Stretch Drive
New York evens record, jumps into point lead;
PA at 9-1; Syracuse keeps pace; Studs upset Cheeseheads

The stretch drive is upon us, and leading the charge is the New York Griffons, who followed up last week’s 93-point onslaught with an 84-point performance this week. New York has vaulted into the point lead by virtue of their 84-41 win over Miami.

The Pennsylvania Wildcats survived a scare and ran their record to 9-1, but they needed Sunday night performances from Barry Sanders and Robert Brooks to move past Richmond. The Wildcats beat the Raptors 37-31.

Syracuse will keep pace with the Wildcats and remain two games back with a big division win over Mercer. The Blizzard dropped the Mustangs by a 69-51 count. Mercer drops to 6-4 and is now 3 games back in the Engle Division. Syracuse will now set their sites on the Week 13 showdown with Pennsylvania — a game that may determine the division championship.

NIKEtown held on for a 4-point win over Newport Beach. The Knights won 43-39, holding off Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez in the Monday night contest. NIKEtown’s Paterno Division lead increases to 3 games because the Mission Viejo Impossibles defeated the Big Carolina Bang. The Impossibles won 28-18.

The closest game on the weekend saw New Denver come from behind to beat the Wisconsin Cheeseheads by a 24-20 count. WR Courtney Hawkins’ TD in the Monday night game proved to be the gamewinner.

The Cappelletti Division is a real tight logjam after this week. All 5 teams are within 2 games of each other. As it stands now, New York, Miami and Dallas have 5-5 records, and they are all one game ahead of 4-6 New Denver and they all trail 6-4 Wisconsin by one game.

Dallas dropped to 5-5, as they lost to the Keystone Longfellows by a 34-11 count. Keystone now finds themselves tied for second place in the Paterno Division, but they are 3 games back of the NIKEtown Knights.

X-Files Connection?
Newport Beach owner calls for investigation

In light of the yanking of both his starting quarterbacks, the crosstown Mission Viejo team’s 2-game winning streak, AND the sudden appearance of a mystery fan, Newport Beach owner Dan Callahan has called for a formal investigation into suspicious league activities.

” Is it just coincidence that this fan appears the same weekend both my starting quaterbacks get yanked?(Peete & O’Donnell). Also I find it strange the league chooses to put another team into my TV market and the first week they get a mysterious compliment via the Fan.”

“Is this an X-file? I demand anwsers,” Callahan told the Fantasy Football Flyer.

Callahan also fired another shot in his ongoing battle with NIKEtown owner Sam McClain. Callahan’s team lost a close game this weekend to the Knights, and the Nightmare owner berated the NIKEtown owner for his pandering to corporate sponsors.

“Enufs Enuffffff,” Callahan said. “It’s all about money. How can a small market club like myself truly compete with corporate sponsorship.”

Trade deadline nears
New York ships Biakabatuka to Mission Viejo

Kickoff this week is the trade deadline for the FFL this year. And as such, several teams are talking trade.

New York and Mission Viejo have been the first team to pull the trigger on a deal. The Griffons send RB Tshimanga Biakabatuka to the Impossibles for a 1998 1st round draft pick. New York now has 3 picks in the 1998 first round.

Several other teams are reportedly shopping around to shore up loose ends as we head into the final 5 weeks of the season. Keep checking here for the latest.

Griffons are ALIVE!
New York scores 93, proving they’re not dead yet;
Wildcats up record to 8-1, surge to point lead

The New York Griffons proved they’re not dead yet, as they hacked the arms, legs and head off the NIKEtown Knights, by a convincing 93-27 score. The running back trio of Terrell Davis, Tshimanga Biakabatuka and Bam Morris delivered more than a flesh wound to the Knights. The Griffons big 3 running backs scored a combined 69 points, setting the league’s all-time record score for 3 backs. The Griffons up their record to 4-5 and will face another big challenge next week when they take on Miami. NIKEtown drops to 6-3 but keeps a two game lead over Carolina in the Paterno Division.

The Pennsylvania Wildcats upped their league-best record to 8-1, and also took over the point lead with a 76-54 win over the Syracuse Blizzard. QB Steve McNair had the biggest week of his young career, scoring 22 points. The Blizzard tumble to 6-3, into a two-way tie with the Mercer Mustangs. Syracuse and Mercer will meet this weekend to determine sole possession of second place in the Engle Division.

Miami owns the league’s longest current winning streak, courtesy of a 40-21 win over the New Denver 2x4s. Miami pushes its record to 5-4, one game behind division-leading Wisconsin. New Denver drops to 3-6 and remains 3 games back in the league’s closest division.

Wisconsin maintains the narrow lead in the Cappelletti Division, thanks to a 27-16 win over Dallas. Dallas suffers it’s first division loss on the year and drops into a second-place tie with Miami.

Mission Viejo started off the campaign in their new stadium with a stunning 69-68 upset of the Big Carolina Bang. The Impossibles enjoyed 14-point performances from 3 players: Brett Favre, Rob Moore and James Jett. Carolina saw Napolean Kaufman, Erik Kramer and Raymont Harris all put up big numbers, but to no avail.

Both Southern California teams won on the weekend, as Newport Beach Nightmare won their second game on the year, beating the Keystone Longfellows by a 45-41 count. Newport enjoyed a huge 26-point week from WR Joey Galloway en route to their win.

And finally, the Richmond Rattlin’ Raptors become the league’s first casualty, as they were officially eliminated from contention in the Engle Division after their 35-11 defeat at the hands of the Mercer Mustangs. With 5 weeks left in the regular season, the Raptors have dropped to 6 games off the division lead. Mercer ups their record to 6-3 and will meet Syracuse this weekend for sole possession of 2nd place in the Engle Division.

‘No Names’ no more…
Mission Viejo announces new team name

The following is the text of a press release received by Fantasy Football Flyer Thursday evening:

As the Director of Communications & Public Relations for the team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms … sometimes referred to as the Mission Viejo No Llamas … I am proud to announce that we have a new team name.

But before I disclose the name, let me take a few moments to let the people of Pittsburgh know that we are proud to have had such a strong history in Western Pa. We appreciate your past support. When Mr. David Lieberman chose to put the team up for sale, we know the city was stunned. We were hoping to leave the team in Pittsburgh for the fans’ sake, but frankly our prima donna players just couldn’t handle the weather. And we, being prima donna owners, can’t handle it either.

So the decision has finally been made … no long distance ownership here … the squad is moving to Mission Viejo effective immediately. And the new name of our team is the Mission Viejo Impossibles.

(The name seemed to pop up so naturally once we found out how impossible it is to get a decent running back in this league. Some of the owners in the FFL are a bit tight with the trades … and you all know who you are.)

Our Mascot will change from the Triceratops (which incidentally is a dinosaur and not a Pachyderm) to the friendly character known as “Smokey – The Burning Tape Recorder.” We’ll see you all out at the stadium!

Respectfully, Helen M. Zajac, Director of Communications & Public Relations, Mission Viejo Impossibles

P.S. Mr. Phil Knight and Mr. Sam McClain — you can leave your swooshes at the door. There will be no Nike products allowed in our stadium. No swooses on shoes, uniforms, shirts, hats, tattoos, not anywhere. You’re going to need to get your team Nike-Free Uniforms before you enter.

If you choose to ignore this ban, you will forfeit the game. Our fans will be supporting us as well by boycotting all things Nike!!!! You’ve heard of NO Nukes! We’re talking No Nikes!

Mr. McClain you’ve lost the spirit of competition. Your marketing efforts have leaped into a marketing mayhem and it’s time that someone stop you … and we, the MV Impossibles, are ready to do just that.

Owner of the Newport Nightmare, Mr. Dan Callahan, wholeheartedly supports the NO Nikes campaign, and is also banning all Nike-wear at Nightmare Stadium. We welcome other team owners to join us in making this league — and world — a better place.

Armadillos claw to top
Dallas defeats Wisconsin, tied for Division lead;
Syracuse upset — sets season low score

Dallas came in to week 8 with a mission: make Whiz out of the Cheeseheads. The Armadillos made good on that mission, with a 47-41 win over Wisconsin. Dallas and Wisconsin are tied at 5-3 atop the Cappelletti Division. Most impressive, however, is Dallas’ 5-0 record within the division. Dallas is the only team in the league that has an undefeated division record.

And the schedule has a real treat for us: we don’t have to wait very long for the rematch, as Wisconsin and Dallas play each other again in Week 9.

The biggest upset of the week belongs to the Keystone Longfellows, who knocked off Syracuse 39-6. The Blizzard came into the week tied for the best record in the league and also holding onto the point lead. They lost both of those distinctions but gained another distinction — low team score for the season. The Blizzard’s 6 points also shattered the team’s all-time low score of 13 points, set in week 3 of 1993 and matched again in week 12 last year.

Syracuse drops one game back of Pennsylvania, who upped their league-best record to 7-1 with a 76-59 win over the Big Carolina Bang. Carolina’s record evens at 4-4 as they drop two games behind NIKEtown. The Knights beat the Newport Beach Nightmare by a 56-25 count. NIKEtown ups their record to 6-2 and leads the Paterno Division.

Miami also evens their record with a solid 71-63 win over New York. The Muffdivers have pulled to within one game of Wisconsin and Dallas, who are tied for the division lead. New York, the 2-time defending point champions, see their record dip to 3-5 and will face a severe uphill battle to make the playoffs this year.

New Denver ups their record to 3-5, as they defeated Richmond 29-19. The Studs are tied with the Griffons at 3-5 at the bottom of the Cappelletti Division. Richmond drops to 2-6 and is in sole possession of last place in the Engle Division.

And finally, the Mercer Mustangs beat the team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms who we are now calling the Mission Viejo No Llamos. Mercer’s 25-19 win ups their record to 5-3 and they stay 2 games back of PA in the Engle Division. The No Llamos drop to 2-6 and are 4 games behind NIKEtown.

Help wanted/needed
A plea for guest writers/columnists

Remember those fun, free-wheeling days when we had our weekly “guest editorials” in the Fantasy Football Flyer?

Due to my impending move in three weeks, and the fact that I have to find a job in Boston sometime soon, I’m not gonna have quite as much time to write fun little stories and sidebars for the Fantasy Football Flyer. It takes quite a bit of time just to update the scores, standings, stats, etc., each week.

So here’s a plea: if any of you would like to write guest editorials or columns to fill up this space in the FFF over the next few weeks, I’d be more than happy to accept your submissions. I’ll even go through and fix spellings and grammar. I’m even getting better at translating liebermaneese, so who knows what is possible.

