Here Comes 2009 - Starting a 7th Season

As every new NFL season comes around and I get the opportunity to add a year to the existence of the league, I become more and more proud. I can certainly say that when I went around asking some friends if they wanted to join my fantasy league in 2003, I had no idea that I would be welcoming many of the same people back for a seventh go-round in 2009. But I am, and it's the best league around and I'm glad to have you all back.

That's right. Twelve out of twelve managers are coming back for this season. A first for the LOTC. And best of all, it looks like it's a permanent league make-up. Twelve competitors, committed to winning the league.

I'd like to take a few minutes now to go over all of the changes that you will be seeing this year, both in our league constitution and on the yahoo fantasy football experience.

INJURED RESERVE

As voted on by our league members, we have instituted an Injured Reserve option for the 2009 season. This change became necessary after we agreed to convert the league to a dynasty format last season. I do need to address a possible issue here. This year, when I was going over the league settings, I noticed that yahoo had added an IR slot option to rosters. I went ahead and included it in the settings, but I don't know if yahoo has the same standard requirements for using the slot. I have looked all over their info pages, checked the message boards and even sent an email to them to try to get some information on the position, but I've heard nothing back yet. I'm assuming that the IR slot remains empty until a player goes on IR in real life, which would be ideal. However, I am wary of the possibility that you might be able to place any injured player in that spot on any given week to add an open slot to pick up a FA. If this is the case, I trust all of my managers will not use the slot for that purpose, right?

FLEX POSITION

2009 marks the return of the flex position to our rosters. This year, yahoo expanded the flex position designation, allowing commissioners to include TEs in the mix. So our flex position can be a RB, WR or a TE if you so choose (instead of the traditional RB/WR limitation).

DIVISIONS

This is a bit of a downer for me. As some of you might recall, I mentioned last season that my first experience playing fantasy football involved playing in divisions, which I had loved. I added that my experience had been four divisions of three teams and yahoo only allowed two divisions. Well, lo and behold, I was updating the settings for this season and yahoo had expanded the options to allow up to four divisions. If I had known this was going to happen, I would have insisted we break up the league into four divisions, but I didn't. So instead, we're broken into two divisions, which is still an improvement in my opinion. For a reminder of the layout of the new divisions, refer to the league constitution.

WAIVERS

In what turned out to be the closest vote amongst the proposed changes, bringing back a 24-hour waiver barely managed to force it's way back into our league settings. Yahoo has incorporated an additional option in waivers that I will cover later on, called budgeting. Since it was not discussed last season, I could not incorporate it this year anyway, but I think it is something we should seriously consider adding to the settings next season. For now, waiver position will be based on a permanently rolling list. Waiver priority is randomly assigned at first and then, as you pick up a player on waivers, you move to the back of the line.

THE YAHOO EXPERIENCE

I'm only going to cover the changes that yahoo made that will affect/be-of-use to us this season. Other changes in settings options that we could possibly incorporate in 2010 will be discussed later.

• Improved StatTracker - Reportedly, the stat tracker will be even more accurate in real-time this season and will also include a chat feauture so that if you and your opponent are following at the same time, you can actually chat/trash-talk about the games through the application.
• Custom Schedules - Im going to love this because it actually allows the commissioner to set a 'rivalry week' into the schedule to intensify the competition. So I would appreciate you guys telling me who you would prefer to play during the rivalry week so that I can customize the schedule as soon as possible. Not everyone will have a 'rivalry' but one can develop by playing the same person in the same week every year. I know Dinger probably wants to play me, but we'll have to see.....
• Mock Drafts - You can now do as many mock drafts as you would like before your actual draft to plan out your draft strategy ahead of time.

More to come as the draft gets closer. Thank you all for joining. And please do start to adjust to checking this blog once a week (at least when you sign on to set your starting lineups). As time passes and I get used to managing this blog, more and more useful information will be posted on this page on a regular basis.

Go Cowboys!

Breaking News on Burress

I must first concede that my only source on this at the moment is a tweet from ESPN Dallas 103.3's popular local radio show, Galloway and Company. It appears the Giants have released Plaxico Burress (First or Last).

This would make sense, considering the report that the Giants are currently negotiating terms on a possible trade with the Cleveland Browns for Braylon Edwards.

