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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 15, 2008 19:09:22 GMT
2013 REGULAR SEASON Despite the weakness of our schedule the "experts" (well, Moo), are starting to mention us in the same sentence as the words "Superbowl contenders."
It's madness, clearly, but then for the following two games we look pretty much exactly that as we win on the road in Dallas and on the road in Cleveland.
Now beating Cleveland at the moment is roughly as difficult as beating Vern Troyer in a "who's tallest?" competition, so no one's overly excited by our 23-9 victory keyed by Xavier Baer's 27 of 34 passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns, but the 31-17 win in Texas over the 6-4 Cowboys does open a few eyes and deservedly so.
With Philip Fly grounded, we had thought the offence would be turned over to the bullish stylings of LenDale White, but instead head coach Harvey Castillo and Offensive Co-ordinator Darrin Baniewicz take the shackles off of the passing game and Baer, Curry, Hill et al respond brilliantly.
Our three touchdowns in the Dallas game all come from Baer's arm as he hits Herb Hill, Ron Curry and Tight End Zach Miller for scores and only throws four incompletions the entire game.
Dallas Cornerback Mike Jenkins was "questionable" coming into the game with a pulled groin and it showed as he was victimised by Hill for six catches and the touchdown.
We return home now to face the Eagles and Broncos in Oakland, knowing that one win or one Denver loss will seal the AFC West title - an incredible last-to-first ride for the team.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 15, 2008 22:10:27 GMT
2013 REGULAR SEASON And just like that, we're a play off team.
After the desperation of last year it seems that really we were just unlucky with injuries and precariously thin across the roster because with some good fortune this year confining injuries to the Safeties and the Offensive and Defensive line where I have some cover, we've strolled into the post season.
We did what we had to do, against the Eagles, winning 31-20 thanks to touchdowns on the ground from LenDale White, through the air from Baer to Ron Curry, on special teams through a 95 yard kick return by Kevin Robinson and on defence thanks to an 89 yard interception return by Tyvon Branch.
The Eagles seemed stunned by the points coming from all directions and older-than-God Quarterback Donovan McNabb was stunned by Defensive End Peter Davis who sacked him twice, hurried him seven times and knocked him down three other times.
Really though we could have spent the game on the sidelines watching Donovan creak through his drop backs, because the HULK SMASH Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Broncos and the division title was ours regardless of our result against Philly.
Which is lucky, because the following week Denver came into the Coliseum and stuck a 31-24 on us thanks to ten unanswered fourth quarter points.
Amusingly, Phil Fly was taking his sweet time about coming back from injury and replacement Neal Birney had torn his groin which is a shame as he'd gained 98 yards on 24 carries at just over four yards a pop and had seemed to compliment LenDale quite well.
I'm wondering how the hell I fit another runningback onto the roster now when the answer is handily provided to me, as Safety Michael Huff wrecks his ankle and will need surgery. I throw him onto the IR which frees up a roster spot and go shopping.
On the dented tins shelf I find Joel Carlisle, a fourth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 who was cut five weeks ago so the Steelers could sign Ma'ake Kemoeautu, (I'd like to buy a consonant, please Bob), to cover for Defensive Tackle Tyrell Polak who was put on Injured Reserve with a ruptured Achilles Tendon, which sounds fun.
A week later we send a message to the league™ as we spank the crap out of the New York Giants, 39-21 in their stadium thanks to quarterback Xavier Baer who throws for 296 yards and four touchdowns despite suffering a broken toe in the second quarter. New boy Joel Carlisle gains 56 yards on 14 carries and LenDale SMASH for 69 yards on 20. Both catch passes from Baer for touchdowns.
In the final game of the season we face the Chargers down the road in San Diego and I rest as many people as I can, which includes a now fit again Philip Fly and Quarterback Xavier Baer who'll get the week off to protect his broken piggy.
This proves to be a solid decision as the Chargers do their best to injure just about everyone who plays and we finish the game without Safety Brandon Merriweather, Tackle Amos Fairweather, (spot the weather connection), Tackle Alan Snipes, Defensive Tackle Roddick Grillo, Tight End Fred Davis, Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Defensive End Kris Marcum and Offensive Guard Ernest Goodwin.
Asomugha, Marcum and Goodwin are all listed as doubtful and unlikely to shake their injuries until after the end of the season, although all three could play in the playoffs, albeit it at a limited level.