And yes, Eggo, you never wrote your scheduled guest columns a couple years back while every other owner did. So, I want everyone to CLICK HERE NOW to email Eggo and persuade him to share some of his witty repartee with the rest of us. Go ahead, just type in (or copy and paste from here…) “Please Eggo, we’d really like you to write a column for the Fantasy Flyer.”

Go ahead… click now. You’ll be glad you did.

RUNAWAY!
Big running, big team scores highlight Week 7

Week 7 was a runaway week in many ways, featuring 2 record-tying performances from running backs and some big runaway games. A quick “run”-down:

Barry Sanders: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held him to 20 yards in their first meeting of 1997. This week, Sanders made up for his poor showing earlier in the year. Barry had touchdown runs of 80 and 82 yards, caught a pass for a third TD, and finished with 215 yards rushing. The only back that came close to his yardage total this week was Curtis Enis. Sanders finished with 38 points — tying the all-time FFL record.

James Stewart: Forced into full-time action Sunday due to an injury to Natrone Means, the Jaguars’ RB spent most of the day in the end zone. His five TDs and 100+ yard performance adds up to 38 points — also tying the all-time FFL record.

Those were the individual running performances of note. Several teams had runaway victories:

Pennsylvania: After suffering their first loss of the year last week, the Wildcats responded with a 79-point week. The running backs scored 57 and QB Steve McNair added 14. Three wide receivers, however, managed goose eggs as the Wildcat’s annual receiving woes continue. Pennsylvania beat the Mission Viejo No Llamos 79-25.

Syracuse: The Blizzard blasted their way into the point lead in the league with a 79-point performance this week. The Syracuse running corps of James Stewart, Tyrone Wheatley and Jamal Anderson scored 60 points — 3 points shy of the all-time FFL record for 3 RBs in a week. Syracuse spanked the NY Griffons, who managed only 16 points and saw their record drop to 3-4.

Miami: The Muffdivers enjoyed a 20-point week from Jerome Bettis and 17-point performances from WR Terrell Owens and K Adam Vinatieri in route to a 76-11 victory over the Richmond Rattlin (Limpin) Raptors. Michael Irvin was the only Raptor to score, as Richmond sets the season low team score.

Newport: It wasn’t quite a runaway, but the Nightmare ended for Newport Beach as they finally won their first game on the year with a 38-25 win over the Keystone Longfellows. NP’s NYJet trio of Neil O’Donnell, Keyshawn Johnson and Leon Johnson were good for 33 of the team’s 38 points. Keystone proved they do indeed have something long — the league’s longest current losing streak (5 games).

In other games:

Carolina continues to climb back into the playoff hunt after a disappointing start to 1997. The Big Bang took a big step this week, knocking off division leader NIKEtown 42-30. NIKEtown’s record drops to 5-2, while Carolina ups it’s record to 4-3 in the Paterno Division.

Dallas remains one game behind Wisconsin in the Cappelletti Division with a 52-11 victory over the New Denver 2x4s. New Denver ties Richmond this week in setting the season low team score.

And finally, the Cheeseheads knocked off the Mercer Mustangs 52-24. Wisconsin’s win this week allows them to retain a one-game lead over Dallas in the Cappelletti Division. Mercer’s loss drops them 2 games back of Syracuse and Pennsylvania in the Engle Division.

REMINDER…
Thursday Night game this week

Remember … there will be a Thursday Night NFL game this week, so lineups must be called in Thursday night by 8:00 p.m.

You can change lineups after the Thursday night game and before Sunday kickoff — BUT — those changes cannot involve any players from the Thursday night contest (San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs).

Wildcats last to lose
PA suffers first defeat at hands of Mustangs;
several other games go down to the wire

The PA Wildcats, the FFL’s only unbeaten team after 5 weeks, suffered their first defeat on the season — a 49-30 thrashing at the hands of division rival Mercer. The Mustang’s game-day add of kicker Greg Davis proved to be stroke of genius as Davis booted 6 field goals and a PAT in setting the season high points for a kicker — 19.

Several other games went down to the wire, and weren’t decided until the Monday night game was completed. A quick recap:

NIKEtown beat Keystone 38-30. NIKEtown lead by 3 points going into the Monday night tilt, and Drew Bledsoe tacked on another 5 points to seal the deal. Keystone’s Terry Glenn posted a big goose egg Monday night, sealing the Longfellow’s fate. NIKEtown’s 5-1 record leads the Paterno Division.

Syracuse pulled a come-from-behind win over the Richmond Raptors by a 48-41 count. The Raptors led by a point heading into the Monday night game, but Richmond’s kicker Jason Elam sat out the contest due to injury. Syracuse sent WR Rod Smith, who had over 130 yards receiving, propelling the Blizzard to the win. Syracuse ups their record to 5-1 and pulls back into a tie with PA at the top of the Engle Division.

Miami enjoyed a 39-36 comeback victory over Wisconsin. The Cheeseheads tandem of Shawn Jefferson and Shannon Sharpe were shut out during the Monday night game while Miami’s K Adam Vinatieri scored 8 points, helping the Muffdivers overcome the 5-point deficit.

New York RB Terrell Davis posted a huge 26-point night, breaking a 33-33 tie with New Denver and propelling the Griffons to a 59-33 win. New York evens their record at 3-3, and pulls into a tie with Dallas at 1 game back of the 4-2 Cheeseheads in the Cappelletti Division.

The other two games were finalized before the Monday night contest. Carolina beat Dallas 53-36. The Big Bang ups their record to 3-3 and remains 2 games back of the Knights in the Paterno Division. And finally, the NAMELESS TEAM formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms beat the hapless, winless Newport Beach Nightmare by a 36-34 score.

NIKEtown owner speaks
FFF’s exclusive interview with Sam McClain

In an exclusive interview this week with Sam McClain, owner of the defending champion NIKEtown Knights (formerly known as the LA Riot!), McClain answered some of his critics and looked back on NIKEtown’s first home game in Pittsburgh. Here are some highlights:

On a rumored boycott of NIKEtown games: “Instead of boycotting the NIKEtown Knights’ sponsors, perhaps the owner of the aptly-named ‘Nightmare’ ought to outfit his whole team in new Nike Air Zooms. Consumption of our official sports drink — Gatorade — might also help improve his team’s poor production.”

McClain did note, however, that he understood it wouldn’t be a terrible sacrifice on the part of Newport Beach management to boycott the use of NIKEtown’s official condom sponsor — Magnum. “He’d have no use for them” McClain said.

As for the personal attacks Callahan has leveled at McClain, the Knights owner had this to say: “I don’t want to get into a personal battle with him. I’ve known Dan a long time so I will assume he was misquoted, or just drunk again.”

McClain also reflected on the Knight’s first home game last weekend — a 52-29 win over the NAMELESS TEAM formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms. The game was played at Three Rivers Stadium.

“The fans in Pittsburgh enjoyed the opportunity to express their sentiments and say farewell to the team that they had supported since the inception of the league,” McClain said in reference to the former Pittsburgh franchise. “We also arranged to have Iron City — our commercial sponsor — stock the visitors locker room with IC Lite and the new IC Twisters, a fruity drink I’m sure all those Californians enjoyed.”

Game day weather was mild in Pittsburgh, and McClain noted their were no hurricanes, earthquakes or mudslides during the weekend. “Traffic was exceptionally heavy,” McClain pointed out, “so we have allotted an extra 5 minutes from now on to get to the stadium on time.”

McClain also went out of his way to welcome the new owners to the league. “We reserved a special box seat for new team owners Ross Hessler and Helen Zajak — oh, and for their “little” dog too. What’s it’s name … Shotzy?”

Griffons on the skids
PA only undefeated team, WN and NK at 4-1

Fans of the God Squad have only seen an apparition this year. The New York Griffons lost their 3rd straight game of 1997, falling this week to the Wisconsin Cheeseheads by a 48-26 count. The 3-game losing streak ties a NY club record, which lost 3 in a row only once before — weeks 11-12-13 in 1992. QB Mark Brunnell’s first start of the year for the Griffons was not memorable. His negative-2 point performance is the worst of the year at the QB position.

The PA Wildcats remain the only undefeated team in the league, by virtue of their 49-19 win over New Denver while the previously unbeaten Syracuse Blizzard were snowed by Mercer 74-21. The Mustang’s Tony Martin had 29 points, tying a season high at the WR position.

NIKEtown marched on and holds a 2-game lead in the Paterno Division. The swoosh beat up on the Mission Viejo No Llamos by a 52-29 count. The team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms drop to 1-4. FFL insiders are speculating that the lack of a new team name and new team mascot for the former Pittsburgh franchise is beginning to provide a big distraction to the team. NOTE: The Pachyderm score here reflects a correction from earlier postings.

The tightest contest of the week saw the Richmond Rattlin’ Raptors squeak out a 32-31 victory over Keystone. The Longfellows, after winning their first 2 games of the year, have now dropped 3 straight.

The Miami Muffdivers and the Newport Beach Nightmare continue to be the hard luck teams of the league. Miami scored 40 points this week and Newport scored 45, yet both teams lost. The Muffs lost to Dallas 75-40, as new Armadillo Stan Humphries — acquired off waivers — put up 21 points while RB Robert Smith added 23. And Carolina played Freddy Kruegger, slashing up the Nightmare by a 65-45 count. RB Napolean Kaufman scored 20 points for the Big Bang.

Cats hold a tea party
It’s official: Wildcats are moving to Boston

The Pennsylvania Wildcats are moving to Boston, team owner Ron Yeany told the Fantasy Football Flyer on Tuesday. The Boston Wildcats will open the 1998 season at a stadium in Lynn, Massachusetts — a north shore suburb of Boston. The new team offices are less than one block from an Atlantic coastal beach.

While the team will play a few games in the second half of this season at the new location, the team will officially remain named the “Pennsylvania Wildcats” through the end of the 1997 season, Yeany said.

The Wildcats will be the third team in less than a year to move out of the state of Pennsylvania. The Butler Blowfish moved to Syracuse near the end of last season and the Pittsburgh Pachyderms were moved to Southern California a few weeks ago. The Wildcats move will leave the Keystone Longfellows as the only team based solely in Pennyslvania. The former State College Bandits are now owned by a consortium that splits time between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

One team owner, however, has reportedly speculated that the move to Boston is a “farce” and will only be a temporary move until the team can build a new stadium north of Los Angeles. The source also speculated that the “lame duckers” would draw the smallest crowds in the league once this news hit the streets.

Yeany, however, stressed that the move to Boston is a done deal and should not be considered a “temporary” situation. When asked to comment on the reports that this move was a “farce,” Yeany said “When you’ve got the only winless team in the league, you have to concoct wild rumors to distract your fans. I have no other comment on the matter.”

