Iowa Barnstormers 2003-2009: Decade Review

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Dynasty Overview

The purpose of the Iowa City Barnstormers Dynasty is to tell a compelling and intriguing story using EA Sports Front Office Football (FOF2) as the backdrop. The stats are real, the story is not.

To catch up on the story so far, go to the following links:

Iowa Barnstormers Prologue
Iowa Barnstormers 2003: Thunder in the Sky
Iowa Barnstormers 2004: A New Threat
Iowa Barnstormers 2005: Compromised
Iowa Barnstormers 2006: Quality Control
Iowa Barnstormers 2007: The Unexpected Hitchhiker
Iowa Barnstormers 2008: On the Trail of a Killer
Iowa Barnstormers 2009: It's All About the Benjamins


House Rules (Updated 3/12/04!)

I employ a fairly rigorous set of "house rules" (no real NFL players, no franchise tag, must maintain a 53-man roster, no renegotiating, can't make trade proposals except during the draft, trades must pass "fairness test", auto-sign rookies). During the 20-step free agent period, I may negotiate with any player who was on my team the previous season without restriction. As for free agents who did not play on my team the previous season, I may sign up to three of them during the 20-step process, but only one in the first 10 rounds. After the 20-step free agency period, I can only sign undrafted rookie free agents and players who were on my roster the previous season. All contracts signed outside of the 20-step process must be for exactly what the player asks, or for one year. Last, all multi-year deals must include a signing bonus equal to the highest year of the contract, unless I accept the player’s initial offer.

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Barnstormers: 2003 - 2009

Overview

Since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2003, the Iowa Barnstormers have made their presence felt across the league. In just seven seasons, Iowa made the playoffs six times and won the AFC Championship in 2009.

Roman Roberts has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Since being drafted first overall in 2003, he has amassed 20,412 passing yards, 2,125 rushing yards, 146 touchdowns (124 pass, 22 rush) against just 64 interceptions. He was named All-League Second Team in ‘06, ‘07 and ‘09.

Furthermore, the team has two NFL record-holders. Linebacker Donny Grier holds the NFL single-game record for tackles with 26, which he attained in 2005 against the Denver Broncos. Iowa’s starting running back Friendship Lofton holds the best single-season rushing average record with 6.1, which he accomplished in 2004.

Lofton has developed into one of the league’s most consistent runners since he earned the starting job in 2005. A fourth round pick in 2003 out of Florida Stata, Lofton never missed a start and has averaged 1,088 rush yards and 8.8 TDs per year over the last five seasons.

Year-By-Year Results

Below is a summary of the Barnstormers year-by-year performance from 2003 through the 2009 season:

Year  Team  Eval  Perf  Diff  Proft FrVal Record   Playoffs
2003  IAC   55    8     72    85    57     5-11-0  None                   
2004  IAC   64    60    73    68    62     9- 8-0  Wild Card Round        
2005  IAC   68    66    72    62    75    10- 8-0  Division Final         
2006  IAC   77    69    70    67    92    12- 6-0  Division Final         
2007  IAC   73    72    69    44    100   12- 6-0  Division Final         
2008  IAC   73    66    68    47    100    9- 8-0  Wild Card Round        
2009  IAC   80    95    68    49    100   11- 8-0  AFC Champion

Franchise Value

Below is a summary of the Barnstormers franchise value relative to other teams through the 2009 season. As you can see, Iowa has the highest rated stadium, roster and franchise value.

