Due to the madness of March, I'm paying slightly less attention to the goings-on of the NFL, but as I caught up on all my blogs this morning, I noticed some reports that intrigued me.
Convicted drug dealer Styles Beckles, who was reportedly tied to Denver Broncos RB Correll Buckhalter in some way, has denied talking about or selling any drugs to Buckhalter. It's good news for Buckhalter, who can now focus on competing for the starting job.
It's not relevant to football, but I just found this absolutely fascinating. Two identical twins were acquitted of all charges in a remarkable jewelry heist because the DNA evidence found at the scene could not be exclusively linked to either one of them. It's the perfect crime, thanks to the judicial system.
Plaxico Burress has a court hearing coming up next week, which will give us all a better idea of the star receiver's future with the Giants and the NFL, as well as the First or Last Franchise. Gavin Espinoza was active in trades near the end of last season, and one of these moves brought Burress over from Vince Young. At this point, Burress is looking at a long probation or up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Taking a moment to acknowledge Jerry Jone's absurdity, the Cowboys' owner seems to think Miles Austin is the second-coming of TO, according to ESPN's Matt Mosley.
In case you're interested, the NFL has released the official draft order for the 2009 event. As if they haven't been good enough at rebuilding over the years, the Patriots have six picks in the first 97.
I'm glad somebody else beside me is pointing out the fact that it's only Texan fans that think there's a rivalry between them and the Cowboys. The Governor's Cup game is going to be taking a year off and resuming in 2010.
Great news for anybody (like myself) that hasn't been able to get DirecTV for various reasons (landlords and buildings facing the wrong way). In 2012, Sunday Ticket will available via Broadband. Of course, by then, I'll probably live somewhere where I can get a dish.....
More LOTC-relevant stuff is sure to come in the next week or so.......
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
We interrupt the madness.....
The NFL never stops moving, not even for the big dance, which tipped off today and, as of this point, hasn't had any exceptionally riveting or interesting games. American University might change that......
Just wanted to write a quick post updating the three of you (I have faith there will be more. A voice told me, "If you build it, they will come.") on some of today's stirrings around the league.
Guess who's first.......
After former Georgia QB Matt Stafford 'blew away' all the scouts today, word has it Jay Cutler (Tenacious D) is less likely to end up in Detroit. In fact, it is seeming all the more possible that he could land in New York with the Jets. Ironically, the Jets' hopes of acquiring Cutler could potentially hinge on former (fired) head coach Eric Mangini, who is now running things in Cleveland.
Of course, Eric Mangini obviously has some much larger fish to fry right now, with reports now surfacing that oft-inured #2 WR Donte Stallworth was intoxicated during the car accident last week that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. After letting go of Kellen Winslow (Deion Found Jesus) in the offseason and Donte Stallworth facing some possible manslaughter charges, the Cleveland Browns' respectable passing game is on the verge of extinction. This would make a three-way trade with Denver and New York [Jets], which would bring some valuable draft picks to Cleveland even more beneficial for all parties.
Josh McDaniel's start as head coach in Denver has got to be one of the worst in history. With the franchise player demanding a trade, he's already facing a nearly impossible task in finding a potential replacement to follow Cutler's stellar season of over 4500 pass yards and 27 TDs. Now, reports are surfacing that recently signed RB Correll Buckhalter is involved with an alleged drug dealer in Philadelphia who is currently standing trial. Buckhalter just signed a 4 year, $10 million deal and was expected to challenge for the starting job. If there ends up being any substance to the allegations, Buckhalter will most certainly be facing a suspension, in which case, McDaniel would have to consider some other options. Maybe Cutler wants to get out for more reasons than just his head coach.........
Not all the news in the NFL is depressing.
Matt Cassel (Wrong Answer) has got to be happy about everything that is going on with his new team. Things were already looking up in KC, but now with the new signing of veteran receiver Bobby Engram, Cassel becomes an even greater passing threat next season.
Kerry Collins isn't fooling anyone into thinking he would be a No. 1 fantasy quarterback, but the fact that he is going into the upcoming season as the sure-fire starter in Tennessee could significantly elevate the fantasy value of favorite receiver Justin Gage. Gage isn't really a stud, but when Kerry Collins is throwing the ball, Gage's numbers double in nearly every statistical category. At the very least, Gage could be a quality third receiver on anybody's roster.
Just wanted to write a quick post updating the three of you (I have faith there will be more. A voice told me, "If you build it, they will come.") on some of today's stirrings around the league.
Guess who's first.......
After former Georgia QB Matt Stafford 'blew away' all the scouts today, word has it Jay Cutler (Tenacious D) is less likely to end up in Detroit. In fact, it is seeming all the more possible that he could land in New York with the Jets. Ironically, the Jets' hopes of acquiring Cutler could potentially hinge on former (fired) head coach Eric Mangini, who is now running things in Cleveland.
Of course, Eric Mangini obviously has some much larger fish to fry right now, with reports now surfacing that oft-inured #2 WR Donte Stallworth was intoxicated during the car accident last week that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. After letting go of Kellen Winslow (Deion Found Jesus) in the offseason and Donte Stallworth facing some possible manslaughter charges, the Cleveland Browns' respectable passing game is on the verge of extinction. This would make a three-way trade with Denver and New York [Jets], which would bring some valuable draft picks to Cleveland even more beneficial for all parties.
Josh McDaniel's start as head coach in Denver has got to be one of the worst in history. With the franchise player demanding a trade, he's already facing a nearly impossible task in finding a potential replacement to follow Cutler's stellar season of over 4500 pass yards and 27 TDs. Now, reports are surfacing that recently signed RB Correll Buckhalter is involved with an alleged drug dealer in Philadelphia who is currently standing trial. Buckhalter just signed a 4 year, $10 million deal and was expected to challenge for the starting job. If there ends up being any substance to the allegations, Buckhalter will most certainly be facing a suspension, in which case, McDaniel would have to consider some other options. Maybe Cutler wants to get out for more reasons than just his head coach.........
Not all the news in the NFL is depressing.
Matt Cassel (Wrong Answer) has got to be happy about everything that is going on with his new team. Things were already looking up in KC, but now with the new signing of veteran receiver Bobby Engram, Cassel becomes an even greater passing threat next season.
Kerry Collins isn't fooling anyone into thinking he would be a No. 1 fantasy quarterback, but the fact that he is going into the upcoming season as the sure-fire starter in Tennessee could significantly elevate the fantasy value of favorite receiver Justin Gage. Gage isn't really a stud, but when Kerry Collins is throwing the ball, Gage's numbers double in nearly every statistical category. At the very least, Gage could be a quality third receiver on anybody's roster.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Kurt Warner has A=Rod surgery
From ESPN...