Rice: Priced to sell
Armadillos looking to clean house

The Dallas Armadillos, owners of a 3-2 record on the strength of some of their new and young talent, have placed some of their “stars” on the auction block — including Jerry Rice.

This communiqué was received recently at the offices of FFF:

“Priced to sell – pre owned – gently used starting players from previous Juggernaut offenses. Available for any reasonable trade – Dan Marino, Thurman Thomas, Jerry Rice. Please send all inquiries post haste to PSUpaul1@aol.com.”

Fantasy Football Flyer has also learned that at least 2 team owners have taken exception to Dallas’ handling of Jerry Rice this season. Dallas has placed Rice on IR, but Rice has NOT been placed officially on the NFL’s injured reserve list. At least two team owners have pointed out the problem to the Commissioner’s office. No word yet from Commissioner Trzeciak as to a resolution of the situation.

Knights, Griffons both upset
Pachys pick up first win; Nightmare still winless

The defending champion NIKEtown Knights were knocked from the ranks of the undefeated, falling victim 63-46 to the other league team with two titles: Wisconsin. The Cheeseheads were propelled by huges days from WR Antonio Freeman (20), RB Mike Alstott (17) and QB Steve Young (16). NIKEtown drops to 3-1, but maintains a one-game lead over Keystone in the Paterno Division.

The other team from last year’s Fantasy Bowl also suffered a loss. New York fell to Dallas 56-55. The loss drops New York’s record to 2-2, and into a 2nd-place tie with Dallas in the Cappalletti Division. Both New York and Dallas trail Wisconsin, who upped their record to 3-1.

Syracuse remains undefeated after a solid win over Miami 64-49. WR Jimmy Smith had a huge Monday Night game with 17 points, holding off the late charge by Muffdiver RBs Natrone Means and Jerome Bettis. Syracuse is tied atop the Engle Division with the only other undefeated team in the FFL: Pennsylvania. The Wildcats beat division rival Richmond 56-39.

Getting it’s first win this week was southern California, as the team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms beat the Keystone Longfellows 68-66. Mario Bates had a huge 30-point game for Keystone, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Brett Favre, Derrick Alexander and company. The other team based in southern California, the Newport Beach Nightmare, remains firmly entrenched on Elm Street, as they become the only winless team in the league at 0-4. New Denver beat the Nightmare 48-30.

The final game to report was also a tight affair. The Mercer Mustangs, behind a 23-point day from Jeff George, defeated the Big Carolina Bang 54-51. The Big Bang had a balanced attack (4 starters in double figures) but had points from only one receiver. A big 16-point day from K John Carney also helped Mercer, who ups their record to 2-2. Carolina falls to 1-3.

Wildcats: Boston bound
PA franchise move imminent, sources say

The Pennsylvania Wildcats are bound for Boston, according to a source close to the situation who asked to remain anonymous.

Wildcats owner Ron Yeany would neither confirm nor deny the report. In a prepared statement, Yeany said the team would likely be holding a press conference next week.

Our source at Fantasy Football Flyer went a step further and said the move to Boston is nearly a done deal. Ownership is waiting to make sure all the details are set before making any major announcement, said the source.

The anonymous source also said Yeany will be travelling to Boston before the end of September to finalize a stadium deal.

The Wildcats have made no secret of wanting out of Central Pennsylvania. It’s a brutal market trying to retain a fan base when you’re competing with Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions for the eye of football fans.

The State College franchise was sold to new out-of-town owners prior to the 1997 season, and it appears the Wildcats will move and leave the Nittany Lions as the only team on the block.

Boycott rumors persist
NP fans may be organizing a NIKEtown boycott

Unrest persists in league circles over the perceived “sellout” of the franchise now known as the NIKEtown Knights. The defending champs — formerly known as the LA Riot! — are the target of a rumored boycott by the Newport Beach Nightmare.

Nightmare owner Dan Callahan, in an email fired off to Fantasy Football Flyer, said “How can I stand by and let McClain kill the game of football? I could understand this if Sam had graduated from USC — but a Penn Stater? Perhaps Sam’s stay so close to tommy trojan has warped his values. Hopefully a return to his roots(pal) will bring him back to reality.”

Sam also sucks, according to the email message.

At least one other owner, however, has commended the business dealings of McClain. Rich Sladic, co-owner of the New Denver 2x4s, said this league thrives on free-spirited individuals and that NIKEtown should go for it. Sladic also indicated that New Denver co-owner Mike White was upset that he didn’t pursue a deal with Nike. No indication if the Woodies are negotiating any other sponsorship deals at this time.

How about the other owners? Should NIKEtown just do it? Is there a little too much Air under this latest controversy? Would YOU like to respond? CLICK HERE to send an email message to Fantasy Football Flyer about with your thoughts about the rampant commercialization of our sacred game. Do it now! Electrons are waiting!

Griffons fall, NIKEs rebound
96’s Fantasy Bowl teams have a rough weekend

The New York Griffons were knocked from the ranks of the undefeated at the hands of the Cheeseheads 46-40. The Griffons’ vaunted receiving corps scored a big fat goose egg on the weekend. The Cheeseheads were happy to see Steve Young back in the lineup, as he lead the team with 14 points.

The defending champion NIKEtown Knights found themselves in a tight game with the team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pachyderms going into the Monday Night tilt. But a 100+ yard night from Ricky Watters was just what the doctor ordered. The Knights remain undefeated with the 50-34 win, spoiling the coaching debut of Ross Hessler, who took over the helm of the Pachyderm franchise last week.

Keystone was unceremoniously dumped from the ranks of the undefeated by the New Denver 2x4s by a 42-22 score. The Boards spanked the Longfellows behind strong performances by TE Wesley Walls (12) and QB Dave Brown (10).

The Pennsylvania Wildcats and the Syracuse Blizzard both moved their records to 3-0. The Cats pounced on the Mercer Mustangs 51-29, mostly on the strength of the 360 yards rushing between Curtis Martin and Barry Sanders. Syracuse beat Richmond 47-36. WR Rod Smith pulled down a big 20 points for the Scuse.

Along with New Denver, Dallas and Carolina picked up their first wins on the season. The Armadillos beat Miami 36-19. The Muffdivers only managed 6 starting players, as all of the teams’ running backs were enjoying bye weeks. Miami fans had off-the-field reasons to rejoice this week, as team owner Pat Landy announced his wedding engagement.

The Big Bang took out their 0-2 frustrations on Newport Beach by a 74-41 score. Newly-acquired K Richie Cunningham’s 17 points was second to RB Napolean Kaufman’s 23-point performance by the Big Bang. The loss leaves both Southern California teams as the two winless clubs on the season after Week Three.

McClain downplays criticism
Knights owner touts increased publicity for league

NIKEtown owner Sam McClain this week brushed off criticism from other league owners who have reacted negatively to his huge marketing deal with athletic shoe giant Nike. Terms of the deal, while not officially disclosed, have been rumored to be in the $120-150 million range.

While McClain again would neither confirm nor deny those figures, he did speak with Fantasy Football Flyer about the consequences of his deal.

“By bringing more publicity and money into the league through my sponsorships I am helping all owners prosper,” McClain said. “It is too bad some owners are too short sighted to see that, and others are just too short,” he added.

The Knights owner also hopes to silence some of the criticism by offering his marketing services to other teams. “If I can assist any of my fellow owners in gaining sponsorship opportunities for their teams I’d be glad to help, for my regular consulting fees,” McClain said.

Commissioner Trzeciak was unable for comment, but league insiders strongly suspect that McClain would be reprimanded by the league if he is hired by any other team as a “consultant.”

McClain also downplayed the rumor that he is shopping QB Drew Bledsoe in order to free up a roster spot for Joe Namath, who is making a “comeback” through a widely-publicized advertising campaign for Nike Air Zooms.

Week 3 Game of the Week
New York Griffons vs. Wisconsin Cheeseheads

The two-time champion Cheeseheads face the three-time runnerup Griffons in FFF’s game of the week. The Cheeseheads will have Steve Young back at quarterback this week, and they catch the Griffons without Carl Pickens and without Keenan McCardell. New York has won 7 of their last 8 games. That one loss, however, was in Fantasy Bowl V.

Another interesting matchup will pit winless Newport Beach against winless Carolina. The last time these two teams met was in the final week of the 1996 season, when their unlikely 25-25 tie knocked them both out of the consolation playoffs and allowed Wisconsin to sneak into said playoffs.

Pachyderms packing for LA
Hessler to helm franchise in Orange County

In a surprise move this week, David Lieberman transferred the ownership of his team to Ross Hessler of Mission Viejo, CA. Hessler and his wife, Helen Zajac, bring a second team back to the Southern California region after the off-season move of the Riot! franchise.

Lieberman cited several reasons for his decision — being a new father and having a new job are pretty time-consuming priorities. Lieberman said he doesn’t have the time it takes to manage the team. The Pachyderms, behind a stellar year from QB Brett Favre, won a division championship in 1996.

But the Pachyderms were questioned for off-season moves, including the release of running backs Robert Smith and Lawrence Phillips. And the criticism picked up after impressive performances by both Smith and Phillips during Week 1 action.

Many observers also speculated that the Pachyderms would start to see an eroding fan base with the new NIKEtown franchise parked on the other side of the city.

No official word yet from Hessler on where the team would play and what the new name of the team will be.

… more to come

Week Two Wrapups

The Cowboys, Packers and the Jets all proved they aren’t as good as they looked in Week 1. The Steelers proved they aren’t as bad as they looked in Week 1.

Similarly, the Fantasy Football League scores in Week 2 weren’t nearly as dramatic as they were in Week 1. The defending champions — the NIKEtown Knights — scored less than half the points they tallied last week, but moved their record to 2-0 by beating Mercer 43-27.

Miami posted the highest score on the weekend, checking in with 71 points thanks to big points from the running back stable of Eddie George, Natrone Means and Jerome Bettis. The Muffdivers clobbered New Denver 71-33. Defending point champ New York moved it’s record to 2-0 with a 43-28 win over Newport Beach.

Both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania found the throttle this week. The two teams combined for a total of 38 points last week. This week, both teams topped 50. The Cheeseheads handed Richmond it’s first loss by a 58-24 count. The Wildcats weathered a late, furious charge by Andre Rison in the Monday Night game and held on for a 53-51 win over Dallas.

Syracuse, with a big Monday night game from Tim Brown, held off Pittsburgh 40-29. The final game, which was the predicted Game of the Week by FFF, had the Keystone Longfellows pulling off the come-from-behind victory over Carolina by a 41-36 count. Elvis Grbac’s 300+ yard game with 2 TDs proved to be the difference for Keystone, which sweeps the back-to-back series with Carolina and moves their record to 2-0.