What's left of our team limps to a 19-16 win on the back of four field goals from Myron Bauer who is given the Game MVP award to finish off a regular season in which he was almost cut for missing a potential game-tying field goal.
So we're in the post-season, with the second best record in football, behind the disturbingly strong-looking Pittsburgh Steelers who finish half a game ahead at 13-3.
The teams we faced finished 108-147-1. It is the easiest schedule in football.
The teams the Steelers faced finished 126-129-1. No prizes for guessing who the favourites are.
Our second best record in the AFC gives us a week off, to get healthier, while the third best division winner; the New York Jets, will confirm the screwed up nature of the NFL seeding system by hosting a Cincinnati team who won two more games than New York this year.
The other wild card game is between the 11-4-1 Texans and the 9-7 Broncos who snuck into the playoffs on the last day.
Over in the NFC it's 10-6 Arizona (minus McFadden who's on IR), at the 10-6 Eagles and the 9-7 Cowboys at the 11-5 Detroit Lions. AFC North W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Pittsburgh 13 3 0 .813 381 242 9-3 4-2 Cincinnati 12 4 0 .750 433 313 9-3 5-1 Baltimore 8 8 0 .500 298 283 6-6 3-3 Cleveland 3 13 0 .188 289 381 2-10 0-6 AFC South W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Houston 11 4 1 .719 390 307 7-4-1 4-2 Indianapolis 8 8 0 .500 291 354 7-5 4-2 Tennessee 8 8 0 .500 301 334 5-7 1-5 Jacksonville 6 10 0 .375 313 324 6-6 3-3 AFC East W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div New York J 10 6 0 .625 356 324 8-4 5-1 New England 8 8 0 .500 317 357 7-5 4-2 Miami 6 10 0 .375 297 365 5-7 2-4 Buffalo 6 10 0 .375 288 299 3-9 1-5 AFC West W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Oakland 12 3 1 .781 403 262 8-3-1 4-2 Denver 9 7 0 .563 359 321 7-5 5-1 Kansas City 5 11 0 .313 239 325 4-8 3-3 San Diego 3 13 0 .188 254 328 2-10 0-6 NFCNorth W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Detroit 11 5 0 .688 377 300 10-2 5-1 Chicago 8 8 0 .500 291 279 6-6 3-3 Green Bay 6 10 0 .375 344 374 5-7 2-4 Minnesota 5 11 0 .313 325 399 3-9 2-4 NFCSouth W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div New Orleans 12 4 0 .750 440 310 9-3 5-1 Atlanta 9 7 0 .563 341 336 7-5 5-1 Carolina 5 11 0 .313 288 410 3-9 1-5 Tampa Bay 5 11 0 .313 329 365 3-9 1-5 NFCEast W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Philadelphia 10 6 0 .625 391 307 7-5 5-1 Dallas 9 7 0 .563 326 318 6-6 2-4 New York G 8 8 0 .500 301 350 7-5 3-3 Washington 5 11 0 .313 227 330 4-8 2-4 NFCWest W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div Seattle 11 5 0 .688 299 272 10-2 5-1 Arizona 10 6 0 .625 408 349 7-5 3-3 San Francisco 7 9 0 .438 258 276 5-7 1-5 St. Louis 6 10 0 .375 301 361 4-8 3-3
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Post by coffers on Oct 16, 2008 0:48:23 GMT
A fantastic season was had by all, well by Oakland really.
Here's to even better things before it's finished, but with those injuries, I won't hold out any real hope.
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 1:02:15 GMT
2013 POST-SEASON Wild Card Round Arizona 33-7 Philadelphia Cincinnati 37-23 NY Jets Dallas 24-27 Detroit Denver 28-7 Houston
Shock of the round is probably the Broncos' triumph in Texas as they overcome a very solid Houston team. The Eagles lost both DeSean Jackson and Braylon Edwards inside the first quarter and have to play the rest of the game without their starting receivers.
Detroit start fast then outlast Dallas who score 21 fourth quarter points and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer simply kills the Jets, which is ominous, as it's the Bengals I'll be facing now, while Denver go to Pittsburgh.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 1:28:27 GMT
2013 POST-SEASON Divisional Championship Round This is torture.
The latest version of FOF has something called "Solevision", (or Silly Vision as it has now been named), which displays the game in play by play format with extra detail. On the side of the screen it shows all the other games going on at the same time and the top box flashes up scores from the other games as they happen.