The Cardinals said that the operation to repair a torn labrum and "clean up some loose fragments" was performed Tuesday by Dr. Marc Philippon at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo.
Philippon, who also operated on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez's hip, said the surgery went well and Warner's range of motion with the hip immediately improved.
"Everything went well and I'm feeling great," Warner said in a statement released by the team Wednesday. "I began rehab on a stationary bike just a few hours after surgery and then a couple of more times today."
Warner played with the injury last season, starting all 20 games in the Cardinals' run to the Super Bowl.
"Although I could have continued to play with it, I felt this was the best for short-term success on the field as well as long-term comfort off the field," he said. "I am ready to go back to work and back to normal so we can build on what we accomplished last season."
Warner is expected to sit out the team's minicamp May 1-3 but hopes to be ready for voluntary team workouts that begin May 19.
This obviously interests Aaron because Kurt Warner is his starting quarterback. However, it looks as if next season, Warner should at least be as healthy as last year, if not improved. This should not really concern the Vince Young franchise.
The Cardinals said that the operation to repair a torn labrum and "clean up some loose fragments" was performed Tuesday by Dr. Marc Philippon at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo.
Philippon, who also operated on New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez's hip, said the surgery went well and Warner's range of motion with the hip immediately improved.
"Everything went well and I'm feeling great," Warner said in a statement released by the team Wednesday. "I began rehab on a stationary bike just a few hours after surgery and then a couple of more times today."
Warner played with the injury last season, starting all 20 games in the Cardinals' run to the Super Bowl.
"Although I could have continued to play with it, I felt this was the best for short-term success on the field as well as long-term comfort off the field," he said. "I am ready to go back to work and back to normal so we can build on what we accomplished last season."
Warner is expected to sit out the team's minicamp May 1-3 but hopes to be ready for voluntary team workouts that begin May 19.
This obviously interests Aaron because Kurt Warner is his starting quarterback. However, it looks as if next season, Warner should at least be as healthy as last year, if not improved. This should not really concern the Vince Young franchise.
Lynch to be latest victim of Goodell's mob
Multiple sources predict a near certain suspension for Marshawn Lynch (Wrong Answer) following his guilty plea to a misdemeanor weapon's charge. We know Commissioner Roger Goodell shares a similar view point towards guns as deer in Pennsylvania; anytime one creeps up, he gets skittish. This incident is compounded by Lynch's plea of guilty to traffic violations less than a year ago.
The length of the suspension is the only aspect of this incident being debated. CBSsports.com reports that sources close to the situation claim to be looking towards a one-game suspension, while The Professor, John Clayton, suggests the report could be as long as four weeks. Lynch (and his entourage of lawyers and Buffalo Bills team personnell) met with the commissioner on Tuesday.
Goodell's final decision regarding the length of the suspension given to the first round draft pick will be announced before the beginning of the preseason.
Marshawn Lynch's suspension could have significant impact on Wrong Answer!'s chances to win the championship in LOTC for the second consecutive year. Lynch was Paul Ferguson's leading scorer at the RB position in 2008 with 409 points, and with the addition of the flex position in 2009, his absence during the suspension will be magnified. However, the RB's overall numbers may decline this coming season. In anticipation of Lynch's possible suspension, Buffalo has brought in Kevin Jones and DeShaun Foster for visits and will almost certainly sign one of them. And, it would seem that either RB would not be hired simply for 1-4 games.
Also, some new information has surfaced in the stalking of Broncos QB Jay Cutler: Washington Redskins not interested, NY Jets should go hard after Cutler.
The length of the suspension is the only aspect of this incident being debated. CBSsports.com reports that sources close to the situation claim to be looking towards a one-game suspension, while The Professor, John Clayton, suggests the report could be as long as four weeks. Lynch (and his entourage of lawyers and Buffalo Bills team personnell) met with the commissioner on Tuesday.
Goodell's final decision regarding the length of the suspension given to the first round draft pick will be announced before the beginning of the preseason.
Marshawn Lynch's suspension could have significant impact on Wrong Answer!'s chances to win the championship in LOTC for the second consecutive year. Lynch was Paul Ferguson's leading scorer at the RB position in 2008 with 409 points, and with the addition of the flex position in 2009, his absence during the suspension will be magnified. However, the RB's overall numbers may decline this coming season. In anticipation of Lynch's possible suspension, Buffalo has brought in Kevin Jones and DeShaun Foster for visits and will almost certainly sign one of them. And, it would seem that either RB would not be hired simply for 1-4 games.
Also, some new information has surfaced in the stalking of Broncos QB Jay Cutler: Washington Redskins not interested, NY Jets should go hard after Cutler.
What's gonna happen with Cutler?
Now that Jay Cutler has decided to make absolutely no effort to kiss and make-up with new head coach Josh McDaniel, it's really hard to imagine the Denver Broncos being too stubborn to let him go. I mean, how many times have you seen NFL teams succeed when the head coach and star QB hated each other like this?
The real question for the LOTC is, "How does this affect Tenacious D?"
With a player of Cutler's caliber, practically every team that needs even the slightest bit of help at QB is going to be rumored to have interest. Some of the more prominent teams in the discussion are the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and oddly enough, the Cleveland Browns.
While all four of those teams (49ers less so than the others) have at least one quality receiver on the roster, Detroit's Calvin Johnson (Vince Young) is the only one who could even breathe the same air as Brandon Marshall (Deion Found Jesus) in Denver. So what would moving Cutler do to his current fantasy value? Should Ryan Hennesy be worried?
Also briefly rumored: Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans.
ESPN Video on Cutler.
The real question for the LOTC is, "How does this affect Tenacious D?"
With a player of Cutler's caliber, practically every team that needs even the slightest bit of help at QB is going to be rumored to have interest. Some of the more prominent teams in the discussion are the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and oddly enough, the Cleveland Browns.
While all four of those teams (49ers less so than the others) have at least one quality receiver on the roster, Detroit's Calvin Johnson (Vince Young) is the only one who could even breathe the same air as Brandon Marshall (Deion Found Jesus) in Denver. So what would moving Cutler do to his current fantasy value? Should Ryan Hennesy be worried?
Also briefly rumored: Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans.
ESPN Video on Cutler.
Monday, March 16, 2009
News to date.....
Ok, so here's the changes we know of that have directly affected the keeper designations to this point.
Matt Cassell (Wrong Answer) traded to Kansas City:
With Matt Cassell's departure from New England into the starting seat at Kansas City, Paul Ferguson is looking much wiser having spent his QB designation on the former Brady back-up. You've got to think that with the great draft the Chiefs had last year, the acquisition of Cassell and the hiring of Bellichick-baby Scott Pioli, Kansas City could be this year's Atlanta Falcons. Regardless of what it means for their real season, one thing is certain. With defenses having to respect/fear the passing game more, Larry Johnson (should he stay out of trouble) could get back to the production he once had only a couple of years ago. Furthermore, the Crust and Thundermonkeys must certainly be feeling better about having Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez, respectively, on their rosters.
