berven

A few years ago, I accepted a buddy's invitation to join a 16-team league on Yahoo. It was the first league I'd been in that featured IDPs. An oddity was that offensive return yds counted for as much as rushing or receiving yds, so people were starting guys like Eddie Drummond at WR. After the 1st game, I noticed that the scoring system was also crediting IDPs with return yards, so I simply inserted Alan Rossum and Terrence McGee as my two IDPs. This duo racked up big points, accounting for more return yds and TDs than all the other IDPs combined. After Week 5, when I was ensconced in 1st place, an owner who was a friend of the Commish noticed and complained, saying they had not meant to count defensive return yds and that I was, in a way, cheating. I replied that I played by the rules as written, not as intended or "meant". The Commish sided with the owner and appealed to Yahoo to rescore our results. Yahoo answered that they would neither rescore the league nor adjudicate the dispute. The Commish put it to a vote, asking owners to decide whether to leave the rules alone or alter them retroactively, in which case he would adjust all the points manually. The vote was public, on the league's message board. When it appeared that the result was going to be that the rules would stay the same, the Commish canceled the election and said he was changing the rules. My buddy then quit, which caused me to quit, which caused another owner to resign in disgust. The guy who originally complained inherited 1st place, albeit briefly. The league decided to hold a supplemental draft to divvy up our players, and they were like kids at Christmas. The Commish forgot to lock me and my buddy out so, although we couldn't play, we could read the message board. The league suffered through more disputes and threats to quit, but managed to hold its playoffs. Everyone parted full of phony good cheer and vows to reunite the following year, but it didn't happen. I still feel a twofold sense of pride, because 1) I was the 1st to see and exploit the defensive return yds and 2) because it remains the only league in which I was ever branded an outlaw or cheater.

I'm 9-0 in two contests and will probably make different picks in each. I like the Giants, although teams have a tendency to win for new coaches, so DAL makes me edgy. However, I just can't see Kitna leading them to a road win; he'll be lucky to escape without a concussion. I'm also likely to go with TB at home vs CAR. The Panthers are about out of offensive weapons. AZ at home against SEA with either a banged-up Hasselbeck or a Whitehurst at QB interests me. I like KC over Denver. I'm not sure why SF is such a popular pick; they can disappoint vs anybody. Although picking against BUF has been an infallible strategy , they've been making it close, and DET without Stafford could topple.

I don't have any lead pipe cinches available to me. I'm 8-0 in two survivor contests, but don't feel strongly enough about a pick to risk both entries on one choice. I'm considering, from most likely to least likely picks 1) NYG over SEA The Hawks have played well at home, but Whitehurst has never thrown an NFL pass. There are no guarantees, but isn't this just the kind of situation that pleads to be exploited in survivor? 2) MN over AZ The Vikings will need to lean on AP and AZ is terrible against the rush. Besides, Derek and the Cards can usually be counted on for abundant turnovers. I'm a GB homer, so if I pick MN and lose, the wound will be salved by thhe knowledge that the Vikes have lost too. 3) NYJ vs DET I think the Jet D shuts down DET while the generous DET D allows the Jets enough pts. However, the NYJ offensive outage last time worries me. OK, it was windy, but the Jets are supposed to be a running team. Zero points? 4) ATL over TB. I like ATL and its rushing attack vs TB, but the Bucs are 5-0 in their lat 5 road games. 5) CHI over BUF The most popular pick. I'm edgy, though, because the Bills have taken their last two opponents to overtime, and the Bears and Cutler have been shaky. This is just the kind of upset-in-the-making that threatens to take out a big group of survivor contestants.

Moss will drag his feet and resist reporting to his new team. This will serve two functions. First, it will remind the new team that he reserves the right to be a pr!ck and they need to respect that. Second, it's Randy's way of negotiating, motivating his new team to put the smile back on his face by adding a little more folding green to his compensation. If Moss really hates his destination, he may talk so negatively about it that the team will withdraw its claim. He may be able to talk himself all the way down to the Titans. He won't get back to NE, though. Belichick knew that Moss was entering the unhappy phase of his NE career and got him out of there quick, before more misbehavior diminished Randy's trade value.

I took it on the chin this week too. I haven't contributed to the FU thread yet because I have so many names that I'll need to jot them down. My wife tried to console me by reminding me that it's mostly luck, but what fun is it to have bad luck? Online Jeopardy never had these wrenching ups and downs.

As a Packer fan, the strains of calliope music from the north give me the same warm glow a Christmas carol does. In '09, the MN fans among my friends strutted like crows in a gutter, gloating about how they stole our HOF QB, thereby assuring themselves of a Super Bowl win. Well, they who laugh last laugh best, eh? The show is just getting started too. The team should issue Bozo noses and squirt bottles along with the mouthguards. I do feel sorry for guys like AP who are quietly doing their part to no avail. The Vikings knew when they got Moss that he is a petulent smarta$$. They should have ignored his babbling; he opened things up for AP and Harvin even when he wasn't hauling in TDs. Now they're right back where they were, except for being out a 3rd-rounder. With Favre beleaguered personally and professionally and Chilly on the ropes, there will be further developments.

Is this a league in a sheltered care facility? Some poor owners seem to be too medicated to know they're getting it Greek-style.

I'm in deep WR trouble in my deep league, so I grabbed Gonzo in desperation. I don't take that "starter" designation seriously; it may be more honorary than indicative of how much he'll play. It may be that nobody knows how much he'll be in there, since the Colts may play it by ear. I'll probably wait a week before inserting him, but since it's either Gonzo or Gettis, I may go with Anthony.

Thanks for this post. Everybody in my deep league had forgotten about Gonzalez because he had fallen to page 2 of the WR FAs. After I read your reminder, I grabbed him just before the fanball sites started to recommend the pickup. I need WR help, and Gonzo is worth the gamble.