It's kind of obsessive, but kind of cool too. So, as I'm feeling frisky, I decide to subject myself to Silly Vision for my Oakland Raiders' first appearance in the play offs.
What this means is that I get to watch Xavier Baer kill our season in gory detail.
I'm not even in my seat in the luxury box when this happens :
"Oakland: Single-Back formation, strength is right. The defense is in a 43 with dime personnel and 2-deep man-to-man coverage, expecting the pass. 1-10-OAK25 (1Q: 14:43) Xavier Baer pass was intended for WR Ronald Curry and was intercepted by OLB Stephen Nicholas at the OAK43. The interception was returned 43 yards for a TOUCHDOWN! Cincinnati 6, Oakland 0 (1Q: 14:43) Extra point by Shayne Graham was good. Cincinnati 7, Oakland 0 "
17 seconds into the game and Baer has already thrown a touchdown. For the other side. For a neat bit of symmetry Baer will throw another interception with 17 seconds to go. Inbetween I'll get to watch a melt down from the guy who tore up several defences this season, as he turns into a guy who throws seven passes at lead receiver Ron Curry in the game and misses on all of them.
After going down 7-0, Baer and Philip Fly do a nice job of driving down the field and when Fly pushes into the end zone from seven yards out, all seems to be well - we can move on from Baer's mistake. Instead our celebrating is cut off by a small piece of yellow cloth lying in the backfield as Tight End Fred Davis is called for holding.
We don't get back in the paint and have to settle for three, to close the gap to 7-3.
We hold the Bengals to 3 on their next drive thanks to Kirk Morrison who tackles receiver Andre Caldwell on the one yard line. Our damaged secondary missing Michael Huff and featuring a limping Nnamdi Asomugha just can't cover Caldwell, who'll catch passes in double-coverage all day long and finish with 10 of them for 132 yards.
Down 10-3 with 6:37 to play in the half we drive 94 yards down the field in 11 plays, burning 4:47 off the clock to a touchdown pass from Baer to Leo Klaff to tie the scores and all seems to be well - we can move on from our earlier mistakes.
Except our defence then folds and Palmer drives the Bengals 77 yards in 99 seconds to a touchdown and a 17-10 lead.
Baer, who has been fragile through the first half, ( some of his worst mistakes are covered up by repeated Bengal penalties), then just folds like a lawn chair, missing open receivers left and right and four of our next six drives will be three and outs.
However, our defence is still hanging in there, tooth and nail, and with the score 20-10 to the Bengals, Safety Brandon Meriweather turns a tipped pass into an interception and returns it 40 yards to Cincy's 18 yard line.
However, presented with a chance to close the gap to just three points Baer is pathetic, missing wildly on three straight passes while our coaches inexplicably ignore one of the league's premier halfbacks, using Fly as little more than a decoy.
We kick a field goal to make it 20-13, but when Palmer zips the cats 74 yards down field to another touchdown in exactly the manner that Xavier Bael hasn't been doing, we're officially cooked. All that remains is for Baer to lead a labouring drive that takes far too much time off the clock and ends in his second interception.
Phil Fly walks off the field after his first post-season game having gained 88 yards on 17 carries at 5.18 yards a carry. He's been criminally underused.
Ultimately, we masqueraded as the second best team in the league for much of the season, behind a mask constructed of the easiest schedule in football. But when the team that actually probably were the second best team in the AFC showed up, the curtain dropped and it became apparent were weren't a real wizard after all.
We're definitely on the right track, but we may only be halfway there. We looked good at first glance, but like a hot internet chick it took only a few seconds of real exposure to show us for what we really were.
After Detroit was the only home team to win in the first round, we were the only home team to lose in this one.
Arizona 13-31 New Orleans Cincinnati 27-13 Oakland Denver 21-37 Pittsburgh Detroit 20-21 Seattle
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Post by Sonic on Oct 16, 2008 4:36:08 GMT
Silly Vision? Sounds like dots to me. I think you mean you were only the only away team to lose, not home team. At least according to those scores above. That sounded like a painful game to sit through, as I could imagine you screaming at them to 'Give it to the Fly-boy! and such other epithets. Silly play coaches. How does this leave you draft wise? A bit better off I'd imagine for not making it further in the play-offs. A top season it has to be said, despite the bandages falling away in the play-off. KUTGW
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Post by Moo on Oct 16, 2008 7:47:01 GMT
No, he would have been the home team as he was one of the top 2 seeds. The home sides are always shown on the right as the silly Merkins always write their schedules as Cincinnati @ Oakland, basically because they're silly.