NIKEtown’s Drew Bledsoe was the top point producer for the week, with a 21-point performance. PA Wildcat kicker Mike Hollis was the second-highest producer of the week with 18 points. It took Pennsylvania kickers 5 weeks in 1996 to score a team total of 18 points.

Backlash in the Knight

Several league owners have expressed disappointment, frustration, and downright disdain for the team formerly known as the LA Riot!, now called the NIKEtown Knights.

While financial terms have not been disclosed of the marketing deal between the shoe giant and the defending FFL champions, many owners expressed their concern about the over-commercialization of the league.

Syracuse Blizzard owner Doug Weaver lashed out at Knights owner Sam McClain. “Sam had the chance to play for the home crowd but he sold out and went for the money,” Weaver said. “It makes me very sad.”

Newport Beach owner Dan Callahan took the criticism of McClain a step further. “We can not allow the gross commercialization that is occuring to continue,” Callahan said. “The NFL has jerry jones now we have Sam.”

Callahan has called for a boycott on commercial sponsors of the Knights franchise.

Portland, OR — The team formerly-known-as-the-artists “L.A. RIOT!” are proud to announce their team’s new identity as the “NIKEtown Knights”. At a dramatic press conference, held in conjunction with mega marketing giant, NIKE, team owner, Samuel A. McClain unveiled the new name for the 1997 season.

On hand for the announcement was Phil Knight, co-founder and current CEO of NIKE. Knight has been largely responsible for NIKE’s phenomenal success over the past two decades. The team name was chosen by McClain in honor of Phil Knight. Also in attendance at the press conference and subsequent party, were many other NIKE endorsers including Michael Jordan, Michael Johnson, former LA Riot! wide-out Deion Sanders along with Andre Aggassi and his wife, Brooke Shields. While Jordan and Johnson are in the off-season of their respective sports, Sanders took time away from his busy two-sport schedule to attend the press conference.

Notably missing from the announcement were financial terms of the deal. A source for FFF who demanded anonymity insisted the deal was only a fraction less than Nike’s record-setting deal with Tiger Woods. Neither Knight nor McClain would independently confirm the source’s story.

The team also announced that they would play their “home” games this year in various stadiums throughout the world. Money from the NIKE sponsorship will help defer the travel costs of both teams. Additionally, each home game will be “presented by” additional sponsors. Names of individual game sponsorships will be announced prior to each home game. The teams first 4 games of the season are all “away” games.

Additionally, Pittsburgh based USAirways was announced as the official domestic air carrier and Virgin Airlines will be the official international airline. Gatorade has been signed on as the official team sports drink, while Mountain Dew is the official team soft drink. Energizer is the official team battery and Magnum, the official team condom. Negotiations are in process with other potential sponsors, McClain announced.

Phil Knight stated, “We are delighted to have a team with the successful track record of the LA Riot! join the NIKE family of endorsers. Just as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have helped make NIKE a household name in their respective sports, we anticipate that our association with this championship team will do the same for NIKE in the growing sport of Fantasy Football.”

The LA RIOT! won the “highest point total” award in the FFL inaugural season and won the league championship the following year, 1993 season, and then again this past year.

NIKE, pronounced NI-KEY, is the winged goddess of victory according to Greek mythology. She sat at the side of Zeus, the ruler of the Olympic pantheon, in Olympus. A mystical presence, symbolizing victorious encounters, NIKE presided over history’s earliest battlefields.

A Greek would say, “When we go to battle and win, we say it is NIKE.”

Synonymous with honored conquest, NIKE is the 20th century footwear that lifts the world’s greatest athletes to new levels of mastery and achievement. The NIKE SWOOSH embodies the spirit of the winged goddess who inspired the most courageous and chivalrous warriors at the dawn of civilization.

Knights hit triple digits;
Former PG backs romp

The defending champion NK Knights picked up where they left off in 1996. The Riot! scored 107 points, falling just 10 points short of the all-time record for points in a week. Wisconsin scored 117 in Week 1 of 1995. Wisconsin scored 103 fewer points this year than they did 2 years ago.

Syracuse, another team that moved during the off-season, checked in with the second-highest total of the week. The Blizzard ran up 74 points on Dallas. And despite starting Kordell Stewart at QB, the Richmond Raptors chalked up 58 points on the week. Richmond wins the Lieberman bowl, as PG managed only 29 points. Having the 49 points that former Pachyderms Lawrence Philips and Robert Smith had this week would have helped.

On the other end of the scale, WAKE UP Cheeseheads and 2x4s. The season started Sunday, yet you wouldn’t know it from their scores (WN=14, ND=18).

Several players shot out of the gate with huge weeks. For quarterbacks, Drew Bledsoe having a huge game (24 pts) was not a surprise. What many do consider a surprise, however, was Neil O’Donnell’s 25 points. And for Mercer, it didn’t matter whether they started Jeff George or Vinny Testeverde. They were both good for 17 points.

Lawrence Phillips tied for the highest score of the day (29 pts) while Eddie George (28 pts), Terry Allen (23 pts) and Robert Smith (20 pts) all put up big numbers out of the backfield. Phillips and Smith were both cut by Pittsburgh prior to the season, and were both first-round gifts in the draft for NY and DS.

WR Tim Brown tied Phillips for the best day (29 pts) while Michael Irvin (23 pts) and Cris Carter and Herman Moore (20 ea.) all scored big. Kicker Jason Elam (15 pts) had the high score amongst booters.

This is a list of the order for the 1997 draft. The first round order was determined by lottery (non-playoff teams) and order of finish for 1996. All subsequent rounds are determined strictly by 1996 order of finish.

The draft will be 9 rounds. Final roster size will be 15 players. Any teams not protecting their full compliment of 6 players from last year’s roster will receive a compensatory selection between rounds 2 and 3.

ROUND 1

1. SC – Antowain Smith, RB, Bills
2. KS – Greg Hill, RB, Chiefs
3. NY – Bam Morris, RB, Ravens
4. CL – Warrick Dunn, RB, Buccaneers
5. DS – Robert Smith, RB, Vikings
6. SY – Jimmy Smith, WR, Jaguars
7. MI – Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts
8. NY – Lawrence Phillips, RB, Rams
9. PA – Troy Davis, RB, Saints
10. RD – Michael Westbrook, WR, Redskins
11. RD – Errict Rhett, RB, Buccaneers
12. MR – William Floyd, RB, 49ers
13. NY – Keenan McCardell, WR, Jaguars
14. LA – Gary Brown, RB, Chargers

ROUND 2

1. RD – Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Panthers
2. SC – Johnnie Morton, WR, Lions
3. KS – Chris T. Jones, WR, Eagles
4. DS – Andre Rison, WR, Chiefs
5. CL – Ike Hilliard, WR, Giants
6. SY – Rod Smith, WR, Broncos
7. LA – Brad Johnson, QB, Vikiings
8. NY – Jay Graham, RB, Ravens
9. PA – Yancey Thigpen, WR, Steelers
10. WN – Mike Alstott, RB, Buccaneers
11. PA – Fred Barnett, WR, Dolphins
12. MR – Willie Green, WR, Broncos
13. PA – Horace Copeland, WR, Buccaneers
14. LA – Jeff Graham, WR, Jets

SUPPLEMENTAL

1. WN – Leeland McElroy, RB, Cardinals

ROUND 3

1. LA – Terry Kirby, RB, 49ers
2. SC – Corey Dillon, RB, Bengals
3. KS – Ty Detmer, QB, Eagles
4. NP – Craig Heyward, RB, Rams
5. CL – Raymont Harris, RB, Bears
6. SY – Mark Chmura, TE, Packers
7. MI – Darnay Scott, WR, Bengals
8. NP – Leon Johnson, RB, Jets
9. PA – J.J. Stokes, WR, 49ers
10. WN – Rae Carruth, WR, Panthers
11. PG – Andre Reed, WR, Bills
12. MR – Tiki Barber, RB, Giants
13. NY – Brett Perriman, WR, Chiefs
14. LA – Bobby Engram, WR, Bears

ROUND 4

1. RD – Lamar Smith, RB, Seahawks
2. SC – Charles Johnson, WR, Steelers
3. KS – Terrance Mathis, WR, Falcons
4. DS – Rodney Thomas, RB, Oilers
5. CL – Derrick Mayes, WR, Packers
6. SY – Byron Hanspard, RB, Falcons
7. MI – Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers
8. NP – James Jett, WR, Raiders
9. NY – Trent Dilfer, QB, Buccaneers
10. WN – Shawn Jefferson, WR, Patriots
11. PG – Rob Moore, WR, Cardinals
12. MR – Ernie Mills, WR, Panthers
13. SC – Chris Boniol, K, Eagles
14. LA – Marcus Allen, RB, Chiefs

ROUND 5

1. PA – Troy Aikman, QB, Cowboys
2. SC – Eric Metcalf, WR, Chargers
3. KS – Mario Bates, RB, Saints
4. DS – William Henderson, RB, Packers
5. CL – Jerris McPhail, RB, Dolphins
6. SY – Gus Frerotte, QB, Redskins
7. MI – Reidel Anthony, WR, Buccaneers
8. NP – Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs
9. PG – Kimble Anders, RB, Chiefs
10. WN – Travis Jervey, RB, Packers
11. PG – Andre Hastings, WR, Saints
12. MR – John Carney, K, Chargers
13. NY – Sean Dawkins, WR, Colts
14. LA – David Dunn, WR, Bengals\

Aug. 28, 1997 — Griffons guru offers predictions

Former Commissioner and New York Griffons owner Nick Fisher offers his annual prognostications for 1997:

Once again, its time for Nick’s unbiased pre-season predictions. First a review of last year’s selections.

Best Predictions: 3 of 4 finalists were chosen. Even Pittsburgh, the dark horse selection, made that list. Also, as foreseen, Butler was out of the money for the first year ever.

Worst Prediction: LA, the eventual FFL champion, to miss the playoffs.

And now for this year:

PATERNO DIVISION

LA: Strong all at all areas in the starting eight, coupled with a good bench, should allow the defending champs to handily come out on top of this, the weakest division. Interesting draft strategy to forego a kicker until just before Game 1.

CL: Added the top rookies at both Wide Receiver (I. Hilliard) and at Running Back (W. Dunn). Receivers may be too weak to put the Big Bang on top, but they should be tough.

KS: A steady improvement for this expansion team. Will definitely move up from the bottom of their division and improve upon their last year’s number 11 point total rank. If Grbac can deliver, a formidable top 8 might develop. But not enough depth or power to seriously contend.

PG: A major move from 1996 will not be duplicated as the ‘Derm fail to capitalize on their many 1996 draft picks. Four players on their 1996 end of season roster were selected in the first 35 picks of this year’s draft, with an amazing 3 in the first 16 selections. Was this an attempt to pare down their payroll? Only Brett Favre will keep PG from the lowest point total of the year. Possible division first to worst.

