Week #1

The NFL is season is officially underway, and it is a high scoring affair in week one. It was a pretty smooth ride with this league in week one, as I had all lineups in on time, as well as had all scores reported by 5pm on Tuesday. If that trend continues, getting results posted on Tuesday night should be no problem. I hope we have settled all the pre-season rules questions and can finally get on with the season. The new priority system seems to be working well, although there hasn't been a whole lot of transactiosn so far. I guess we are just all such good drafters that we got all the talent that was out there! I have tweaked the website a little as I usually do when a new league starts, hopefully it is easier to get around and the info is much easier to read. If you ever have any suggestions on how to improve things, please let me know.

Last year the weekly cutoff for top 8 finish was usually in the 50's, this year week one the cutoff was 66 points. That could be a scary number each week if the cutoff stays at that level. The Bandits jump out to the front of the UAL NFL pack in week one, with a blistering 97 point game as they thumped the lowly Tide. A few top 8 teams also managed to lose their game, as the Filiricans and Luck both lost in high scoring affairs.

Several teams have already found the league message board, hopefully the smack talk will pick up some steam as we move along. Please stop by and join in the fun!

At the bottom after the game reviews, is weekly awards and a week #2 preview.

Now, lets take a look at the action from week #1:

Manatees 89    Filiricans 86
Welcome to the league Johnny & Matt, please meet the defending champ Manatees in the first game in Filiricans history. The 'Ricans did hold their own against the Manatees, but Rich/Matt's team was just a little better in week one. The Manatees got a nice 30 point game from Henry, outplaying #1 pick Green who did chip in with 12. The Manatees look like a solid team, as they even had Ismail's nice game on the bench. While Rich is feeling pretty confident in his team these days, his WR's aren't going to scare many teams. Note to Manatees coaches: your two WR on the bench are probably better than your two starters. Go figure? The Filiricans get a #3 finish in points the first game, but fell  by 3 points. Johnny and Matt have to love super stud Faulk's 14 catches, but what happened to the rushing game???? Come on, the Donkey defense can't be that good??? WR Booker was the tops in the league with 21, so the Filiricans expansion season has some good hopes in the early going.

Bandits 97    Tide 36
Al lays the smack down early and often as his Bandits humiliate the Tide by 61 points. Damn Al, pull the starters in the second half! Priest was the top performer in the league this week as he posted a 40 point game, more than enough to beat the Tide all by himself. Basketball wantabe Tony G. was his usual self as he posted the league high with 15. Things all looking good for the Bandits, but they will be pressured a little more in coming weeks, hard not to. Tyler/Sanders watched their team look worse than Dallas vs. the Texans in week one, which is not an easy thing to do. Not a lot of good news for the team in week one, so it can only get better from here for the Tide. Any truth to the rumor Sanders wanted to offer the entire Tide team for Priest straight up? Might not be a bad move.....

Hitmen 66    Maulers 56
Bill/John's team gets just enough to win the game, and take the final spot in the top 8. Davis was the leader for the Hitmen in week one, as Spurrier's new fun & gun offense should benefit Davis tremendously this year. The WR corps are looking a little thin right now for the Hitmen, but Bill is always on top of the waiver wire so help may be on the way before long. Merv/Mike get a decent week from their Maulers, but a 0 from Gadsden and a 3 from GB Def was the hard part to overcome.  McNair looked great for the team, while Thomas is picking up where he left off in his rookie season. Holt was okay, but they could use a few of Marshall's 14 receptions to go his way.

Demons 51    Wapati 35
Eric/Tom get a win from their Demons squad, mostly thanks to the ineptness of the Wapati team. The Demons are loving the new look Redskins as IR pickup Matthews just may have found a home on the Demons. Dilfer will be available any day now for those desperate for a reject QB. Not all is good for Eric/Tom, as other than their QB and Def, no one else on the team could score more than 3. Ummm, yikes! I thought Curtis Martin was about as reliable RB in the league when it comes to injury? Dang, he sat out with a leg bruise in week one. Heck, I wish I could get my 3 year old to settle down when she has a leg bruise! A win is a win, but a long road ahead for the Demons if that is the balance of their team. Not much to say for Boyd and Butch, other than they did get the #1 spot in the all new initial priority list. Deuce had 11 for the Wapati, but #1 pick Garcia was not his usual self as he posted just 4 points. Time to regroup and try it again in week #2.

