Super Bowl I

Weeks after the actual victory over the Battle Angels in the SuperBowl I, analysts are still shaking their heads in disbelief as they look back at team Buffy's accomplishments this past year.

Winning its last 10 games to clinch the championship trophy, GM Roger Cheng took over the league while showcasing the most dominant, explosive, and consistent lineup the league will probably see in quite a long time. Averaging over 115 points/game in the regular season (the Chunky Monkeys were the only other team to average over 100 points/game during the regular season), Buffy was truly unstoppable in the latter half of the season.

Anchored by the best passing game in the league, Buffy relied on an explosive offensive scheme similar to the St. Louis Rams. With veteran QB Rich Gannon at the helm, standout receivers David Boston, Rod Smith, Torry Holt and Quadry Ismail all had banner years. Accompanied by the incomparable Marshall Faulk, there was no apparent weakness to this juggernaut.

Monkey's GM Evan Shiue commented after the season, "Roger did a spectacular job over there. While most teams had a few holes somewhere in their lineup, Buffy had none." Commissioner Jon Yang was one of the first into the locker room to congratulate the team after their championship victory. "This game was just an example of what Buffy had been doing all season -- dominating. I certainly don't look forward to playing them next year."

With a strong nucleus going into next season, Buffy will certainly be a leading contender once again. Owners around the league will have their hands full as they go back to the drawing board for next year.

In other news, TSN analyst Dan Pompei released his end of year Catch-the-Damn-Ball league awards.

GM of the Year: Roger Cheng MVP: Marshall Faulk
Rookie of the Year: LaDainian Tomlinson
Bust of the Year: Eddie George

Article origianlly posted January 25, 2002

Bow Down

New Orleans, LA -

Two teams that took completely opposite paths during the regular season took the same route out of the playoffs--their nemisis, Kurt Warner to Isaac Bruce, times three. The Monkeys stormed through the regular season with an 8-5 record, riding running back sensations LaDanian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander. TAG stumbled and bumbled their way through the regular season, riding on the back of Donovan McNabb while their RBs and WRs struggled to find the endzone.

However dissimilar their paths may have been, the TAG and Chunky Monkey fates became intertwined in the first weekend of the playoffs. The Monkeys demise came at the hands of Kurt Warner's 4TD, 40 fantasy point explosion, while TAG suffered at the other end of Warner's game, as Isaac Bruce had his best game of the year, catching three of Warner's four touchdowns.

Their championship hopes ended, the TAG and Monkey players headed home for what promises to be a long offseason pondering their losses at the hands of the offensive juggernaut that is the St. Louis Rams.

Record Book: Season 1

Winning % Regular Season- Buffy (76.9%)*
Lowest Winning % Regular Season- Flaming Shrapnel (23.1%)*
Hardest Schedule- 102.5 (Ante Up)*
Easiest Schedule- 90.8 avg (Buffy)*
Largest Margin of Victory- 68 (Tiiite End Jammers 129- Skool 61 WK13)
Most Wins Regular Season- 10 (Buffy)*
Least Wins Season- 3 (Flaming Shrapnel)*
Longest Winning Streak- 8 (Buffy)*
Longest Losing Streak- 4 (Flaming Shrapnel)
Highest Individual Score- 50 Peyton Manning (Chunky Monkeys WK2)
Highest Team Score- 146 (Buffy WK9)
Lowest Team Score- 45 (DIRTeByRDeeZ WK3)
Most Century Games- 10 (Buffy)*
Least Century Games- 1 (Skool)*
Longest Century Streak- 9 (Chunky Monkeys)*
Longest Streak between Century games- 9 (Skool)*
*- new season record

ALL PRO Team- In a crazy year, turnover among the top players was perhaps more than in any of the past few seasons. Only 25% of the players from last year's ALL LEAGUE team remained on this year's list and three of those were wide receivers (R Smith, M Harrison, R Moss and M Faulk). Most surprising was the FIRST TEAM performance put forth by Priest Holmes, who ended up with 219 points after being drafted in the last round with the last pick.

ALL LEAGUE FIRST TEAM QB- Jeff Garcia (298) Marshall Faulk (235) Priest Holmes (219) WR- Terrell Owens (221) Marvin Harrison (213) Rod Smith (206) K- John Carney (98) D- Cleveland (139)

ALL LEAGUE SECOND TEAM QB- Kurt Warner (285) Ahman Green (214) Curtis Martin (201) WR- David Boston (200) Randy Moss (179) Jimmy Smith (178) K- Jason Elam (92) D- San Diego (138)

GM of the Year- Buffy
Buffy- A record setting team can't just be put together through luck and Buffy has proven that with a smart draft and a few key acquisitions, a good team can become a dominant one. With a good but not great draft (K S Janikowski in the 6th round and lack of a third WR) Buffy parlayed his early choices (M Faulk, T Holt, R Smith, R Gannon, C Dillon) into a solid lineup. The keys to Buffy's season however was the Free Agent unearthing of WR Qadry Ismail (who had 150 points and was a top 15 WR). Indeed, the Rocket actually outperformed perennial star Torry Holt. The other great move by Buffy was the mid-season acquisition of talented WR David Boston (for mercurial RB Corey Dillon). After being acquired by Buffy, Boston positively exploded (20+ points in last 4 of 6 games) and was the best WR the second half of the season.

GM Runner Up- Tiiite End Jammers- Rookie GM Lei Pan showed that he had the stuff that contenders are made of by starting off with a great draft. With what looked like a solid quartet of stars in RBs R Williams, J Stewart, QB K Warner and WR E McCaffrey, the Jammers spurted out to a 5-0 record. As injuries started to hit (top WR E McCaffrey was lost for the season and M Mohammed was banged up all season), the team stumbled but recovered nicely with three straight wins to end the season. While the receiving corps never fully recovered from the loss of the pale colored McCaffrey, serviceable replacements were found in J Rice and C Conway. But, the biggest coup that the Jammers pulled was drafting Priest Holmes with the last pick of the draft. Holmes went on to a breakout season and literally pulled the Jammers into contention in the last few weeks.

League MVP-
This year's MVP could go to a wealth of players. In a league full of surprises, victories often came down to which player was the most explosive or the most underrated. Superstar caliber numbers were coming in all directions and from unpredictable players. Nine of the top scorers were QBs and only 4 WRs (TO, Rod, Marvin, Boston) and 3 RBs (Faulk, Holmes, Green) cracked the top 20. Great players made a case for MVP consideration but due to injury or late season fall out, some of those were weeded out (D Culpepper, P Manning, R Smith, C Martin). Some players had explosive second halves (R Gannon, R Moss, D Boston) and could be considered but an MVP produces in the clutch and all season long. And wins. A MVP must lead his team to victories that matter (thus eliminating J Garcia and B Favre). A MVP must be a big reason for victories. And with that criteria set, lets look at our MVP candidates.

MVP RUNNER UP #2- Donovan McNabb. While McNabb may not have had the greatest season, he did have a most influential season. Finishing fourth in the league in scoring, McNabb led his team to victories down the stretch when it counted. With a dearth of talent on his team, McNabb led TAG with 268 points and that helped push TAG into the playoffs. Hobbled by the lack of a running game (RBs S Davis and E Smith were disappointments, to put it mildly) and a superstar WR (the best WR was Keyshawn who was inconsistent), McNabb put the team on his back and took TAG to the playoffs.

MVP RUNNER UP #1- Marshall Faulk. The first pick in the draft, Marshall Faulk disappointed no one with a stellar 235 point season. The only non-QB to crack the top ten in scoring, Faulk was explosive and consistent all year long. Even with a few games missed in the middle of the season, Faulk continued his reign as the greatest offensive threat in football. As Buffy mowed down the competition, Faulk led the way with nine 20+ games. Marshall was the main cog in a churning offense and his success was helped by the consistency of his teammates but without him, the deadly Buffy run-and-shoot attack would of never materialized.