More to come as the news develops.

UPDATE

This is now confirmed by ESPN and Footballoutsiders.com.

More info on the reports of Giants' interest in Braylon Edwards.

Cutting through the NFC North like fine 'Cutler'-y

I believe we can all finally stop everything for a moment and let out a collective sigh of relief.

*SIGH*

It is finally over. I think there are a thousand things we could say about this trade that sends Jay Cutler (Tenacious D) from Denver to Chicago for several valuable draft picks. I'm less inclined to try to figure out who won in the transaction, because both teams gained something and both lost something. Only time will tell who made the right decision. But be certain of this: one of these teams just made a huge mistake.

I am just glad it's over.

So give credit to the Denver Broncos. The longer it took for them to get rid of Cutler, the lower the asking price would have become. Not to mention, the unrest and division within the locker room would have grown too great to overcome. Give credit to Chicago as well. The Bears haven't had a pro-bowl QB under center since Jim McMahon in 1985. Now, they've got Cutler, a pro-bowler who hasn't even reached his full potential yet.

Now let's be realistic. This blog might be dedicated to the LOTC, but it would be foolish to not consider the impact that this trade has on the NFL first.

The Broncos gave up a stud franchise quarterback. No team can do that without getting set back at least a year or two. But they did get Kyle Orton, who isn't getting enough credit for his growth over the last couple of years. People tend to forget before his injury against Detroit last season, Orton had thrown for 1669 yards, 10 TDs and only 4 interceptions. And this was with Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd catching the passes! Now, he's going to be throwing to Brandon Marshall (Deion Found Jesus) and Eddie Royal (Beatubad). Granted, Denver has virtually no running game anymore and the o-line has a lot of questions, but with four 1st-round draft picks over the next two years, those questions can certainly be answered. Still, most experienced NFL coaches would tell you that when you have a sure thing at QB, there is no price you can put on that kind of security. This is especially true when you replace him with draft picks, an unknown commodity. So we're going to find out very soon, just how much Josh McDaniels has learned from Bill Bellichick. Keep in mind, the Broncos are still in the dreadful AFC West, playing twice a year against San Diego, Oakland and Kansas City. Even with a major downgrade at QB, the division is still winnable.

The Bears might very well have just picked up the best quarterback in the long history of their franchise. The only problem is Cutler REALLY needs to be exactly THAT (the best in their history) in order for the cost to be worth it. Chicago has essentially mortgaged its future on Cutler. If it pays off, the Super Bowl is within reach once again. If not? Well, they're screwed for another decade. Does this change the fate of the NFC North? Consider the non-statistical benefit of having Cutler in Chicago.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. says it best.

"You need a big, strong-armed guy to cut through the wind and the elements. I know it sounds simple, but the average fan tends to overlook that. Whenever you're shopping for a quarterback to play in Chicago, New York, Cleveland or somewhere like that, you better have a cannon and throw a spiral that can cut the wind. Cutler can do that in a big way. The defense has to guard the whole field, and that hasn't always been the case in the past 10 years or so in Chicago. Arm strength like that can make a lot of other problems go away."

Additionally, Jay Cutler is now going to be throwing the ball to a familiar face. Earl Bennett, who didn't catch a single pass in his rookie season last year, played for Vanderbilt in Cutler's last season for the university. Bennett is expected to compete for the starting job opposite of Devin Hester in 2009, and having best friend Jay Cutler under center can only make that a greater possiblity.

Enough of that now.......

How does this affect the LOTC?

The most obvious impact will be on Tenacious D, since Manager Ryan Hennesy was counting on Jay Cutler to be his franchise fantasy quarterback for the foreseeable future (alliteration, anyone?). Cutler is losing some quality weapons and is heading to a city whose team is historically formatted as a run-first team, and this one is no exception. Second-year RB Matt Forte (First or Last) emerged as a star in his rookie season and considering the weapons the Bears have at receiver, one would have to think they aren't going to become a passing team, at least not right now. In 2008, Cutler was 2nd in the LOTC with 49.5 FPPG. Kyle Orton was 20th, with 33.9 FPPG. While Cutler will likely have more production than Orton did with the same weapons, it would be naive to think Cutler will remain a top-5 fantasy QB until the Bears equip him with a stud receiver.