Texas Thundermonkeys
JMB might have something to be happy about with Tony Gonzalez, but there's plenty to frown over among his keepers as well. TO's release (all Cowboy fans breathe relief) is a telling sign that the receiver is undoubtedly past his days as a top-10 receiver. Signing with Buffalo doesn't help much either. The Bills are a rush-first team and TO should expect 10-15 fewer pass attempts per game than what he saw in Dallas. On top of that, the Bills already have a number one receiver and a great deep threat with whom they are very happy (Lee Evans). Then comes the matter of Matt Jones, the other troubled receiver (JMB the fantasy equivalent of Jerry Jones?) on his roster. Jones was just released by the Jags last week and is unlikely to find another home before the start of the season. And even if he does manage to find a team to sign with (beware Cowboy fans), he's almost certainly facing a suspension for at least the first four games of the season, if not the entire year.
My move if I was in JMB's shoes? Part ways with Matt Jones as soon as the fantasy draft is over. And think about exercising that redshirt option with Robert Meachem, even though the Saints signed an extension with Devery Henderson.
Kellen Winslow (Deion Found Jesus) to Tampa Bay:
Despite his tremendous production in two of the last three seasons, it was definitely time for the Browns and Winslow to go separate ways. Justified or not, Winslow rubbed the wrong people the wrong way last season when he mouthed off over the failure of management to get control over the staph infection problem that seemed to hit Cleveland worse than any other team. Winslow is wildly talented and shouldn't be affected negatively by the change of scenery. Other than the questionable situation at QB (any different from what he had at the old place), he should feel right at home in TB. One guy this could hurt is Braylon Edwards, who had already dropped off majorly from a stellar season in 2007. If he was hoping to return to his old form, he's gonna have to do it without another quality receiving threat to distract the defense.
TJ Houshmandzadeh (First or Last) to Seattle
This is great news from Matt Hasselbeck's point of view. Houshmandzadeh is the best receiver Hasselbeck has ever had the luxury of throwing the ball to, so he certainly has something to look forward to in 2009. I would look for Houshmandzadeh's reception count to go down by 10-15, but yards and TDs should improve. As far as what this means for Chad Johnson (Hybrids) in terms of production, that's just a matter of wait-and-see. He's gonna miss having such a viable threat on the opposite side, but he also had several pro-bowl seasons serving as the only quality receiver on the team before the emergence of Houshmandzadeh.
Matt Cassell (Wrong Answer) traded to Kansas City:
With Matt Cassell's departure from New England into the starting seat at Kansas City, Paul Ferguson is looking much wiser having spent his QB designation on the former Brady back-up. You've got to think that with the great draft the Chiefs had last year, the acquisition of Cassell and the hiring of Bellichick-baby Scott Pioli, Kansas City could be this year's Atlanta Falcons. Regardless of what it means for their real season, one thing is certain. With defenses having to respect/fear the passing game more, Larry Johnson (should he stay out of trouble) could get back to the production he once had only a couple of years ago. Furthermore, the Crust and Thundermonkeys must certainly be feeling better about having Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez, respectively, on their rosters.
Texas Thundermonkeys
JMB might have something to be happy about with Tony Gonzalez, but there's plenty to frown over among his keepers as well. TO's release (all Cowboy fans breathe relief) is a telling sign that the receiver is undoubtedly past his days as a top-10 receiver. Signing with Buffalo doesn't help much either. The Bills are a rush-first team and TO should expect 10-15 fewer pass attempts per game than what he saw in Dallas. On top of that, the Bills already have a number one receiver and a great deep threat with whom they are very happy (Lee Evans). Then comes the matter of Matt Jones, the other troubled receiver (JMB the fantasy equivalent of Jerry Jones?) on his roster. Jones was just released by the Jags last week and is unlikely to find another home before the start of the season. And even if he does manage to find a team to sign with (beware Cowboy fans), he's almost certainly facing a suspension for at least the first four games of the season, if not the entire year.
My move if I was in JMB's shoes? Part ways with Matt Jones as soon as the fantasy draft is over. And think about exercising that redshirt option with Robert Meachem, even though the Saints signed an extension with Devery Henderson.
Kellen Winslow (Deion Found Jesus) to Tampa Bay:
Despite his tremendous production in two of the last three seasons, it was definitely time for the Browns and Winslow to go separate ways. Justified or not, Winslow rubbed the wrong people the wrong way last season when he mouthed off over the failure of management to get control over the staph infection problem that seemed to hit Cleveland worse than any other team. Winslow is wildly talented and shouldn't be affected negatively by the change of scenery. Other than the questionable situation at QB (any different from what he had at the old place), he should feel right at home in TB. One guy this could hurt is Braylon Edwards, who had already dropped off majorly from a stellar season in 2007. If he was hoping to return to his old form, he's gonna have to do it without another quality receiving threat to distract the defense.
TJ Houshmandzadeh (First or Last) to Seattle
This is great news from Matt Hasselbeck's point of view. Houshmandzadeh is the best receiver Hasselbeck has ever had the luxury of throwing the ball to, so he certainly has something to look forward to in 2009. I would look for Houshmandzadeh's reception count to go down by 10-15, but yards and TDs should improve. As far as what this means for Chad Johnson (Hybrids) in terms of production, that's just a matter of wait-and-see. He's gonna miss having such a viable threat on the opposite side, but he also had several pro-bowl seasons serving as the only quality receiver on the team before the emergence of Houshmandzadeh.