LEAGUE MVP 2000- Kurt Warner and Priest Holmes. Once again, co-MVPs will have to awarded for two deserving candidates. This time, the co-MVPs are from the same team because it is hard to distill the team's success down to just one player. Without the contributions of QB Kurt Warner and RB Priest Holmes, the Tiiite End Jammers wouldn't have been able to late push into second place in their division, thus securing home field advantage. In a neck and neck race to the end of the season, Warner and Holmes took turns alternating 40+ points in the last two weeks. Both players were undervalued and underappreciated as the season started. K Warner slipped to the second round, behind four other QBs and Mr Holmes was nearly not drafted at all. Both players notched two 40+ games and also contributed a combined 7 20+ games. While they may not have been the most consistent players all year, they were the most important when the chips were down and a victory was needed. To this year's co-MVPs, Kurt Warner and Priest Holmes!

SUPER MOJO AWARD- Skool. Introducing a new award for this year and possibly only for this year, the SUPER MOJO award goes to the team that defies all expectations. Lambasted all year by critics and league experts, Skool proved the doubters wrong by finishing at 6-7 despite going past the century mark only once (103 in WK10). The amazing year put together by Skool wasn't even due to a weak schedule because they faced the fourth toughest schedule in the league. Despite some huge blowouts (61-129 in WK13 and 87-146 in WK9) Skool remained undaunted and forged ahead, never losing more than two games back to back. We may see more dominant teams but this observor would go out on a limb and say that we may never witness a season as intriguing as the one put into the record books by Skool in 2001.

Power Rankings - Playoffs

With the first regular season of our beloved league coming to an end, here's a look at who's who in the playoffs.

Inscrutable Drama Kings
Locks: Buffy (9-3), Chunky Monkeys (8-4), Tiiite End Jammers (7-5) On the Bubble: DIRTeByRDeeZ (6-6), Ante Up (5-7)

Featuring the league's top two teams, team Buffy, led by GM Roger Cheng, and last year's defending champions, the Chunky Monkeys, guided by GM Evan Shiue -- the two teams figure to be the favorites to win it all. The Jammers, while reeling from injuries, should not be discounted as they fight for their lives to stay alive in the playoff run. However, the game of the week belongs to the heavily anticipated match-up between Ante-Up and Da Birds. It is a must-win game for both teams as the loser faces elimination from playoff contention.

Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses
Locks: Battle Angels (6-6), Skool (6-6), Green Team (5-7), TAGHeuer (5-7) On the Bubble: None For the SMG division, the table has already been set. With Shrapnel's loss last week, the talented Shrapnel team found them uncharaterstically eliminated from fantasy playoff contention for the first time in years. The division has been weak all year and its best hope for a winner this year lies with the Battle Angels, coming off 4 straight weeks of scoring over 100 points per game.

1. Buffy (9-3) Coming off a huge week, Buffy is looking to solify its position as the top dog with possibly its biggest matchup of the season against the Monkeys. With the predicted return of Rod Smith, the Monkeys will have their hands full. 3-1

2. Chunky Monkeys (8-4) After a relatively quiet two weeks, the Monkeys exploded for 127 points against the Birds last week, marking the 9th consecutive week in which the team has exceeded 100 points per game. Without a doubt, this is the second best team in the league if not the most consistent. 5-1

3. Tiiite End Jammers (7-5) The Jammers have cooled considerably after a 5-0 start. However, the team has started gel once again (averaging 106 pts/gm over the last 3 games) and will be a force to reckoned with in the playoffs. 15-1

4. Battle Angels (6-6) Bolstered by a 133 point explosion 3 weeks ago, the Angels are one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs while averaging 113 points in the last 3 weeks. Look for them to make a serious run in this playoff season as they represent basically the only viable playoff team from the SMG division. 20-1

5. Dirtebyrdeez (6-6) Da Birds remain a threat as they sport an explosive lineup led by young stars which include Ahman Green, Corey Dillon, Marvin Harrison and Tom Brady. While frustratingly inconsistent, this team will only get better with each game. The team's potential for monster games alone earns them the 5th position. 22.5-1

6. Ante Up (5-7) Led by MVP candidate, Jeff Garcia, Ante Up faces a must win situation as it plays the Birds this week at home. Despite a less-than-stellar record, Ante Up is virtually tied with the Jammers as the 3rd best offensive team in the league. Pretender or contender? If the team can muster up enough juice agains the Birds, we might have a cinderella in the making. 25-1

7. Skool (6-6) Speaking of cinderellas, Skool has been this year's cinderella team. Tied with the Battle Angels for first in the SMG division despite only averaging 87 points per contest this year (only one of two teams in the league to average under 90 points per game), Skool has been a survivor. However, keep in mind, much of Skool's success has been against the weaker teams of the SMG (1-4 against teams in the IDK) and if Skool is unable to step up its performance for the playoffs, Skool will have extreme difficulty facing traditional powerhouses (ie Buffy, the Monkeys and the Jammers) in the other division. 50-1

8. Green Team (5-7) Clinched a playoff spot with last weeks victory of Flaming Shrapnel. With a trade for Anthony Thomas, the Green Team is looking to solidify its lineup for the playoffs. However, with major holes and a lack leadership in the lineup, the Green Team will be hard pressed to make it far into the playoff schedule. 75-1

9. TAGHeuer (5-7) Another miracle team, Tag's GM Ping Shen has been plagued with injuries, bad luck and shoddy play all year long. Despite being a 'playoff contender' label, analysts are quick to point out that this is perhaps the weakest league in the team while barely averaging 80 points per game. 6 teams, in each of their losses, have averaged more points a game than Tag's 81.3 points per game during the season. This does not bode well for Tag's chances. 200-1

10. Flaming Shrapnel (3-7) The first team to be eliminated from playoff contention and the team with the worst record...enough said. However, the roster is full of talent and GM Eric Liao has been known as one of the smartest GMs in the league. In a recent interview with ESPN, GM Liao was quoted, "Our team will be back next year with a vengeance." 1,000,000-1 (Odds given in the even that there is a computer glitch)

Team TAG End of Year Rankings

Redwood Shores, CA -

Team TAG opened the 2001 season with a strong sense of optimism. However a combination of injuries and dismal performances have left the team at 5-7. Here are our expert's grades and comments for the TAG players.

Donovan McNabb, QB: Rumors have GM Ping Shen renaming this squad "Donovan's Dudes" for next year. Seriously, though, Donovan has been the one consistent force for Team TAG this season. His numbers, 18TDs, 6 INTs, and 2 rushing TDs, are not unheard of, but are reflective of the inconsistent nature of the receivers that McNabb has had to work with. While his fantasy scoring has been a tad too inconsistent this year, we look for Donovan to be a top 5 QB for the next ten years. Grade: A-

Stephen Davis, RB: Davis, a second round draft pick, has put up respectable rushing totals this year, 895 yards through 11 games, well on pace for another 1000 yard season. But, and this is a big BUT, he has scored only one TD all year. Davis' inability to find the end zone is reason enough to label him a "bust" for this season. League experts had expected Davis to post between 10 and 15 TDs this year. His lack of scoring is inexplicable, and GM Shen is surely very frustrated. Davis' obvious talent and second round pick status will still make him an obvious keeper selection. Grade: C+

Emmitt Smith, RB: Like Stephen Davis, Emmitt has scored only one TD all season. Unlike Davis, Emmitt has not posted respectable yardage numbers, with only 589 yards through 11 games. As Smith continues to age and as his injuries continue to mount, one has to wonder how much longer Smith will play. As a seventh round pick, Smith is not as big of a disappointment as Davis. However, there are numerous RBs in the league who went undrafted who have outplayed Emmitt. Grade: D+

