The Saga of the LA Dragons (XBox ESPN NFL)

[SirFozzie]

"So.. Davis is demanding the right to allow his team to play in BOTH Oakland AND Los Angeles, AND have exlusive TV rights in both cities, or he'll pull his team from the league?" NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue asked incredulously, as he re-read the legal documents that had been sent to him by the NFL's most hated owner.

"I don't see how we can not give in to his demands", NFL counsel Erick Jenkins said unhappily as he pointed to the long series of legal victories they had lost to the maverick Raiders owner. "He says he'll not only drop the existing suits, he promises not to sue the league ever again."

"Which would be worth something, if he hadn't said that the last four times he had us over a barrell." Tagliabue said, grimacing. "If we didn't have to have a 32nd team, I'd just let him go his own way.." Then he stopped, and smiled, the expression making him seem more like a cobra then a human being.

"There was that meeting with the LA folks, who promised us a new stadium if we could just steer a team their way, right? They refused to negotiate with Davis, but we didn't want to risk the backlash of moving a team, right? Well, that's what's going on. We're going to announce that we have regrettably accepted the Raiders decision to no longer be part of the National Football League, and that we have decided to accept the Los Angeles ownership group, as our new 32nd team!"

The lawyers all paled. They weren't sure they could DO that, plus it would infuriate the Oakland fans and not to mention their always ready to blow up owner. "Are you sure, that he won't decide to give in, once we announce that we don't need him?" one lawyer meekly advanced.

Tagliabue glared at the young man, who was on his first go-round with the Raiders owner. "No, he's as stubborn as.. well.. he's the stubbornest creature I've ever met." He'll believe we can't get around without him. By the time he realizes we're serious, it will be too late, and the new franchise will be playing!"

Another lawyer, quickly interjected. "We can't have an expansion draft, none of the teams are prepared, and there's so little time.."

"So, we tell the new franchise to go the free agent route, and go from there!"

And so began the saga of the LA Dragons

[SirFozzie]

Initial roster of the LA Dragons (who play in IBM Park)

( *** indicates starter)

QB

Ray Lucas -- 64
Eric Crouch -- 59 ***
Joe Germaine -- 53

RB

Terrell Davis -- 76 ***
Audry Denson -- 54
Cecil Sapp -- 50
James Wofford --49

FB

Bob Christian -- 73 ***
Pat Washington 62

WR
Michael Westbrook -- 69 ***
Raghib "Rocket" Ismail -- 69 ***
Quadry Ismail -- 67
Herman Moore -- 59

TE
Pete Mitchell -- 65 ***
Wesley Walls 72

C
Gruttadalria 74 ***
DiNapoli 63
Miller 57

G
Zeigler 79 ***
Williams 73 ***
Jackson 65
Terrell 59

T
Dotson 74 ***
Brown 71 ***
Brockermeyer 67
Elliott 66

K
Jose Cortez 60 ***

P
Daniel Pope 68 ***

DT
Farr 65 ***
McGrew 59
Shaw 57
Kolodziej 56

DE
Ahanotu 72 ***
White 66 ***
Burke 63
Meier 61

OLB
Therry 69 ***
Cadrez 69 ***
Brooks 55

ILB
Kirkland 79 ***
Cox 65 ***
Thurnhill 59

CB
Lyght 70 ***
Elpheage 61 ***
Lowe 55
Rooths 50

SS
Boyd 67 ***
McGarrahan 63 ***
Cherry 56

FS
Lyle 66***
Bradford 69 ***
Whigham 61
Holt 59

Prediction: 4 wins will be a great result with this team. We're old, we're slow, we have very little passing attack.. and it's going to be a blast

I'll be head coach only, using 10 minute quarters, and calling plays realistically, ie, no going for it on 4th and 22

[SirFozzie]

Preseason Game 1 (At Green Bay)

Well, we know it wasn't going to be great, but I think it really sunk in when the Packers tore into us, with almost 460 yardsof total offense and we fell 31-10. We had some bright spots, going 8 for 11 on third down, but it's never a good thing when you throw and run for the same average. We rushed for 125 yards, so maybe that's a good sign.

Terrell Davis was our MVP, carrying 17 times for 74 yards, and one TD.

[SirFozzie]

Preseasong Game 2 (At Detroit)

Well, even the moribund Lions are miles ahead of us at this stage in the Dragons early history, but we give them a tough game, and take them to the limit, only a last half minute pass gives them a 20-17 win. Terrell Davis had 124 yards rushing. We have to preach a ball control offense.