Keeper Designations
Vince Young
QB - Kurt Warner - ARI
WR - Calvin Johnson - DET
WR - Kevin Curtis - PHI
RB - Adrian Peterson - MIN
TE - Chris Cooley - WAS
K/DEF - Rob Bironas - TEN
MC - Carson Palmer - QB - CIN
MC - Frank Gore - RB - SF
RS - Joe Flacco - QB - BAL
Wrong Answer
QB - Matt Cassel - NE (Traded to KC)
WR - Anquan Boldin - ARI
WR - Desean Jackson - PHI
RB - Reggie Bush - NO
TE - Dallas Clark - IND
K/DEF - Tennessee Titans
MC - Marshawn Lynch - RB - BUF
MC - Darren McFadden - RB - OAK
RS - Andre Caldwell - WR - CIN
Texas Thundermonkeys
QB - Aaron Rogers - GB
WR - Greg Jennings - GB
WR - Terrell Owens - DAL (FA to BUF)
RB - Marion Barber - DAL
TE - Tony Gonzalez - KC
K/DEF - New York Giants
MC - Brandon Jacobs - RB - NYG
MC - Matt Jones - WR - JAX (Released)
RS - Robert Meachem - WR - NO
Hybrids
QB - Donovan McNabb - PHI
WR - Wes Welker - NE
WR - Chad Johnson - CIN
RB - Bryan Westbrook - PHI
TE - Greg Olsen - CHI
K/DEF - Indianapolis Colts
MC - DeAngelo Williams - RB - CAR
MC - Clinton Portis - RB - WAS
RS - Shaun McDonald - WR - DET
Tenacious D
QB - Jay Cutler - DEN
WR - Randy Moss - NE
WR - Roddy White - ATL
RB - Stephen Jackson - STL
TE - Kevin Boss - NYG
K/DEF - Pittsburgh Steelers
MC - Thomas Jones - RB - NYJ
MC - Santana Moss - WR - WAS
RS - Early Doucet - WR - ARI
Beatubad
QB - Peyton Manning - IND
WR - Steve Smith - NYG
WR - Steve Smith - CAR
RB - Laurence Maroney - NE
TE - John Carlson - SEA
K/DEF - Ryan Longwell - MIN
MC - Eddie Royal - WR - DEN
MC - Earnest Graham - RB - TB
RS - Josh Cribbs - WR - CLE
Deion Found Jesus
QB - Tom Brady - NE
WR - Brandon Marshall - DEN
WR - Antonio Bryant - TB
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson - SD
TE - Kellen Winslow - CLE (FA to TB)
K/DEF - Stephen Gostkowski - NE
MC - Brady Quinn - QB - CLE
MC - Reggie Wayne - WR - IND
RS - Chris Perry - WR - CIN
I'm a Texan
QB - Matt Schaub - HOU
WR - Andre Johnson - HOU
WR - Ted Ginn Jr - MIA
RB - Steve Slaton - HOU
TE - Owen Daniels - HOU
K/DEF - Kris Brown - HOU
MC - Ryan Grant - RB - GB
MC - Vince Young - QB - TEN
RS - Kevin Kolb - QB - PHI
I Have a Bush
QB - Drew Brees - NO
WR - Marques Colston - NO
WR - Hines Ward - PIT
RB - Maurice Jones-Drew - JAX
TE - Jeremy Shockey - NO
K/DEF - Baltimore Ravens
MC - Lance Moore - WR - NO
MC - Willie Parker - RB - PIT
RS - Carnell Williams - RB - TB
The Undisputed
QB - Philip Rivers - SD
WR - Larry Fitzgerald - ARI
WR - Donald Driver - GB
RB - Joseph Addai - IND
TE - Jason Witten - DAL
K/DEF - Dallas Cowboys
MC - Greg Camarillo - WR - MIA
MC - Robbie Gould - K - CHI
RS - Chris Johnson - RB - TEN
Djiboutti Crust
QB - Tony Romo - DAL
WR - Roy Williams - DAL
WR - Dwayne Bowe - KC
RB - Jonathan Stewart - CAR
TE - Dustin Keller - NYJ
K/DEF - Minnesota Vikings
MC - Vincent Jackson - WR - SD
MC - Pierre Thomas - RB - NO
RS - Donnie Avery - WR - STL
First or Last
QB - Matt Ryan - ATL
WR - TJ Houshmandzadeh - CIN (FA to SEA)
WR - Plaxico Burress - NYG
RB - Michael Turner - ATL
TE - Antonio Gates - SD
K/DEF - Jason Elam - ATL
MC - Matt Forte - RB - CHI
MC - Bernard Berrian - WR - MIN
RS - James Hardy - WR - BUF
QB - Kurt Warner - ARI
WR - Calvin Johnson - DET
WR - Kevin Curtis - PHI
RB - Adrian Peterson - MIN
TE - Chris Cooley - WAS
K/DEF - Rob Bironas - TEN
MC - Carson Palmer - QB - CIN
MC - Frank Gore - RB - SF
RS - Joe Flacco - QB - BAL
Wrong Answer
QB - Matt Cassel - NE (Traded to KC)
WR - Anquan Boldin - ARI
WR - Desean Jackson - PHI
RB - Reggie Bush - NO
TE - Dallas Clark - IND
K/DEF - Tennessee Titans
MC - Marshawn Lynch - RB - BUF
MC - Darren McFadden - RB - OAK
RS - Andre Caldwell - WR - CIN
Texas Thundermonkeys
QB - Aaron Rogers - GB
WR - Greg Jennings - GB
WR - Terrell Owens - DAL (FA to BUF)
RB - Marion Barber - DAL
TE - Tony Gonzalez - KC
K/DEF - New York Giants
MC - Brandon Jacobs - RB - NYG
MC - Matt Jones - WR - JAX (Released)
RS - Robert Meachem - WR - NO
Hybrids
QB - Donovan McNabb - PHI
WR - Wes Welker - NE
WR - Chad Johnson - CIN
RB - Bryan Westbrook - PHI
TE - Greg Olsen - CHI
K/DEF - Indianapolis Colts
MC - DeAngelo Williams - RB - CAR
MC - Clinton Portis - RB - WAS
RS - Shaun McDonald - WR - DET
Tenacious D
QB - Jay Cutler - DEN
WR - Randy Moss - NE
WR - Roddy White - ATL
RB - Stephen Jackson - STL
TE - Kevin Boss - NYG
K/DEF - Pittsburgh Steelers
MC - Thomas Jones - RB - NYJ
MC - Santana Moss - WR - WAS
RS - Early Doucet - WR - ARI
Beatubad
QB - Peyton Manning - IND
WR - Steve Smith - NYG
WR - Steve Smith - CAR
RB - Laurence Maroney - NE
TE - John Carlson - SEA
K/DEF - Ryan Longwell - MIN
MC - Eddie Royal - WR - DEN
MC - Earnest Graham - RB - TB
RS - Josh Cribbs - WR - CLE
Deion Found Jesus
QB - Tom Brady - NE
WR - Brandon Marshall - DEN
WR - Antonio Bryant - TB
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson - SD
TE - Kellen Winslow - CLE (FA to TB)
K/DEF - Stephen Gostkowski - NE
MC - Brady Quinn - QB - CLE
MC - Reggie Wayne - WR - IND
RS - Chris Perry - WR - CIN
I'm a Texan
QB - Matt Schaub - HOU
WR - Andre Johnson - HOU
WR - Ted Ginn Jr - MIA
RB - Steve Slaton - HOU
TE - Owen Daniels - HOU
K/DEF - Kris Brown - HOU
MC - Ryan Grant - RB - GB
MC - Vince Young - QB - TEN
RS - Kevin Kolb - QB - PHI
I Have a Bush
QB - Drew Brees - NO
WR - Marques Colston - NO
WR - Hines Ward - PIT
RB - Maurice Jones-Drew - JAX
TE - Jeremy Shockey - NO
K/DEF - Baltimore Ravens
MC - Lance Moore - WR - NO
MC - Willie Parker - RB - PIT
RS - Carnell Williams - RB - TB
The Undisputed
QB - Philip Rivers - SD
WR - Larry Fitzgerald - ARI
WR - Donald Driver - GB
RB - Joseph Addai - IND
TE - Jason Witten - DAL
K/DEF - Dallas Cowboys
MC - Greg Camarillo - WR - MIA
MC - Robbie Gould - K - CHI
RS - Chris Johnson - RB - TEN
Djiboutti Crust
QB - Tony Romo - DAL
WR - Roy Williams - DAL
WR - Dwayne Bowe - KC
RB - Jonathan Stewart - CAR
TE - Dustin Keller - NYJ
K/DEF - Minnesota Vikings
MC - Vincent Jackson - WR - SD
MC - Pierre Thomas - RB - NO
RS - Donnie Avery - WR - STL
First or Last
QB - Matt Ryan - ATL
WR - TJ Houshmandzadeh - CIN (FA to SEA)