NP: Might be better than expected, but I doubt it. Drafted young and traded old, as the NightMare seems to have changed strategies from “Win Today at all Costs” to “Emulate the Griffons and be on top for a long long time”.

CAPPELLETTI DIVISION

NY: The Griffons may (by virtue of their number of high draft picks) have the deepest squad in the history of the FFL, too bad you can only start 8 players. NY’s production should drop for the second year in a row. However, they should hold on to win narrowly, in this, the most competitive division.

MI: Only 3 Running Backs on the entire squad, yet very formidable (despite having the same off week). Bettis, Means and George along with a strong and young supporting cast give the ‘Divers a shot to dethrone NY as the Division champs.

WN: Once again, the Cheesers will rely on Emmitt and Steve Young to carry them. Injuries may be their theme. If they are healthy or have a few key NFL players (starting ahead of their players) and Watch-Out. If Young or Smith go down, WN will sink fast. A more well-rounded team will put them in the hunt for the big dance until the very end of the season.

DS: The ‘Dillo’s continue their climb due to some crafty pre-season trading. Moore and Rice give DS a most formidable receiving corps and if R. Smith is healthy, DS should at least make the consolation playoffs and receive money for the first time ever. However, their age is a problem as no young players were selected in this year’s draft, so if they have any success, it may be short lived.

ND: The 2x4s improved their squad from a year ago. Their current 10 game-losing streak won’t end right away as they play NY and MI to open the season. Even with a last place schedule, this division is too tough for NewDenver to be a threat this year; but the crafty draft picks of rookie RB’s A. Smith and C. Dillon should give them a long term boost.

ENGLE DIVISION

PA: Reliance on running backs again should make them a contender. Once again, weak on wide receiver. However, after a one-year top playoff absence, the Wildcats midseason moves will edge them over RD for the division.

RD: Their best draft in years, coupled with their last place schedule, will make Richmond a good bet for the consolation playoffs. However, the Raptors must stay healthy, as they do not go past a starting 8 and historically do not have strong in-season roster management.

MR: William Floyd? Tiki Barber? These draft selections, though they went earlier than expected, may surprise all and lead Mercer back to the top playoffs, but don’t bet on it. A big drop in their point production, along with a tough first place schedule and the Mustangs will struggle all year. Most likely won’t even make the Consolations. Division first to division worst???

SY: The Blizzard, having either received money or making the playoffs every year of the FFL, will be hard pressed to keep the streak. This might be their most balanced team ever. Prediction: streak will end. This division is very evenly matched and with a couple of breaks and astute management, SY may jump a couple of spots. Good draft strategy to select Falcon rookie RB B. Hanspard to back up J. Anderson.

Without further adieu……

Consolations: WN to win the small bowl. Others RD, CL and DS.

Big Dance: Either MI, LA or PA beating NY in the final.

Aug. 28, 1997 — Sladic and White announce team name; no announcement yet from McClain

The team formerly known as the State College Bandits have a new home and a new name: New Denver 2x4s.

The location is apparently a split between New Jersey and Denver, PA, homes of the two co-owners. The 2x4s (aka “the Studs”) was announced as the team name via email, without fanfare, or without explanation. Cheerleaders for the crosstown rival Griffons are rumored to have written a new cheer for their opening game again New Denver: “Nail the Studs!”

The team has been designated as “ND” by the editors of Fantasy Football Flyer.

Meanwhile, back in Canonsburg, PA, the owner of the defending champion team has failed to make an announcement concerning his team’s new location and name. Sam McClain’s draft day proclamation that “negotiatons are ongoing” is still the last word we’ve heard from the team formerly known as the LA Riot!

Aug. 20, 1997 — Draft offers few surprises

The Fantastic Football League 1997 draft started a little late and offered few surprises for FFL owners. Running backs were the preferred 1st round picks for all but 4 teams. Wide receivers were taken by all but 2 teams in the 2nd round. Four rookies were chosen in the first 19 picks, including #1 pick Antowain Smith.

Doug Weaver announced that his team, formerly the Butler Blowfish, has taken on the new nickname “Syracuse Blizzard.” Sam McClain deflected all questions concerning his teams’ location and nickname. The owner of the defending FFL champion LA Riot! simply stated that negotiations are ongoing. Rich Sladic and Mike White, new owners of the team formerly known as the State College Bandits, also failed to offer any specific details about where their team will be playing or what the team name will be.

The ever-posturing NY Griffons made 2 pre-draft trades, shuffling some late-round draft picks to Pittsburgh and acquiring Tim Biakabatuka from the SC Bandits. New York then went on and drafted Bam Morris and Lawrence Phillips during the first 8 picks. Rumor has it the Griffons will hire a secretary to coordinate the probation logistics for his 1st round running backs.

The PGA Championship was the preferred distraction at most draft locations, as the words “Tiger Woods” were mentioned more often during the afternoon than the words “tight end.” And despite a major golf event on TV, Richmond owner Chris Lieberman managed to draft players that are all alive and on an NFL roster. Many owners were impressed.

Aug. 12, 1997 — Trade flurry precedes protection deadline

Herman Moore, Marshall Faulk and Thurman Thomas were just a few of the big names that changed teams prior to the Aug. 11 protection deadline. The trade flurry saw 8 players and 10 draft picks exchange hands.

New York broke up the self-ordained “God Squad” by shipping Herman Moore to Dallas for a conditional draft pick. The deal was believed to be for the Armadillos’ 1998 1st round pick, with a conditional points incentive clause for Moore. FFF is awaiting for the specifics from the Commissioner’s office.

Pennsylvania also broke up it’s stable of running backs by shipping 1994’s number one draft pick – Marshall Faulk – to the NY Griffons for Steve McNair.

And while most of the trades helped to shore up specific needs for the teams involved, one has to wonder why Richmond spent a 3rd round draft pick on Jason Elam when they could have taken Chris Boniol from the PG Pachyderms for free. Maybe the Raptor’s owner is foreseeing big things for Kordell Stewart, whom they opted for instead.

July 30, 1997 – Cerenzia sells Bandits

The league’s first champsionship team — the State College Bandits — has been sold. Michael Cerenzia, whose Bandits won the first ever Fantasy Bowl, cited a lack of time to properly manage the team as his reason for the sale.

State College beat the Butler Blowfish 47-40 in Fantasy Bowl I in 1992. The Bandit’s strengths that year were centered around WRs Andre Rison, Anthony Miller and QB Warren Moon. But the core players from that champsionship team had succumbed to age and injury over the past few years. State College finished the 1996 season tied for the second-worst record in the league and finished last in total points.

Rebuilding the franchise will be new owners Rich Sladic, who resides in Denver, PA, and Mike White, who resides in Scotch Plains, NJ. No word yet on what the team will carry as a nickname or where the team will be based. The “New Jersey” designation has been available since the NJ Kings moved to Wisconsin and took the nickname “Cheeseheads.”

• Composite Spreadsheet (PDF, 20 pages, 63K)
• 1996 Top Players
• 1996 Transactions
• 1996 Final Schedule, Scores
• 1996 Final Standings
• 1996 Final Rosters
• 1996 Draft

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.

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.

Here are the chances and results of the 5 eligible teams for the 1997 FFL Draft Lottery.

The lottery draft order applies only for the first 5 picks of the first round of the 1997 draft.

The lottery was held on April 18, 1997 at the River’s Bend Golf Tournament in Richmond, VA.

Record Thru 11 Games———- +PLUS+ ———- Total Points Weeks 11 thru 15

TOTAL CHANCES:
Keystone Longfellows = 9
Richmond Raptors = 8
Big Carolina Bang = 5
State College Bandits = 4
Dallas Armadillos = 4

RESULTS:
1. State College
2. Keystone
3. Richmond
4. Carolina
5. Dallas
This will be the order for the first 5 picks of the first round only.

FFL Proposed Rules Changes
Here are the RESULTS of the FFL rule modifications proposed by individual owners and the Commissioner. Each franchise received 1 vote. Each franchise voted. One proposal ended in a tie, with the commissioner declining to change the rule.

A few of the rules changes have further, minor implications. These will all be worked out by the permanent rules committee (Commissioner Trzeciak, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Yeany) and will be instituted for Fall 1997.

SECTION ONE: “Over and done” Rules
A majority vote will officially change these rules immediately. If a tie should occur, the commissioner will cast the deciding vote.

• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Elimination of “Experience Cap” policy.
  Rationale: Moving the roster to 14 effectively added a lot of player movement. Created more transaction dollars. Result: PASSED.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Allow teams to drop/add Quarterbacks and Kickers only during weeks 15 and 16. Result: PASSED.
  Restrictions: All regular season drop/add rules are still in effect. Player must not be on a roster from week 14 on.
  Rationale: This will allow teams some flexibility if they encounter late season injuries.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Eliminate the mandatory drop before week 4 of the regular season. 14 rounds of drafting. 14 active players maintained on each roster. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: If you draft well, you keep your players. If you do not draft well you do not get “pennies from heaven” from teams that did draft well. Draft 14 players and let more transaction money go into the pot for teams to manage their rosters.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Weekly team rosters include any 6 back/receiver combination from eligible players on team rosters. Result: REJECTED.
  Restrictions: Each roster submission must include 1 back and 1 receiver. All other roster submission rules apply.
  Rationale: Allows for more flexibility when determining which player within each position to play each week. (i.e. deciding to play a player who may get one carry be day as opposed to two) Running Back shortage since expansion. Teams without a regularly scoring Running Back can play a receiver who may have a better opportunity for a big play.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Institute the same scoring rules for Backs and Receivers. (Use Present Back structure) Result: REJECTED.
  Rationale: Easier to figure out scores each week. Potentially increases total points scoring.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Once a season, each franchise will be responsible for verifying weekly scores with the commissioner. Weekly scores will not be considered official until verification takes place. Result: REJECTED.
  Rationale: There are 14 weeks of the regular season. There are 14 franchises. Scores should be verified to ensure correctness.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Any PERSON that is not on the roster of a college football team may be drafted. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: Ends any disputes over suspended, unsigned, retired/unretired/comeback players.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Eliminate the requirement that an added player must be kept on a roster for 2 weeks. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: It is an arbitrarily constrictive rule. It makes no sense to not be able to pick up a player for just one week. This would also open the door for more transaction money in the pot.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Increase the number of drop/add transactions allowed from 2 per week to 3 per week. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: With a 14-man roster, a little more flexibility is necessary. This would also open the door for more transaction money in the pot.

SECTION TWO – “Further Implication” RulesAt least 2/3 of the franchises must vote to make these changes. Further examination of the effects this rule change will have on all FFL policies will need to be addressed if this change passes.

• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Redraft full roster each year. Result: REJECTED.
  Influenced: Many rules will be affected by making this change.

SECTION THREE – “Decide how” RulesA majority vote will officially change these rules. If a tie should occur, the commissioner will cast the deciding vote. Another vote will be necessary to implement change. Suggestions will be collected and another vote will be held to determine new policies.

• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Institute a tie-breaker for games where home field advantage is not earned/predetermined. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: Rewards teams that are solid overall. Could encourage teams to keep extra kickers, potentially increasing availability of other players. The team with good depth would have a better chance of winning. “Or, perhaps now I should keep that extra kicker, just in case.” Ties are stupid. College football has even eliminated them.
• NEW/MODIFIED RULE – Develop new policies for tie-breakers when considering who makes the playoffs and as what seed. Result: PASSED.
  Rationale: Determine team strength/success by total points, not common opponents. They are overly complicated. There is no defense in the FFL. It is all offense and that means scoring. We are in a league where scoring the most points is the objective, both during the week and for the season. With NFL off-weeks, both “records against common opponents” and “schedule strength” does not accurately reflect anything on any given week.

TOP 50 FFL PLAYERS
Rank Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.					
1	Favre, Brett	         QB	Packers	      Pachyderms        204
2	Allen, Terry	         RB	Redskins      Mustangs		200
3	Davis, Terrell	         RB	Broncos	      Griffons		197
4	Testaverde, Vinnie	 QB	Ravens	      Mustangs		190
5	Sanders, Barry	         RB	Lions	      Wildcats		172
	Martin, Curtis	         RB	Patriots      Wildcats		172
7	Watters, Ricky	         RB	Eagles	      Riot!		170
8	Bledsoe, Drew	         QB	Patriots      Riot!		167
9	Brunell, Mark	         QB	Jaguars	      Griffons		164
10	Bettis, Jerome	         RB	Steelers      Muffdivers	163
	Smith, Emmitt	         RB	Cowboys	      Cheeseheads	163
12	Elway, John	         QB	Broncos	      Raptors		159
13	Jackson, Michael	 WR	Ravens	      Riot!		151
14	Blake, Jeff	         QB	Bengals	      Blowfish		143
15	Martin, Tony	         WR	Chargers      Mustangs		140
16	Wilkins, Jeff	         K	49ers	      Longfellows	129
17	Pickens, Carl	         WR	Bengals	      Griffons		128
18	Fryar, Irving	         WR	Eagles	      Cheeseheads	121
19	Moore, Herman	         WR	Lions	      Griffons		117
20	Kasay, John	         K	Panthers      Griffons		116
21	Mitchell, Scott	         QB	Lions	      Big Bang		114
22	Anderson, Gary	         K	Eagles	      Raptors		112
23	Sharpe, Shannon	         TE	Broncos	      Cheeseheads	111
24	Bruce, Isaac	         WR	Rams	      Griffons		110
	Carter, Cris	         WR	Vikings	      Riot!		110
26	Jacke, Chris	         K	Packers	      Armadillos	109
27	Rice, Jerry	         WR	49ers	      Armadillos	108
28	Thomas, Thurman	         RB	Bills	      Nightmare		107
29	Freeman, Antonio	 WR	Packers	      Cheeseheads	106
30	George, Eddie	         RB	Oilers	      Muffdivers	104
	Pelfrey, Doug	         K	Bengals	      Muffdivers	104
32	Elam, Jason	         K	Broncos	      Riot!		103
33	Brown, Tim	         WR	Raiders	      Blowfish		98
34	Hostetler, Jeff	         QB	Raiders	      Nightmare		97
35	Stewart, James	         RB	Jaguars	      Blowfish		96
36	Alexander, Derrick	 WR	Ravens	      Pachyderms	95
37	Reed, Jake	         WR	Vikings	      Muffdivers	94
	Andersen, Morten	 K	Falcons	      Blowfish		94
39	Abdul-Jabbar, Karim	 RB	Dolphins      Wildcats		93
40	Marino, Dan	         QB	Dolphins      Armadillos	92
41	Conway, Curtis	         WR	Bears	      Big Bang		89
	Galloway, Joey	         WR	Seahawks      Nightmare		89
	Kennison, Eddie	         WR	Rams	      Nightmare		89
44	Allen, Marcus	         RB	Chiefs	      Longfellows	85
	Johnson, Anthony	 RB	Panthers      Bandits		85
46	Reed, Andre	         WR	Bills	      Mustangs		84
	Glenn, Terry	         WR	Patriots      Longfellows	84
48	Brien, Doug	         K	Saints	      Nightmare		83
49	McDuffie, OJ	         WR	Dolphins      Longfellows	80
	Anderson, Jamal	         RB	Falcons	      Blowfish		80

						
RECEIVERS
Rank Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.				
1	Jackson, Michael	WR	Ravens	        Riot!		151
2	Martin, Tony	        WR	Chargers	Mustangs	140
3	Pickens, Carl	        WR	Bengals	        Griffons	128
4	Fryar, Irving	        WR	Eagles	        Cheeseheads     121
5	Moore, Herman	        WR	Lions	        Griffons	117
6	Sharpe, Shannon	        TE	Broncos	        Cheeseheads	111
7	Bruce, Isaac	        WR	Rams	        Griffons	110
	Carter, Chris	        WR	Vikings	        Riot!		110
9	Rice, Jerry	        WR	49ers	        Armadillos	108
10	Freeman, Antonio	WR	Packers	        Cheeseheads	106
11	Brown, Tim	        WR	Raiders	        Blowfish	98
12	Alexander, Derrick	WR	Ravens	        Pachyderms      95
13	Reed, Jake	        WR	Vikings	        Muffdivers	94
14	Conway, Curtis	        WR	Bears	        Big Bang	89
	Galloway, Joey	        WR	Seahawks	Nightmare	89
	Kennison, Eddie	        WR	Rams	        Nightmare	89
17	Reed, Andre	        WR	Bills	        Mustangs	84
	Glenn, Terry	        WR	Patriots	Longfellows	84
19	McDuffie, OJ	        WR	Dolphins	Longfellows	80

						
RUNNING BACKS
Rank Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.				
1	Allen, Terry	        RB	Redskins	Mustangs	200
2	Davis, Terrell	        RB	Broncos	        Griffons	197
3	Sanders, Barry	        RB	Lions	        Wildcats	172
	Martin, Curtis	        RB	Patriots	Wildcats	172
4	Watters, Ricky	        RB	Eagles	        Riot!		170
5	Bettis, Jerome	        RB	Steelers	Muffdivers	163
	Smith, Emmitt	        RB	Cowboys	        Cheeseheads	163
6	Thomas, Thurman	        RB	Bills	        Nightmare	107
7	George, Eddie	        RB	Oilers	        Muffdivers	104
8	Stewart, James	        RB	Jaguars	        Blowfish	96
9	Abdul-Jabbar, Karim	RB	Dolphins	Wildcats	93
10	Allen, Marcus	        RB	Chiefs	        Longfellows	85
	Johnson, Anthony	RB	Panthers	Bandits		85
12	Anderson, Jamal	        RB	Falcons	        Blowfish	80

						
QUARTERBACKS
Rank Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.				
1	Favre, Brett	        QB	Packers	        Pachyderms	204
2	Testaverde, Vinnie	QB	Ravens	        Mustangs	190
3	Bledsoe, Drew	        QB	Patriots	Riot!		167
4	Brunell, Mark	        QB	Jaguars	        Griffons	164
5	Elway, John	        QB	Broncos	        Raptors		159
6	Blake, Jeff	        QB	Bengals	        Blowfish	143
7	Mitchell, Scott	        QB	Lions	        Big Bang	114
8	Hostetler, Jeff	        QB	Raiders	        Nightmare	97
9	Marino, Dan	        QB	Dolphins	Armadillos	92

						
KICKERS
Rank Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.					
1	Wilkins, Jeff	        K	49ers	        Longfellows	129
2	Kasay, John	        K	Panthers	Griffons	116
3	Anderson, Gary	        K	Eagles	        Raptors		112

BY NFL TEAM
Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.						
Davis, Terrell	        RB	Broncos	        Griffons     	197
Elway, John	        QB	Broncos	        Raptors		159
Sharpe, Shannon	        TE	Broncos	        Cheeseheads	111
Elam, Jason	        K	Broncos	        Riot!		103

Blake Jeff	        QB	Bengals	        Blowfish     	143
Pickens, Carl	        WR	Bengals	        Griffons	128
Pelfrey, Doug	        K	Bengals	        Muffdivers	104

						
Abdul-Jabbar, Karim	RB	Dolphins	Wildcats     	93
Marino, Dan	        QB	Dolphins	Armadillos	92
McDuffie, OJ	        WR	Dolphins	Longfellows	80

						
Watters, Ricky	        RB	Eagles	        Riot!	     	170
Fryar, Irving	        WR	Eagles	        Cheeseheads	121
Anderson, Gary	        K	Eagles	        Raptors		112

						
Sanders, Barry	        RB	Lions	        Wildcats     	172
Moore, Herman	        WR	Lions	        Griffons	117
Mitchell, Scott	        QB	Lions	        Big Bang        114

						
Favre, Brett	        QB	Packers	        Pachyderms   	204
Jacke, Chris	        K	Packers	        Armadillos	109
Freeman, Antonio	WR	Packers	        Cheeseheads	106

						
Martin, Curtis	        RB	Patriots	Wildcats     	172
Bledsoe, Drew	        QB	Patriots	Riot!		167
Glenn, Terry	        WR	Patriots	Longfellows	84

						
Testaverde, Vinnie	QB	Ravens	        Mustangs     	190
Jackson, Michael	WR	Ravens	        Riot!		151
Alexander, Derrick	WR	Ravens	        Pachyderms	95

						
Wilkins, Jeff	        K	49ers	        Longfellows  	129
Rice, Jerry	        WR	49ers	        Armadillos	108

					
Thomas, Thurman	        RB	Bills	        Nightmare    	107
Reed, Andre	        WR	Bills	        Mustangs	84

						
Andersen, Morten	K	Falcons	        Blowfish     	94
Anderson, Jamal	        RB	Falcons	        Blowfish	80

						
Brunell, Mark	        QB	Jaguars	        Griffons     	164
Stewart, James	        RB	Jaguars	        Blowfish	96

						
Kasay, John	        K	Panthers	Griffons     	116
Johnson, Anthony	RB	Panthers	Bandits		85

						
Brown, Tim	        WR	Raiders	        Blowfish     	98
Hostetler, Jeff	        QB	Raiders	        Nightmare	97

						
Bruce, Isaac	        WR	Rams	        Griffons     	110
Kennison, Eddie	        WR	Rams	        Nightmare	89