I blame Gabriella Sabatini.
Unlucky with the playoffs, sort of, (well, not unlucky really, just that your lot as you say weren't good enough), but I'm pretty sire you'd have taken that regular season at the start of it. Looks like your air attack is a decent compliment to your ground attack, which was supplied by the air force.
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by Narcizo on Oct 16, 2008 7:55:12 GMT
Tough luck there Mr Slut.
Silly Vision can be very painful to watch although it can give moments of euphoria as well.
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Post by Moo on Oct 16, 2008 8:10:25 GMT
So is this silly vision just like watching the CM text at the bottom with boxes for your team and that stats rolling in?
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Post by coffers on Oct 16, 2008 8:29:02 GMT
Nice work anyway S1ut, your coaches are clearly halfwits.
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by Boony on Oct 16, 2008 8:56:58 GMT
Ahh, you shouldn't have rested Baer. Bye weeks in the playoffs can be killers too.
Unlucky fella. Good luck with the trading and drafting and suchlike. Do we get a chance to see some stats, or to have a run-down of where you're looking to strengthen next year?
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Post by Narcizo on Oct 16, 2008 9:31:17 GMT
So is this silly vision just like watching the CM text at the bottom with boxes for your team and that stats rolling in? Aye.
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Post by hornet on Oct 16, 2008 11:27:06 GMT
Ouch. The rash of injuries in the last game didn't bode well, but I thought Fly getting a few weeks off might actually help a bit. Which it could have done. If he'd gotten the ball at all.
Still, you've got (largely) a pretty young team, so you should be even stronger next year even if the vaguries of the schedule might mask that a bit.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 12:06:08 GMT
No, he would have been the home team as he was one of the top 2 seeds. The home sides are always shown on the right as the silly Merkins always write their schedules as Cincinnati @ Oakland, basically because they're silly. I blame Gabriella Sabatini. Unlucky with the playoffs, sort of, (well, not unlucky really, just that your lot as you say weren't good enough), but I'm pretty sire you'd have taken that regular season at the start of it. Looks like your air attack is a decent compliment to your ground attack, which was supplied by the air force. KUTGW! I named my first cat after Gabriela Sabatini. True story. The real Sabatini still looks pretty good too. And you're right - I would have taken a 12-3-1 record at the start of the season and laughed about it, because there's no way I imagined we'd make that much of a turn around. I was still disappointed with the Oaklanders though - 42,000 come out to the playoffs? Lzy fooks.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 12:10:53 GMT
Ahh, you shouldn't have rested Baer. Bye weeks in the playoffs can be killers too. Unlucky fella. Good luck with the trading and drafting and suchlike. Do we get a chance to see some stats, or to have a run-down of where you're looking to strengthen next year? I'm not sure that the resting did too much, we just ran into a proper team in the Bengals. We couldn't get the ball off of Carson Palmer and they double covered Ron Curry all day and instead of just ramming Fly and White down their faces, we tried to sling the ball anyway. I can't really fire the coaches who got us to the playoffs though. Although I'm tempted. What's really scary is that the Bengals got absolutely crushed by the Steelers in the Conference game, so god knows what would have happened if we'd got through.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 12:28:31 GMT
2013 POST-SEASON Conference Championship Round Cincinnati 7-41 Pittsburgh Seattle 24-48 New Orleans
Pittsburgh barely even notice the Bengals are in their way en route to the Superbowl as they lead 20-0 at the half and 27-7 at the end of the third quarter in a game that's never even close.
Seattle outlasted the Lions in the previous round 21-20 thanks to a missed extra point, but the defending champions look like money are people are talking repeat for a reason.
To their credit, they hang with the champions for a long time, trailing 24-21 midway through the third, but then Drew Brees steps on the gas pedal and it's over as he throws three touchdown passes in the space of 12 minutes.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 12:42:10 GMT
2013 POST-SEASON SUPERBOWL XLVIII New Orleans Saints 7 7 7 3 - 24 Pittsburgh Steelers 0 0 7 7 - 14 The Saints and Drew Brees go back-to-back as New Orleans dump the Steelers and the 13 year veteran Quarterback wins his third Superbowl MVP and second in two years.
