playoff contention if the games went his way. They didn’t, and he ended up with the second pick in the draft next year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">So you’re telling me I can be in the playoff hunt up until the end of the season, then if I miss the playoffs I have just as good a chance at getting a top 3 pick?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I love this league.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>10. Bryan Gunst – Most Likely to Have More Pushups than Fantasy Points Counted this Year<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It’s just the facts people, I don’t make the rules.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Gunst has a few good things going for him next year: the rights to <s>Andrew Luck</s> Aaron Rodgers, AJ Green in the 8<sup>th</sup> and Arian Foster in the 3<sup>rd</sup>. Quite a nice starting lineup with his second round pick available to fill a spot. Not a bad start to your season if you ask me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We’ll see if our favorite RD can turn his luck around and go from worst-to-first like our resident grandfather, Creasman. If he can do it, anyone can.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Just goes to show, there’s always something to look forward to next year.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-8732145345964731302011-12-02T15:57:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:57:09.194-05:00A blog by my wife, about her new job.**This was written by Michele about her new job. Which, I'm hoping, you got from the title of this post. If you didn't, please rewind and start again.**<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It’s crazy how early educators, parents, and family members start asking us what we want to be “when you grow up.” In first grade, I wanted to be a Disney Princess. I mean, when you’re 6 years old that seems like a realistic option, right? Maybe for you it was fireman, policeman or superhero. For most of us, it changed weekly, and when our parents asked us what we wanted to be and we shouted “SPIDERMAN!” they got a good laugh. Of course, as we start to get a little older we begin to think more realistically.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At age 10, I was advised that I needed to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and be baptized. So, I did. I didn’t really know what they meant, but thought that if I didn’t pray and read my Bible everyday I’d probably get struck down by a bolt of lightening. Eventually, I began to figure out who Jesus was on my own. I attended a youth conference in 7<sup style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">th</sup> grade, and I re-dedicated my heart to Christ.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Shortly after that, when people started asking me what I wanted to be when I grow up I’d say, “I don’t know. I just want to help people.”</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I got into high school and college, when people asked me that dreaded question, I’d give them various answers that I thought sounded the most professional. I got my bachelor’s degree in English and my minor in Journalism, but still felt that heart tug as I thought of the Middle School version of myself.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Post college I worked a handful of awful and not so awful jobs. In my recent position, I knew that I wasn’t where God wanted me. I needed to figure out what he had called me to do.After several weeks of praying about what I was supposed to be doing with my life (Disney Princess crossed my mind once or twice), Pastor Eddy came to me and asked me if I’d be interested in working with him for Oneighty. I think I said, “Yes!” before he finished asking the question. In a way only God can, I was blown away with an amazing and direct answer to prayer!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the few short days I’ve worked for the church, I’ve felt an incredible sense of fulfillment that tells me this is the place God has called me to be. That his purpose for my life was to bring me to this place, to serve and work alongside the high-schoolers in Oneighty. And I feel so incredibly blessed to be here.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Turns out the Middle School version of me knew where I was supposed to be the whole time.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-83587512944246502422011-11-29T09:48:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:48:21.465-05:00Week 12 Rankings, Playoff Predictions, and more!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">There’s too much going on to waste time on a long, overdone intro. This league is tighter than Noord in a schmedium t-shirt and with two weeks to play in the regular season eight teams have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Four teams are tied with records of 7-5, three teams tied at 6-6. Creasman sits alone, on top, at 8-4 with a rock solid lead on points scored. So that’s where we’ll start…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>1. Creasman (8-4) <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,502.26 <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">With a huge (and apparently really easy) win over Neil last night, Creasman jumps to the top of the league and holds an enormous one game lead over the four of us in second place. Riding Drew Brees’ 5 TD performance last night, Eric also gets the giant benefit of having an +80 point differential over the second highest league scorer (Ricky: 1,424.98).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">What does that mean? Creas is a lock for the playoffs. In this league, 9-5 gets you a playoff spot and 8-6 gets you into the tie-breaker (total points scored). With an 80 point lead and two games left to play, Creasman will walk into the playoffs even if he loses his next two (at Noord, and home to Sam).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In a surprising move, Eric went counter-culture and decided not to throw his season intentionally like his hometown favorite Colts. Who are, and I repeat, throwing their season intentionally by trotting out Painter, Orvlosky, and company. Intentionally. Throwing. Their. Season. Scoundrels! All of them!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Also worth noting, this continues the streak of “Only Writing Blogs when Creasman is at the Top of the League”. I’m inconsistent…like Vincent Jackson. And Desean Jackson…and Mike Vick…and Anquan Boldin….and Fred Davis.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Speaking of all of those guys:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>2. Ricky (7-5)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,424.98<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">After losing two (read, TWO!) starting RBs, Fred Jackson and Adrian Peterson, last week to injury we figured Ricky was dead in the water. But, in the ultimate show of Brotherly Love, our dedicated Regional Director for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Inc. offered Ricky the opportunity to go ahead and win this week despite starting Toby Gerhart and CJ Spiller at RB. Thanks Bryan! You're a pal! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Added in was an injury to Mike Vick, that kept him out for the second straight week, and the only logical starting QB for Ricky was Vince Young. Let me remind you that he won this week. AND SCORED MORE POINTS THAN MY TEAM! With Vince Young! Absolutely, un-real. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Never count Ricky out. He always hangs around. Like a parasite. A parasite with a really cute son.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>3. Perry (7-5)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,417.36<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Has his karma finally run out? After squeaking out win after win after win, Perry has dropped two huge games in a row. With tough matchups against TJB and Ricky in the next two weeks its possible he finishes 7-7. It’s also very possible Aaron Rodgers takes him to 9-5. Rodgers...so dreamy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">More pressing, however, was Perry losing Darren McFadden and not handcuffing him to Michael Bush. That was a crucial mistake this season and may well cost him the playoffs. Instead of Perry continuing to dominate the league, we've been forced to watch Noord climb the rankings riding the incredible production of Mike Bush in DMC’s absence. I’m proposing that if Noord wins the league 15% of his winnings should go to Perry for this egregious lapse in judgment.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>4. Noord (7-5)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,396.30<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">He had no help from his WRs this week (Dez and Mike Wallace combined for 7.7 points), but he’s been riding a wave of RB production that makes Ricky salivate. With MJD producing like MJD in 2009, and Mike Bush producing like…well…Darren McFadden, and CJ2K’s random appearances as a competent running back, Noord’s team is capable of scoring in bunches.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">What happens when DMC returns and CJ2k goes back to CJ0k? I assume Dez and Wallace combine for 40 that week. It’s a dangerous team, folks. Watch out.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Even though his rapid ascension was slowed momentarily by that scrappy Sam Persons team, he’s still a favorite to make the playoffs in my book. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Keep an eye out for the huge matchup between Noord and Creasman this week. It can take them both to 8-5, or allow Creasman to clinch a playoff spot at 9-4 with one game to play (vs. Sam). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">How exciting is this league?!?! And we’re only at the 4<sup>th</sup> ranked team?!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>5. AJ (7-5)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,381.50<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I’ve been squeaking out wins over teams during their bad weeks. I have two must-win games coming up (let’s be honest though, what game isn’t must-win at this point?) against Ricky and Neil. I have to win those two if I want to get into the playoffs because trying to win a tiebreaker at 8-6 won’t work. I’m currently 7<sup>th</sup> in the league in Points Scored. 7<sup>th</sup>….out of 10. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I’m telling you, I’ve been sneezing my way through these wins. I haven’t had a dominate win for a couple of weeks. I need my guys to get back on track! With Stafford’s finger in a splint, Calvin hasn’t been producing (which means Stafford’s been mediocre too). Jennings is coming off injury, Finley is lost in the assortment of passing options Rodgers has, Sproles’ production has dropped off and I’m fighting week by week on whether to start Antonio Brown or Willis McGahee in my flex spot. DeMarco Murray has been a bright spot for me though. So there’s one. Out of seven. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>6. TJB (6-6)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,420.56<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">So the guy with a .500 record who is in 6<sup>th</sup> place is 3<sup>rd</sup> in the league in points scored and only 4 points behind the guy in second (Ricky). He’s been steadily climbing since he started 1-5 and couldn’t buy a win (I’m sure it’s because he wasn’t allowed keepers), and I honestly think he’s going to make the playoffs. If he can beat Perry (who’s been sliding) and Jimmy (who's up and down) he’ll win the Points Scored tiebreaker and get in at 8-6.