WR - Plaxico Burress - NYG
RB - Michael Turner - ATL
TE - Antonio Gates - SD
K/DEF - Jason Elam - ATL
MC - Matt Forte - RB - CHI
MC - Bernard Berrian - WR - MIN
RS - James Hardy - WR - BUF
League Records
Longest Win Streak, Season - 10 - Drew Brees (2006)
Longest Losing Streak, Season - 9 - I'm a Texan (2007)
Most Points, Season - 3187 - Deion Got Saved (2006)
Least Points, Season - 1261.5 - Team Without a RB (2004)
Most Points, Week - 342 - Vince Young (2006 - Week 12)
Least Points, Week - 0 -Texas Thundermonkeys (2005 - Week 1)
300-POINT CLUB
Vince Young
Longest Losing Streak, Season - 9 - I'm a Texan (2007)
Most Points, Season - 3187 - Deion Got Saved (2006)
Least Points, Season - 1261.5 - Team Without a RB (2004)
Most Points, Week - 342 - Vince Young (2006 - Week 12)
Least Points, Week - 0 -Texas Thundermonkeys (2005 - Week 1)
300-POINT CLUB
Vince Young
- 2006 - Wk 2 - 311
- 2006 - Wk 12 - 342
- 2007 - Wk 12 - 332
- 2006 - Wk 6 - 310.5
- 2006 - Wk 7 - 341
- 2006 - Wk 12 - 301
- 2007 - Wk 9 - 326.5
- 2006 - Wk 13 - 300.5
- 2007 - Wk 2 - 301
- 2007 - Wk 3 - 335.5
2008 - We Have Our 12
After five years of constantly-changing teams and managers, the League of the Crust became complete. Gavin Espinoza joined, creating First or Last, and committing to the newly-instituted changes. Perhaps symbolic of the monumental achievement, the league settings went through some dramatic transformations as well. The LOTC converted to a dynasty league and also instituted a redshirt designation. Draft day trades became allowable and managers (three or four of them) paid an entry fee to help Jorge upgrade the league to a PLUS.
Final regular season standings:
Vince Young became only the second defending champion to make the playoffs the following season, but they quickly dropped out of contention, losing their quarterfinal game to Beatubad. Tim Ferguson moved his Hybrids on to the semifinals for their first ever playoff meeting against his son's team, Wrong Answer. Dominant all season long, Wrong Answer moved on to the final with ease, but Texas Thundermonkeys failed to advance after earning a first-round bye for the second-straight season, losing to sixth seed Beatubad. In a battle of '1 vs 6', Beatubad was no match for the superior roster of Wrong Answer, as Paul Ferguson earned his first league title.
Interesting Facts:
Since the playoff field became six teams in 2005, the sixth seed had never won in the first round. Beatubad did that and more, advancing all the way to the championship before finally losing. If Beatubad had won, Ben Weiss would have become the first manager to win two league titles. Instead, the LOTC yielded its sixth first-time champion.
No team won more than four consecutive games in the entire season. Vince Young won four in a row once and Wrong Answer did it twice. The longest win streak in the previous seasons were 8, 6, 9, 10 and 8.
Additionally (and probably indirectly correlated), First or Last had the longest losing streak of the season, with six. This was the shortest long-streak since the first season in 2003, when The Regulators did the same.
Final regular season standings:
| Team *Wrong Answer | W 10 | L 3 | T 0 | Points 2431.5 | ||||
| *Texas Thundermonkeys | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2491.5 | ||||
| *Vince Young | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2540 | ||||
| *Hybrids | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2445.5 | ||||
| *Tenacious D | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2602 | ||||
| *Beatubad | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2287.5 | ||||
| Deion Found Jesus | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2102 | ||||
| I'm a Texan | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2409.5 | ||||
| I Have a Bush | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2360 | ||||
| The Undisputed | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2224 | ||||
| Djiboutti Crust | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2095 | ||||
| First or Last | 2 | 11 | 0 | 2210.5 | ||||
Vince Young became only the second defending champion to make the playoffs the following season, but they quickly dropped out of contention, losing their quarterfinal game to Beatubad. Tim Ferguson moved his Hybrids on to the semifinals for their first ever playoff meeting against his son's team, Wrong Answer. Dominant all season long, Wrong Answer moved on to the final with ease, but Texas Thundermonkeys failed to advance after earning a first-round bye for the second-straight season, losing to sixth seed Beatubad. In a battle of '1 vs 6', Beatubad was no match for the superior roster of Wrong Answer, as Paul Ferguson earned his first league title.
Interesting Facts:
Since the playoff field became six teams in 2005, the sixth seed had never won in the first round. Beatubad did that and more, advancing all the way to the championship before finally losing. If Beatubad had won, Ben Weiss would have become the first manager to win two league titles. Instead, the LOTC yielded its sixth first-time champion.
No team won more than four consecutive games in the entire season. Vince Young won four in a row once and Wrong Answer did it twice. The longest win streak in the previous seasons were 8, 6, 9, 10 and 8.
Additionally (and probably indirectly correlated), First or Last had the longest losing streak of the season, with six. This was the shortest long-streak since the first season in 2003, when The Regulators did the same.
2007 - The Alphabet Creates Riot
Looking to fill the twelfth vacancy left by Jaydan, Jorge reached out to the original league champion, Phil Massine. Phil was adequately involved, though not enough to satisfy Jorge's tastes. Furthermore, he was wildly uncompetitive.
But it was posts written by Dinger that included 'acronyms' like FU, WTF and LMAO that were the non-football highlight of the season, as the Houstonians became defiant and Commissioner Jorge took his role too seriously.