The Saints lead 14-0 at the break as the Steeler defence tried hard to cover for their offence which was struggling to move the ball.
That offence finally got on the board through a nine yard DeAngelo Williams run but Brees turned 14-7 into 21-7 with a 36 yard heave to Harris Powell.
Pitt closed the gap again when Ben Roethlisberger threw a one yard score to Lavelle Hawkins, but Taylor Mehlhaff landed a 30 yard kick at the two minute warning to put the game out of reach for the Steelers.
Neither team could run the ball, so Brees 24 of 35 for 238 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception really made the difference.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 13:18:02 GMT
Quarterbacks and Cornerbacks are the big question going in 2014 as both positions feature a starter out of contract with litle cover behind. At quarterback the question will be if we want to offer a long-term possibly expensive deal to Xavier Baer, who was injured for all of 2012 then had a reasonable 2013 season before collapsing in the playoff game against Cincinnati. Picking 30th in the draft there's no way we'll be able to get a viable franchise quarterback and certainly not one ready to start this year, so our choices are paying Baer or shopping around for someone else's back up. At corner we will be offering a deal to Nnamdi Asomugha, but the question will be whether he'll accept the contract we think is economically viable. If some other team offers to throw a lot of money at him, then we won't match it and he'll be gone. Sadly, the draft class doesn't seem to have many good corners in it either. In the shop window will be receiver Ronald Curry who is probably still good enough to draw some interest and middle linebacker Karlos Dansby who probably won't get a sniff, but I don't mind bringing him back as veteran presence. Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Baer, Xavier 18 QB 6 45 45 -- Rayburn, Mitchell 2 QB 2 14 38 3 Collier, Jonathan 11 QB 3 10 21 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Fly, Philip 20 RB 2 83 83 4 White, LenDale 28 RB 9 38 38 -- Carlisle, Joel 39 RB 4 34 39 -- Birney, Neal 25 RB 3 34 34 1 Fafinski, Phillip 36 FB 4 47 47 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Miller, Zach 82 TE 8 56 56 2 Davis, Fred 84 TE 7 52 52 1 Keith, Kenny 4 TE 5 38 38 --
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Curry, Ronald 80 FL 12 51 51 1 Klaff, Leo 88 FL 6 45 45 2 Hill, Herb 87 SE 5 68 68 1 Patton, Malcolm 85 SE 4 53 53 1 Diaz, Alvin 89 SE 7 46 46 1 Robinson, Kevin 86 SE 7 37 37 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Walker, Kris 54 C 3 54 65 1 Cole, Nick 59 C 9 48 48 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Mayes, Andre 64 LG 3 44 44 1 Goodwin, Ernest 63 LG 3 21 43 -- Foote, Howard 55 RG 3 64 69 2 Richardson, Carlos 77 RG 4 38 38 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Fairweather, Amos 65 LT 5 52 52 4 Kanyuh, Freddie 69 RT 7 46 46 1 Snipes, Alan 67 RT 2 31 61 3 Poole, J.R. 70 RT 2 28 47 2
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Brooks, Durant 10 P 7 73 73 -- Bauer, Myron 17 K 2 39 39 --
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Weibel, Bryant 72 LDE 7 44 44 1 Davis, Peter 97 RDE 3 46 49 1 Marcum, Kris 94 RDE 7 43 43 1 Roth, Matt 93 RDE 10 34 34 -- Siglar, Brock 75 RDE 3 22 32 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Brooks, Karl 71 LDT 3 66 69 2 Grillo, Riddick 92 LDT 5 44 44 1 Mukherjee, Gabe 76 RDT 2 46 53 3 Myers, Treacle 78 RDT 2 25 33 2 Randolph, Mitchell 79 RDT 2 20 35 2
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Morrison, Kirk 90 MLB 10 43 43 2 Dansby, Karlos 53 MLB 11 39 39 1 Gimmarro, Emmanuel 91 SLB 6 56 56 1 Neitring, Adrian 51 SLB 5 47 47 1 Howard, Marcus 52 WLB 7 55 55 3 Maloney, Rondell 57 WLB 2 34 42 2
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Asomugha, Nnamdi 47 LCB 12 69 69 -- McCauley, Marcus 33 LCB 8 34 34 1 Branch, Tyvon 40 RCB 7 68 68 2 Stepnoski, Ethan 34 RCB 3 21 34 1
[/size] Player # Pos Start Exp Current Estimate Future Estimate Ctr Pollard, Bernard 26 SS 9 53 53 1 Moore, Bart 42 SS 6 49 49 1 Meriweather, Brandon 41 FS 8 55 55 2 Huff, Michael 37 FS 9 52 52 1 McWilliams, Robbie 31 FS 4 34 39 1
[/size]
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Post by Narcizo on Oct 16, 2008 13:27:47 GMT
Yes indeed. Big benosed though she may be (althought regularly playing Steffi Graf concealed that quite effectively) but the Sabbatini-"era" marked the only significant blip on the Narkle-couldn't-give-two-fucks-about-tennis radar.