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Then again, he’s been unlucky all season so it’d be fitting if he crushed Perry and then got decimated by Jimmy. He’s the New York Giants of the Fantasy League: always seemingly a contender at the end, but a mess during the beginning, middle, and the first part of the end.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>7. Sam (6-6)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,388.20<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">For some reason we’ve all doubted Sam this entire season. All attention has been given to TJB for having an unlucky season but look at these point totals from Sam:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">108, 118, 98, 110, 128, 105, 121, 133, 119, 73, 129, 140</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">That only got him six wins?!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">He’s only had two weeks below 100 points, and seven above 118. I’ve given credit to his sneakily good backwards trades, but he’s built a solid all-around team and stuck with it. Victor Cruz has been a tremendous surprise for him after losing Andre for most of the season. Baltimore’s Defense has come through for him in a big way multiple times, Brandon Lloyd wasn’t a one-year wonder like we all thought, Cam is the real deal (in Fantasy value, not NFL Wins-value), Gore has exceeded expectations and Cedric Benson has even added value in recent weeks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Am I bitter that my team is better on paper, has more wins, yet fewer total points, and a worse shot to make the playoffs than Sam’s team? Only a little bit. With wins over Jimmy and Creasman, he could slide into the playoffs at 8-6 on his point total (again, which is higher than mine).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>8. Jimmy (6-6)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,283.90<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Our final playoff contender. Jimmy’s lackluster point total will likely keep him out of the playoffs, but he’s got a team that can surprise you any week. Just like this one when he trumped Austin 120-103. You really never know what you’re getting with Jimmy’s team, which makes him dangerous. With games against Sam and TJB he’s more likely to keep someone out of the playoffs than he is to make it himself. But anything, literally ANYTHING, is possible in this league.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>9. Neil (5-7) <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored: 1,375.78<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">That was satisfying to write. A ninth place fall from grace from Philly Neil? It’s incredible really, but almost entirely self-inflicted. Giving up Vick and McCoy for Forte, Ryan Matthews, and Desean Jackson just doesn’t seem right in retrospect. But things happen in Fantasy Football. His QB production has been mediocre all year, his WR production has been severely limited, and his RBs just haven’t been consistent.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">At some point he’s had all these players start for him: Mike Vick, Tim Tebow, Roddy White, Larry Fitzgerald, Steven Jackson, Matt Forte, Lesean McCoy, Ryan Matthews, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten, Desean Jackson, and Sebastian Janikowski.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">That team should be putting up 160 points a week, right? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">All that's left is trying to convince Gunst to pass up on Aaron Rodgers next year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>10. Gunst (1-11)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Points Scored (not that it matters): 1,233.76<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Aaron Rodgers! Arian Foster! AJ Green! Not bad to start your season with those guys drafted in rounds 1, 3, and 8 respectively. Or you could go Peterson/Foster. Or Rice/Foster. Megatron/Foster (don’t take Calvin from me!) The possibilities are limitless! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I guess what I’m saying is…it’s never too early to start developing your draft strategy for next year. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I give credit to the guy for never giving up, playing for pride and making a good trade right before the deadline to fill out his starters. And hey, if Creasy can go worst-to-first, so can you. Next year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Modified Playoff Predictions:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>1. Creasman</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>2. Noord</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>3. Austin</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>4. TJB</b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-50047711053804021012011-11-09T10:32:00.000-05:002011-11-09T12:25:13.559-05:00Attention Penn State University<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Let me be clear: I know how much Joe Paterno means to Penn State. I know how much Nittany Lion Football means to the pleasant utopia of Happy Valley. I know JoePa will always be synonymous with Penn State Football, and rightfully so.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I’ve been to Penn State on game day. I have many friends who go (or went) there, and I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like. I also understand how much PSU students love their school, their football team, and their college experience. And, although I’ll never fully understand how it feels, I get why the students feel the need to respond emotionally to this ordeal in some way.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">But how dare they.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">How dare they support this man, this school, and this program? How dare they rally around a figure during an event as egregious and nefarious as this?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Now is not the time to celebrate PSU tradition! Now is not the time to support an iconic figure! Now is the time to react, weed out the guilty, and punish all those involved in this morally putrid wrongdoing.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I won’t get into the moral responsibility of Mike McQuery, Joe Paterno, the Athletic Director, the Vice President, and so on. They’re all in the wrong and all need to be fired and given leave to deal with their deplorable consciousness. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I will get into the stark reality that says this vile, evil, and most despicable of all acts was covered up for TWO DECADES to save the reputation of a coach and iconic football program.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Happy Valley has put the reputation of a man and an athletic program over the sanctity and well-being of innocent little boys. The very thing PSU students appear to be celebrating is the very thing that was used as a justification to not pursue, convict, and destroy a man who was molesting young boys.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">When did we forget who this was really about? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I don’t care about JoePa’s part in this. That couldn’t concern me less, but he is the figurehead so the attention is his.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I do care about the lives of young boys who will never be the same. They will never be whole again. They have been scarred in the deepest ways physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For two decades this went on. For two decades this was covered up, not looked into, and no legal action was taken.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">And for what? Football? Reputation? Tradition?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I spit on the reputation of a school willing to let a football program be more important than the lives of children.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Now is not the time to celebrate what the school stands for, or to give your support to Joe Paterno. Now is the time to root out the evil that has infested this organization in the most corrupt way imaginable.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We grilled Michael Vick for years. We hated him, spat at him, defamed him, and mocked him relentlessly for fighting dogs. Now we chant “We want Joe!” when young boys (humans!) are molested and raped.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">When did we become so morally bankrupt? How did we let a football program, and a man, become so big?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Those PSU students standing up for child abuse and rallying around the families and victims, I applaud you. But, to the others, do not celebrate the tradition of a school that has been so penetrated by vile men so willing to put a football program above the sanctity of human life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I weep for the kids. No one else.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-79583615625131511612011-11-02T13:14:00.000-04:002011-11-02T13:14:21.417-04:00The Ducal Crown Rankings - Founders Day Edition<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><i>This post in honor of Sigma Phi Epislon's Founder's Day (Nov. 1), and the Christopher Newport Univeristy's VA Pi Chapter's Founder Day (Oct. 31)...and Fantasy Football</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Seven years ago, a group of fresh faced college students signed a sheet of paper indicating they were interested in being a part of a fraternity. None of them knew what they were getting into or signing up for. It was a group as eclectic as the crowd at a Wiggles concert featuring Busta Rhymes.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">You had athletes, academics, musicians, gays, straights, Butters (both), partiers, Christians, Christians who loved to party, ROTC guys, black, white, Asian, Nader (wherever he’s from), flaccid armed 98-pound weaklings (Ricky May), and…well…Eric Creasman, who is quantifiably un-categorizable. They were uniquely able to grind each other’s gears, rub each other the wrong way, and get in each other’s faces, while disagreeing on every issue and building one of the elite chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Now home to two Buchanan Cup’s, the highest award a chapter of SigEp can achieve. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Seven years later we recruit that same assorted platter of individuals, this time on purpose. Only through diversity do we achieve growth. And, to this day, when they show up to their first recruitment event, they don’t know what they’re signing up for.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I’m proud of my fraternity. I’m proud of the way we break some stereotypes and reinforce others. I’m proud of the type of men we recruit, and, more importantly, the quality of the men we recruit. I’m proud of the unique bond that ties us together, and the stupid disagreements that make us treat each other like, well, real brothers. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I’m proud to have been affected, challenged, and had my thinking changed by people who were nothing like me. I’m proud to have as good a relationship with guys who are four years older than me as I do with guys who are four years younger than me. Because, what brings us together transcends age, race, creed, or poop jokes.