When asked if he was concerned with Cutler's destination, Hennesy answered, "I feel as though he would have been better, fantasy-wise staying with Denver, but with the signing of Pace and hopefully picking up a receiver in the draft, it could be a really positive experience."

Elsewhere around the league, Cutler's departure significantly impacts the fantasy value of Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, both whom were designated keepers last year.

Marshall (25.7 FPPG, 5th LOTC) was arguably the best receiver on DFJ Manager Robby Grunwald's roster. But with an impending suspension looming over his head, along with the departure of Jay Cutler, that value is quickly dissipating. The good news for Grunwald is that he had some good foresight, designating two other quality receivers (Antonio Bryant and Reggie Wayne) as keepers at the end of the '08 season.

Cutler's absence doesn't seem to concern the DFJ manager at all.

"Brandon Marshall is a playmaker, no matter who is at QB," Grunwald said. "Kyle Orton is gonna blow it up."

Eddie Royal (24.9 FPPG, 6th LOTC) had a tremendous rookie season in 2008, particularly during Marshall's suspension. But no amount of success can change the fact that he is now the number two receiver on a team with no running game that just lost its star quarterback. This change probably drops Royal's fantasy value down all the way to a third option, and that is in a best-case scenario.

BEAT Owner/Manager Ben Weiss had simply this to say about Royal's likely fantasy decline.

"There isn't much I can do about it now."

On a more positive note, Cutler's arrival in Chicago is a definite plus to TE Greg Olsen (Hybrids) and RB Matt Forte. Neither Owner/Manager of these players was available for comment.

Also Noteworthy:

• Cutler's entire family, including Cutler, has been a hardcore Bear-fan family for Cutler's entire life.
• Cutler lost his only game in Chicago, an OT loss in 2007. It was by no fault of Cutler's though. He threw for over 300 yards in the game and Denver lost primarily thanks to Devin Hester's two returns for touchdowns.
• Chicago's offensive coordinator, Ron Turner, was the head coach at the University of Illinois when Cutler was in high school. Cutler had committed to Illinois until Turner rescinded the scholarship at the last minute, forcing Cutler to scramble for another school to play for, Vanderbilt emerging as the beneficiary. One has to wonder if Cutler is still whining about that too.
  

Uncertainty ahead for Cutler and Burress

As any sports fan who even breathes would know by now, the Denver Broncos announced through an email last night that they were officially going to begin shopping Jay Cutler (Tenacious D). Blockbuster trades of this magnitude are delightfully rare in today's NFL, and this one could be one of the most impacting transactions in league history. We all (except the Broncos, apparently) knew this was the likely outcome, but now that it is officially inevitable, one can't help but twitch with excitement at the thought.

Cutler's final destination could have dramatic impact on the League of the Crust, but especially for Owner/Manager Ryan Hennesy's Tenacious D. After 4500 yards and 27 TDs in '08, Hennesy had to be looking forward to a 2009 season with Cutler. But a trade to the wrong team could certainly serve as a setback for their hopes of returning to the playoffs for a third straight season. As many as ten teams are reportedly in the runnings for Cutler, including the Jets, Bears, Vikings, Browns, Buccaneers, Lions and Redskins.

When asked if he had a preference, Hennesy said, "I would say the ideal situation for me would be Cutler going to Washington. They already have a solid running game and great weapons to throw the ball to. But their defense isn't great, so he'll have to be scoring points. I would also be happy if he went to New York [Jets] or Minnesota."

In other news, First or Last's Owner/Manager Gavin Espinoza is going to be facing some troubles of his own as more develops in the gun case against Plaxico Burress. Despite his best attempts to avoid jail time, it seems almost certain the star Giant's receiver will have to spend at least 6 months behind bars. Regardless of what happens (sentencing-wise), there is zero chance he will be playing the first half of the 2009 season, and that's a best-case scenario.

First or Last, who finished dead last in the LOTC last year with a 2-11 record, is going to be facing some certain receiver trouble in '09. With Burress likely out for the season, Bernard Berrian facing an uncertain QB situation in Minnesota and an aging TJ Houshmandzadeh playing for a new team, Espinoza will probably need to pick a receiver with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft.

Espinoza was unavailable for comment.

Quick Updates

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.......