Interesting to see how much of a pig's ear you make of the draft now that you don't have a gimme pick teh slut.
Oh, and are you playing some sort of house rule, or do you not know that you're actually allowed to reneg with players before they become free agents.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 13:32:04 GMT
I figure I can level the playing field some on the cap front if I let players become free agents so that I'm competing with other teams for signatures, rather than just negotiating during the year when I'm the only team that can talk to the player.
That should make for a few more bidding wars, which should eat more of my cap room.
I'll allow myself a max of one mid-season resign a year, but probably won't do it while I have a lot of cap room and a winning team.
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Post by coffers on Oct 16, 2008 13:36:48 GMT
Interesting stuff, you'll be looking for kickers too I guess.
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Post by Narcizo on Oct 16, 2008 13:49:11 GMT
I figure I can level the playing field some on the cap front if I let players become free agents so that I'm competing with other teams for signatures, rather than just negotiating during the year when I'm the only team that can talk to the player. Good call.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 13:52:10 GMT
Prior to free agency, this is the depth chart with our players under contract. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Position 1 | 2 | 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QB | Mitchell Rayburn | Jonathan Collier ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HB Philip Fly | | Neal Birney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FB Philip Fafinski | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FL Ronald Curry | Leo Klaff | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SE Herb Hill | Malcolm Patton | Alvin Diaz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TE Zach Miller | Fred Davis | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LT Amos Fairweather | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LG Andre Mayes | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C Kris Walker | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG Howard Foote | Carlos Richardson | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RT Alan Snipes | Freddie Kanyuh | JR Poole ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LDE Bryant Weibel | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DT Karl Brooks | Riddick Grillo | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DT Gabe Mukherjee | Mitchell Randolf | Treacle Myers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RDE Kris Marcum | Peter Davis | Brock Siglar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLB Emmanuel Gimmaro | Adrian Neitring | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MLB Kirk Morrison | Karlos Dansby | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WLB Marcus Howard | Rondell Maloney | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CB | Marcus McCauley | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CB Tyvon Branch | Ethan Stepnoski | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SS Bernard Pollard | Bart Moore | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FF Brandon Merriweather | Michael Huff | Robbie McWilliams ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 17:05:18 GMT
2014 Pre-Season Free Agency This has all been very serene. We got our offers out in the first week of free agency to cover most of the positions we needed and while we were knocked back by first choice cornerback Justin King who went to the Dolphins of all places, we did manage to grab CB Fred Bennett from the Texans.
King turned down $17.5m over four years to come to California taking instead $15.5m over four years to move to Florida. I guess he's an east-coast kinda guy. Or a moron.
Bennett signed for 3 years and $13m, which is a snip compared to the 2 year, $21m contract the Bears are hanging in front of Nnamdi Asomugha who sadly, will be allowed to leave.
Then we stole Halfback Jeremy Grillot from the Packers for $2.07m on a two year deal. We made a run at Grillot last season when he left New England and we don't hesitate to stab at him again as Green Bay foolishly leave him exposed.
Finally, after being left to stew for a couple of weeks without any offers whatsoever, we approach Xavier Baer and show him the quarterback equivalent of some beans and a five pound note to resign for us, which he duly does at $13.8m for four years.
On the trade side, no one has shown any interest in either Ron Curry or Karlos Dansby. Curry will renegotiate into a two year deal at $1m a year with an $8m signing bonus, meaning he'd cost us $5m against the cap this year and next year, instead of $10m this year, but I don't really want him around next year as he's old and smells of wee.