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">And I’m proud to have a group of guys who will support my writing, my bizarre sense of humor, my deep love of Aaron Rodgers, and forgive me when acting like a self-righteous, pompous donkey.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">You’ve taught me you don’t have to be a Christian to be a good person. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">But you should. No seriously you guys, you wanna talk about fulfillment in life, JC is the answer. SigEp shouldn’t be the answer, it should be an accent to your life, and amplify your faith and relationships. But that’s just my opinion. It also happens to be right.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Happy Founder’s Day (week), it’s been an honor to have you all in my life and to beat you on the fantasy football field.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Rankings in order of league standings because everyone is too lazy to send power rankings.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><b>10. Gunst</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Poor Bryan. Poor, poor, Bryan. His entire team finally produces and he loses to me by 4 points because of a few garbage time catches by Dez Bryant. Not to make the wound fester, but they announced Beanie Wells would play right before the game started and, had he been placed in Gunst’s lineup, he would have scored 8 more points than Marshawn Lynch (his replacement). Those 8 points would have given Gunst a big win, and made me want to jump off a bridge into a vat of Kris Humphries’ tears.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>9. Jimmy</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">You can’t say the guy gives up. Or that he doesn’t believe in his team. Or that he can throw a football further than Ricky. Especially if rain, left-hands, and kiddie pads are involved.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">He certainly doesn’t have a good fantasy football team, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a dangerous one. I think Neil is still in denial that he lost to Jimmy last week when his Eagle’s were on bye. Latest report I heard was that Jimmy was texting pictures of himself in an Eagles’ thong to Neil with “How do you like my Vick?” painted on his chest.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">You’re welcome.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>8. TJB</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Home to, probably, the most terrifying lineup on paper (Tom Brady, Miles Austin, Adrian Peterson, Lesean McCoy, Jimmy Graham) TJB’s team can do some serious damage...keeping other teams out of the playoffs. Sitting at 3-5 it MIGHT be too late for him. Then again, I wouldn’t put it past him to string together 6 wins and make the playoffs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Also, I feel like that’s what I write every week about TJB. So I’ll add something new, he has girlish features.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>7. Noord </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>6. Sam</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Funny how the two teams who normally sit in our 9<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> spots have crawled out of the depths into 7<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> place. Credit to both for putting together some nice trades this season. Noord picked up Fitzpatrick off waivers and traded him for Jennings and Jennings for Fred Jackson, effectively, picking up the #1 fantasy running back off of waivers. Then again, he’s trying to hock Eli Manning and Tony Romo to a bunch of Redskins fans. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Sam, on the other hand, might be our league’s alternate universe’s version of Al Davis. Not only is he alive, but all his seemingly ridiculous trades pan out for the best. Remember when he gave up Rashard Mendenhall for Anquan Boldin? Boldin wins that matchup. Remember when he traded away Andre Johnson (after getting 3 weeks of 15+ points per game out of him) for Philip Rivers, then traded Rivers back for the injured Andre Johnson? I still take Andre in that matchup. Rivers is terrible and Sam is starting Cam Newton every week anyway. What about when he acquired Frank Gore and Victor Cruz by giving up Jeremy Maclin and Pierre Thomas?? I don’t even have to tell you that Sam killed in that trade getting two starters and giving up one.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We were GRILLING this guy for those trades. Now he’s 4-4, tied with Neil and gets Andre Johnson back in a week or two. I’m actually a little scared of his team.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Shows how much we know.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>5. Neil</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Neil is in a bad way right now. He lost three straight and faces #2 Ricky this week and Sam the following week (presumably when Andre Johnson returns). After Neil inexplicably traded away Lesean McCoy, his team did a great impression of the White House in Independence Day. All of a sudden he has three of the league’s top WRs (in 2010), who each barely scrape their way to 10 fantasy points a week. Rubbing salt in the wound, Ryan Matthews got himself hurt in that awful Monday Night game and might miss a week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">To be fair, Ricky did warn you 100 times he was injury prone. And, well, you still have Mike Vick.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>4. Perry</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">This week marks a brand new season for Austin. All of his players are healthy and past their bye weeks, so he’s going at full strength the rest of the way. I’m not going to say I’m little scared of Aaron Rodgers, Hakeem Nicks, Darren McFadden, Marques Colston’s re-emergence as a premier WR, LeGarrett Blount returning from injury or the increased number of carries Shonn Greene is getting…but I will say I’m very scared.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>3. AJ</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Easily the most attractive and egocentric player in the league. What else is there to say?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Oh yea, I have three of the top 5 fantasy WRs on my team thanks to a few trades with Ricky. Granted, I don’t have a second starting RB…but whatever! My WRs!! My WRs!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Perry feels me…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>2. Ricky</b> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In leadership we call it “escalation of commitment”. It’s that thing of when you talk yourself so far in to a fantasy player’s value that you can’t justify trading or moving that piece. It’s what Neil has done with Mike Vick. Convinced himself that his keeper value is so important that he ignores the fact that no one is going to trade him a top 10 RB and a top 10 WR for him. Most of us want to win this season.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In Ricky’s case, the raging Twitter argument betwixt himself and Noord, has driven him to boast proudly, “I GUARANTEE Rivers outscores Tony Romo and Eli Manning the rest of the season!” It’s possible. But it’s also possible you’re banking your entire fantasy season on a guy who fumbled the snap on a run play to set up a game winning field goal. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Field general indeed.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>1. Creasy </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Apparently I only do blog posts when Creasy is ranked #1. What can I say? I want him to trade me Ray Rice for a ham sandwich and free drinks. Despite his ranking and his record, I’ve actually seen Creasy’s team slip a little bit in points per week. Sure he won this week, but only because he played Perry, the only person in the league to score fewer points than him. Seriously, every other team in the league would have beaten Creasy. Which leads me to repeat something I read on Facebook, “It’s not about how many points your fantasy team scores, but how few your opponent does.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">In conclusion, I love my fraternity, I love my fantasy team, and I love it when you call me Big Poppa.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-11962904521241908372011-10-12T09:40:00.000-04:002011-10-12T09:40:09.357-04:00Week 5 Rankings – Don’t Poke the Bear<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">As I headed into this week I promised myself that if I won I would win gracefully. Not talking a lot of smack, not throwing insults around willy-nilly, and refraining from letting my already large ego run loose, pridefully flaunting my achievements. I wanted to show my fellow league mates how to win, and how to win like you’ve been there before. You win, you move on and prepare to win next week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Fortunately (for the blog and the league) I did not win. Instead, I let a squirmy little git weasel out of a sticky situation and escape with a hugely undeserved win. Then again, perhaps it was deserved. Who can say? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Me. Now shut up and let me rant.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">It looked like it would be a close matchup from the start. Philly Neil’s team boasting Mike Vick, Lesean McCoy, Roddy White and Larry Fitzgerald, and mine with the unstoppable duo of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, not to mention Vincent Jackson and Mike Turner. What did I have going for me? Percy Harvin and Ryan Grant making appearances in Neil’s lineup, while counter to them I was starting Darren Sproles and Willis McGahee (newly appointed lead back in Denver). That was my advantage right there, Sproles/McGahee outscoring Harvin/Grant by almost 20 points.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">20 points. A funny number. A number every owner wants at least one of their players to reach each week. Or, if you’re Eric Creasman, you have four players score over 26 points (Brees, Peterson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Pierre Garcon). As Creasman would probably say it was because he, “Balls outrageous”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">20 points, also something you don’t ever expect your kicker to put up. Alas, the formidable Sebastian Janikowski, netted three 50+ yard FGs, added a 42 yarder and an extra point. Why not, right?! WHY NOT!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Even that I could handle, everyone gets lucky and Seabass was likely defending the late Al Davis’ controversial pick of him in the first round on former Commissioner, Owner, GM and Head Coach’s memorial Sunday. <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">What I couldn’t handle was a final play pick-six by the Bengals defense. In a game they had already won, on the final play, they intercept Blaine Gabbert and return it for a meaningless TD. Meaningless for them perhaps, but a crucial 8 points in a fantasy game decided ultimately decided by 9. The last point? A missed PAT by my kicker Mike Nugent…message boards relived the tale saying, “The wind took it.” Whores. Or, consider the -4 points my defense took on a final meaningless TD pass by Big Ben to Mike Wallace in a game they won by about 100. I can make excuses all day, but I still lost and I can’t change that.