Michael Bennett, RB: Well, the jury is still out on Bennett. Certainly, his numbers are disappointing. But anyone who expected a rookie to step in and produce Robert Smith-like numbers in his first season may have been expecting a bit much. To be fair, the entire Viking offense has struggled, making life even harder for the rookie running back. However, you would figure that nearly anyone on the Viking team would have found the end zone at least once (Bennett does have one receiving TD, but 0 rushing) in 11 games. With Bennett failing to score one rushing TD, we can say that, 1) the TAG RBs are on pace to score one TD per month, and 2) That Donovan McNabb has the same number of rushing TDs as all three TAG RBs combined. Maybe they should call this team, "Mount McNabb." Bennett's youth, blazing speed, and natural running ability make him an intruiging keeper prospect. Shen certainly has his hands full with this decision. Grade: C

Keyshawn Johnson, WR: Well, if you thought that the TAG RB core had a hard time finding the end zone, just look at Key. He's now 2 catches away from setting the NFL record for most receptions without a TD catch. For anyone else, 83 receptions for 976 yards after 11 games would make for a standout year, but the zero in the TD column is a big big negative. We can only surmise that this season has been an aberration for Keyshawn and that the USC product will return to his normal, productive, touchdown scoring ways next season, making him a guaranteed keeper selection. Grade: B+

Marcus Robinson, WR: A talented enigma of a WR, if ever there was one. In the two games he played this year, Robinson posted 23 receptions for 269 yards and two scores (or two more than Keyshawn has scored in 11 games, or the same number of TDs that the TAG RBs have combined to score in 33 total games). Unfortunately for TAG, Robinson not only tore up opposing corners, but also decided to tear up his ligaments in his knee in week 4. Who knows where this team would be with a healthy Marcus Robinson. His injury, combined with his history of injuries, make him a very risky but also a potentially very rewarding keeper pick. Grade: Incomplete.

James Thrash, WR: Thrash has been the one pleasant surprise on this team. Through 11 games Thrash has caught 44 passes for 575 yards and, most importantly, 7 touchdowns. Surprisingly enough, Thrash is the leading WR on this team and is one of Donovan McNabb's favorite redzone targets. Grade: A

Chris Chambers, WR: A mid season acquisition by Ping Shen, Chambers is perhaps the most exciting WR on the TAG team. With 31 receptions for a mind bending 604 yards and 5 scores in his rookie season, Chambers is clearly loaded with potential and is polished enough to excel right away at the NFL level. Chambers is the big play threat that every team covets, and TAG would be wise to hang onto him. Grade: A-

Plaxico Burress, WR: Plaxico, in his second year of professional football, has caught 42 passes for 609 yards and 2 scores. While these are certainly respectable numbers, and while Burress is outscoring Keyshawn Johnson 2-0, it must be noted that these numbers still amount to a disappointment for Burress, who many figured to be the next Michael Irvin. Granted, Kordell Stewart is no Troy Aikman, but Plaxico must become a more consistent threat in order to be considered an elite fantasy receiver. Grade: B

Ping Shen, General Manager: This is the guy who managed to find three running backs in the 2001 draft who would combine for 3 TDs after 11 weeks. Same guy who found the receiver who might end up setting the NFL record for most receptions without a touchdown. Same guy who drafted Patrick Ewing, Shawn Kemp, and Vin Baker in the same fantasy basketball draft. Ok, ok...so the basketball stuff doesn't figure into his football grade, but still...Shawn Kemp? After all, we readily admit that we really liked the TAG backfield following the draft. Who wouldn't like a combination of Stephen Davis and Emmitt Smith. We figured those two alone would be a lock for 20TDs this season. Hindsight is 20-20, and it's hard to fault Shen for those picks. Smith was, and should still be considered a great pick in the 7th round. James Thrash was a great pick as well, and Marcus Robinson was too, for at least a couple of games. Once again, it's no fault of the GM that Robinson got hurt. Where you can fault Shen is for not making any moves to help his team get better.

Granted, the player with the most trade value is also the most untradeable player on the team (McNabb). However, suffering through a season with a dismal running attack and a 5-7 record without a single trade should raise a few eyebrows. However, Shen's free agent acquisitions have been solid. Chris Chambers is the top rookie WR, and an excellent keeper pick. Plaxico has contributed to this offense, as has Willie Jackson. So while this team has had a disappointing year, and while we would have liked to see some trades, it's hard to completely fault Shen for the dismal years of Davis, Smith, and Keyshawn. Like they always say, "Who'da thunk it?" Grade: B

Power Rankings! (Week 11)

The playoff runs begin as the top teams in each divisions gear up for the final games of the regular season. The Inscrutable Drama Kings Division is seeing a heated race to the wire as the top 4 teams in the league are separated by only 2 games. On the other side of the ocean, the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses are brewing a drama of their own as the Angels are feeling the heat as team Skool has somehow managed to rake off two straight wins to pull even with the Angels. However, close behind are team TAGHeuer and the Green Team, both two games behind and fighting desperately for that last playoff position.

1. Buffy (8-3) Buffy has been awesome all year long and seems to show no signs of slowing down. Despite failing to surpass the century mark after 5 straight weeks, Buffy is still averaging an impressive 120 points the last 5 games, highest in the league.

2. Chunky Monkeys (7-4) The Monkeys have been stumbling the previous two weeks, with a stunning loss to the Green Team and barely managing a win over the struggling Jammers last week. However, the Monkeys are clearly the second best team as they are the only team besides Buffy to have averaged over 100 points per contest throughout the season. The Monkeys are also currently on an incredible streak of 8 consecutive games with over 100 points scored. The Monkeys will attempt to reclaim their top position as they face division rivals, the DIRTeByRDeeZ and Buffy, in the last two weeks of the season. The much anticipated showdown against Buffy will give the Monkey's a chance to show who's truly the top dog in the league. (The Monkeys holds the advantage and are 1-0 against Buffy this season)

3. Battle Angels (6-5) Despite a mediocre record, the Angels are still first in their division while featuring one of the top offensive lineups in the league. The Angels, despite losing last week, have averaged an amazing 117 points per game the last 3 weeks! 2nd only behind team Buffy.

4. DIRTeByRDeeZ (6-5) After a 5 game winning streak, the Birds have cooled while enduring two consecutive losses. However, the DIRTeByRDeeZ still feature one of the most explosive lineups in the league with young rbs Ahman Green and Corey Dillon leading the way. Bolstered by the surprising play of FA Tom Brady, the solid receiving unit (Harrison, Carter, Ward) have seen plenty of action the past couple of weeks. Despite the recent slump, the Birds are one of the few teams to have averaged over 100 pts per game the last 5 games. The key to the Birds rests with the QB -- if Brady can perform consistently at a high level, the Birds will be a tough team to play. This week's matchup with the Monkey's will be the Birds first big test before the playoffs.

5. Tiiite End Jammers (6-5) Even amidst a disastrous slide in the standings, the Jammers are still in the hunt for that last playoff spot. The Jammers have been heating up the past two weeks, as the team posted a respectable 97 points per game. The Jammers are staring at a relatively easy schedule in its last two weeks of regular season play (Ante Up and Skool). To have a chance at landing that last playoff position, the Jammers must prove that it is playoff worthy and put teams like Ante Up and Skool away.

6. Skool (6-5) Skool has been the model of efficiency ... or luck, whichever works for you. Defying all odds, Skool has managed a 6-5 record and a tie for first place with the Angels despite only exceeding the century mark once this season. While the rest of the league has averaged over 100 points per game in games they have won, Skool has averaged only 90 points. Even more astounding is the fact that in the games that Skool has lost, Skool is averaging 86.4 points per game, 3rd highest in the league! Is this a team that plays only as much as it needs to? Or is it just a mediocre team that gets lucky? It probably won't matter -- with a 2 game lead over Tag and the Green Team with weeks to go, Skool is almost a lock to make the playoffs. Go figure.

7. Ante Up (5-6) A solid team in the wrong league. If Ante Up were to have been fortunate enough to be in the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division, Ante Up would almost surely be a lock for a playoff berth. Unfortunately, despite being the 4th best offensive team this year, Ante Up is toiling in the cellar trying to catch divisional powerhouses such as team Buffy, the Chunky Monkeys, the DIRTeByRDeeZ and the Jammers. Hopeless? Actually, the team is only one game behind the Birds and the Jammers. But Ante Up will have their backs to the wall as they face the Jammers and Birds in the last two games of the regular season. A sweep will garauntee them a position for the playoffs, while a loss will almost surely knock them out.

