The first trade at the 2011 trading deadline is a blockbuster: the Boston Wildcats have shipped QB Tom Brady to the Frelinghuysen Froglickers for RB Ray Rice. The teams also announced an additional player and a draft pick will be named later as part of the deal. “Tom Brady helped the Wildcats to two Fantasy Bowl Champsionships,” Wildcats owner Ron Yeany said, “but we felt we couldn’t keep Tom after this season and so we’ll move forward with Cam Newton as our franchise quarterback.” Boston is in a tight race in the Paterno Division as the season hits the home stretch. The Froglickers appear to be building for 2012, and have acquired the franchise’s highest-profile signal caller since the Steve Young glory days.

Syracuse — a half game ahead of Boston in the Paterno Division — also made a move at the trading deadline, acquiring RB Reggie Bush from Keystone for a 2012 1st-round draft pick. Blizzard owner told Fantasy Flyer that he felt the team had a hole to fill at running back for the playoff run. Syracuse has been beset by injuries at the position, with Darren McFadden on the bench for several weeks and Knowshon Moreno now on IR.

The Wildcats and the Blizzard play one another in a pivotal week 11 game that will give one team a big advantage in the division race. The Paterno Division — with 4 of the 7 top-scoring teams at the trade deadline — is one of the most competitive races we’ve seen in recent league history.