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">That wasn’t what totally upset me though. Sure losing to Neil sucks, but he had a done a commendable job keeping his mouth shut and not boasting about his team, full of underperformers this week. I respected that. Tuesday brings out another beast, however. One unafraid to boast and beat his chest because the final score is posted and he can live happily behind his record.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Yet, on Monday night I remember hearing a different tale from this large <s>chinned</s> mouthed buffoon. A loud talker during the week and on Sunday, I turned Neil into a quivering little girl on game day. He regressed into a self reverse jinxer, a lamenter of sorts, and one who begged Trey Wingo to not let Calvin Johnson catch ANOTHER TD pass. There’s a probably a proverb that says something like, “Those who talk loudest often turn into insufferable sniveling snobs until things go their way again.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Soon as the pressure of Monday Night Football was off he returns to his façade of masculinity and confidence. Must be nice hiding behind a shroud of lies.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I propose a league vote to re-name his team, “Shroud of Lies”. <span> </span>I’ll accept that you probably want to re-name my team “Insufferable Snivelling Snobs”. I accept.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">That’s the rant, love you Neil. Great win this week. One could argue I’m less upset about losing to you and more upset about having the same record as Jimmy and…..and...NOOOOOORRDDDD!!!!!!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The rankings:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>10. Bryan Gunst (WheelsGoNonStop)-</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: <span> </span>7</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-3</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">A new number ten! Congrats! That sound you hear is the last gasp of remorse squeezing out of Gunst as he finishes his 5,000<sup>th</sup> push-up. One for every minute he regrets trading Greg Jennings for Ryan Fitzpatrick.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>9. Sam Persons (Touchdown Jesus)-</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 9</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: 0</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Who am I to rant and rave about losing to a good team? It’s not like I put up insanely high points or anything. Sam had his best week of the season and would have beat 8 teams in the league this week. Of course, the one he couldn’t beat was Creasy’s. As I say, “Fantasy football…she is a cruel, cruel mistress.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">On the bright side, Cam Newton outscored Phillip Rivers and Andre Johnson is due back next week. Things are looking up!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>8. Matt Noordhoff (O Rak^3 Po)-</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 10</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+2</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">His highest ranking yet! I wonder he’ll start submitting rankings now that he’s not the consensus number ten. Creasman is still ranking him there, however, “On principle.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>7. Jimmy (B-Button Spin Move)-</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 8</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">People don’t know what to make of Jimmy’s team. In the past four weeks he’s been ranked 6<sup>th</sup>, 7<sup>th</sup>, 8<sup>th</sup>, and 9<sup>th </sup>in some order. <span> </span>When you don’t know how to make fun of Jimmy, do what Creasman does and just say his, “Mom still has fake boobies”. I presume that’s followed up by someone else saying, “He’s not wrong.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>6. TJB (Moose Tracks)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 6</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: 0</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">NAME CHANGE! Still putting up Carolina Panther like stats and coming home with Carolina Panther like wins. I’d feel bad for the guy…but his inability to win is what’s keeping me ranked in 5<sup>th</sup> and him stuck in 6<sup>th</sup>. Might be looking for a new 10<sup>th</sup> member if this keeps ups…..</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Just kidding.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">No, but start winning or you’re done here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>5. AJM (deSPEcable me)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 5</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: 0</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I think I’ve said enough already.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>4. Austin (Pledge Prez)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 1</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-3</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Former roommates and cuddle buddies, Gunst and Austin both drop 3 positions in the rankings this week. Naturally we can blame everyone saying that Austin should easily win against Ricky (without his two best WRs) on his loss. Neil takes a different approach, “If [Ricky] doesn't get Rivers for nothing in that trade, he loses this week. Thanks again Sam.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To clarify, Sam traded Phillip Rivers for an injured Andre Johnson. Meaning Ricky would have had Dez Bryant on a BYE, and Andre Johnson out due to injury. He would have started Matt Ryan (1 TD pass, terrible fantasy day), Steve Smith (acquired in a trade with TJB), and probably Plaxico Burress. You’re telling me anyone wins with that lineup!?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sorry Austin. That’s a frustrating way to bring home the first L. I’m sure if this was your blog and if you were as self-centered as I am the opening paragraph would have been all about a cheap loss to Ricky. Hopefully these three paragraphs make up for it. No? I’ll throw in a bonus fourth for free:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ricky sucks. O’Doyle rules.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>3. Neil (Shroud of Lies)-</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 4</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I guess when you beat the former champ you’re allowed to move up in the rankings. Oh, and don’t think for a second I’m not going to milk this “former champ” bit for all its worth. I worked hard last year to get it! I’m not giving it up that easy! Only 9 regular season fantasy weeks left before I’m eliminated from the playoffs….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>2. Ricky (Baby’s R Us…probably)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 3</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">A few names that should inspire long-term confidence in this team: Jackie Battle, Montario Hardesty, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Pettigrew. These are the fantasy <i>giants</i> loading up Ricky’s roster. He better hope Forte, MJD and Fred Jackson stay healthy all year…and play during their BYE weeks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Trading for Steve Smith was a good move….for TJB. I loved his acquisition of Jimmy Graham, Drew Brees’ new favorite target. Great keeper value in the TE over an aging WR who is having a career resurgence. We all know how many seasons “career resurgences” last, don’t we? Don’t we???</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">One season. They last one season. Man you guys are dumb.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>1. Eric Creasman (DayBeers)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Last Week: 2</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Congrats on your first week as number one! Don’t expect to hang around, we’ve had five #1’s in six weeks of Power Rankings (including pre-season). Ricky is the only to have a repeat appearance. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To be honest, I think Creasy breaks that trend. Starting Drew Brees, Wes Welker, Miles Austin (returning to the lineup), Rashard Mendenhall and Adrian Peterson….his bench could be full of CNU alum and I’d still rank him #1 overall. Throw in Curtis Painter’s love of throwing TD passes to Pierre Garcon and you’ve got top level guys at all positions but TE.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">What’s that? You wanna give me Welker for Owen Daniels? I dunno….throw in Mendy and you’ve got a deal. Tell you what. Drive down to Newport News and throw Neil in the James River and I’ll give you him for free. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-18969583759956550562011-10-06T12:44:00.000-04:002011-10-06T12:44:09.936-04:00Week 4 Rankings – Quarter Season Awards, and Creasy’s Birthday!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I have to get out of the habit of writing posts for people’s birthdays. I did it last week for Ricky and Katie May’s first child, Jackson, and this week it’s Eric Creasman, who...well...acts like a child. At least I’m consistent. Happy birthday Eric.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">We’ve completed Week 4 which means, including the pre-season rankings, we’ve not only compiled Power Rankings four times, but we’ve written Power Rankings, discussed Power Rankings, fought over Power Rankings and posted Power Rankings at least four times.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Needless to say, I’m tired of Power Rankings posts. So this week I’m resurrecting one of my favorite gimmicks, ranking teams alongside their NFL doppelganger. This is fun for a few reasons but mostly because I get to call my team the New Orleans Saints and Noord’s team the Seattle Seahawks.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To keep the hardwork of the league from going to waste, I’ll post them in reverse Power Rankings order with last week’s ranking in (parenthesis). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>10. (9) Matt Noordhoff – Seattle Seahawks</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Coming off an impressive playoff run last year, this team was primed for improvement the following year. Until that year happened. Plagued by quarterback issues (Tavaris or Whitehurst? Rex or Romo!?!) and having their hopes of a productive season from their running backs deflated like a moonbounce full of soccer players, it’ll take a miracle to get this train back on track. Fortunately for the Seahawks, they are surrounded by three other terrible teams in the division. Kind of like Sam, Jimmy and Gunst…the rest of the NFC West.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>9. (10) Sam Persons – Arizona Cardinals</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">These teams entered the year with promise, putting all their hope in freshly acquired new team members. Sam quickly traded away Andre Johnson (when he was good) for Phillip Rivers (also good), and Rashard Mendenhall for Anquan Boldin. He recently re-traded Phillip Rivers (still good) for Andre Johnson (now hurt and missing 4 total weeks), and sent Jeremy Maclin away for Frank Gore. Sam knows his team is hurting and is trying to make whatever moves he can to get value from other teams. Kind of like the Cardinals did sending away Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and two draft picks for Kevin Kolb. A lot of people thought that was too high a price to pay. The Cards think Kolb is the answer and the future. