1998 Week 4 Newsletter
Letter from the Commish:
Better late than never. As mentioned last week, the Commish was up in Beantown for a couple days schmoozing with clients and sampling the choooowder. If this weren’t football season, the Commish could easily get caught up in the frenzy of Red Sox baseball in the postseason. But perish the thought. Next week, he’ll make up for it by hightailing it to the hotbed of NFL football, the land of cheese, the hallowed halls of Lombardi and the not yet frozen tundra of the Green Bay Packers. Where better to recapture the spirit of football than in the most crazy football atmosphere of the NFL world, eh? Forgive the Commish if he comes back having perfected his "o" sound.
After four weeks, this year’s version of FFL appears to be breaking along class lines. There are the haves (Highways, Retreads, Party, Iguanas) and the have nots (PMS, Mystics, NFC Norris, King of Dogs). The middle class consists of Bone Club, Montezuma’s Revenge, Stanley Steamers, Palace of Swords. The Week 3 tie between the Bone Boys and the Gay Blades could impact the playoff race down the stretch. As seen last year when those same Swords tied the Highways, it cost both teams a possible playoff berth. Last year was marked by its amazing parity throughout the league. Week 5 will conclude the first third of the 1998 season. The middle third opens in Week 6 with the completion of the first go-round of divisional games.
Is it just the Commish or does it seem as though there just aren’t that many worthy pickups out on the free agent market this season? What’s a poor team to do when it can’t even scrounge for table scraps of players? The answer is to wait for yet more injuries to key players. There have been plenty early on.
The Commish has withdrawn his earlier assessment of the Cheatem division as being the best and deepest in the league this season. Instead, it appears from points scored, overall records and power rankings thus far that the balance of power truly resides in the Howe division. Note that the NFC Norris, despite its 1-3 record is still #6 in the power rankings. The other three division teams are ranked 1-2-3. The numbers don’t lie.
Go deep, I’ll throw it!
-The Commish
Iguanas Go To The Dogs In Narrow 37-33 Defeat
It’s amazing what can happen when a team finally scores against the Iguanas. After having surrendered only 42 of them through the 1st three games (16.0 per game), the King of Dogs finally managed to dent the Iguanas D to the tune of 37 points. It was also the high scoring output of the season for the Doggies. What it all meant was a 37-33 Dogs win over the previously undefeated Iguanas in a game that tightens up the race in the Dewey division. Newcomer Robert Holcombe led the way for the Dogs with 12 points while Steve McNair, Marshall Faulk and Michael Westbrook each had 8 for the Iguanas. The Iguanas (3-1) face the Palace of Swords this week while the King of Dogs (1-3) meet the Retreads.
Greenback Iguanas 33 37 King of Dogs
McNair 08 QB 00 K Stewart
B Sanders 02 RB 12 Holcombe
Faulk 08 RB 06 Murrell
J Smith 00 WR 06 F Sanders
D Scott 00 WR 00 T Owens
Walls 00 TE 00 Sharpe
Westbrook 08 U 00 Lockett
Longwell 07 K 07 N Johnson
Vikings 00 D 06 Ravens
Boners Have The Cure For What’s Ailing ‘Em-PMS
The Bone Club was looking for something to ease the headache they felt from not winning since Week 1. Thus, they were all smiles after seeing PMS on the Week 4 schedule. Coach Young’s team took full advantage of the weak PMS squad and also put up its season high point total of 44 in a 44-22 victory. The win ups the Bone Club to 2-1-1 and they picked up a game in the division while PMS (0-4) suffered its 7th straight defeat dating back to the 1997 season (playoffs included). PMS last won in Week 13 of ’97 by a 45-42 count over the same Bone Club bunch. Carl Pickens was the big Bone boy on this day with 14 points. It broke his own scoreless game streak of six that dated back to ’97. The only highlight for PMS was a 75 yard scoring strike from Jeff George to James Jett. The Bone Club will meet the 1-3 Montezuma’s Revenge in Week 5 while PMS will square off against the 2-2 Stanley Steamers.