We sign some free agents to help out. joining us is wr Cris Carter

[SirFozzie]

We finish preseason with two awful performances, first Baltimore kills us 27-9, then the previously winless New York Jets doom us to 0-4 for preseason with a 38-0 shellacking. We gotta be better, the regular season is upon us.

[SirFozzie]

We start the year in Tennessee for a Sunday Night Special game, and it looks good at the beginning, as we string a 14 play, 80 yard drive that seemingly culminates in a Fourth and Goal Terrell Davis 1 yard run for the score. However, Jeff Fisher of the Titans challenges the call that he scored, and it's going upstairs. My heart sinks as I watch the replay on the big screen. Looks close, but who knows what the ref will say..

"Upon further review, the ball carrier did NOT break the plane of the goal line. Therefore, it is a turnover on downs, Tennessee's ball at their one yard line."

Aarrrrrrggggh...

They take the ball to midfield before punting, but we give it RIGHT back to them as Lucas tries to throw deep to Westbroook and it gets picked off and returned to the Dragon 25.

They convert on the final play of the quarter McNair 16 yards to Mason, and after 1, 7-0 Titans.

We look to fire back with a 49 yard Kickoff Return by Qadry Ismail that starts the ball in their half of the field. We manage a couple first downs before the drive stalls out at the 14, and Jose Cortez enters LA Dragon history as the first person ever to score for the Dragons, and his 31 yard field goal makes it 7-3 Titans.

After a Titan Three and out, We're moving the ball well, and are on our way to at least another field goal when Lucas throws his 2nd INT, and things are just not going our way today, but it's still only 7-3 to them, halfway through the 2nd quarter.

Eddie George then goes nuts on us, runs it 8 times for 50 yards, the last 15 putting them up 14-3, as he scampered into the endzone.

But we wake up, and Ray Lucas finally completes a long pass to someone in a Dragon uniform, as Michael Westbrook catches the ball behind the defense and almost goes all the way, but gets caught at the two yard line, after a 65 yard gain. From there, just after the two minute warning, Davis scores the first Dragon TD, with a two yard run, and Mitchell catches the 2 point conversion to make it 14-11.

They go three and out, and we have a minute and a half to try to tie things up. We don't.


However, we DO take the lead as Michael Westbrook catches a 31 yard TD pass with 20 seconds left on the clock, and we go into the break UP 18-14, to the scattered boos in Tennessee!

[MrBug708]

What do u think will be your first requirement in the draft next year?

[SirFozzie]

Bug: I think QB.. this game did NOT end well.. read on.

The Titans apparently spent the halftime break armor coating Eddie George, as our tackling has no effect on them. Helped by two more Rey Lucas Interceptions, they score three straight times to take a 35-18 lead. We fight back, with Lucas hitting Cris Carter for a score, and Terrell Davis running it in, but it ends 42-32. We put a scare to them, but wow, four INT's from Lucas really hurt.

[SirFozzie]

Week 2: At home vs Cincinatti

I kinda watched this one. Kinda meaning I pretended it didn't exist, only to sneak glances at it, and wince. The Bengals, already 1-0 on the year, just kill us. Kill us all the way up and down the field. They score 56 points in the first three quarters (21 in the 2nd AND 21 in the 3rd) en route to a 63-7 rout. The faithful are not happy. at the Dragon Dome (our pet name for IBM Stadium, the Dragon's home)

[SirFozzie]

Week 3: At Denver (1-1)

We're in this game for quite a while, it's 7-7 after half time, their score being a 99 yard run from Clinton Portis. We then responded with a Raghib Ismail 99 yard Punt Return for a score. But there's just too much Portis, and Griffin when Portis gets injured (a hyper extended shoulder), and three second half rushing TD's are too much to come back from, we lose 31-21. Lucas, who was injured in the Cincy debacle, does not start, and Eric Crouch does a decent job for us, 22-31 for 196 yards, and one INT (that was in the last two minutes), and Terrell Davis ran for 101 and 2 TD's in his return to Mile High.

But still, we're 0-3, and very much deserve to be.

[Philliesfan980]

Fozzie;

Sorry, don't mean to break up the flow of this Dynasty, but it says that you're the head coach. Are you using the Coach Only mode?

[SirFozzie]

Yup. I only call the plays.