Destroyers 52    Cossacks 51
Holy Heck! The misery continues for Maze and his new found Fall Guys as the team looses to the Destroyers by a single point. For those that haven't heard directly from Maze his football season has been a disaster already with a few close defeats in college, now the other Snyder brother adds to his misery with the 1 point win. (The Commish beat him in college by a single point as well in week #1). The Destroyers had a solid week from top guy Moss, who looks like he may have a breakout year, if that is possible for him. McNabb almost cost the Destroyers the game with his turnovers, but he did look solid in the 1st half when the Eagles were still trying to move the ball. (Sorry, my Philly pride will show through from time to time). A little trouble for the Destroyers in that 2 WR went for a big fat ZERO in week one, so still some work to do for Steve. What else to say about the Cossacks, other than I hope Harry and Sam know what the heck they have gotten themselves into. The Cossacks always seem to have a big fat bull's-eye on their uniforms each week, and the season is starting off in fine fashion for the Ukraine squad. Plaxico goes for zero, and the Pitt def only can muster up 2 points on MNF. Just what Maze needed to see, his beloved Steelers get shellacked by the Patriots, and his team can't get the 4 points need from two players. Just keep repeating Maze, "I am a good person, I am a good person" and stay away from sharp objects.

Cows 70    Contributors 58
Driver's Cows get a nice start to the season with a win over the Contributors and a top 8 finish. The Edge is somewhat healthy these days, and chipped in 5, but Moulds looks like Beldsoe's main man in Buffalo as he puts up 17. Oh yea, the Cows have Bledsoe as well, so the connection worked in week one. Jimmy Smith returns just in time to get 10 points to help the cause. McSwain continues his 0 for September (just like Maze!) as his team couldn't get one more solid game from a player to help the team overcome the Cows. Warner was not himself as his 10 point game is well below his usual average, and McSwain has to be wondering what the hell was with 25 passes in a row for the Patriots. Give the damn ball to A. Smith PLEASE!!!!!

Machine 76    Luck 75
Lady luck was with the Machine this week, as Frank's team gets the one point win over Alford's Luck. Taylor looks healthy for now as he posts a team high 14. Don't worry though, and minute now Fred will feel a twinge somewhere and go down like he just took a .22 to the chest. Frank suddenly has to wonder about his QB as it appears the Shanahan has decided to keep a clown on the sideline with a big hook (just like Showtime at the Apollo), just waiting for Griese to slump off even a little. Things could get interesting for Donkey/Machine fans in coming weeks. Alford's team is starting off football just as he started off baseball, a high scoring week but no win to show for it. Eddie G. looks like the Eddie G. of old as he posts a team high 20 point week. Boston was huge again in week one, continuing his studly ways from last year.

Death 74    Fish 61
The Commish gets a win in week one, despite his top player of the week Garner being on the bench. Hmmm, smells like a team may already be looking to trade a RB for WR depth. (hint, hint). Tomlinson was solid with 15, and Manning was his usual self with 14. WR Gardner looks good with 18 to lead the team. Wayne/Jim's Fish come up a little short in week one, as they WR could only score 2 points apiece. Vick and Williams look like a solid 1-2 punch for the Fish, and McAllister had a respectable 7 points in week one. Not much depth at WR right now, so maybe a trade is the horizon for the Fish as well.

Week #1 Awards:
Top QB:    Matthews, Demons    23 Points
Top RB:    Holmes, Bandits    40 Points
Top WR:     Booker, Filiricans    21 Points
Top TE:    Gonzalez, Bandits    15 Points
Top K:    Vinatieri, Manatees/Longwell, Death    14 Points
Top Def:    New England, Demons    15 Points

Week #2 Preview
Filiricans @ Bandits    Doesn't get any easier for the new guys, as the Bandits look to keep on piling up the points    Pick: BANDITS
Hitmen    @ Wapati    Things can only get better for the Wapati, while the Hitmen are looking for a bigger week from Culpepper    Pick: HITMEN   
Manatees @ Tide    Manatees look to duplicate week one, while Tide is looking to gain a little respect after dismal week one    Pick: MANATEES
Maulers @ Demons    Teams scored similar numbers week one, but Maulers still looking for win #1.    Pick: MAULERS
Cossacks @ Contributors    Someone gets first win in September, even if they both lose in college.    Pick: CONTRIBUTORS (on a tiebreaker)
Machine @ Fish    Can Griese last the entire game? Can the Fish get more than 4 points from their WR's? Probably yes to both.    Pick: FISH
Destroyers @ Cows    Two 1-0 teams square off in what could be the game of the week. A close game, but......    Pick: COWS
Luck @ Death    Two teams that both scored in the 70's week one, but the Luck are still looking for win one.    Pick: DEATH

Good luck to everyone in week #2! I am outta here...... 

The Commish

PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE COMMISH'S CORNER:

CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW THAT WEEK'S REPORT

COMMISH'S CORNER WEEK #1