The Bone Club 44 22 PMS
Moon 04 QB 04 J George
Watters 00 RB 02 Bettis
Anders 00 RB 00 Means
C Carter 06 WR 00 Morton
Pickens 14 WR 00 Conway
Glover 06 TE 00 D Moore
McCaffrey 06 U 06 Jett
Elam 08 K 10 Carney
Chiefs 00 D 00 Steelers
Highways Keep Rolling 47-16; Lone Undefeated
The Highways have looked great at times in ’98. They’ve also appeared vulnerable. But with a defense that’s only allowed 53 points after four games, it’s no wonder they stand as the last remaining undefeated team in the league. Week 4 was a perfect case in point. Coach Widtfeldt’s team put up a season high 47 while allowing only 16 to last season’s scoring champ. Brett Favre led the way with 22 points, ranking him 5th on the all-time single game scoring list for a QB (Steve Young has the record of 27 in 1993). Jerry Rice added 14 and Jason Hanson scored 9. The Mystics have scored 20, 30, 16 and 16 in their first four games. Mystic kickers have combined for 14 points in four games this season. The 4-0 Highways will next play 3-1 Grande To The Party while the Mystics (1-3) will play the 1-3 NFC Norris.
Strange Highways 47 16 Natural Mystics
Favre 22 QB 04 T Green
Enis 00 RB 00 R Harris
Lane 00 RB 02 Kaufman
Rice 14 WR 00 R Smith
Galloway 02 WR 00 Shepherd
Dudley 00 TE 00 Gonzalez
Zellars 00 U 06 E Smith
Hanson 09 K 04 Peterson
Buccaneers 00 D 00 Cardinals
Steamers Nip Revenge 25-22 With Defensive TD
Oftentimes it’s the little things that make the difference between winning and losing. Such was the case in Week 4 with the Stanley Steamers and Montezuma’s Revenge. The Steamers made what seemed like a minor transaction during the week leading up to the game when they waived the Redskins D in favor of the Panthers D. Conversely, the Revenge started John Elway at QB. While Elway was a gametime scratch from the starting lineup of the Denver Broncos, the Panthers defense scored a TD against the Packers. It was the edge Coach Stamer’s team needed to win a close 25-22 division affair to even the Steamers’ record at 2-2. The Steamers play 0-4 PMS next week while Montezuma’s Revenge will face the 2-1-1 Bone Club.
Montezuma’a Revenge 22 25 Stanley Steamers
Elway 00 QB 08 Brunell
R Smith 06 RB 02 Hearst
T Allen 06 RB 00 Alstott
Fryar 00 WR 00 H Moore
Moss 06 WR 00 R Brooks
McGee 00 TE 00 F Jones
Dawkins 00 U 02 L Smith
Cunningham 04 K 07 Stover
49ers 00 D 06 Panthers
Party Claims Share of Howe Lead With 48-27 Win
Grande To The Party has scored only 8 points more than it has allowed. Yet, after its Week 4 win over the NFC Norris, the Party stands at 3-1 at possess a three game win streak, second only to the Strange Highways. Note: the Party and the Highways clash mano-a-mano this coming Sunday. Hold your hats! Alas, poor Yorick, we knew Coach Nerz well. Despite averaging 29.8 ppg., the Norris stands at 1-3. The Norris per game average rounds out to 30 which means that the Howe division is the only one with all four teams averaging 30+ points per game. The strength appears to be in this division. Steve Young had 14 points for the Party while Derrick Mayes shot his 1998 load in this game, scoring 18. The 3-1 Party play the Strange Highways next week while the Norris play the 1-3 Natural Mystics.
Grande To The Party 48 27 NFC Norris
S Young 14 QB 04 Plummer
E George 00 RB 02 Dillon
T Banks 00 RB 08 J Anderson
C Johnson 00 WR 00 T Brown
Stokes 06 WR 00 M Irvin
Chmura 06 TE 00 Crumpler
D Mayes 18 U 00 M Harrison
M Anderson 02 K 07 G Anderson
Cowboys 02 D 06 Broncos
Sharp Swords Resemble Week One Bunch In Win
Will the real Palace of Swords please stand up? After scoring 18 and 22 points the past two weeks respectively, the Swords reverted to their Week 1 ways in piling up 72 points in an explosion of a win over the previously undefeated Retreads, 72-46. To the Retreads’ credit, they still put up 46 points of their own which speaks well for their playoff potential. They have yet to suffer a down week in four games. On this day, though, Coach Pedersen’s squad was high as a kite, reminding many league observers of draft day. For the Swords, Randall Cunningham burst out for 16, Donnell Bennett had 18 and newcomer Priest Holmes had 14 as did Jermaine Lewis. The Retreads were led by Yancy Thigpen’s 14. The combined point total for the two teams of 118 is the 4th most in league history. In Week 1, the Palace of Swords were involved in the #1 top scoring game ever.