With 10 Minute quarters, if I give myself a few seconds between calling plays, the stats come out pretty much right.

and don't worry about breaking my flow, I have two more games to write up sometime today

[Philliesfan980]

Cool...

I've been mulling over what platform to begin my Coach Only mode dynasty with. Currently I'm choosing between Madden PC (really good sliders over at Maddenmania) or NFL 2k4. Any specific slider sets that you've used? I assume that you have coach mode "ON" rather than just call the play and don't move the joystick.

[SirFozzie]

Generic All-Pro settings, everything right in the middle. Coaching wise, I've turned down the pass frequency for Lucas and Crouch, and made my self into a run heavy team. I'm sick of seeing my passes go the other way

[tucker342]

Good luck with the dynasty! I'll be reading

[SirFozzie]

Thanks Tucker

Week 4: At Home Vs San Diego:

This is a repeat of the previous week, our offense is clicking, our defense not so good. It's 28-28 with three minutes to go and we are working our butts off to get in to FG range, with a minute 45, Lucas is hit trying to pass from their 35, and they recover. I think his arm was moving forward, but the booth doesn't buzz the referee, so it's their ball.

They mix a couple Tomlinson draws with some crisp passing, and manage to get it to the 33 with 10 seconds left. Just enough time for them to Kick a 50 yarder to end it. God, so close. But close doesn't cut it.. we are now 0-4. 31-28 San Diego.

[SirFozzie]

Week 5: At Chicago (1-2)

God, this team must be sponsored by Maalox. I'm gnawing my fingernails the entire game, as Chicago jumps out to a 10-0 lead, and we pull them back with a Davis touchdown. They are nearly driving on us at willm but our defense holds them to two short field goals, but we still enter the fourth only down 16-7.

With about 3 minutes to go, Lucas hits Raghib Ismail from 5 yards out, to cut it to 16-14. We manage a stop, although it took the two minute warning and two of our time outs to do. We get the ball back at our own 30 with 1:33 on the clock.

[SirFozzie]

Lucas to Christian out of the backfield gets us 5 yards, and we run a draw, completely fooling them and Davis gets 13 more. We're close to midfield.

Lucas then gets sacked, and we have to no huddle, and Lucas overthrows a wide open Freeman at the 15. With :49 showing, and 3rd and 17, Lucas manages to avoid the rush.. drifting to his right, and there's Qadry Ismail at the 35, and Lucas throws probably the best pass of his life, hitting him for the first down!

The clock's still running, however, and Lucas misses Carter on an out route, so it's 2nd and 10 with :21 on the clock. Lucas hits Christian for four yards AND he gets out of bounds, and 3rd and 6, and still a 48 yard FG if we don't move it forward. We do however, have one time out left, with :15..

The play's sent in and it's an audacious one. We run the Draw with Davis again. Just barely gets the first, as he makes it to the 24 yard line. We call the time out with :04 to play. On trots Jose Cortez, with a 41 yard Field Goal staring him in the eyes for the ball game.

Perfect snap. Perfect placement, ball up, hooking to the left... THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS!

Clock at 0:00, and the fans at Soldier Field are stunned. The LA Dragons have won their first game!

Of course, next week, they lose to Cleveland, 22-13, but still, we won't be 0 fering the season, but still.. that first pick will be mine...

[SirFozzie]

We manage 2 more wins, at Kansas City, and at San Diego. So we were 3-5 on the road, and 0-8 at home. That gets us a 3-13 record, and of course, we're home for the post season.

Regular Season Final Standings:

(BOLD Indicates made playoffs)

AFC

North
Cleveland 10-6
Cincinatti 9-7
Baltimore 7-9
Pittsburgh 7-9

South
Indianapolis 13-3 (Home field throughout AFC, First Round Bye)
Tennessee 11-5
Jacksonville 6-10
Houston 4-12

East
New York Jets 10-6(First Round Bye)
Miami 9-7
New England 9-7
Buffalo 7-9

West
San Diego 9-7
Denver 8-8
Kansas City 6-10
LA DRAGONS 3-13

[SirFozzie]

In the NFC, the Packers, Bucs, Eagles and Rams all won their divisions. The Buccaneers will have homefield advantage through the playoffs, and the Eagles have a week off as well. The 49ers and Seahawks are the Wild Card teams.

On the first pick side, we may be anywhere from 1st to third, as our last week win against San Diego boosts us to 3-13, which ties with the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals. We'll have to see where they place us.