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Kevin Kolb is actually all that good. Same might be said of the player’s Sam has acquired, but we have 10 more (fantasy) weeks to figure that out...too bad Andre Johnson will only play in 6 of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>8. (7) Jimmy Hostetler – San Francisco 49ers<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Every year we think the 49ers are going to be a<span> </span>good team and we ignore the fact that Alex Smith is an awful quarterback. Every year we think Jimmy is going to have a good fantasy team and we ignore the fact that Big Ben is an awful fantasy QB. Will anyone ever learn?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>7. (8) Bryan Gunst – St. Louis Rams<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The epitome of a ground-and-pound team. Stacked at running back (Foster/Wells/Bradshaw/(and formerly Gore) for Gunst and Steven Jackson for the Rams), these are teams that should be shoving it down your throat (cool it Austin, not like that). Instead, their RBs are constantly injured or not playing and have started relying too heavily on a QB who has only had one good season (Bradford and Freeman). This is a team that <i>should</i> be good. They shouldn’t by relying on weak WRs and a middle of the pack QB…but they are.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>6. (5) TJB – Carolina Panthers</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Not thought to be much at the beginning of the season, we made them the butt of, perhaps, one too many jokes. Both are relying on rookie play callers so our expectations were understandably low, but we appreciated them showing up every week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Then…the points started to flow. The yardage! The scores! The resurrecting of Steve Smith’s corpse! It was awesome! Amazing! Unprecedented!!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">….and still hasn’t translated into wins. At least not yet.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>5. (6) AJ McGraw – New Orleans Saints<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">As former champs (yup, that’s where I’m starting), this team is always expected to be a contender (my blog, I say what I want). This year, however, it seems like maybe something is missing. Hurt by injuries to key players (Jamaal Charles, Marques Colston) this team is going to have to grind it out to return to championship form. What they both have going for them, however, was the sneaky good acquisition of Darren Sproles. He’s a dynamic player that totally changes the makeup of the team. As an addendum, suck it Neil.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>4. (4) Neil Morrissette – Philadelphia Eagles</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Are you even a little surprised? Of course not. The self-proclaimed Dream Team is more familiar with self-promotion than winning games. Neil hasn’t had the winning games problem that the Eagles have, but he’s totally nailed the ego-centric self-endorsement reminiscent of Mike Vick’s bumbling band of superstars.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Credit to him for assembling a high scoring team week in and week out. I preach consistency over anything else in Fantasy Football, and he’s been solid through four weeks. With McCoy and Vick on his team, a mouth like Vince Young and the swagger of Andy Reid’s mole remover, Neil fits this bill perfectly.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Clearly, other managers fear Neil's ability to sustain the performance over a full season, hence the ranking at #4. Could be that, or could be Ricky insisting on ranking you 13th each week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>3. (1) Ricky May – Dallas Cowboys</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">A perennial powerhouse of talent, this is a team that is always expected to be good. Famous for putting together big numbers in the regular season, and infamous for collapsing in the playoffs, they are marked by inconsistent quarterback play and major injury issues at WR. For both, these injuries have shown a startling lack of depth, but as we know, Jerry Jones and Ricky May will stop at nothing to win championships. Even if it requires Ricky to make four trades in one day…he’s dealing more than Pablo Escobar. Blech...not proud of that joke.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>2. (2) Eric Creasman – Buffalo Bills/Detroit Lions – A two-fer-one birthday special!<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Both known for missing the playoffs for the last 15 years (numbers estimated…but still pretty close), and their general incompetence during the regular season (now I’m just being mean), these teams have all surprised us by the way they came into the season swinging. Now they’re so high scoring they’re almost unstoppable on offense and surprisingly well rounded. It seems like these teams have been building through the draft for years and are all of a sudden really good. The question is, as it has been all year, can they keep it up? So far, so good.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">But because it’s your birthday, I’ll rub in one more joke (COOL IT AUSTIN!), can you imagine this team WITH Ray Rice!?!?!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>1. (3) Austin Perry – Washington Redskins<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">What? You think I’d pass up an opportunity to rank the Redskins number one? That, and I just had to give my fellow Hog the home team designation, it only seemed right. Both are currently ranked #1 above other very strong divisional teams (Philly/Neil, and Cowboys/Ricky). I think a lot of people are surprised by their performance thus far with a ragtag group of players. Fortunately, both have the next Joe Montana as their QB (Aaron Rogers and Rex Grossman), so we’re clear in that category. <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Unfortunately, each have let us down late in the season in past years, so we’ll have to keep an eye on things as they develop. I, for one, believe Austin will continue his reign of terror over the league and dominate the regular season coasting through the playoffs into the championship game. I’ve been right so far haven’t I? Thinking about it, I should have compared him to the Green Bay Packers cause he’s going to win it all this year!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">See you on Twitter where you can tell me where I screwed up, or what team would have been better. The answer is, "Nowhere, sir!"</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-23013134345176374302011-09-28T11:54:00.000-04:002011-09-28T15:08:28.212-04:00Week 3 Power Rankings: Happy Birthday Jackson!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Today we welcome into the world Jackson Kenneth May. Born this day under the watchful eye of his father Ricky, as he fervently tweeted his fantasy league the details about what was happening in the delivery room.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Not really, but that’d be gross wouldn’t it?!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Jackson, as you enter this world, I feel it is my responsibility to impart a few words of wisdom to you about your father. If you know these things, you’ll live a long, happy, well-adjusted life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lesson #1: </b>Don’t be surprised when Dad tries to trade you his broccoli for your chicken nuggets. He’ll try to justify it saying the broccoli has high upside, and is really going to come on strong after the meal. He’ll say the chicken nuggets are an injury concern and who can rely on their ketchup? When you turn him down be prepared for the final assault. He’ll offer you broccoli, peas and some weird Eastern European dessert just for your nuggets. Don’t buy it! Even if it looks like a good deal, there’s no WAY you’re eating all that food without leaving something uneaten on <s>waivers</s> your plate that he will sweep in and take for free. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lesson #2:</b> Don’t give your dad your email, phone number, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Friendster, or any other account information until you absolutely have to. That is, unless you want to hear about this Nuggets for Broccoli trade six times a day for a week straight.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style="line-height: normal;">Lesson #3:</b> Don’t just be a starter, be a finisher. We all know Ricky wins (seemingly) every regular season game only to flame out in the playoffs. Honestly, it’s a miracle he could conceive you. I don’t doubt his ability to get things going…but, as a closer…well, it’s not his strong suit. <span style="line-height: normal;"> </span>Be a finisher in life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lesson #4:</b> Rush SigEp. It’ll help you achieve lesson #3.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lesson #5:</b> You have a great dad, and an even better mom. You’re a lucky kid being born into a great family and we are all so happy to welcome you into this world. In 15 years we’ll be happy to make you the 10<sup>th</sup> team in the Ducal Crown League of Champions.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Bonus Lesson #6: </i></b>Don’t trust your “uncle” Ralph. He’s not your uncle and he’ll probably ask you when bath time is a lot.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Time for the Week 3 Power Rankings! Murder! Intrigue! Shake ups galore! Now with the added fun of not telling you who provided the quote so you can go on a witch hunt on Twitter immediately following the blog posting! That's what I call value added!</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. Sam Persons (Touchdown Jesus) </span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 9</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-1</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Not Noord.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Or as Creasy would say, “Sam, at least he isn’t Noord.” From there, the comments are all downhill. Centered on him trading away his top 2 players for Phillip Rivers (who has largely, and disappointingly, underperformed all year) and Anquan Boldin, the rest of the league chimes in:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">If we let him have an extra player he still wouldn't win games. Starting to think he felt sorry for Moose and let him run the team.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">“</span></span>Like trying to decide if the Wizards or the Orioles are the better team.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Best and Hightower scare me more than going through [a Newport News] drive-thru with Noord. They will be less offensive but probably equally as dangerous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. Matt Noordhoff (O Rak^3 Po)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Last Week: 10<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Fun Fact: In College, bald by choice. In life, bald by genetics (Probably).</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">As we’ve all been made painfully aware, Noord won his first game this week against Sam despite starting Deion Branch who scored zero points. Once again, proving Noord’s ineptitude knows no bounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">In seriousness, Noord made a big trade last night with Gunst giving up Ryan Fitzpatrick and Malcolm Floyd for Greg Jennings and Joe Flacco. Love Noord acquiring Jennings which will give him a WR core of Jennings, Mike Wallace and Mario Manningham (who I still think is going to come on strong). Credit to Noord for following the same method as another Fantasy Football genius (me) stacking up on WRs in a PPR league and saying, “Running Backs?? What running backs?!?