						
Carter, Cris	        WR	Vikings	        Riot!	     	110
Reed, Jake	        WR	Vikings	        Muffdivers	94

						
Conway, Curtis	        WR	Bears	        Big Bang     	89

					
Martin, Tony	        WR	Chargers	Mustangs     	140

						
Allen, Marcus	        RB	Chiefs	        Longfellows  	85

						
Smith, Emmitt	        RB	Cowboys	        Cheeseheads  	163

						
George, Eddie	        RB	Oilers	        Muffdivers   	104

						
Allen, Terry	        RB	Redskins	Mustangs     	200

						
Brien, Doug	        K	Saints	        Nightmare    	83

						
Galloway, Joey	        WR	Seahawks	Nightmare    	89

						
Bettis, Jerome	        RB	Steelers	Muffdivers   	163

						
				Buccaneers	None in Top 50	
				Cardinals	None in Top 50
				Colts		None in Top 50
				Giants		None in Top 50
				Jets		None in Top 50

						
BY FFL TEAM
Player Position NFL Team FFL Team Pts.						
Davis, Terrell	        RB	Broncos	         Griffons	197
Brunell, Mark	        QB	Jaguars	         Griffons	164
Pickens, Carl	        WR	Bengals	         Griffons	128
Moore, Herman	        WR	Lions	         Griffons	117
Kasay, John	        K	Panthers	 Griffons	116
Bruce, Isaac	        WR	Rams	         Griffons	110

						
Blake, Jeff	        QB	Bengals	         Blowfish	143
Brown, Tim	        WR	Raiders	         Blowfish	98
Stewart, James	        RB	Jaguars	         Blowfish	96
Andersen, Morten	K	Falcons	         Blowfish	94
Anderson, Jamal	        RB	Falcons	         Blowfish	80

						
Thomas, Thurman	        RB	Bills	         Nightmare	107
Hostetler, Jeff	        QB	Raiders	         Nightmare	97
Galloway, Joey	        WR	Seahawks	 Nightmare	89
Kennison, Eddie	        WR	Rams	         Nightmare	89
Brien, Doug	        K	Saints	         Nightmare	83

					
Watters, Ricky	        RB	Eagles	         Riot!   	170
Bledsoe, Drew	        QB	Patriots	 Riot!	        167
Jackson, Michael	WR	Ravens	         Riot!	        151
Carter, Cris	        WR	Vikings	         Riot!	        110
Elam, Jason	        K	Broncos	         Riot!	        103

						
Smith, Emmitt	        RB	Cowboys	         Cheeseheads	163
Fryar, Irving	        WR	Eagles	         Cheeseheads	121
Sharpe, Shannon	        TE	Broncos	         Cheeseheads	111
Freeman, Antonio	WR	Packers	         Cheeseheads	106

						
Wilkins, Jeff	        K	49ers	         Longfellows	129
Allen, Marcus	        RB	Chiefs	         Longfellows	85
Glenn, Terry	        WR	Patriots	 Longfellows	84
McDuffie, OJ	        WR	Dolphins	 Longfellows	80

						
Bettis, Jerome	        RB	Steelers	 Muffdivers	163
George, Eddie	        RB	Oilers	         Muffdivers	104
Pelfrey, Doug	        K	Bengals	         Muffdivers	104
Reed, Jake	        WR	Vikings	         Muffdivers	94

						
Allen, Terry	        RB	Redskins	 Mustangs	200
Testaverde, Vinnie	QB	Ravens	         Mustangs	190
Martin, Tony	        WR	Chargers	 Mustangs	140
Reed, Andre	        WR	Bills	         Mustangs	84

						
Jacke, Chris	        K	Packers	         Armadillos	109
Rice, Jerry	        WR	49ers	         Armadillos	108
Marino, Dan	        QB	Dolphins	 Armadillos	92

						
Sanders, Barry	        RB	Lions	         Wildcats	172
Martin, Curtis	        RB	Patriots	 Wildcats	172
Abdul-Jabbar, Karim	RB	Dolphins	 Wildcats	93

						
Mitchell, Scott	        QB	Lions	         Big Bang	114
Conway, Curtis	        WR	Bears	         Big Bang	89

						
Favre, Brett	        QB	Packers	         Pachyderms	204
Alexander, Derrick	WR	Ravens	         Pachyderms	95

						
Elway, John	        QB	Broncos	         Raptors	159
Anderson, Gary	        K	Eagles	         Raptors	112

						
Johnson, Anthony	RB	Panthers	 Bandits	85

Most recent transactions are added to the top of the list. Traded future draft picks will be always kept at the bottom of this page.