Dansby is already looking over his shoulder now I've signed Marc Patton and will probably be given a bag of sandwiches and a hat and told to go away.
I am slightly disturbed that that all went so well and that my roster has no real holes in it. Still, at least this means I can spectacularly cock up the draft now with no real repercussions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Position 1 | 2 | 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QB XAVIER BAER | Mitchell Rayburn | Jonathan Collier ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HB Philip Fly | JEREMY GRILLOT [GBY] | Neal Birney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FB Philip Fafinski | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FL Ronald Curry | Leo Klaff | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SE Herb Hill | Malcolm Patton | Alvin Diaz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TE Zach Miller | Fred Davis | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LT Amos Fairweather | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LG Andre Mayes | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C Kris Walker | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG Howard Foote | Carlos Richardson | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RT Alan Snipes | Freddie Kanyuh | JR Poole ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- P | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LDE Bryant Weibel | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DT Karl Brooks | Riddick Grillo | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DT Gabe Mukherjee | Mitchell Randolf | Treacle Myers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RDE Kris Marcum | Peter Davis | Brock Siglar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLB Emmanuel Gimmaro | Adrian Neitring | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MLB Kirk Morrison | MARC PATTON [PHI] | Karlos Dansby ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WLB Marcus Howard | Rondell Maloney | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CB FRED BENNETT [HOU] | Marcus McCauley | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CB Tyvon Branch | Ethan Stepnoski | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SS Bernard Pollard | Bart Moore | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FF Brandon Merriweather | Michael Huff | Robbie McWilliams ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Oct 16, 2008 21:36:17 GMT
2014 College Draft This drafting lark is odd. The past two seasons were fairly cut and dried - in 2012 we needed everything and in 2013 we were at the head of the draft and had the good fortune to be able to pick whoever we wanted.
Now, picking 30th with several positions that need upgrades but no pressing and immediate need I feel slightly out of it. Above the draft in some surreal fashion. There are several can't miss players in the college draft every year and none of them fall to the 30th pick, which means we're engaged in a long spell of waiting, followed by an exercise in hedging our bets, trying to pick solid talent after all but two other teams have had a go already.
That becomes three other teams fairly quickly, as the Broncos decide they don't need a first round pick and then go on some bizarre labyrinthine splurge of trading.
First they give their first rounder this year to Jacksonville, for the Jaguars' 2nd round pick this year and 2nd and 4th round picks in 2016.
Then they give their third round choice for next year, bundled with the Jaguar's second and fourth round choices for 2016 that they just got in the above trade, for Tennessee's second choice this year.
Then they give away the second rounder they got from Tennessee to Washington, in return for the Racists' 4th and 6th round choices this year and 3rd round choice next year.
I'm not sure that I have any clearer grasp on that, even now that I've written it down.
I guess the only important thing is that we have our eye on Cornerbacks Alan Stargell and Kendall Raney and they go with the 26th and 28th picks right in front of us, which is nice.
So 30th overall I take the giant 6'8" Defensive End AJ Salcedo, even though my scouts tell me he's slightly overrated. I can't see anyone else as the other players on y draft sheet aren't worth first round choices.
I'm looking corner again in the second with Jeff Alcott on my board and linebacker Waclew Szypulski as my back up sneaky pick and both go just before it's our turn again, prompting quite a bit of swearing.
So just because we can, we pick a Quarterback for the third consecutive year, in the shape of Ken Talbert, who has a dull name which hopefully makes him an exciting player.
The scouts don't like either of them.
They also don't like Bill Hoffman - the Center - who I draft in the third round out of desperation more than anything else. We don't even need a Center, but I figure I can convert him to Guard, or Punter or something.
I consider leaving the rest of the draft to the scouts, because then at least they can't moan at me over who gets picked, but do eventually decide to stick around, then mostly wish I hadn't.
I end up with this lot.Rnd 1 - A.J. Salcedo, DE, California 27/47 Rnd 2 - Ken Talbert, QB, Fresno State 14/46 Rnd 3 - Bill Hoffman, C, Michigan 22/46 Rnd 4 - Kim Bradford, T, Louisiana State 21/40 Rnd 5 - Hugh Sheriff, G, Oregon 23/53 Rnd 6 - Corey Maurice, CB, Auburn 13/27 Rnd 7 - Charles Lumber, WR, Georgia 15/26
Thoroughly uninspiring.
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