I decided to drop VJax to pick up A Gonzalez. Despite the "welcome back" talk from SD, I'm not sure how much Jackson will play--or want to play if they're out of playoff contention. I'm 3-3 in a deep league. I can't afford to stash players just for the playoffs; I need to focus on making the playoffs. Keeping Jackson might make sense for an owner who has the roster space and doesn't need more immediate help.

I have VJax on my bench for possible playoff help, but I am starting to question tying up the roster slot. Normally, an NFL team would start Hitler at WR if they thought he would create mismatches. However, SD has taken such a hard line with VJax that I don't feel 100% sure he will be active. Furthermore, I don't know how eager VJax will be to showcase himself. He might remember how Javon Walker held out on GB, finally relented, and then blew out his ACL in his 1st game of the season. If Jackson is badly hurt playing for a team that will likely not include him in 2011, the bottom will drop out of the market for him. Jackson may act like such a "negative influence" that he's unwanted in the locker room. I'm leaning toward dumping him.

I'm in two contests, and I try not to make the same pick in each unless I feel I have a mortal lock. I'd use BAL vs the hapless Bills in both contests, but I've used the Ravens in each. I will therefore go with NO at home vs CLE and KC at home vs the Jags. If Garrard and Edwards are both out and Bouman starts, I may use KC in both. I don't "save" teams for later use. I'll worry about Week 10 if and when I get there. The problem with reserving teams is that the team you save may change. By Week 12, TENN may be limping along with Kerry Collins and Javon Ringer replacing injured starters while the Bills are riding a 4-game win streak behind the improbable emergence of Brian Brohm.

While Rice just discarded the crutches, that info is a bit misleading. It doesn't mean that he can only now walk unaided. Sidney said recently that the doctors wanted him on crutches even though he could walk without them; the move was to protect the injury site. I think Rice will return well before the season ends. The Vikes may well play Rice opposite Moss with Harvin in the slot. IMO, the biggest risk for an owner who stashes Rice is that Favre unravels physically and/or gets suspended, and Childress deputizes three of Favre's closest friends on the team to go talk Brett into going home to Mississippi. A Rice and Moss pairing is not so scary if Tarvaris is chucking it.

From a FF perspective, I hate MNF and THUR football. As much as I enjoy the game, I hate to have it drag out over several days. I prefer to ring the register on SUN night and be done with it for the week.

MJD has but one TD in his last 4 games. The TEN D has allowed only 1 rushing TD this year. You may circle the W on this one and devote your full attention to manning the drive-up.

I'm leery about Rodgers despite GB's optimism. Given the new conservative approach to concussions in the NFL, I'd be surprised if the Packers ran him out there. I think they just want MIA to waste prep time on Rodgers.

VJax has become an albatross for me. I recently picked him up, sensing that he was going to report. However, I didn't think he'd stay outside the lines until Week 13. I don't want to clog my roster, but I don't want to dump him so an opponent can pick him up. I don't think he'd bring some sugar plum in trade. I almost added Rice as well. I'd have a juggernaut for the playoffs, but I'd never make the playoffs.

I picked him up for the bye week. He's ATL's Corey Bradford. He doesn't catch many, but he catches bombs. One 50-yd TD catch would meet my needs.

I'd be surprised if they stick Rodgers out there. The NFL has trumpeted its new, conservative approach to head injuries. Maybe I missed one, but I'm not aware of a player who got donked and was out there the following SUN. I think McCarthy is being cagey, simply wanting MIA to devote prep time to Rodgers. CHI hinted that Jay would play but then sat him. I predict Matt Flynn gets the start.

Favre has had several opportunities to deny the allegations and has not. I think a suspension is a virtual certainty. Two other women have come forward, and it wouldn't be surprising if more unsavory stories emerge. That Deadspin photo would be a great new logo for the Vikings, a team that has always come up a little short.

You're way off, Ben. It's down about 6 inches and to your right.

I have seen the alleged photos on Deadspin. It looks like Brett's vaunted ability to go deep is limited to the gridiron.

There are so many reasons why this shouldn't happen that I think it might. Negotiations get so acrimonious that players get a bit more reasonable when they're dealing with a new team. One or both teams might be able to trade the malcontents again if they can get them signed. VJax and or Mankins might get the big money they want, but only for this year, and prorated. I'm not a Belichick fan. However, I believe the man is crafty and knows what he's going to do next. The Genius has something in mind. The stuff I read about how NE is giving up on the year whilst rebuilding is laughable. If VJax doesn't become a Pat, somebody else will.

At the beginning of the season, with little performance data available, players' reputations rise and fall rapidly. Kolb, who was McNabb's heir-apparent and a draft reco of Fanball sites, has now become almost universally reviled--and he has yet to play one full game. You can't go from phenom to has-been quite that fast. I picked up Kobb last weekend, figuring that Vick was about due to get hurt. I only had to wait about two hours. I plan to start Kevin over Favre and V Young. After every Niners' loss, I read about how their fearsome D is going to rise phoenix-like from the ashes and destroy its next opponent. I don't buy it. SF is a team on the ropes with a coach about to unravel. If they get off to a lame start, they may hear some boos. I believe PHI rolls over SF and Kobb becomes Week 6's "hot pickup."

I rate Green-Ellis lower because Belichick uses his RBs unpredticably. I don't know how many times the Fanball sites have trumpeted, eg, Maroney as the hot pickup because he went for 100 yards and a score--only to find that the next week Morris got 18 carries to Maroney's 3. Belichick changes backs to fit the opposition and the game plan, as well as to consolidate his "genius" reputation by being perplexing.