All standings, scores, records, rosters and spreadsheets have all been updated and are finished for the year. The Commissioner has said he will verify the online version of the spreadsheets with his own to eliminate any discrepencies.

The FFL Web Site will remain online through the NFL playoffs and the offseason. I’ll try to post rule change suggestions online as we try to wrap up any rule changes for the 1997 season. The Commissioner has promised to finish any rules changes and have our 1997 Season Rules complete before the Super Bowl. This is an excellent idea, and I’d like to see everyone accommodate this request, because it’s very difficult to get people’s opinions during the offseason.

 

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A Word from your Commissioner
by John Trzeciak
FFL Commissioner

First of all, I would like to congratulate all the winners of the FFL this year. Specific praise goes to the Newport Beach Nightmare and the Keystone Longfellows for their fine performances in this their virgin season. Praise to the New York Griffons for their impressive point total victory, as well as, their third visit to the Fantasy Bowl. And to the LA Riot!, display the Championship trophy proudly, for you deserve it after the stellar upset in the Fantasy Bowl.

Secondly, I would like to thank you all for including me in your reindeer games. Thank you for understanding my inexperience with rules and policies, as well as, my short sabbatical early in the season. I hope everyone had fun, I did.

Thirdly, a special thank you from all of us to Ying for his continued dedication to our league. Without his organization and creative skills, I really doubt this league would survive. (By the way, we do accept volunteers)

Finally, as the commissioner of this illustrious league, I get to, without any counsel, pick two awards for the year. Here they are:

FFL Most Valuable Player of the Year:

It is very easy to just assign this title to the player who earns the most FFL points. I do agree that this has a big impact on a player’s potential for this award, however, there were standouts on each team and their impact on the success/failure of their team needs to be considered.

The Nominees:

From the 1996 FFL Champion LA Riot!, Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison (Colts) propelled his squad to victory in the 5th FFL Title Game. Maybe not a year long stand out, but definitely valuable to the Riot! in their success. Michael Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens took home the top point scorer award in the Wide Receiver race, Drew Bledsoe (Patriots) was the third most prolific Quarterback and Running Back Ricky Watters (Eagles) was a top five back.

Up until the final weeks, the New York Griffons Running BackTerrell Davis (Broncos) led the league in FFL points scored, only to drop to third overall and to second among Running Backs after Denver clinched home field advantage. Mark Brunell, Quarterback of the sophomore playoff bound Jacksonville Jaguars, finished number four among Quarterbacks and in the top ten overall. Then there is, of course, the “God Squad”, Wide Receivers – Carl Pickens (Bengals),Herman Moore (Lions) and Isaac Bruce (Rams). Numbers three, five and seven amongst their piers. (Please note that not one of their teams made it to the NFL Playoffs.)

Third place finisher, the Mercer Mustangs, certainly are well represented on this ballot. Redskins Running Back Terry Allen(Redskins) finished in second overall by 4 points. He was the highest scoring Running Back and he and Davis were more than 25 points ahead of the nearest competitor. Mustangs Quarterback and Wide Receiver, Vinny Testaverde (Ravens) and Tony Martin (Chargers) both took home silver at their respective positions.

Brett Favre (Packers) of the Pittsburgh Pachyderms was the top point scorer in the FFL this year. Although he was only 4 points ahead of the whole field, he was 14 points better than any other Quarterback and doubled the amount of points scored by over half the leagues Quarterbacks.

The Wisconsin Cheeseheads franchise offers NFL standout Emmitt Smith (Cowboys) as a potential MVP. Although not his best year, Smith amassed 163 points, within the top ten overall and number five among backs. Philadelphia Eagle Wide Receiver Irving Fryar scored 121 points for the year, putting him fourth highest of all receivers and in the top twenty overall. Shannon Sharpe (Broncos) led all Tight Ends with 111 and finished sixth among all receivers. (The Cheeseheads also placed Wide Receiver Antonio Freeman (Packers) within the top ten receivers.)

In line with Penn State being Linebacker U of the NCAA, the Pennsylvania Wildcats are Running Back Franchise of the FFL. Barry Sanders (Lions) and Curtis Martin (Patriots) tied for fifth place in overall scoring this year, third among Backs. (The Wildcats also placed Rookie Running Back Karim Abdul-Jabbar (Dolphins) within the top ten backs.)

Miami Muffdiver, Running Back Jerome Bettis (Steelers) led his squad with 163 points, finished fifth among backs and tenth overall.

Jeff Blake (Bengals), Butler/Syracuse Blowfish Quarterback, tallied enough points (142) to place him sixth amongst his peers and 14th overall.

From the newcomer Keystone Longfellows, Kicker Jeff Wilkins(49ers) led his FFL franchise and all kickers with 129 points.

The Richmond Raptors entrant is John Elway, Quarterback, Denver Broncos. Number 12 overall and fifth among Quarterbacks certainly makes Elway a very valuable player.

And what would an MVP discussion be without mentioning Dallas Armadillos Wide Receiver Jerry Rice (49ers). Rice finished ninth among receivers and in the top 30 overall.

The envelope, please. The FFL Most Valuable Player of the year isBrett Favre, Green Bay Packer Quarterback and Pittsburgh Pachyderm Franchise Player. The Pachyderms made it to the playoffs for the first time ever this year, finishing fourth. Although the injury to Robert Smith, Running Back of the Minnesota Vikings impeded their success, Favre carried them into the post season. The Pachyderms only placed two players in the top 50 point scorers (Wide Receiver Derrick Alexander (Ravens) placed 36th). Based on this fact and his first place finish in overall points, Bret Favre was the most valuable player to his squads success.

FFL Manager of the Year:

I thought this would be a cut and dried decision. Then the Griffons have to go and choke in the Fantasy Bowl.

Manager Samuel A McClain decides to start Marvin Harrison, a Colts Wide Receiver who he has played only 4 times previously this year, in the biggest game of the season. Harrison scores 23 points and seals the victory for the Riot!.

Manager Nicholas C. Fisher adds Vikings Running Back Leroy Hoard in week 12 of the season, does not start him for the first time until the semi-finals and keeps him in the line-up for the Fantasy Bowl where he score 20 points and tries to pick up where the “god squad” left off.

Once again, it is very easy to give this award to the Manager of the Fantasy Bowl Champions, but, this years Manager of the Year isNicholas C. Fisher of the New York Griffons.

The Griffons amassed 1034 points (first in total points) , had the #4 Quarterback, the #2 Back, the #3, #5 & #7 Receiver, the #2 kicker, and has already solidified a place in Fantasy Bowl contention for the next few years with smart and tactical planning for the future. Hats off to Nicholas for a very successful, though maybe a little bit disappointing, season. (By the way, you all know how much it hurt me to do what I just did)

To all:

Have a great New Year. Hope to see you all when ever possible.