8. Green Team (4-7) The Green Team has been hot, but it might be too late. The Green Team has averaged over 104 points per game in its last 3 weeks but is still 2 games behind 2nd place. With two playoff berths all but locked up by the Battle Angels and Skool, the Green Team will have to duke it out with TAGHeuer and Flaming Shrapnel for the final position. The team will be counting heavily on the resurgence of RBs Duce Staley and Mike Anderson.

9. Flaming Shrapnel (3-8) Analysts argue that team Shrapnel, with 997 total points scored this season, good for 7th overall, certainly does not deserve the worst record in the league. However, despite its efforts and the inspiring play of Terrell Owens, Anthony Thomas, Garrison Hearst and teen heart-throb Alex Van Pelt, Shrapnel has been unable to string any kind of winning streak together all season. Facing likely elimination, the Shrapnel team will still battle to the end. GM Liao refuses to give up and if anything, analysts around the country fully expect team Shrapnel to be a force to be reckoned with next year.

10. TAGHeuer (4-7) This has been a dismal season for team Tag. With its running back core combining for an astounding 1 touchdown all season, its leading receiver, Keyshawn Johnson scoreless this season, few are surprised at Tag's ineptitude at being able to put the rock in the endzone. With a league leading 5 games in which it has scored less than 80 points, team Tag will almost certainly have a busy off- season. However, building his team around talent including Donovan McNabb, Stephen Davis and Keyshawn Johnson, GM Ping Shen will have a few tricks up his sleeve for next year. I gaurantee it.

Taking You to Skool

Today's topic will be the incredible and some would say, miraculous season put in by Skool. With only one century game to it's credit in 11 weeks, Skool has put up a winning record of 6-5. How did they do it? Obviously, a roster sporting only one bona fide star (Daunte Culpepper) is winning due to a strange combination of luck and guts. An easy schedule is also only part of the answer because while Skool's PA mark of 1009 is low, it isn't the lowest in the league nor is it abnormally different than any other contending team.

Standing at 2-1 after three straight weeks of under 80 scoring was a pretty phenomenol feat. This publication predicted the collapse of Skool but after going 1-3 over the next four weeks (with three 90+ scores and one 75), Skool has picked it back up again with a 3-1 run. This last week's win over Green Team (by 2 points) was powered by the stunning performances of WR Kevin Johnson and the suddenly resurgent Tiki Barber.

The roster for Skool is full of superstars having subpar years (Isaac Bruce and Tony Gonzalez) but somehow they are winning. Their best player scores almost double the amount of the next best player, backup QB T Couch. The second best player to consistently take the field has been the Charger Defense (with 128 points). With a patchwork starting lineup that usually reads: QB D Culpepper, RB T Barber, RB R Dayne, WR I Bruce, WR K Johnson and WR T Gonzalez, this team strikes fear in no one. Yet they have beaten some pretty good teams. With season sweeps against both Flaming Shrapnel and the Green Team the magic for Skool may never stop. With only a few short weeks until the playoffs Skool is left to face only TAG and Tiiite End Jammers. If they can win both games they could easily take the division in a magical season.

In general, the league is as competitive as its ever been. More than half the league is playing at a better than .500 clip and it seems like any team can win any week. There have also been a number of nail biter games that have come down to the wire. In this unpredictable season, 9 of the top 10 players have been QBs and the top RBs are not named Marshall or Edgerrin. As the case with the NFL, parity rules.

Power Rankings!

There is a 4 way tie for first in one division while the other divison sports just one team above .500. What gives? In the latest edition the league's Power Rankings, here's a look at the hotties and the not-so-hotties.

1. Buffy (5-3) The team with the highest number of points scored (873 pts in 8 games!) getting hotter? Impossible you say. A look at the scoreboards reveals that not only has Buffy exceeded the century mark the past 3 games, he has managed to improve his score in each game culminating in a blowout this past week against Green Team. With Faulk and Holt coming back, will there be anyone catching the Buffy team?

2. Chunky Monkeys (5-3) +1 Despite Buffy's apparent dominance, the Chunky Monkeys ARE the hottest team in the league. Despite a recent slow down, the Monkeys have eclipsed the century mark in 5 straight games while averaging over 112 pts per contests. No other team is close to that average during that span. With the eventual return of Fred Taylor, this young team doesn't figure to be second for too long.

3. DirteBrydeez (5-3) +1 Riding a 4 game winning streak, the Birds are at it again. Shaking off a terrible start, shrewd roster moves by management are making GM Jon Yang look like genius. With a young QB Tom Brady at the helm and the talented running duo of Ahman and Corey, its hard to see the Birds going anywhere but up.

4. Tiiite End Jammers (5-3) -2 What once was a proud but powerful expansion team is slowly being destroyed by injuries and inconsistent play. Averaging over 104 pts a game in the first 5 games, the Jammers have fallen dramatically in offensive output (averaging under 70 pts per game the last 3 games, worst in the league). With the early injury to Ed McCaffery, the Jammers have been relying on its younger legs with the likes of Rod Gardner and Peerless Price. However, their inexperience have proved devastating. The team is now looking for Coach Pan to work some of his trademark tiiite magic in the second half. Watch for this team to be active on the deal front in the coming weeks.

5. Battle Angels (5-3) +1 The Angels continue to dominate their division as they completed their second straight win this week. As the lone team above .500, the only knock against the Angels is that they play in a remarkeably easy league. However, their quiet demeanor belies the true strength of the team. Anchored by veterans throughout the lineup, the Angels have been rock solid all season and looks to make a strong push as playoff season rolls around.

6. Flaming Shrapnel (2-6) +1 Before sending your hate mail emails, it would be wise to realize that the Shrapnel team has been a solid team all year long despite its poor record. Fourth in the league in scoring while anchored by a strong young core, the future is bright for this team. After its string of unlucky losses, probability will undoubtedly be with the Shrapnel team from here on out as well.

7. TAGHeuer (3-5) +1 In a its longest losing streak of the year (3 games), the Tag team is primed to break out after showing signs of life with a 106 point outburst (unfortunately against da Birds who scored over 120 points). Sitting in the middle of the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division, the Tag team is easily within striking distance and with an active management team, more is surely to be expected from this veteran front office.

8. Skool (4-4) +2 Team Skool has been the Ugly Cinderella story of the year thus far. Despite a respectable 4-4 record, Skool has still been unable to reach the century mark in its first 8 games. In a league where the winning team scores an average of 108 points, Skool has been winning its games by averaging less than 87 points per game. Probability tells us that Skool won't be winning many more if they continue to produce at this pace.

9. Ante Up (3-5) -4 As previously mentioned, this is a team of streaks. Unfortunately, the team is on the wrong end of the spectrum as it suffered one of its worst losses this week and appears to be ready for more. Unless management can find a way to right the ship, roster moves will be inevitable. Playing in a division where the other 4 teams have averaged roughly 98 points per contest the past 5 games doesn't help either.

10. Green Team (3-5) -2 The Green Team has seemingly hit a wall. In its past 5 games, it has failed to average over 80 points per contest, not nearly enough to win consistently in this fire power oriented league. With many of its veteran leaders relegated to the bench, the coaching staff will be confronted with key decisions in the upcoming games. Sporting a 3-5 record, the Green Team is not out by any means but Coach Ng will be under the public microscope for sometime to come.

Season at the Half:
League MVP: Rod Smith - The man is incredible even without Easy Ed.
League Dud: Fred Taylor. Fragile Fred is still weeks away from any kind of return.
GM of the Half: GM Yang (DIRTeByRDeeZ) Going from worst to best? Not quite but almost.

Power Rankings! (Week 7)

From here on out, there will be a weekly rankings to determine which team truly has the hottest coach, the baddest mascot, the biggest stick...