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. Bryan Gunst (WheelsGoNonStop)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Last Week: 7<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-1</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Loves push ups.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“This man is stock piling starting RBs. If any of them start playing to their potential you have to respect his team. However, his naivety about his QB situation rivals Tom Livengood’s claims that he graduated from college. For goodness sakes just trade me Beanie Wells for Kevin Kolb.” - Austin</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">That about says it all. Trading for Fitzpatrick gives him a legit starter, although weakens his WR core. Arian Foster coming back this week means this is either the calm before the storm, or the calm before a depressing fall from mediocrity to irrelevance.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Jimmy Hostetler (B-Button Spin Move)</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 6</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-1</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: His team is the new Wrecking Crew.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Last week I played Jimmy and my starting RBs (Jamaal Charles and Felix Jones) were both hurt and left the game. Charles is out for the season. This week, Perry played Jimmy and lost Kenny Britt for the season. Either Jimmy is a voodoo practicing witch doctor, or he’s Fantasy owner with “good players on a bad team.” Although in this case, the “bad team” they’re referring to might be Jimmys. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Weakest. Zing. Ever.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Speaking of zings, someone submitted a comment for Jimmy’s team comparing his team’s failure to “blow up” to a girl we knew in college who got fat. So yes, our league does consist of single, or soon to be single, guys.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. AJ McGraw (deSPEcable me)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 8</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+2</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Still shaking his head from the previous comment.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Winning cures all woes. Well it cures a few. I beat TJB this week by 6 points, and probably should have lost. I wonder, though, if I had lost and went to 0-3 would I have been ranked 9<sup>th</sup> overall? Shows you how valuable winning is (see Austin's team later for more).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Fun numbers from my matchup with TJB (only in-depth analysis for my team cause I’m selfish):</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 189.9pt;" valign="top" width="253"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>AJ’s Team</b></div></td> <td colspan="2" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.5in;" valign="top" width="240"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>TJB’s Team</b></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 108.9pt;" valign="top" width="145"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Matt Stafford (QB)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">29 points</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Tom Brady (QB) </div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">33 points</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 108.9pt;" valign="top" width="145"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Calvin Johnson (WR)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">26 points</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ryan Matthews (RB)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">28 points</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 108.9pt;" valign="top" width="145"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Darren Sproles (RB) </div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">17 points</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ray Rice (RB)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">18 points</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 108.9pt;" valign="top" width="145"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Owen Daniels (TE) </div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">16 points</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="144"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Fred Davis (TE)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.0in;" valign="top" width="96"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">2 points</span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sometimes I’m thankful for Rex Grossman’s ineptitude.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now for my favorite quote from Neil who seems to be fed up with the harassment, “<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">[AJ] got [his] first win, [and] could get on a roll quickly with WR's and Stafford…or could suck and die.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Love that guy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. TJ Buerle (Trail of Tears)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 4</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-1</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Not pleased with Fred Davis. Self-proclaimed “smartest retard”.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Gonna steal/edit a comment from Austin: 'TJB gets the award for “Most Thuggish Receiving Core”. Steve Smith, Brandon Marshall and Santonio Holmes have all faced suspensions for poor off-field behavior. Collectively, however, they catch more [poop] from their baby mommas than TDs. However, having Tom Brady on his march to throw for a bajillion yards may catapult him to the playoffs.'</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">TJB keeps putting up big scores (3<sup>rd</sup> in the league in Points For), but has had unlucky matchups. Been there bro, been there. I ended up winning the league after a season like that…then again, I’m a competent fantasy owner.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Neil Morrissette (Team Ralph)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 2</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-2</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Future gambling degenerate…and proud of it!</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Common theme in the comments was, “When Vick is hurt he’s finished!” People fail to realize he has two elite WRs (Fitzy/Roddy), a sick RB (McCoy), the best PPR TE (Witten), ANOTHER top 3 TE (Gronkowski), and Michael Vick. With Vick scoring only 8 points this week Neil still netted 132 total. His team has depth on the starting lineup but a gaping hole at RB2 (smart, or lucky, call starting Jacobs this week). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">People may forget that last year Neil was the clear favorite to win halfway through the season with Vick, McCoy, Peterson, and whomever else on his team. He had a down week in the playoffs against Noord and was out of it just like that. As much as it pains me to admit, if his WRs, TEs, and McCoy stay healthy, he’s going to be a force in this league.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">He just called his bookie and laid a dime on himself (-250).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Austin Perry (Pledge Prez Perry)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 5</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+2</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: “Aaron Rogers is too sexy”- Bryan Gunst</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">It’s true, he is. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Teams Perry has faced this year have averaged an absurdly low 104 points per game (thanks to Neil for the stat). He beat me Week 1 with RBs totaling 5 points. He beat Sam last week (its Sam so…you know), and he beat Jimmy this week who put up a dismal 100 points. Give him TJBs schedule and he’s 0-3. Interesting how fickle Fantasy Football is. In his own words, “I believe Matthew Berry ranked the Ducal Crown strength of schedule for each team and gave me a score of ‘Paris Hilton easy’”. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Hopefully she doesn’t read my blog.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Personal Soap Box: Remember how I said Austin always kills me in the rankings? I have statistical evidence now! (I'm not a self-absorbed nerd). On average, Perry ranks me two position ranks below the average. Pre-season? I was consensus number 1, and Perry ranked me 4. Week 1? Average rank 5, Perry ranked me 7.<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span>This week? Average rank was 5, Perry ranked me 8, and now I'm 6th overall!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">No. I’m not taking it personally. You whore.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Eric Creasman (God.Bless.Day.Beers)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 3</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">+1</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 2</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: He’s got a pretty girl in his life and is smiling more than usual these days.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I think the league says it best:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">His team is stacked. Welker is a PPR demi-god and when Miles Austin comes back, he’s got #1s all over his team. If Mendy produces even a little bit, Creasy’s team, IMO, is the team to beat and best on paper.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“E<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">lite QB, great WRs, great RBs, only see good things.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">“</span></span>Eric Is a TE away from having the best starting line-up in our league. He will go as far as Wes Welker’s stubby legs can take him.” (Personal favorite)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Can Brees and Welker stay consistent with those totals? I dont know, but Mendenhall clearly loves Day Beers. He and Frank Gore must be playing quarters before their games this year.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">All this for the guy who finished in last place last year, had two of the worst keepers (BJGE and Austin Collie) and was ranked as the 7<sup>th</sup> best team in pre-season.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Then again, not everyone was thrilled with Creasman:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">[Eff] this kids couch. [He] received 62% of production from 2 guys, and only 3 players besides kicker scored over 8 fantasy points...good luck with that over a full year #hateful”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Ricky May (We Had a Baby Boy today!)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: 1</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: 0</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>First Place Votes: 6* (only 8 members submitted rankings so cumulatively, this does not equal 10)</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Fun Fact: Only team to stay in the same ranking position this week. Something about a baby</i></b>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">It’s a stark realization when one of the guys in your fantasy league has a child. You immediately remember you’re not 21 and in college anymore. Sigh. Thanks for reminding us of our mortality, Rick!