On the fantasy field, Vince Young picked up where he left off last season, determined to not lose another opportunity to play for the title.
Final regular season standings:
Keeping with the times, the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals yet again, as Vince Young and Tenacious D won their quarterfinal games. Playing in the semis, Texas Thundermonkeys and Deion Got Saved weren't able to take advantage of their byes, allowing VY and TEN to meet in the championship. In the 16th week, Vince Young kept his begin-of-season promise to bring the trophy home to his fantasy children.
Interesting Facts:
Things went back to normal in 2007, as I Have a Bush became the third of four defending champions to miss the playoffs only one season after winning their championship.
Texas Thundermonkeys became the first team to have the longest win-streak in the season AND score the most points in the league.
But it was posts written by Dinger that included 'acronyms' like FU, WTF and LMAO that were the non-football highlight of the season, as the Houstonians became defiant and Commissioner Jorge took his role too seriously.
On the fantasy field, Vince Young picked up where he left off last season, determined to not lose another opportunity to play for the title.
Final regular season standings:
| Team *Texas Thundermonkeys | W 11 | L 2 | T 0 | Points 3094.5 | ||||
| *Deion Got Saved (Deion Found Jesus) | 9 | 4 | 0 | 3060.5 | ||||
| *Vince Young | 9 | 4 | 0 | 3055 | ||||
| *Tenacious D | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2857.5 | ||||
| *Wrong Answer | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2741.5 | ||||
| *Djiboutti Crust | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2710 | ||||
| The Hybrids | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2700.5 | ||||
| Beatubad | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2503 | ||||
| The Undisputed | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2835 | ||||
| I Really Have A Bush (I Have a Bush) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2465.5 | ||||
| Brain Trust (Phil Massine - NLIL) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2452 | ||||
| I'm a Texan | 2 | 11 | 0 | 2222 | ||||
Keeping with the times, the top four seeds advanced to the semifinals yet again, as Vince Young and Tenacious D won their quarterfinal games. Playing in the semis, Texas Thundermonkeys and Deion Got Saved weren't able to take advantage of their byes, allowing VY and TEN to meet in the championship. In the 16th week, Vince Young kept his begin-of-season promise to bring the trophy home to his fantasy children.
Interesting Facts:
Things went back to normal in 2007, as I Have a Bush became the third of four defending champions to miss the playoffs only one season after winning their championship.
Texas Thundermonkeys became the first team to have the longest win-streak in the season AND score the most points in the league.
2006 - Houstonians Wreak Havoc
Desperate to get 12 managers that would commit to remaining active for the entire season, Jorge raised his standards for who could be in the league. After welcoming Dinger back into the fray, he needed only three active managers to yield a truly competitive 12-team league. So he invited Joseph Harper, with whom he had watched the entire first day of the NFL draft while attending Houston Baptist University. Surely someone else who was enough of a fan to watch the draft all day would be an active fantasy player. Then Dinger suggested Aaron Diehl, another HBUer who he swore would be committed to the league. Finally, Jorge invited Jaydan Gumm to fill the last spot.
It worked. For the first time in its four years of existence, the LOTC had twelve managers who competed from start to finish. But those Houstonians.........Dinger had been enough by himself. But he was empowered by having two more of his cohorts in the league, and the trash-talking reached levels never-before seen. The competitive element of the league combined with the exponential growth in entertainment value transformed the LOTC into something to truly look forward to being a part of. To make matters worse, the new guys were dominant in their first year as members.
Final regular season standings:
The constant bickering and controversial smack-talk would prove to be too much for Jaydan, who asked not to be invited the following season. Drew Brees, who had lost their first three games of the season, took the top seed into the playoffs, therefore earning a bye along with fellow expansion team Vince Young. In the quarters, Deion Got Saved and Beatubad moved on, marking the first time (other than 2003, when only four teams made the playoffs) that the top four seeds where in the semifinals. Drew Brees proved to be too much for Beatubad, but Deion Got Saved managed to upset Vince Young to reach the title game. Despite the support from 75% of the league to pull of the upset win, Deion Got Saved couldn't outscore the overwhelming numbers from Drew Brees, as Joe received the [imaginary] trophy in his first season as a member of the LOTC.
Interesting Facts:
Drew Brees represented a variety of firsts in the league. They were the first team (and now officially, only) to win the title in their first year in the LOTC. The were also the first to make the playoffs (as well as win a championship) after losing their first three regular season games. And finally, they were the first to win 10 consecutive regular season games. This stands as the longest regular-season win streak in history. Drew Brees (now, I Have a Bush) also holds the record for most consecutive games won at 12, which he accomplished in 2006 as well.
The Undisputed became the first defending champion to make the playoffs the following season. Ironically, it was also with the closest margin in history that they made the playoffs, earning entry by scoring merely four points more than Hybrids.
It worked. For the first time in its four years of existence, the LOTC had twelve managers who competed from start to finish. But those Houstonians.........Dinger had been enough by himself. But he was empowered by having two more of his cohorts in the league, and the trash-talking reached levels never-before seen. The competitive element of the league combined with the exponential growth in entertainment value transformed the LOTC into something to truly look forward to being a part of. To make matters worse, the new guys were dominant in their first year as members.
Final regular season standings:
| Team *Drew Brees (I Have a Bush) | W 10 | L 3 | T 0 | Points 3104.5 | ||||
| *Vince Young | 9 | 4 | 0 | 3148.5 | ||||
| *Deion Got Saved (Deion Found Jesus) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3187 | ||||
| *BeatUBad | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2972.5 | ||||
| *Im Just Better (I'm a Texan) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3037 | ||||
| *The Undisputed | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2998 | ||||
| The Hybrids | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2994 | ||||
| Djiboutti Crust | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2884.5 | ||||
| XCon4Christ (Jaydan Gumm - NLIL) | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2669.5 | ||||
| Texas Thundermonkeys | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2439 | ||||
| Dueling Brothers (Wrong Answer) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2686.5 | ||||
| Tenacious D | 2 | 11 | 0 | 2548 | ||||
The constant bickering and controversial smack-talk would prove to be too much for Jaydan, who asked not to be invited the following season. Drew Brees, who had lost their first three games of the season, took the top seed into the playoffs, therefore earning a bye along with fellow expansion team Vince Young. In the quarters, Deion Got Saved and Beatubad moved on, marking the first time (other than 2003, when only four teams made the playoffs) that the top four seeds where in the semifinals. Drew Brees proved to be too much for Beatubad, but Deion Got Saved managed to upset Vince Young to reach the title game. Despite the support from 75% of the league to pull of the upset win, Deion Got Saved couldn't outscore the overwhelming numbers from Drew Brees, as Joe received the [imaginary] trophy in his first season as a member of the LOTC.