1. Buffy (4-3) Despite having the second best record, Buffy is the team to beat. A team with the Marshall, Rod, Boston, Holt and Garner...no surprise that Buffy dominated FS this past week. First overall in the power standings, dominant team, strong coaching...enough said!

2. Tiiite End Jammers (5-2) With lone possession of first place, rankings alone demand that the Jammers be placed among the elite. Despite a recent two game slide, Kurt Warner and Ricky Williams will make a fierce 1-2 punch for years to come. Did you know: Jammers won its first 5 games while scoring over 105 pts a game.

3. Chunky Monkeys (4-3) Despite starting the season 0-2, the Monkeys have gone 4-1 the last 5 games while averaging a stunning 110 points per game. Its hard to argue for a hotter team in the league. Consistency is the key as the Monkeys have struggled stabilize its starting lineup.

4. DIRTeByRDeeZ (4-3)Da Birds have surged the past 3 weeks while posting 307 points, good for 102 points per game. After being shell shocked in Weeks 3 and 4 by the likes of the Monkeys and Ante Up, the Birds have rebounded nicely. Recent front office moves with the acquisition of Ahman Green and Corey Dillon have paid off handsomely.

5. Ante Up (3-4) The team defined by streaks. I'm going to stick my head out and put a sub .500 team in the top 5. Despite a mediocre performance in Week 7, Ante Up has been the second hottest team behind the Monkeys while posting nearly 107 points per game the past three games. Considering that superstars Edge and J. Garcia have been relatively quiet, the team certainly has upside.

6. Battle Angels (4-3) A solid record reflects a solid team. Led by a stout running core of the Bus and C-Mart, the Angels have been going strong all season. However, the Angels have been victims of inconsistency. Poor play by a key players usually lead to disappointing losses. However, with Randy Moss yet to come around, its hard to imagine what the Angels will do if the man actually tries!

7. Flaming Shrapnel (2-5) How does a team with the worst record not end up dead last in this poll you ask? If you look at the numbers, Shrapnel has been a victim of bad luck. Starting poorly in the first two games, Shrapnel has averaged a startling 97 pts/game in the past 5 games -- only behind the Monkeys and Buffy! Devastated by injuries, the team is relying on Coach Liao to create some magic with his rosters. The league should expect another contender to emerge, namely the Shrapnel team.

8. Green Team (3-4) After realizing that his early picks of Trent Green (rumor has it that Trent was picked for his namesake and not for talent) and Mike Anderson have more or less been busts, the Green Team has been busy on the deal front shoring up his needs. Pulling a blockbuster deal with the Monkeys, the acquisition of star QB Brett Favre has helped tremendously. Coming up with a win after a 3 game slide, the Green Team is certainly looking to get on the right track again.

9. TAGHeuer (3-4) With a lineup in disarray, runningbacks that can't find the endzone to save their lives, and a talented but still inexperienced quarterback, Tag has yet to find his rhythm. Averaging barely 70 pts in the past three games, the TAG team will be counting heavily on his youngsters and hoping that they mature a lot faster than earlier anticipated.

10. Skool (3-4) The ugly-ass team award goes to Skool. How a team that has managed 3 wins yet has never eclisped the century mark in ponts scored is beyond me. Slowed mostly by the disappointing play of Daunte Culpepper, Skool has sported a patch-work lineup which fell to a low point last week when both Giants runningbacks, Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber were announced as starters. On most teams, neither would normally start but normality is not the case with team Skool. The team is talented however with the likes of Culpepper, Bruce, and Tony Gonzalez bolstering the front lines. Playing 3 of the next 4 games against sub .500 teams, might Skool be on the rise?

Rising this Week: Inscrutable Drama Kings. With 80% of the teams over .500, this is shaping up to be the tougher division.

Falling this Week: Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses. With 80% of the teams under .500, teams in the Inscrutable Drama Kings are wishing the Gods had been with them when divisions were set.

Fearless Prediction: Skool will break 100 points at least once in the next 3 games.

Eddie George: Traded!

In a grand gesture, Flaming Shrapnel and the DirtyByrdeeZ have traded star running backs after a weekend spent punishing each other on the field. The Birds emerged with a late victory on the strength of M Harrison's two acrobatic TDs but both teams hugged after the game. The general manager of the Birds was quoted as saying that he "wanted to support the spirit of gamesmanship in this time of need and tragedy."

That statement was followed by a blockbuster deal earlier tonight. Franchise RB E George has started off slow and that has led to him being jettisoned for emerging RB A Green and the soon to be retired C Carter. The team hopes Cris can provide some leadership in his last go-around in the NFL. With two trades in a matter of days, the Birds are aggresively looking to get out of the divisional basement. With a young backfield anchored by C Dillon and A Green, the Birds hope to finally find a QB capable of lofting some deep balls to old pros M Harrison, C Carter, J Morton and D Scott. Time will tell if all this change is enough to take the Birds to the top.

GAME OF THE WEEK- In what has been by far the most exciting week of the season, three games were decided by nine points or less. The Jammers edged out Buffy in a highly anticipated matchup, 87-78 (mostly due to M Faulk's knee injury) while Skool bested the Battle Angels by a mere six points. The Birds also won by a tight four point margin but the game of the week goes to the high flying pyrotechnics produced by the matchup between Ante Up and Chunky Monkeys.

The Monkey's scored 117 and still lost by 15. With a previous solid effort by Keenan McCardell (12 bye pts), the Monkeys were well on their way to posting some big numbers. P Manning and G Crowell both had big days but it was S Alexander who broke out and recorded 28 points. Rookie of the year candidate LT was held to only 13 points, perhaps costing the Monkeys a victory. J Horn finally got close to double digits but has yet to record a TD this season.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Ante Up was using A Freeman's big day (23 pts) to keep pace with the Monkeys. Running backs Edge and Lamar combined for 31 pts to keep the defense honest, allowing QB J Garcia to post a whopping 46 pts!!! With three passing TDs and one rushing TD, Garcia was simply unstoppable. Well, at least for a half. After the break, Garcia led a furious offensive onslaught that eventually crushed the Monkey's defenses and morale. This was probably the game of the year as far as break out games for a number of players.

Monkeys Acquire Jimmy Smith

A few hours after beating a seemingly dominant Buffy team, Monkey's GM Evan Shiue along with team management issued a press release announcing a three player trade which brought over star receiver Jimmy Smith for quarterback Brett Favre and young wide receiver Jerome Pathon.

Management spoke to media late last night, "We are very pleased to have Jimmy Smith on board. Jimmy is obviously an established receiver and we expect him to take a leadership position on this club. We wish the best for Brett and Jerome. Brett has been inspiring but with Peyton Manning at the helm, it was difficult for our coaches to find playing time for Brett. Jerome had been terrific for our club and his work ethic was phenomenal. Jerome has a bright future and should fit in well with the young Green Team. Both players along with this trade in general was made possible only with the spectacular scouting ability of this team. While Brett was a steal at the ninth round of the Draft, Jerome was signed just a few days ago. A fabulous job all around."

Things are looking significantly brighter for the Monkey organization as they posted their second straight win. Incresasing their point total in each week, a win over Buffy shows the Monkeys' ability to not only beat up on the league's weaker teams (Birds) but also its ability seriously challenge the stronger teams on top.

After the game, quarterback Peyton Manning spoke to reporters about the game. "We played fabulously. The people that needed to step up, stepped up. Shaun and LT, those guys are going to carry the team -- no question. With Fred Taylor itching to get back on the field, I have no question that running will be the forte of this team. I look forward to teaming up with Jimmy in the future. Sure the unit is young, but these guys have immense talent."

Scouting Report --
Management has reportedly been ecstatic with the development of young runningback Shaun Alexander. However, with the imminent return of superstar Fred Taylor, the Monkey management will have an over-abundance of talent. With Tomlinson having solidified his starting position, who will start alongside Tomlinson? Sources close to management indicate that Taylor will start despite the dominating performance last week by Alexander.