The Retreads 46 72 Palace of Swords
Zeier 04 QB 16 Cunningham
T Davis 08 RB 18 Bennett
F Taylor 08 RB 14 P Holmes
McCardell 06 WR 00 Freeman
Thigpen 14 WR 00 T Martin
E Green 00 TE 00 Santiago
J Reed 00 U 14 J Lewis
Stoyanovich 06 K 10 Del Greco
Seahawks 00 D 00 Packers
This week’s additions to the FFL Record Book:
Swami Sez:
The Swami went a sparkling 5-1 in Week 4 including correctly calling the Swords win over the previously undefeated Retreads. This brings his overall mark on the season to 17-6-1. To the best of his recollection, the Swami has never been in such rarified air. What can this possibly mean? Let me tell you. What we’re seeing in 1998 is the antithesis of the 1997 season. Whereas ’97 was marked by its league wide parity, 1998 is quickly shaping up into the haves and have nots; which just goes to show that what goes around comes around. And what better example than to look at PMS and the Natural Mystics, last year’s top two regular season teams. This year, they’re right there at the bottom of the barrel. Who’s near the top? Grande To The Party and the Strange Highways come to mind. Don’t look now but they’re on a collision course this week.
King of Dogs (1-3) vs. The Retreads (3-1)
Power Rankings: King of Dogs 10; The Retreads 3
King of Dogs, struggling until a Week 4 upset of the previously unbeaten and unmuzzled Greenback Iguanas, are without Kordell Stewart, Robert Holcombe, Frank Wycheck, Norm Johnson and the Ravens D. Look for them to pick up a defense this week unless they insert the idle Ravens anyway. Marino gets the start. The Retreads are without Eric Zeier, Fred Taylor, wideouts McCardell and Thigpen and both tight ends. Look for a TE pickup this week. If the Retreads win, it’ll be on the ground. For the Doggies, it’ll be via the air. Since the Schwam believes in a strong ground game, the nod here goes to the Retreads.
PMS (0-4) vs. Stanley Steamers (2-2)
Power Rankings: PMS 11; Stanley Steamers 8
Bettis, Bruener, Hollis and the Steeler D all have Week 5 off for PMS. Brunell, Huntley, Bruce and Stover will be missing for the Steamers. Jeff George and the PMS wideouts will have to step up. The Steamers have a solid backup in Chris Chandler at QB who must have been salivating after he saw the film clips of Brett Favre dissecting the Panther D in Week 4; Additionally, the ground game is intact. The Steamers should have what it’ll take to win this one.
Greenback Iguanas (3-1) vs. Palace of Swords (2-1-1)
Power Rankings: Greenback Iguanas 7; Palace of Swords 12
Steve McNair, Jerald Moore, Jimmy Smith and Darnay Scott are absent this week for the Iguanas. Smith & Scott have been the starting wideouts thus far for the Bernadt boys. Priest Holmes, Jermaine Lewis and Al Del Greco are gone for the Palace of Swords. Coach Pedersen will be picking up a kicker this week. This game is somewhat similar to the Retreads-King of Dogs game mentioned above in that the Palace of Swords would appear to have the strength via air this week while the Iguanas should get running production. Being consistent, the Swami goes with the Iguanas. How can you pick against Barry Sanders against an NFC Central team?
Bone Club (2-1-1) vs. Montezuma’s Revenge (1-3)
Power Rankings: Bone Club 9; Revenge 5
O’Donnell, Rhett, Jackson, Pickens, and Kennison are off for the Bone Club in Week 5 while Chris Sanders, McGee and Pelfrey have byes for the Revenge. The Revenge will be acquiring a TE this week to fill in for McGee. Ed McCaffrey will be a key for the Bone Club. Of the Revenge players off this week, only McGee is a weekly starter. A tip of the hat to Coach Unger’s squad this week.
Strange Highways (4-0) vs. Grande To The Party (3-1)
Power Rankings: Strange Highways 6; Grande To The Party 1
The Strange Highways are at full strength for their annual rivalry with Coach Will’s party boys. Eddie George, Tavian Banks, Charles Johnson and Damon Jones are all gone for Coach Will. That leaves only one RB. Bet the house that the Party will be picking up a running back this week. Also bet the house on the Highways escaping with a victory in Week 5.
Natural Mystics (1-3) vs. NFC Norris (1-3)
Power Rankings: Natural Mystics 2; NFC Norris 4
Only Jay Graham and the injured Greg Hill will be missing for the Mystics. For the Norris, Tony Banks and Cory Dillon are gone. The Norris will start three wideouts. If the Mystics can avoid a Jamal Anderson/Robert Edwards knockout punch, they’ll have a shot. For the Mystics, watch Rod Smith while Marvin Harrison for the Norris could have a good game. This may be the closest game of the week. It could also be the ugliest. The Mystics by a hair.