Interesting Facts:
Drew Brees represented a variety of firsts in the league. They were the first team (and now officially, only) to win the title in their first year in the LOTC. The were also the first to make the playoffs (as well as win a championship) after losing their first three regular season games. And finally, they were the first to win 10 consecutive regular season games. This stands as the longest regular-season win streak in history. Drew Brees (now, I Have a Bush) also holds the record for most consecutive games won at 12, which he accomplished in 2006 as well.
The Undisputed became the first defending champion to make the playoffs the following season. Ironically, it was also with the closest margin in history that they made the playoffs, earning entry by scoring merely four points more than Hybrids.
2005 - Dinger Gets The Boot
The League of the Crust was apparently not ready to handle the overconfidence and relentless smack-talk of Stephen Dinger. So when 2005 came along, Jorge snubbed him. The pool of teams was also brought down to a total of 12, which would become the permanent setting for the LOTC.While the 2005 fantasy season was certainly very fun, Jorge (and I'm sure several other managers) realized that it just wasn't quite as entertaining without the mouth of Dinger. He resolved right then that this would be the only season without the Texan fan.Final regular season standings:
Once again, the title-holder from the previous year missed out on a playoff berth, so we were certain to see a new champion. The 2005 season was also the first to see the new settings, with the top two seeds earning a bye through the first round of playoffs. In the quarterfinals, the Texas Thundermonkeys pulled off an upset to move on to face Djiboutti Crust, while The Undisputed moved on to face Urine Trouble in the semifinals. Djiboutti Crust advanced to their second championship game in three years, but would lose once again, this time to The Undisputed.Interesting Facts:Djiboutti Crust's 11 regular season wins was the most in a single-season by any team in league history. The Texas Thundermonkeys would match that number in 2007, but like the Crust, would not win the title. In fact, teams with 10 or more wins in a single season have only won the championship 33% of the time. Before Drew Brees won in 2006 and Wrong Answer did the same in 2008, that number was a mere 16%.Johnmichael Barajas (Texas Thundermonkeys) achieved a record that will never be broken by failing to set his lineup on time in Week 1. Consequently, he scored 0 points. He still would have lost that week, but it doesn't take away the humiliation of getting a bad record that can never be broken.
| Team *Djiboutti Crust | W 11 | L 2 | T 0 | Points 2623 | ||||
| *Urine Trouble (Tenacious D) | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2458 | ||||
| *The Undisputed | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2447 | ||||
| *Deion Got Saved (Deion Found Jesus) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2360.5 | ||||
| *Texas Thundermonkeys | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2236 | ||||
| *Da Bombers (Wrong Answer) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1896.5 | ||||
| Another Win This Year (Beatubad) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2319 | ||||
| The Hybrids | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1996 | ||||
| The Greatest (John Jemison - NLIL) | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1908.5 | ||||
| TDTDwewantaTD (Heather Sartain - NLIL) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1691.5 | ||||
| JazzFluteFairyBoys (Greg Liles - NLIL) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1635.5 | ||||
| Teamcutusobad (Some guy - NLIL) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1478 | ||||
2004 - Ridonculous Growth
An overwhelming number of changes took place for the 2004 season, as several people approached the commissioner of the league to express their interest in being a part. Wanting to experience growth (and also having just competed in a 20-team league in the previous season), Jorge welcomed far too many new players and the league grew to 16 teams; seven would not last very long in the LOTC.
The name was changed in order to make it slightly more official. Because the majority of the league was a part of Jorge's church, it was named Trinity Fantasy League.
Final standings:
With the defending champion out of the playoffs, eight teams went into week 14 ready to produce a new champion. The top two seeds (Alrighty Then, In Carr We Trust) moved on with ease, but The Hybrids and Djiboutti Crust managed to pull off upsets to move into the semifinals. Alrighty Then and In Carr We Trust would prove be too dominant for an upset, as they moved on to the championship. Likely still bitter from being snubbed from the 2003 playoffs after having the highest-scoring team, Ben Weiss found vindication as Alrighty Then won the title.
Interesting fact:
Even though only nine of the 16 managers would go on to remain part of the LOTC, seven of them earned one of the eight playoff slots in 2004. This is a clear indicator of why some were invited back and others weren't. Jorge wanted only the most competitive and most active so that he could ensure the league remained highly competitive.
The name was changed in order to make it slightly more official. Because the majority of the league was a part of Jorge's church, it was named Trinity Fantasy League.
Final standings:
| Team *Alrighty Then (Beatubad) | W 10 | L 3 | T 1 | Points 2083.5 | ||||
| *In Carr We Trust (I'm a Texan) | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2007 | ||||
| *The Supreme Beings (Tenacious D) | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1756 | ||||
| *Texas Thundermonkeys | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1875 | ||||
| *The Hybrids | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1845 | ||||
| *Djiboutti Crust | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1742 | ||||
| *Da Boyz (Wrong Answer) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1893 | ||||
| *Mustangs (Some guy - NLIL) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1619.5 | ||||
| TDTDwewantaTD (Heather Sartain - NLIL) | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1557.5 | ||||
| Garden Gnomes (Phil Massine - NLIL) | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1530 | ||||
| Da Bulls (Greg Liles - NLIL) | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1543.5 | ||||
| Gad Em Coach (Steve Fiedler - NLIL) | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1389.5 | ||||
| Brent Miller (Robert Esparza - NLIL) | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1367 | ||||
| The Tigers (The Undisputed) | 4 | 10 | 0 | 1357.5 | ||||
| The Wrath of Korea (John Jemison - NLIL) | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1325.5 | ||||
| Team Without a RB (Deion Found Jesus) | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1261.5 | ||||
With the defending champion out of the playoffs, eight teams went into week 14 ready to produce a new champion. The top two seeds (Alrighty Then, In Carr We Trust) moved on with ease, but The Hybrids and Djiboutti Crust managed to pull off upsets to move into the semifinals. Alrighty Then and In Carr We Trust would prove be too dominant for an upset, as they moved on to the championship. Likely still bitter from being snubbed from the 2003 playoffs after having the highest-scoring team, Ben Weiss found vindication as Alrighty Then won the title.
Interesting fact:
Even though only nine of the 16 managers would go on to remain part of the LOTC, seven of them earned one of the eight playoff slots in 2004. This is a clear indicator of why some were invited back and others weren't. Jorge wanted only the most competitive and most active so that he could ensure the league remained highly competitive.
2003 - A New League is Born
Initial posts will be longer than the norm, since I will first publish a history of the league to try to catch up to where we are right now.