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Yet again, the league has all the material:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">Until Fred Jackson slows down this team is too stacked to not be about to pop.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">“</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">Can't knock the hustle... Bastard”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">"Matt Ryan for your best player." (The trade we've all heard)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">We’re even trying to talk ourselves into beating him:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">“His team is good, bound to have a bad week eventually. Right?” ….Right?? RIGHT?!?!?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">“Really wish someone would challenge him one week, too bad it won't be this week.” (NOTE: Ricky plays me this week…so thanks for that Neil.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt;">Probably the most astute observation:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">“For another year, Ricky’s trading bonanza has vaulted him to #1 in the league. Only 3 of his current position player starters began the year on his team. When will we learn to stop giving him first place? has traded away anemic receivers like Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon, and Brandon Lloyd in deals that netted him Fred Jackson, Andre Johnson, and Dez Bryant. Only losing two starters, QB (Phil Riv) and 1 of his 2 quality TEs (Jermichael Finley).” -Austin<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">To be fair, I haven’t made a trade with him yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-78177295703436542502011-09-21T18:59:00.000-04:002011-09-22T08:00:47.135-04:00Week 3 Power Rankings: I'm Sighing<div class="MsoNormal">A lot of people ask me, they say, “AJ, how do you know America is the greatest country on earth? I mean, they don’t embrace nude group spa centers like the rest of the world!”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I respond, “First of all, we do. Ask my brother what he and 300 Asians did Saturday for 3 hours. Secondly, the answer is easy! I flew to Boston Sunday at 1pm and was able to watch DirectTV Redzone Channel on the plane, follow scores on the monitor in my cab, and watch games as soon as I stepped foot in the hotel lobby.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is truly the greatest country on earth.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are the Week 3 Power Rankings, featuring some less great things….like number 10.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. Noord (O Crap Crap Crap…) – </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 10</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> --<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Things are getting desperate for Noord. His QB (Romo)received a punctured lung this week, Mario Manningham (his second best WR) was concussed and the rest of his team is largely inept. To be fair though, he’s not really helping himself. He proposed the following trade:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Give: Ryan Fitzpatrick/Danny Woodhead<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Get: Matt Forte/Maurice Jones-Drew<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">And, as far as we can figure, he was serious. So, here are some less serious quotes from the league about his team:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">“0-2, and already 80 points behind the top scorer, it must be a rebuilding year for him” – TJB<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">“Suck for Luck” – Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">“His team flat out stinks. Now Manningham has a concussion…yikes. And quite possibly the worst trade offer proposed this week [seen above]. It doesn’t get much worse than that. Even on my end!” – Ricky (when Ricky says your trade proposals are wack, its time to reassess your life).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">“I have a tiny peep and I love being tickled!!” – Neil, probably.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. Sam Persons (Touchdowns Unlikely)-</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 8</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: red;">-1</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #00b050;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">One step forward, one step back. Hovering around the 8/9<sup>th</sup> place range, Sam’s team might be undervalued. Sure he’s 0-2, but he scored over 100 points last week with two players putting up goose eggs. And, as pointed out by a few managers, he’s got the second most points against in the league. Noord has the most points scored against, looks like his defense is as bad as his offense. Ba-zing!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. AJ McGraw (Despicable Team)-</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 5</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: red;">-3</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">I repeat: dropping like a lead turd. Not only did my best player (Jamaal Charles) tear his ACL, but Felix Jones separated his shoulder, and I started the Dallas Defense. All that and I still only lost by 8 points to Jimmy. I repeat, BOTH MY RUNNING BACKS WERE INJURED AND LEFT THEIR GAMES AND I LOST BY 8 POINTS!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">I hate this game.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Gunst (WheelsNotTurning)</span>-<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week: </span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">7</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> --<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">“Foster, Gore, and Finley will wake up soon. And when they do…” – Austin. Gunst’s team is like an old, classic car that’s been remodeled. Looks great, but when you try to start it up the engine sputters and doesn’t turn over. You’re left cursing and trying to fix it at any cost. But if you took a second, treated it with care and waited patiently, she’ll start up. And she’s gonna look real good going down the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. Jimmy (B-Moving Up The Board)</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week: </span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">9</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #00b050;">+3<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I need a personal soap box for this one. Jimmy claims, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">Vernon Davis almost killed me, but everyone else had solid and realistic production. Yes, even Mason Crosby.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">As the inept fantasy owner who lost to Jimmy last week, I can ASSURE you his team’s production was not solid, nor realistic. Peyton Hillis, Mike Turner, Stevie Johnson and Big Ben were all in the 20 point range. His Defense and Kicker put up 14 and 12 points respectively. Realistic? What world are you living in? Even Willis McGahee, who was on his bench, put up 17 points! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">I suppose that’s realistic, in the same way that I think Vincent Jacksons 10 catch, 177 yard, 2 TD day is also realistic and I will be expecting that from him the rest of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">To quote Eric Creasman on the topic, “Turd.”</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Austin Perry (Pledge Prez Perry, The Next Champ!)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">: 4</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: red;">-1</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">I don’t care if he’s moved down one spot in the rankings in consecutive weeks; this guy’s team is STACKED. He’s gonna be the guy who acquires the next big waiver wire player, makes a run in the playoffs and ends up wining the crown. He’s got my man-crush, and perpetual 30 points-a-game player, Aaron Rogers at the helm. He features a receiving crew of Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt who have been deadly this year, and with Darren McFadden running and receiving like a man possessed he’ll outscore most opponents with just those four! I love his bench (Mike Williams (TB), Aaron Hernandez (who will come back from injury and finish as a top 5 tight end), and Marques Colston). I think his team is vicious now, and I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like when his bench is healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Look for him to make some quality trades in the upcoming weeks and really bolster himself before the playoffs. Seriously, he has one player over 60 points this season, one over 50, two over 40, and two more over 30. He’s a points scoring machine!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Ok, enough of this love fest. I’m heading to Vegas to put money down on this guy. Victory!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. TJB (Trail of Fear)-</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">: 6</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #00b050;">+2</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Striking fear into the hearts of the feeble (at least that's what my rankings say), our newest member is taking the league like I like take a dump: quick, fast and its painful to watch. So far, he’s either the fortune of incredible good luck or incredible fantasy adeptness. Ray Rice, Tom Brady, the resurrected corpse of Steve Smith (the original), and….Fred Davis?! C’mon man…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Granted, he hasn’t started Steve Smith yet, but when Brady throws up a 44 point performance followed by a 37 pointer…you don’t really need the rest of your team to show up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">I think Brady is on pace for a 7,500 yard season with 56 TDs. So forgive me if I’m sticking with luck…for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Creasy (God.Bless.Miles.Austins.Hamstrings.)-</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 3</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">--</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Holding steady at #3 after moving up 4 spots last week is a good thing. Especially when your #1 WR gets hurt and is out for a few weeks,you started LaDanian Tomlinson last week, and Ryan Grant the week before. Wes Welker being on Tom Brady’s team this season is the best thing he’s got going for him (among many others).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just looking at Peterson and Mendenhall’s names next to each other has GOT to make you feel tingly.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Neil (Dream Team….maybe)-</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: red;">-1</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">I remember</span> another league manager who had (what he, and everyone else in the league) thought was a stacked team at every position. What happened to that manager? Two weeks later he was ranked 8<sup>th</sup> by his peers. It’s only Week 2 and things change overnight in Fantasy Football, but when you act like you’ve already won the league you put a target on your back. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Trust me. I know.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bonus quote from Sam: “<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">IF YOU WANT TO CROWN'EM, CROWN'EM! THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! BUT NOORD LET'EM OFF THE HOOK!" I've still got him at the top but the injury to Vick could do wonders for the rest of the league in the next few weeks.