Jammers Shake Things Up

Even after an impressive 3-0 start, the expansion team Tiiite End Jammers refused to sit tight and be satisfied with past successes. In fact, it has been a busy week of wheeling and dealing for GM Lei Pan. GM Pan first held a press conference on Tuesday to announce a trade with Chunkey Monkeys. The Jammers moved WR Johnnie Morton, WR Keenan McCardell in return for RB Terrell Davis and a player to be named later. As part of the deal, the teams also swapped their kickers, with the Jammers receiving K Martin "Automatica" Gramatica and the Monkeys picking up K Mike "I Jacked It" Vanderjagt. After the trade was announced, Morton remarked, "Sure, I was disappointed to leave a great organization like the Jammers, but I'm a professional and I'll do my job for whichever organization has my services." Morton also quickly added, "I would love to play for the Jammers again at any time; it's a club that's so dedicated to winning, and that's what I'm all about -- winning."

GM Pan commented on the trade, "I have nothing but the utmost respect for Johnnie [Morton] and Keenan [McCardell]; they added value to our club during games, on the practice field, and in the community. But, sometimes you have to make a move to improve the club's prospects for the future without hurting our chances to win in the present. We have the most depth at WR and that made the move right for us. When paired with Ricky [Williams], Terrell [Davis] will give us a strong and dynamic duo in the backfield for years to come." When asked about the swapping of the kickers, GM Pan remarked, “How can you go wrong with a kicker whose nickname is ‘Automatica’?”

In keeping with the theme of no player is untouchable, GM Pan immediately announced on Wednesday that the team has waived "Automatica" to pick up K Jose Cortez off of waivers. As part of its waiver moves, the Jammers also added WR Orande Gadsden, RB Priest Holmes, and QB Doug Flutie. Gadsden will move immediately into the starting lineup, while Holmes and Flutie will bolster the bench. The Jammers also announced that RB Olandis Gary and QB Mark Brunell are regrettably no longer with the club. RB Gary was dumbfounded when told of the news. "What really irks me is that I never even got into any games! I had zero chance to perform on the field before I was released!" Gary exclaimed.

When told of Gary's comments, GM Pan calmly explained, "Olandis [Gary] is ultra-talented. No one is questioning that. However, what makes Priest [Holmes] so valuable to the club is his work ethic. He is the consummate veteran professional. Gary, on the other hand, thought that his talent could carry him through and did not work hard in practice even after sitting out last season with an injury. Instead, he sought to win a starting job through jabbering his mouth all day. We [the Jammers] are committed to winning games, and we will not tolerate such a clubhouse cancer."

When told of GM Pan's explanation, Gary had no comments to add and remembered a pressing appointment he had forgotten about. GM Pan's aggressive managing and brutal honesty might offend some players and observers, but no one can question that GM Pan is committed to winning. When you think of things in the light of his commitment to winning, no one can fault him for his actions and comments.

With new faces on the team, the Jammers face the rest of the season with a continued confidence of past successes and a new optimism with its newly acquired talent. Whether it's on or off the field or in the community, GM Pan and his Jammers are winners all the way.

Power Rankings! (Week 3)

1) Tiiite End Jammers- The only undefeated team and also the only team to eclipse the century mark every time out, the Jammers are making a strong case for being the dominant team of the league. Led by super QB K Warner, the Jammers are showing no signs of slowing down. The only downside here is that they have not faced any serious competition and have walked through a soft schedule with no opponent scoring higher than 90 so far.

2) Buffy- While not as consistent as the Jammers, Buffy has missed the century mark only once (posting a 99) and has put up two 130+ weeks, causing many to argue that this is the premier team of the moment. With a super trio of R Gannon, M Faulk and R Smith, Buffy remains amazingly explosive and currently leads the league in scoring. Look for Buffy to serious challenge the Jammers for the coveted position of top dog. Note that C Dillon and T Holt aren't even the stars on this team!

3) Battle Angels- The Angels sit atop a crowded 2-1 bracket in the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division. Despit a fifty point drubbing by Buffy this past week, the Angels are still in a good position to overtake sole control of their division. If nothing else, the Angels are quietly consistent, with B Griese, C Martin and B Schroeder posting double digits every week. If R Moss can put up some points, this team will be that much more explosive.

4) TAGHeuer- With D McNabb pulling the train, TAG moves up to number four on this list despite the lack of production from anyone other than McNabb. Somehow, TAG manages to pull out victories despite the complete lack of a running game. Credit a solid Packers D for shutting down opponents and holding on to wins.

5) Chunky Monkeys- The Monkeys are only 1-2 but brighter days could be ahead as a recent trade has solidified the receiving corps. A team that was decimated by injuries last week (to RBs T Davis and F Taylor) looks a lot more stable with J Morton, J Pathon, J Horn and K McCardell in the mix. Running back is still a problem but LT could make those fears naught if he continues on his AFC leading TD assault. P Manning continues to shine, keeping the ultra-competitive B Favre at bay. The Monkeys have some big holes but at this point of the season, who doesn't?

6) Green Team- As heart wrenching as the Green Team's first three weeks have been, they are still a solid 2-1. With a uplifting 113-101 victory over Shrapnel last week, the Green Team shows that it has some heart, if not a particularly solid roster. A 56 point effort was sandwiched in-between two 100+ performances so despite the Greenies troubles, they are still very competitive. This is certainly a team that one looks at and wonders where all the points are coming from. T Green finally had a good week and J Rice finally broke out but beyond that, this roster hasn't had any consistent threats week to week. Still, 2-1 is 2-1.

7) DiRTyByRDeeZ- At this point down the list, teams are starting to look seriously flawed. The Birds have a solid roster on paper but that's why we play the games on Sunday. The original Dirty Bird is once again out for the season, leaving a gaping hole where his 32 inch thighs used to reside. M Harrison has been dead quiet except for a WK2 outburst and the rest of the team is sneaking along with him. E George has barely put points on the table and the supposedly strong WR corps of D Boston, D Scott and M Westbrook have thus far produced nothing. K J Elam is leading all scorers not named Marvin. Oh, did we mention that this team has no QB?

8) Skool- It's hard to ignore a 2-1 team but Skool has definitely been lucky in the standings. Three weeks, three sub-80 scores...two wins. Hunh? Aside from the talents of D Culpepper, this team has been very slow starting. The WRs are actually quite decent with I Bruce, T Gonzalez and J Jurevicius. The problem is that Skool just lost both it's starting RBs to injury. R Watters and T Barber were both dinged up over the weekend, casting a long shadow over the fate of Skool for the next few weeks.

9) Ante Up- Ante Up asked all comers to bring their best and everyone has come and gone with a winning grin on their face. Stuck with the league's toughest schedule, opponents of Ante Up have combined to score less than 100...never. At the same time Ante Up has slowly slid from a high of 103 pts in WK1 to 62 pts last week. With injuries and under-performcers galore, Ante Up can only hang their hats on the superb efforts of E James and J Garcia. If T Taylor proves that last week's 17 pt effort was no fluke, Ante Up may have a WR worth talking about. Until then, happy hunting.

10) Flaming Shrapnel- Bringing up the rear is Shrapnel. They are 0-3 but could easily have a win or two under their belts. WK1 was a 3 point loss to Skool and other losses have come by 18 and 12 points. On the upside, Flaming finally posted a century game this week and that could be a sign of better days ahead. RB A Green remains steady and T Owens could be on the verge of taking off. The Shrapnel started off the season deep in the whole, with RB J Lewis on IR and top WR E Moulds injured or unproductive so far. The Shrapnel can climb and steal a few wins as it fields a competetive roster.

Craziness!

After two weeks and several big injuries, our league is slowly taking shape. Many top players are underperforming and struggling and that has caused distress to some of our teams. Some good new players may have emerged but it is too early to peg this year's breakout players. Draft night was months ago but dividends from that time are paying off right now...or not in some cases. The only thing that is clear is that the divison to not be in if you want to win is the Inscrutable Drama Kings. Take a quick look at their PF and PA numbers. Every team but one has a PA higher than everyone in Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses.