[SirFozzie]

Wild Card Round:

At San Diego 19. Tennesee 14
Cincinnatti 23 at Cleveland 21
San Francisco 20 at St Louis 17
Seattle 31 at Green Bay 25.

Not a good week for the home teams, as three of the four home teams are now gone. Great week for TV however, as all four games were decided by less then a Touchdown.

Divisional Round

At Indianapolis 24, Cincinatti 17
San Diego 21, at New York Jets 17
At Tampa Bay 14, Seattle 10
San Francisco 38, at Philadelphia 13

The top seeds advance, but the Chargers and Niners are one game away from making it to the Super Bowl after playing in the Wild Card Round.

Conference Championship

San Diego 20 At Indianapolis 17
At Tampa Bay 27 San Francisco 17

So it's the Bucaneers and the Chargers. The defending Super Bowl champs, and the hungry Lightning Bolts. Kinda makes us feel good that we defeated them, even though they were playing a 2nd string to get ready for the playoffs.

Super Bowl

Tampa Bay 38, San Diego 13

The defending champs do the repeat in fine fashion, kicking butt and taking names. The Chargers did well to get there, however. So, on a cold blustery day in Houston, Texas, the Bucaneers raise the Vince Lombardi trophy overhead.

NEXT: Season Recap

[MrBug708]

That would suck if you ended up with the third pick

[SirFozzie]

QB
Ray Lucas 228-408, 2,440 yards, 7 TD, 11 INT
Eric Crouch 85-151, 875 yards, 4 TD, 9 INT

Obviously a spot we need to upgrade in the draft or through Free Agency, stat. 20 INT vs 11 TD, is NOT the best way to build a franchise.

RB
Terrell Davis 316 Carries, 1093 yards, 12 TD's
Audrey Denson 52 carries. 179 yardsm 4 TD's
Bob Christian (FB) 49 Carries, 187 yards 2 TD's

Davis did the best he could behind our line. We'll have to see if he wants to stick around next year. Denson's not really even backup capable.

Receiving (Top 5)
Freeman 71-796 2 TD
Carter 55-621 1 TD
Westbrook 46-529 1 TD
Walls 43-491 2 TD
R.Ismail 33-296 1 TD

Well, not great, but considering all the short routes we had to throw, that's understandable. We'll have to see how many are still around at the end of the year.

We had the worst offense, and the tenth worst defense, so we have a long way to go.

[SirFozzie]

Retiring at end of year: I probably won't try to bring back any of these players, and see what we can do to pull replacements, as all of them have made it pretty clear that they are retiring more due to age then money issues

FS J Belser (Pro Bowl in 03)
WR R Ismail
T L Brown
T B Brockermeyer
OLB G Cardrez
OLB J Thierry
T J Elliot

Looks like tackle will be a need spot during the offseason, as is Outside Linebacker. We must have a couple "threat WR" and a QB if at all possible however

[SirFozzie]

The only big offseason retirement in the NFL was "Marshall-Marshall-Marshall" Faulk who hung it up after 11 years. After resigning most of my free agents, I had roughly 47 players already under contract for 2004. I also had about 40 Million in Cap room to spend.

We were busy beavers in Free Agency and signed about 10-12 players. Our top signings:

T James O. Williams (92 rated) 4.2 Mill/3 Years
QB Kerry Collins (85 Rated) 8.5 Mill/4 years
G B Olson (83) 2.95/4 years
OLB Willie McGinest (81) 5.5/3 years
FS Carpeneter (79) 2.0/3 Years
CB D Macklin (78) 1.55/4 years

[SirFozzie]

We do have the first pick in the NFL draft, and use it to select another Tackle, Caleb Goodwin, a big guy, 6'3", 358 pounds out of ACC Champion Florida State, and according to our scouts, he's already rated a 75 at T. Hopefully last year's "Chuck and Duck" will become a regular passing game with this big brute protecting our megainvestment in Collins.

Our second round pick is one who can help the defense, and Tim Baker should be pretty decent as an all around Outside Linebacker. He's only 5'11", but 243 pounds, and pretty good at putting a lick on a guy, and tackling is something that was not our strong point last year. He's rated at 66 by our scouts.

In the 3rd round, we reach slightly to get WR Darryl Bailey, a 6'4", 183 pound speed merchant who attended Central Michigan. He's only rated a 62, but he has pretty good hands and is quick (91 speed rated)