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Ricky (WeCantStopScoringOrWinningInTheRegularSeason)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Last Week:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> 2</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;">Change:</span></i></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"> </span></b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #00b050;">+1</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No, seriously, he can’t stop winning in the regular season. He started Chad Henne this week, and played the guy who put up the 4<sup>th</sup> most points in the league and STILL won! It’s starting to wear on the league…<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Two so-so trades undermine an 2-0 start” - Neil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Boo.This.Man “ – I’ll give you one guess based on the periods…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">One injury away from struggling” – Austin. Technically this is true….of everyone.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“Good team, but don't like how he always wants to change it. Why not stick with what is working?” – TJB, oh young one, how much you still have to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">“CHAD HENNE?! FOR REALS?! Got lucky he didn't get negative points on the week.” – Jimmy. Seriously though, people know Henne and Matt Ryan are his starting QBs….right?!?!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black; line-height: 115%;">See you next week.</span><o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1993136598287831442.post-83361020243242010102011-09-14T12:34:00.000-04:002011-09-14T12:34:38.967-04:00Week 1 Power Rankings: The Overreaction<div class="MsoNormal">There are countless movies that tell an inspiring tale of backups, replacements, no-names and underdogs who overcome the oppressive (and figurative) giants in their way. No one, however, tells the tale of the dominate force who is broken by the gentleness of its opponent, as I believe I was this week (two of his RBs combined for 5.3 points!! 5.3!!!!!!!).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic…What, ho?! Nay! For this is Fantasy Football!!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I had (another) of those back-breaking weeks where I believed just slightly enough that I was going to win that I condemned myself to lose by 30. Stupid Patriots.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Heading into Monday Night’s game, I led Austin by 30 points. Left to play were his defense (tsk), kicker (pshaw), TE Aaron Hernandez (scoff), and RB Darren McFadden (puh-leease!). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Close to 60 points later, the camera cuts to me tearing my robe, shaving my beard, and weeping biblically. The 4<sup>th</sup> year in a row I open the Fantasy season with a loss. <span> </span>I’m like the inexperienced, but passionate lover of Fantasy Football…a slow starter, but I know how to finish.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This year is all about the Power Rankings. Below I’ll list them in reverse order and show how many spots teams moved based on their weekly performance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rankings are submitted to me by each team owner anonymously, and I tabulate the results and try to make jokes to mask the pain of my team dropping like a lead turd.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Week 1 Power Rankings:<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. Matt Noordhoff (O Rak Rak Rakpo)- </span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last week:</i> 10</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: </i>0</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week: </i>Noord v. Neil</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The only manager to opt out of submitting rankings this week. Who can blame him? He solidified his status as the 10<sup>th</sup> ranked team by producing the lowest overall score in this week’s games. It doesn't help when Tom Brady throws for 517 yards, and your WR Ochocinco only catches one pass for 14 yards.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. Jimmy Hostetler (B-Button Spin Move)-</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 8 </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: red;">-1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week: </i>Jimmy v. AJ</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Reggie Wayne looked like Reggie Wayne despite having Kerry Collins throwing him the ball. Dwayne Bowe looked like Dwayne Bowe if I were throwing him the ball. Ultimately, in the words of Sam Persons’, Jimmy “choked on some sausage” this week. His team was ravaged by a poor performance from home team QB Ben Roethlisberger, but at least it was consensual. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. Sam Persons (Touchdown Jesus)-</span><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 9</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: #00b050;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week: </i>Sam v. Austin</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Since I used Sam’s comments for Jimmy, I’ll use Jimmy’s comments for Sam: “I see some of the poor performers getting better but some of the good performers getting worse.” So..um…that probably means something. Sam put a lot of eggs in the Anquan Boldin basket this week. Like I say, if you ever have a chance to rely solely on Joe Flacco, you have to take it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Bryan Gunst (WheelsGoNonStop)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: </i>5</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: red;">-2</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week: </i>Gunst v. TJB</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Gunst beat Jimmy last week in an extremely unexciting matchup. His team gave a solid performance, got a good win and was overwhelmingly adequate. He’s like the Captain America movie…and that’s not a compliment. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. TJ Beurle (Trail of Tears)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week: </i>6</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> 0</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week:</i> TJB v. Gunst</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Two weeks in a row TJB accurately ranks himself and still doesn’t move positions. He’s firmly planted on the cusp of the top 5. This is a team literally too boring to make a joke about.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. AJ McGraw (deSPEcable me)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 1</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: </i><span style="color: red;">-4</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week:</i> AJ v. Jimmy</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">From Sam, “Big tree fall hard.” I got crushed by a 60 point swing from the Monday night games, but all of my starter’s are healthy, and none have major issues. My QB (Matt Schaub) and TE (Owen Daniels) underperformed because the defense, special teams, and run game was busy pooping on Kerry Collins. Yet, other teams who have lost starters have moved up in the rankings…but we’ll talk about that later. I'm confident in my WR core (Fitzgerald, C. Johnson, Vincent Jackson). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Austin Perry (Pledge Prez Perry)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week</i>: 3</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: red;">-1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week: </i>Austin v. Sam</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I have finally met my match in the battle of the reverse jinx. I gave Perry my best moves all week and at every turn he countered my reverse jinxes with one of his own. I couldn’t get one to stick! He was all over me! I felt like I was in Top Gun! He was Goose, and I was Maverick and we were playing shirtless volleyball in cutoff jeans! That may have just been a dream I had...</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Kudos, though, to Perry for deciding to start Aaron Hernandez (19 points) at the last minute. And, yes, I’m still super bitter about losing to a team who had two RBs (Blount and Shonn Green) score a combined 5.3 points. Please go suck on an egg.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Eric Creasman (God.Bless.Day.Beers.)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 7</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: #00b050;">+4</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week:</i> Creasy v. Ricky</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, about the overreactions I was talking about. Having Drew Brees put up 40 points, Welker put up over 30, and Philly Defense scoring 19 surely doesn’t hurt. It also isn’t exactly a recipe for consistency in my opinion. I do, however, love the trade Creasy made giving up Anquan Boldin (and change) for Rashard Mendenhall (and change). Gives Creasy a very strong 1-2 punch at RB (Peterson/Mendenhall), without crucifying his WR core. With that knowledge, I agree Creasy’s #7 ranking last week deserves to be upgraded. Just, maybe, not above me and Austin…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Ricky May (WeHavinA…whatever)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 4</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change:</i> <span style="color: #00b050;">+2</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week:</i> Ricky v. Creasy</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I had Ricky ranked first overall because of the consistency of performances on his team. No one player had a game deciding performance (Brees/Welker for Creas, or Ray Rice for TJB). Everyone put up solid numbers that impressed. In Sam’s words, “Ricky is like the Patriots…nobody wants to see them win anymore.” I agree. You’re like the Patriots, and you look like Wes Welker and you smell like Ochocinco, and you plank like Albert Haynesworth.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1.<span> </span>Neil Morrissette (Team Ralph)-</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Last Week:</i> 2</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Change: </i><span style="color: #00b050;">+1</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i>Next Week:</i> Neil v. Noord</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Let’s recap some things: Neil’s #2 RB (Steven Jackson) got hurt and is out for at least a month. His #2 WR (Percy Harvin) has QB Donovan McNabb (infamous for his 39 total passing yards last week) throwing him the ball, and also suffers from severe migraines. He has the frailest QB crew (Vick, Stafford) known to man, and is going to start Reggie Bush as a RB next week. Not to mention he has the shallowest position depth of all the teams (Lance Moore, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Crabtree, Jason Snelling). Yet, for some reason, his stock increases. I guess that happens when you put up 139 points and you have the threat of Mike Vick scoring another 6 TDs v. the Redskins twice this year.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Feel free to include comments when you send your rankings in the future, I might <s>plagiarize</s> use them!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17002011647029205374noreply@blogger.com0