The Jammers are off to a great start of the season with a 2-0 record and more importantly an injury free roster. QB K Warner has been amazing and WRs M Muhammed and J Morton have proven their skills. (Even with the loss of top WR E McCaffrey the Jammers are alive and kicking). With two solid RBs in J Stewart and R Watters, the Jammers are capitalizing on their weak early schedule quite well.

Buffy stumbled a bit last week in a loss to the DBirds but they still managed to put up almost 100 points. Led by Ram superstars Faulk and Holt, Buffy is looking very pretty with a surrounding cast that boasts the stunning R Smith and sturdy C Dillon. The last WR spot is a bit weak with the struggling Qadry Ismail but Buffy is still a strong contender. They are capable of putting up 134 points (the league high so far in this young season) so be wary.

The Birds are flying high after a three TD performance by M Harrison and consecutive great weeks by J Anderson. Even without a consistent QB and the early season woes of E George the Birds are 1-1. With a deep but inconsistent WR corps, the Birds are a team that needs some more time to gel and to determine if they are the closer to the 83 point team from Wk1 or the 124 point team from Wk2.

The Shrapnel are flaming out. Even with potential all-stars A Green and T Owens on board, the Shrapnel have yet to come close to a win. Much of the reason for that is the early struggles by E Grbac, Cris Carter and E Moulds. T Pinkston was a good pickup but he only had one good week. When your K (D Akers) is outperforming all but one of your WRs, you team may be in trouble. With the devastating season ending injury to J Lewis, C Garner has been moved to starter but management is obviously not confident in his abilities b/c the Shrapnel have five backs on call right now. Look for the Shrapnel to struggle while the team looks for some fuel.

TAGHeuer bet a lot early with D McNabb and so far has been richly rewarded. Even without the emergence of M Bennet, the RBs are okay with E Smith and S Davis. But because both are on weak offensive teams, opposing Ds are shutting them out so far. If this continues the RB situation could be in trouble. TAG pulled out a big win this week with 124 points on the backs of McNabb and J Thrash (both put up 30+). M Robinson cashed in on a good week but TAG has to be concerned about the low number of points put up by his RBs and third WR. If Thrash is not the real deal, this team could be headed for some ups and downs.

Skool has used smoke and mirrors to move his way into a divison leading 2-0 record. Without breaking the 80 point barrier, Skool has two wins and a smile on every member's face. If the magic act can continue, Skool will defy all odds and keep on winning. However, the performance level of this team is not befitting their gaudy record. Outside of D Culpepper (who is struggling a bit) and I Bruce, the rest of the team has been underachieving. R Watters and T Barber have yet to put up a good game between the two of them and K Johnson, J Jurevicius and T Gonzalez have barely pushed into double digits. Skool is coaching his way into some great victories but how long that can last is the question on everyone's mind.

The Monkeys are in trouble. It looks like they are replicating last year's formula of collapsing early and then rising up and winning late. If that holds true, look for Chunky to lose a few more games before things turn around. The problem is, things may not turn around with this roster. Beyond P Manning and his record setting 50 point day, the Monkeys have nothing to show for this season. Superstar RBs F Taylor and T Davis are both hurt. L Tomlinson looks like the real deal but he can't hold it down in the backfield. The three WRs are big question marks too. Outside of J Pathon (a very timely pickup this week) the WRs have proven nothing this season. J Horn and Germane Crowell need to prove their worth or be benched. The Monkeys do have two of the top QBs so far this season but only one can play. That cry for help is coming from the Monkey's bench which was thin to start with and is now depleted by major injuries.

The Green Team's big gambles on draft day are not panning out. Top picks T Green, M Anderson and D Staley have combined for a mere 46 points in two weeks (that’s about 7.5 pts per each week). WR J Smith had a stellar first week, proving his health is not a factor but even with him, this team is in trouble. Troy Brown has proven useful and M Booker and J Rice should make do but the backfield on this team is a mess. W Dunn is doing just as poorly as the top two RBs and there simply isn't enough firepower on this team right now to pick up any wins. Unless draft day gambles pay off soon the Green Team will have to work hard to field a competitive roster.

The Battle Angels are right where they wanted to be when they started the season. Undefeated. With a balanced roster the Angels are proving that they can compete with all comers. B Griese has been simply amazing and with solid talent around the Angels don't need too much. C Martin has been shackled to an extent but has been solid. With A Toomer, Tim Brown, J Stokes and B Schroeder, they have solid pass catchers all around. This isn't even taking into account the mystifying R Moss. While he has undeniably been invisible, his talent will eventaully emerge in a big way. The only question spot on this roster is The Bus who put up only 2 pts in his only appearance thus far. The Angels are gunning hard and hoping to separate themselves from the pack during the upcoming weeks.

Ante Up is an all-star team in the backfield. QB A Brooks put up almost 30 points in Week 1 and he was the backup. J Garcia is the starter and he's been excellent, if somewhat plagued by some dropped balls. E James and L Smith in the backfield make for a crushing running game so why is this team at 0-2? Look over the WRs and the answer emerges. The third WR is T Taylor/ P Warrick, both of whom are young and talented but also unproductive. Top WR D Alexander has been injured and also unproductive. A Freeman has struggled early which all adds up to an almost non-existent WR presence for Ante Up. Until a passing game is found Ante Up will have to be content with having an All-Pro backfield. Despite their problems, it must be noted that Ante Up has eclipsed the century mark once, on the strength of their three superstars.

Rating the Draft

Grades: A (Solid all around) B (A few question marks) C (Some big questions or big holes) D (Big gambles and questionable picks) F (Why you playing man?)

INSCRUTABLE DRAMA KINGS

(Ante Up) Last year’s most up-and-down team returns with a lineup that promises explosive firepower. With Edgerrin James and hard working Lamar Smith, the RB position could be set for years. Travis Henry might also have a chance to contribute in Buffalo and if that’s the case, Ante Up will have no problems with injuries. QB Jeff Garcia was one of the best last year and should continue his meteoric rise. The receivers are an exciting young group (Derrick Alexander, Antonio Freeman, Rod Gardner, Peter Warrick and Travis Taylor) that could easily become the league’s best. Travis Taylor may become a standout WR after an injury plagued rookie year. All this teamed with a great K (Jeff Wilkins) and the best defense (Tampa Bay) means Ante Up could once again be the front runner this season. GRADE= A

(Tiiite End Jammers) As the newest team in the league, the Jammers are this year’s “expansion team.” However, expansion may not accurately describe a roster full of explosive, proven stars. With the last pick of the first round and the subsequent double pick, the Jammers secured Ricky Williams and Kurt Warner. With that duo as a nucleus, the Jammers put together some nice pieces around them. RBs James Stewart and Priest Holmes (a great last pick of the draft) should each be at least 1000 yard rushers and help spell Ricky if he continues to be injury prone. The starting WRs are a tad old but all have been superb in the past few seasons (Ed McCaffrey, Muhsin Mohammed, Keenan McCardell). Backup WR Johnnie Morton could be solid too and with QB Mark Brunell in tow, this team is set at all positions. This isn’t even taking into account one of the best special team combinations in the game, Mike Vanderjagt and Baltimore D. Look for the Jammers to quickly assert itself in its inaguaral fantasy season. GRADE= A

(Buffy) With the first selection in the draft, Buffy had a choice of any player in the league but the obvious choice was Marshall Faulk. With that pick, the RB position immediately became one of strength. With Corey Dillon and Charlie Garner in tow, the backfield will be the cornerstone for what looks to be a very good team. Torry Holt and Rod Smith are two stud receivers and if James McKnight or Freddie Mitchell can get any play, Buffy will be solid at every position. Rich Gannon is a solid if not quite spectacular quarterback (the same could be said of Kerry Collins) who will do just enough to make sure his team wins. The only questionable move on Buffy’s part was reaching for K Sebastian Janikowski in the 6th round. Time will tell if passing on a WR at that point hurt Buffy. GRADE= B+