• December 21, 1996 Pennyslvania dropped Steve Bono, QB, Chiefs; moved John Friesz, QB, Seahawks, from IR to active roster.
• November 27, 1996 Pittsburgh dropped Brett Carolan, TE, Dolphins; added Jamie Asher, TE, Redskins.
• November 27, 1996 Los Angeles dropped Don Beebe, WR, Packers; added Brent Jones, TE, 49ers.
• November 27, 1996 New York dropped Scottie Graham, RB, Vikings; added Mike Hollis, K, Jaguars.
• November 27, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Charlie Jones, WR, Chargers; added Doug Nussmeier, QB, Saints.
• November 27, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Terry Mickens, WR, Packers; added Scott Blanton, K, Redskins.
• November 21, 1996 Pennsylvania place John Friesz, QB, Seahawks on IR; added Steve Bono, QB, Chiefs.
• November 21, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Ted Popson, TE, 49ers; added Chris Calloway, WR, Giants.
• November 17, 1996 New York dropped Amp Lee, RB, Vikings; added Leroy Hoard, RB, Vikings.
• November 17, 1996 Butler dropped Alfred Pupunu, TE, Chargers; added Mike Tomczak, QB, Steelers.
• November 16, 1996 State College dropped Kent Graham, QB, Cardinals; added Stan Humphries, QB, Chargers.
• November 13, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Anthony Morgan, WR, Packers; added Thomas Lewis, WR, Giants.
• November 12, 1996 Carolina dropped Mike Tomczak, QB, Steelers; added Dave Brown, QB, Giants.
• November 10, 1996 Carolina dropped Tommy Vardell, RB, 49ers; added Jason Dunn, TE, Eagles.
• November 5, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Ed McCaffrey, WR, Broncos; added Charlie Jones, WR, Chargers.
• November 5, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Fred Barnett, WR, Dolphins; added Terry Mickens, WR, Packers.
• November 3, 1996 State College dropped Stan Humphries, QB, Chargers; added Kent Graham, QB, Cardinals.
• November 3, 1996 Mercer dropped Malcolm Floyd, TE, Oilers; added Charlie Garner, RB, Eagles.
• November 3, 1996 Los Angeles placed JJ Stokes, WR, 49ers on IR; added Stephen Davis, RB, Redskins.
• November 3, 1996 Los Angeles trades Larry Centers, RB, Cardinals to Keystone for Don Beebe, WR, Packers.
• October 30, 1996 Pittsburgh placed Robert Smith, RB, Vikings on IR; added Brett Carolan, TE, Dolphins.
• October 30, 1996 Pittsburgh dropped Craig Erickson, QB, Dolphins; added Le’Shai Maston, RB, Jaguars.
• October 30, 1996 New York dropped Charlie Garner, RB, Eagles; added Amp Lee, RB, Vikings.
• October 30, 1996 New York dropped Stephen Davis, RB, Redskins; added Scottie Graham, RB, Vikings.
• October 29, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Quinn Early, WR, Bills; added Anthony Morgan, WR, Packers.
• October 29, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Mike Hollis, K, Jaguars; added Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers.
• October 27, 1996 Dallas dropped Brent Jones, TE, 49ers; added Eric Bjornson, TE, Cowboys.
• October 27, 1996 Los Angeles dropped Jeff Jaeger, K, Bears; added Moe Williams, RB, Vikings.
• October 23, 1996 Wisconsin dropped Kent Graham, QB, Cardinals; added Ty Detmer, QB, Eagles.
• October 22, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Eric Bjornson, TE, Cowboys; added Ed McCaffrey, WR, Broncos.
• October 22, 1996 New York dropped Steve Bono, QB, Chiefs; added Chris Chandler, QB, Oilers.
• October 17, 1996 Pittsburgh dropped Lamont Warren, RB, Colts; added Reggie Cobb, RB, Jets.
• October 17, 1996 Pittsburgh dropped Chris Chandler, QB, Oilers; added Craig Erickson, QB, Dolphins.
• October 17, 1996 New York dropped Harold Green, RB, Rams; added Stephen Davis, RB, Redskins.
• October 17, 1996 Wisconsin dropped Travis Jervey, RB, Packers; added Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots.
• October 17, 1996 Butler dropped Irv Smith, TE, Saints; added Eric Green, TE, Ravens.
• October 17, 1996 Newport Beach dropped Moe Williams, RB, Vikings; added Scott Sisson, K, Vikings.
• October 17, 1996 Pennsylvania placed Robert Brooks, WR, Packers on IR; added Fred Barnett, WR, Dolphins.
• October 16, 1996 Carolina dropped Scott Sisson, K, Vikings; added Al Del Greco, K, Oilers.
• October 16, 1996 Carolina dropped Leroy Hoard, RB, Panthers; added Mike Tomczak, QB, Steelers.
• October 15, 1996 Butler dropped Lonnie Johnson, TE, Bills; added Alfred Pupunu, TE, Chargers.
• October 15, 1996 Keystone dropped Alvin Harper, WR, Buccaneers; added Henry Ellard, WR, Redskins.
• October 15, 1996 Keystone dropped Winslow Oliver, RB, Panthers; added Don Beebe, WR, Packers.
• October 12, 1996 Los Angeles activated Bam Morris, RB, Ravens off inactive/suspended list. LA dropped Mike Alstott, RB, Buccaneers to free up roster spot for Morris.
• October 12, 1996 State College dropped Robert Green, RB, Bears; added Anthony Johnson, RB, Panthers. NOTE: State College attempted to add Johnson before kickoff of Week 6, and was awaiting a ruling on whether injured RB Tim Biakabatuka would be eligible as a prospect if he had been placed on IR. Commissioner Trzeciak ruled on Biakabatuka’s status but subsequently forgot to place the transaction. When SC owner Mike Cerenzia saw the Dallas add of Anthony Johnson online, he pointed out the oversight to the Commissioner. Hence, the Dallas transaction of Oct. 8 has been reversed.
• October 8, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Rick Mirer, QB, Seahawks; added John Friesz, QB, Seahawks.
• October 8, 1996 Pennsylvania added Ted Popson, TE, 49ers to fill roster spot from Terrell Fletcher trade to RD.
• October 8, 1996 Dallas dropped Brent Jones, TE, 49ers; added Anthony Johnson, RB, Panthers.
• October 8, 1996 Butler dropped Kevin Williams, WR, Cowboys; added Charles Johnson, WR, Steelers.
• October 8, 1996 Pennsylvania trades RB Terrell Fletcher, Chargers to Richmond for Richmond draft pick 1997(5 or 4). Richmond drops TE Marco Battaglia, Bengals.
• October 6, 1996 Newport Beach reaquired Moe Williams, who was previously dropped to add Bam Morris.
• October 6, 1996 Los Angeles reaquired Bam Morris after a ruling by the transaction review committee. Morris was placed directly on the inactive list (NFL suspended).
• October 6, 1996 Wisconsin dropped Jacke Harris, TE, Buccaneers; added Derrick Mayes, WR, Packers.
• October 6, 1996 Miami dropped Michael Husted, K, Buccaneers to free roster spot for Tony Banks.
• October 6, 1996 Los Angeles added Jeff Jaeger, K, Bears, to fill roster spot created by Tony Banks trade.
• October 6, 1996 Los Angeles dropped Deion Sanders, WR, Cowboys; added Ricky Dudley, TE, Raiders.
• October 6, 1996 Dallas dropped Daryl Hobbs, WR, Raiders; added Todd Collins, QB, Bills.
• October 4, 1996 Los Angeles traded Tony Banks, QB, Rams to Miami for Miami’s 1997 2nd-round draft pick.
• October 1, 1996 Wisconsin dropped Rodney Peete, QB, Eagles; added Kent Graham, QB, Cardinals.
• October 1, 1996 Carolina dropped Stephen Davis, RB, Redskins; added Leroy Hoard, RB, Panthers.
• October 1, 1996 Butler dropped Trent Dilfer, QB, Buccaneers; added Lonnie Johnson, TE, Bills.
• October 1, 1996 Butler dropped Torrance Small, WR, Saints; added Jimmy Smith, WR, Jaguars.
• September 29, 1996 Los Angeles dropped Steve Walsh, QB, Rams; added Bobby Hebert, QB, Falcons.
• September 29, 1996 Dallas dropped Derek Mayes, WR, Packers; added Scott Galbraith, TE, Redskins.
• September 29, 1996 Dallas dropped Carlos Huerta, K, formerly of Bears; added Lamar Smith, RB, Seahawks.
• September 28, 1996 Pittsburgh dropped Mark Chmura, TE, Packers; added Chris Penn, WR, Chiefs.
• September 26, 1996 Keystone dropped Todd Peterson, K, Seahawks; added Elvis Grbac, QB, 49ers.
• September 26, 1996 New York added (for the 3rd time in 3 years…) Harold Green, RB, Rams.
• September 25, 1996 Butler traded 1998 2nd round draft pick to New York for Jamal Anderson, RB, Falcons. Butler places Lake Dawson, WR, Chiefs on IR.
• September 24, 1996 Pennsylvania dropped Sean Dawkins, WR, Colts; added Frank Wycheck, TE, Oilers.
• September 24, 1996 Butler dropped Leroy Hoard, RB, Ravens; added LeShon Johnson, RB, Cardinals.
• September 24, 1996 Butler dropped Matt Stover, K , Ravens; added Johnnie Morton, WR, Lions.
• September 24, 1996 Newport Beach dropped Randal Hill, WR, Dolphins; added Joe Aska, RB, Raiders.
• September 24, 1996 State College dropped Jerry Ellison, RB, Buccaneers; added Zack Crockett, RB, Colts.
• ROSTER CUT-DOWN DROPS: Prior to kickoff Week 4 all teams must drop one player and finalize roster at 14 active players. (These are FREE drops, they will not be charged to your transaction account)
  Butler dropped Herschel Walker, RB, Cowboys
  Carolina dropped Eric Zeier, QB, Ravens
  Dallas dropped Bryan Still, WR, Chargers
  Keystone dropped Rodney Thomas, RB, Oilers
  Los Angeles dropped LeShon Johnson, RB, Cardinals
  Mercer dropped Dino Philyaw, RB, Panthers
  Miami dropped Alex VanDyke, WR, Jets
  Newport Beach dropped Keith Byars, RB, Dolphins
  New York dropped Al DelGreco, K, Oilers
  Pennsylvania dropped Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots
  Pittsburgh dropped Johnnie Morton, WR, Lions
  Richmond dropped J.J. Birden, WR, Falcons
  State College dropped Terrell Owens, WR, 49ers
  Wisconsin dropped Leslie Sheppard, WR, Redskins
• September 22, 1996; Dallas dropped Henry Ellard, WR, Redskins; added Daryl Hobbs, WR, Raiders.
• September 20, 1996; Newport Beach dropped Moe Williams, RB, Vikings; added Bam Morris, RB, Ravens.
• September 18, 1996; Pennsylvania dropped Ed McCaffrey, WR, Broncos; added Cary Blanchard, K, Colts.
• September 18, 1996; Carolina dropped Tony McGee, TE, Bengals; added Ray Zellars, RB, Saints.
• September 18, 1996; Butler dropped Boomer Esiason, QB, Cardinals; added Trent Dilger, QB, Buccaneers.
• September 15, 1996; Mercer dropped Raghib Ismael, WR, Raiders; added Malcolm Floyd, WR, Oilers.
• September 15, 1996; Pennsylvania dropped Kyle Brady, TE, Jets; added Eric Bjornson, TE, Cowboys.
• September 13, 1996; Keystone dropped Ty Detmer, QB, Eagles; added Todd Peterson, K, Seahawks.
• September 13, 1996; Butler dropped Zack Crockett, RB, Colts; added Matt Stover, K, Ravens.
• September 10, 1996; Los Angeles dropped Fred Barnett, WR, Dolphins to comply with roster limit.
• September 10, 1996; State College dropped Derek Brown, RB, Saints; added Robert Green, RB, Bears.
• September 9, 1996; Pennsylvania dropped Jeff Jaeger, K, formerly of Raiders; added Mike Hollis, K, Jaguars.
• September 4, 1996; Newport Beach Nightmare dropped Jeff Graham, WR, Jets; added Lawrence Oliver, RB, Panthers. NOTE: This transaction was disallowed 9/9/96, since there is no Lawrence Oliver and sinceWinslow Oliver, who Newport intended to pick up, is already on a roster.
• August 29, 1996; Butler Blowfish dropped Brad Baxter, RB, formerly of Jets; added Herschel Walker, RB, Cowboys.
• August 29, 1996; New York Griffons dropped Lamar Smith, RB, Seahawks; added Ernest Byner, RB, Ravens.
• August 24, 1996; New York placed Chris Darkins, RB, Packers, on IR.
• August 24, 1996; Pittsburgh placed Kenyon Rasheed, WR, Jets, on IR.
• August 24, 1996; (during draft) Mercer gave New York the Mustang’s 9th round 1997 draft pick for New York’s 8th round 1996 draft pick (not NY’s own pick, but the one acquired from Dallas). Mercer also agreed to pay both the NP and NY transactions fees for this trade.
• Preseason; New York traded their first draft pick 1996 to Newport Beach for NP’s expansion selection (between rounds 2-3) and Newport’s 1997(1).
• Preseason; Butler traded Mark Chmura, TE, Packers to Pittsburgh for PG draft pick 1996(3).
• Preseason; Pittsburgh receives draft picks from Richmond 1996 (rounds 1, 3, 4, and 6) for Pittsburgh’s first draft pick of 1997 (1st or 2nd round, the one NOT traded to PA) and a possible player to be named later. (Richmond has an option to take a player PG drafted in rounds 3, 4, or 5 — these players were Johnnie Morton, Kordell Stewart and Chris Boniol. Morton is now on Butler’s roster).
• Preseason; Pennsylvania traded Rodney Hampton and 2 draft picks – 1996(6) and 1997(5 or 4) to Pittsburgh for PG draft picks 1996(2) and 1997(2 or 1). Higher draft picks in 1997 to be traded if Hampton scores over 100 points (played or not) in 1996.
• Preseason; New York traded Joey Galloway, WR, Seahawks and Jeff Hostetler, QB, Raiders to Newport Beach for the Nighmare’s 1996(1) and 1997(2).

Transactions FAQ:

• Transactions are on a first-come, first-serve basis until September 15, 1996. After that day (kickoff week 3), transaction requests are held until 9:00 p.m. EST Tuesday nights. At that time, if a player has been requested by more than one team, the team with the worst record will be permitted to add the player.
• DROP/ADD deadline is kickoff week 14 , but remember that players must be on a roster from kickoff week 11 through the end of the season to be eligible for roster protection.
• All ADDED players must remain on an active roster for a total of two weeks minimum, even if the player is traded to other teams.
• Trade deadline is kickoff week 10.
• The transaction committee is Trz, Paul and Eggo. David is first alternate, and Waugh is second alternate.

Future draft picks traded (1997 and beyond)

• RD has WN’s 1997(1), 1998(1) – Emmitt Smith deal
• NY has RD’s 1997 (1st round, better pick of either WN’s original pick or RD’s normal pick) – Michael Irvin deal
• NY has NP’s 1997(2) – Joey Galloway/Jeff Hostetler deal
• PA has PG’s 1997 (2 or 1); PG has PA’s 1997 (5 or 4) – Rodney Hampton deal
  (2nd and 5th picks exchanged if Hampton scores less than 100 points whether played or not… 1st and 4th rounders exchanged if Hampton scores 100 points or more)
• RD has PG’s 1997 first PICK (either 1st or 2nd round, whichever PA doesn’t get from Hampton trade)
• Following 1996 season, RD has option to take any PG player drafted in 1996 rounds 3, 4 or 5.
  (Option on these players: WR Johnnie Morton, WR Kordell Stewart, K Chris Boniol)
• NY has NP’s 1997(1)
• NY has MR’s 1997(9)
• NY has BR’s 1998(2) – Jamal Anderson deal
• LA has MI’s 1997(2) – Tony Banks deal
• PA has RD’s 1997(4) or 1997(5) – Terrell Fletcher deal (if Fletcher scores fewer than 50 points from Week 7 on in 1996, it’s a 5th round pick. 4th round pick otherwise).

Playoffs

WEEK 15:
New York 38½, Mercer 26
Los Angeles 54½, Pittsburgh 36
WEEK 16:
Fantasy Bowl: Los Angeles 59, New York 52½
Third Place Game: Mercer 55, Pittsburgh 43½

Consolation Playoffs

WEEK 15:
Wisconsin 52, Miami 51½
Pennsylvania 67, Butler 45½
WEEK 16:
Consolation Bowl: Wisconsin 56, Pennsylvania 43½