In 2003, Jorge Parrales created a fantasy football league, primarily because he was discontent with what he considered an unnecessary imbalance in the value of different positions in fantasy football. Knowing that he would never be able to make them perfectly equal in value, his only goal was to lessen the gap between various positions. This was achievable by adding more statistical categories. Instead of scoring settings being strictly limited to yards gained and touchdowns scored, points could be earned for completions, carries and receptions. By giving points-per-completion, the quarterback would [usually] become the highest-scoring position in the league. By doubling the credit for a reception, quality receivers became as important to their fantasy teams as they were in real life, and it also increased the value of a running back who could contribute as a receiver as well as they did to the running game. Perfecting the system would take some time; it still might not even be complete. But there's no doubt that what has resulted has raised the competitive element of fantasy football. No longer is a championship practically guaranteed simply by getting the best RB in the draft. Strategy and good management decisions are more important than ever.
In 2003, Yahoo was also just getting started in the world of fantasy football. Commissioner powers were limited and league requirements were minimal. This is why the League of the Crust (LOTC) was able to have an odd number of teams.
Lazily named "Have Some Fun", the LOTC was filled with nine teams, five that continue to be a part of the league to this day. With an odd number, one team per week had to sit out on a 'bye' week. With 15 games in the regular season, this meant six teams would have two bye weeks, resulting in a different number of games played. This would prove to play a mildly controversial role in determining the four playoff teams.
Final regular season standings are as follows.
In the semifinals, both lower seeds won as Djiboutti Crust and Carmen Sutera moved on to the championship, where Carmen Sutera emerged as the league champion.
Carmen Sutera's owner, Phil Massine, is the only league champion that is no longer a member of the league. Additionally, the 2003 season stands as the only year where the league's highest-scoring team did not make the playoffs.
In 2003, Jorge Parrales created a fantasy football league, primarily because he was discontent with what he considered an unnecessary imbalance in the value of different positions in fantasy football. Knowing that he would never be able to make them perfectly equal in value, his only goal was to lessen the gap between various positions. This was achievable by adding more statistical categories. Instead of scoring settings being strictly limited to yards gained and touchdowns scored, points could be earned for completions, carries and receptions. By giving points-per-completion, the quarterback would [usually] become the highest-scoring position in the league. By doubling the credit for a reception, quality receivers became as important to their fantasy teams as they were in real life, and it also increased the value of a running back who could contribute as a receiver as well as they did to the running game. Perfecting the system would take some time; it still might not even be complete. But there's no doubt that what has resulted has raised the competitive element of fantasy football. No longer is a championship practically guaranteed simply by getting the best RB in the draft. Strategy and good management decisions are more important than ever.
In 2003, Yahoo was also just getting started in the world of fantasy football. Commissioner powers were limited and league requirements were minimal. This is why the League of the Crust (LOTC) was able to have an odd number of teams.
Lazily named "Have Some Fun", the LOTC was filled with nine teams, five that continue to be a part of the league to this day. With an odd number, one team per week had to sit out on a 'bye' week. With 15 games in the regular season, this meant six teams would have two bye weeks, resulting in a different number of games played. This would prove to play a mildly controversial role in determining the four playoff teams.
Final regular season standings are as follows.
| Team Name *The HD King (Hybrids) | W 10 | L 3 | T 0 | Points 2731 | ||||
| *The Master Plan (Texas Thundermonkeys) | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2558 | ||||
| *Carmen Sutera (Phil Massine - NLIL) | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2889 | ||||
| *Djiboutti Crust | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2685 | ||||
| Beatubad | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2895 | ||||
| The Hatian Sensation (Tenacious D) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2614 | ||||
| Great to be Kings (John Jemison - NLIL) | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2446 | ||||
| 19-10 (I'm a Texan) | 4 | 9 | 0 | 2326 | ||||
| Regulators (Steve Fiedler - NLIL) | 4 | 10 | 0 | 2018 | ||||
In the semifinals, both lower seeds won as Djiboutti Crust and Carmen Sutera moved on to the championship, where Carmen Sutera emerged as the league champion.
Carmen Sutera's owner, Phil Massine, is the only league champion that is no longer a member of the league. Additionally, the 2003 season stands as the only year where the league's highest-scoring team did not make the playoffs.
Welcome All
Welcome to the blog specifically centered around League of the Crust (LOTC). Since it began six years ago, this league has evolved into something so much better than some standard, run-of-the-mill fantasy football league. As founder and commissioner of the LOTC, I am constantly looking for ways to advance our league. I am confidant that something like this is the next progression for all competitive fantasy sports.
Please understand, I wouldn't have taken the time to create this blog if I didn't believe this thing would last for the next 25 years (if you old people can last that long). Don't mistake this for taking the league too seriously. It took all of about 15 minutes to create the site, and further development will be a process that takes place over time. This is meant to be nothing more than something else to make the league more enjoyable.
I AM, however, a freak when it comes to things like historical records and statistics. In only a few days, you will see posts containing a wealth of relevant history on our league.
In addition, you will be able to refer to this site to easily refresh yourself on your keeper designations, as well as your redshirt designations. My hope is that we will eventually have individual team pages that have information specifically relevant to you, your rosters and your history. But something like that is probably a year or two away, unless someone with much more time AND programming knowledge suddenly volunteers their services on the matter.
Our blog posts will address NFL news that has a direct impact on our teams and will contain the author's opinions on the implications of said news on the season. This includes times like right now, in the offseason. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks; anything that affects our rosters. At this moment, I have extended invitations to Ryan and Aaron to be contributing authors on the blog. There are multiple reasons for this.
1) Aaron has been heavily involved in our league message boards and has also demonstrated an ability to write well, which I figure should be a prerequisite for a contributing writer.
2) Ryan also writes quite well and is undoubtedly my number one contact to discuss all things 'sports', so I know I can count on him to update the site should I ever find myself unable to immediately connect.
If any of you other managers wish to become contributing writers, please first get involved with our Yahoo message boards. If you are an active part of the boards, you can then become a writer on the blog.
In addition, I have added several widgets, including ESPN's RSS feeds to NFL breaking news and NCAA Football breaking news. Also, there is a Youtube feed at the bottom of the page that is pre-set to give us videos relevant to the National Football League.
Anyway, here we are: the next age of the League of the Crust. I hope you enjoy it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
My keepers
Q- Kurt Warner
W- Calvin Johnson
W- Kevin Curtis
R- Adrian Peterson
T - Chris Cooley
Mgr - Carson Palmer
Mgr - Frank Gore
K - Rob Bironas
I don't remember if there are offseason trades, but I am open to any discussions.
Aaron
W- Calvin Johnson
W- Kevin Curtis
R- Adrian Peterson
T - Chris Cooley
Mgr - Carson Palmer
Mgr - Frank Gore
K - Rob Bironas
I don't remember if there are offseason trades, but I am open to any discussions.
Aaron
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