(DIRTeByRDeeZ) The Birds look to fly this year by drafting 4 WRs in the first five rounds. First round pick Eddie George will solidify the backfield but there is a question mark behind him as Jamal Anderson is coming off of a sub-par year. If the Dirty Bird can hold up, the RB position is thin but serviceable. At QB, Michael Vick could become a stud…in two years. For now, ex-Falcon and current Redskin Jeff George will have to play until Vick is ready. The WRs are the strength of this team by design and the roster is loaded with them. Marvin Harrison, David Boston and Michael Westbrook should all turn in star seasons and having Terry Glenn and Terance Mathis as the 4th and 5th WR provides tremendous depth. The coach has been toying with playing a run-and-shoot attack, mirroring the earlier offensive explosiveness of early 90s Falcon teams. GRADE= B-

(Chunky Monkeys) The reigning world champs will have to overcome an early receiver deficiency if they are to repeat again this year. Joe Horn as a #1 WR won’t strike fear into too many defenses and after him is a bunch of question marks. Derrick Mason emerged as McNair’s number one WR but the Titans don’t throw much so unless that changes, Mason will be hindered by an offense focused on Eddie George. Germane Crowell is the X-factor here as he could return to his star numbers or get lost amidst the new Detroit “West Coast offense.” The Green Lantern (Wayne Chrebet) could be serviceable as a 3rd WR but the hope is that he won’t be needed. The Monkeys do have great QBs in Peyton Manning and Brett Favre though so that isn’t an area of concern. The backfield is full of promise but Chunky gambled a bit by taking Fred Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Terrell Davis. Taylor is a great back but injury prone and LT is a rookie (who should actually be really good). If TD can return to form however, the Monkeys have three franchise backs. If all works out well, the Monkeys have possibly the strongest QBs and RBs in the game, tempered by weak WRs that really need to step up or be upgraded. GRADE= C

SPUNKY MISUNDERSTOOD GENIUSES

(Battle Angels) The Angels built a solid workman-like team around its explosive superstar Randy Moss. RBs Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis (as well as Tyrone Wheatley) are all grind it out types who will work for every inch. QB Brian Griese may not have the flash and dash of his peers (McNabb, Culpepper) but is probably more consistent than either of them. Griese is a little injury prone so backup QB Steve McNair may have to play some. The rest of the WRs are consistent if not overly spectacular (Tim Brown, Amani Toomer, Bill Schroeder). The Angels are a little long in the tooth after Griese and Moss so that could be an area of concern in the future but for now the team looks solid. GRADE= B

(Flaming Shrapnel) The Shrapnel look to transport its championship success on the hardcourt to the gridiron with a young and talented roster. Running backs Jamal Lewis and Ahman Green (not to mention Shaun Alexander, currently stuck behind Watters) are both slated to be the next generation of RB superstars while backup QB Matt Hasselback has been talked up a lot during the pre-season. Current QB Elvis Grbac has switched teams which might mean a drop from the incredible numbers of last year but he has a great group of receivers in Baltimore if the coach will let him throw. The WRs are led by the fiery Terrell Owens and are a very solid bunch. Eric Moulds and Cris Carter will play well this season and if Sylvester Morris can develop in time for Carter’s retirement, Flaming looks to have a good squad for years to come. GRADE= B

(Skool) In another grab for last year’s young stud QBs, Skool took Viking sensation Daunte Culpepper with the fourth overall pick. With Tim Couch as backup, the QB position for Skool will be solidified for the next decade. The young QBs will have a good core of WRs to throw to in Isaac Bruce, Tony Gonzalez, Darrell Jackson (who should be huge this year) and Kevin Johnson. One area of concern could be the backfield, where aging but still productive Ricky Watters is the star. Tiki Barber is the second back and had a career year last season so the hope is that his success continues. Deuce McAllister will sit behind Ricky Williams for now but could be a great pick for the future. Overall, Skool looks set for a solid season, especially if the backfield can hold up and the two young WRs step up. GRADE= B-

(TAGHeuer) TAG traded down in the draft and still got the man it coveted, QB Donovan McNabb. With its next two picks, TAG grabbed Stephen Davis and Michael Bennett to anchor the running game. If Bennett doesn’t fill the hole left by the retirement of Robert Smith, Emmitt Smith (great pick in the 7th round) will fill in admirably as he chases Payton’s rushing record. The receivers are full of potential but if they play like they did last year, TAG is in trouble. Keyshawn Johnson, Marcus Robinson and Joey Galloway are big names but didn’t even have average seasons last year. This year however, the predictions are for the trio to explode back to star status. Ike Hilliard (TAG’s last pick) really came on late last year and could end up playing if one of the big three underperforms. GRADE= B-

(Green Team) With the most interesting draft in the history of the league, the Green Team shook things up all around. Trading with TAG to move up to the third pick, the Greenies nabbed Trent Green and then took Mike Anderson the next round. Third pick Duce Staley was hurt all last season but if healthy, will be a top back again. Green will be great in KC and Mike Anderson will be worthy of a second rounder if he is the feature back in Denver but this team on paper looks to be full of question marks. Top WR Jimmy Smith may be forced to retire and if not, might be injury plagued this season. Qadry Ismail will be a solid deep threat but may not be able to fill the #1 spot if Smith goes down. Right now, the only other proven WR on the roster is Patriots second banana Troy Brown. The other WRs are all young and unproven, but are loaded with potentiall and opportunity (David Terrell, Koren Robinson). This roster will definitely be the most interesting to watch as the season unfolds to see if the gambles pay off. If it does, the GM will look like a genius, if not….. GRADE= D+

Chunky Monkey Rebuilds

Palo Alto (May 6, 2001)
Another draft, another run at a the league championship.

The Chunky Monkey management emerged from the 2001 draft smiling as they came out with 11 solid picks to form the new look of the 2001 Chunky Monkey team.

With their first pick, the Chunky Monkeys grabbed one of the top young quarterbacks in the country, Peyton Manning. Then proceeded to solidy its ground games by selecting Fred Taylor, Terrell Davis and young star LaDainian Tomlinson. Its receiving core will be anchored by Joe Horn, Germane Crowell, Wayne Chrebet and Derrick Mason.

Chunky Monkey GM Evan Shiue had announced earlier that he had intended to build the franchise around running. Using 3 of the first 5 picks for RBs, management kept its word by selecting Fred Taylor, Terrell Davis and new TCU rookie LaDainian Tomlinson. The organization are reportedly ecstatic with their running back core. Newly hired Director of Player Development, Barry Sanders, former star running back of the Detroit Lions and close friend of Chunky Monkey GM Evan Shiue, said earlier "Fred Taylor is easily one of the steals of the draft. We had Fred projected as one of the top backs of the draft. Freddy is our franchise back and will lead this team for years to come. We project LT to be a Fred Taylor clone. LT is durable and with moves to match. He will no doubt be a cornerstone for our franchise in the future.

As for Terrell Davis, his statistics speak for themselves. Terrell was easily the best back two years ago and after recent workouts, the Chunky Monkey organization are convinced that he willcomeback from his recent injuries to be a domninant running back this season. Even with the previous selections of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Tomlinson, it was impossible to pass up Terrell at the fifth round. With Freddy, LT and TD, we feel that our running back core will easily be one of the dominant groups in the league."

There is still a lot of time before the start of the season, but the Chunky Monkeys are definitely a team to start watching. Earlier tonight, ESPN's Mel Kiper told reporters that "The Chunky Monkey had a terrific draft. Co-captains Peyton Manning and Fred Taylor provide the team with great leadership. Fred Taylor and Terrell Davis were tremendous steals. Taylor is a top 3 back while Davis could be the steal of the draft. The more I look at the receiving core, the more I am impressed. With Joe Horn leading the way, young talent such as Germane Crowell, Derrick Mason and Wayne Chrebet (The Green Lantern) will be a capable group. Grade: A"

Minicamp will start in a few weeks.