Team             Stadium Roster  Support Economy Franchise Value  
Iowa City        99      100     46      60      $1,077,870,000        
New England      85      79      99      46      $1,051,190,000        
Cincinnati       80      73      99      49      $1,016,500,000        
Kansas City      80      73      58      60      $936,460,000          
Indianapolis     65      73      76      63      $912,450,000          
Washington       65      67      72      64      $888,440,000          
Minnesota        85      30      65      67      $885,770,000          
Detroit          95      28      39      68      $867,100,000          
Cleveland        85      32      62      59      $861,760,000          
Green Bay        50      63      92      47      $805,730,000          
Denver           45      57      90      60      $792,390,000          
New Jersey       45      73      71      62      $789,720,000          
Philadelphia     70      30      68      56      $784,390,000          
Chicago          55      40      69      63      $752,370,000          
Pittsburgh       55      73      44      51      $741,700,000          
Jacksonville     40      40      92      56      $715,020,000          
San Diego        70      48      52      25      $707,020,000          
San Francisco    50      59      63      29      $669,660,000          
Carolina         40      57      48      63      $664,330,000          
Dallas           55      32      68      36      $661,660,000          
Tennessee        25      57      73      61      $654,990,000          
Baltimore        25      89      56      45      $653,660,000          
Arizona          40      69      46      23      $624,310,000          
Buffalo          25      40      72      50      $616,300,000          
Miami            40      51      44      31      $608,300,000          
Seattle          45      16      45      42      $590,960,000          
Oakland          45      44      18      37      $585,620,000          
Atlanta          20      57      38      49      $578,950,000          
New York         20      2       53      82      $569,610,000          
St. Louis        10      40      69      48      $569,610,000          
Tampa Bay        15      38      28      51      $529,590,000          
New Orleans      0       34      22      29      $446,890,000

Team Performance

Below is a summary of the Barnstormers team performance relative to other teams from 1999 through the 2009 season. Iowa has the fifth-best winning percentage (56.2%) in that span and are tied for sixth with Jacksonville with six playoff appearances.

Team              Reg.Season   Pct   Plyff Record  Pct    Bowls  Champs  
New England       103-71-2    .590   8     11-5    .687   3      3        
Cincinnati        102-73-1    .582   7     6-6     .500   1      1        
Indianapolis      101-75-0    .573   5     3-5     .375   0      0        
St. Louis         100-76-0    .568   5     3-5     .375   1      0        
Iowa City         63-49-0     .562   6     5-6     .454   1      0        
Denver            98-78-0     .556   5     8-3     .727   2      2        
Jacksonville      97-79-0     .551   6     6-6     .500   1      0        
Minnesota         97-79-0     .551   7     6-7     .461   1      0        
Carolina          96-79-1     .548   5     0-5     .000   0      0        
Arizona           93-83-0     .528   5     7-5     .583   1      0        
Atlanta           92-84-0     .522   5     8-4     .666   2      1        
New Jersey        91-85-0     .517   4     6-3     .666   1      1        
Tampa Bay         89-87-0     .505   3     3-3     .500   1      0        
Washington        89-87-0     .505   5     4-5     .444   0      0        
Pittsburgh        88-87-1     .502   3     2-3     .400   0      0        
Tennessee         88-87-1     .502   3     4-2     .666   1      1        
Chicago           87-89-0     .494   5     5-5     .500   1      0        
San Diego         87-89-0     .494   3     3-2     .600   1      1        
Green Bay         85-90-1     .485   4     4-4     .500   0      0        
Buffalo           84-91-1     .480   2     1-2     .333   0      0        
Dallas            84-92-0     .477   7     1-7     .125   0      0        
Detroit           84-92-0     .477   3     3-3     .500   1      0        
Seattle           83-93-0     .471   3     1-3     .250   0      0        
Baltimore         81-93-2     .465   4     3-4     .428   0      0        
Miami             80-95-1     .457   2     1-2     .333   0      0        
San Francisco     80-96-0     .454   4     8-3     .727   2      1        
New Orleans       79-96-1     .451   3     3-3     .500   1      0        
New York          78-98-0     .443   3     1-3     .250   0      0        
Kansas City       77-99-0     .437   1     0-1     .000   0      0        
Oakland           76-99-1     .434   3     3-3     .500   0      0        
Philadelphia      74-101-1    .423   2     1-2     .333   0      0        
Cleveland         71-105-0    .403   1     1-1     .500   0      0

Franchise Records

Below is a summary of the Blizzards franchise records through the 2009 season:

Category              Player(s)                     Record  
Passing Yards         Roman Roberts                 20,412    
Touchdown Passes      Roman Roberts                 124       
Rushing Yards         Friendship Lofton             6,699     
Touchdown Carries     Friendship Lofton             50        
Receiving Yards       Allen Baxter                  4,286     
Touchdown Catches     Freddie Morris                32        
Tackles               Donny Grier                   558       
Interceptions         Gilbert Coady                 30

Career NFL Records

Below is a summary of the career NFL records through the 2009 season:

Category              Player                  Record  Year  
Games Started         Jake Plummer            176     2009      
Pass Completions      Jake Plummer            3,371   2009      
Passing Yards         Drew Bledsoe            43,383  2009      
Passing Touchdowns    Drew Bledsoe            293     2009      
Rushing Attempts      Warrick Dunn            3,172   2009      
Rushing Yards         Warrick Dunn            13,239  2009      
Rushing Touchdowns    Ricky Williams          116     2009      
Receptions            Terry Glenn             826     2009      
Receiving Yards       Terry Glenn             11,828  2009      
Receiving Touchdowns  Terry Glenn             76      2009      
Interceptions         Lawyer Milloy           52      2009      
Tackles               Emmitt Starks           1,092   2009      
Sacks                 Jon Harris              181.5   2009      
Field Goals           Jason Elam              330     2009

Single Season Records

Below is a summary of the single-season NFL records through the 2009 season:

Category              Player                  Record  Year  
Pass Completions      Trent Green             375     2000      
Passing Yards         Peyton Manning          4,585   2004      
Passing Touchdowns    Drew Bledsoe            36      2000      
Quarterback Rating    Rich Gannon             104.7   1999      
Rushing Attempts      A.J. Patton             387     2002      
Rushing Yards         Ricky Williams          1,842   2003      
Rushing Touchdowns    Ricky Williams          20      1999      
Yards Per Carry       Friendship Lofton       6.1     2004      
Receptions            D.J. Evans              111     2004      
Receiving Yards       D.J. Evans              1,733   2004      
Receiving Touchdowns  Winston Grant           14      2004      
Interceptions         Sammy Knight            12      2000      
Tackles               Dwayne Rudd             140     2004      
Sacks                 Neil Smith              24.5    1999      
Field Goals           Gilbert Sanders         41      2005

Single Game Records

Below is a summary of the single-game NFL records through the 2009 season:

Category            Player                Record  Team    Vs      Year  
Pass Attempts       Billy Joe Tolliver    63      NOS     SFO     2001      
Pass Completions    Peyton Manning        36      IND     PHI     2002      
Passing Yards       Daunte Culpepper      508     MIN     TBY     2007      
Rushing Attempts    Fred Taylor           38      JAX     KCY     2002      
Rushing Yards       Fred Taylor           297     JAX     KCY     2002      
Receptions          D.J. Evans            15      IND     BUF     2005      
Receiving Yards     Dedric Ward           294     MIA     ARI     2008      
Tackles             Donny Grier           26      IAC     DEN     2005      
Sacks               Darrell Russell       7.5     OAK     NED     2007      
Touchdown Passes    Jason Garrett         7       DAL     MIN     2007      
Touchdowns Scored   A.J. Patton           5       CHI     GBY     2006

Playoff Game Records

Below is a summary of the playoff game NFL records through the 2029 season:

Category            Player               Record  Team    Vs      Year  
Pass Attempts       Steve Stenstrom      50      CHI     DET     2005      
Pass Completions    Charlie Batch        32      PIT     MIA     2006      
Passing Yards       Jason Garrett        415     DAL     MIN     2006      
Rushing Attempts    Chris Floyd          34      DET     SFO     2005      
Rushing Yards       Jamal Anderson       219     ATL     GBY     2000      
Receptions          Terry Glenn          12      NED     BUF     1999      
Receiving Yards     Cris Terry           193     CLE     SDO     2001      
Tackles             Bryce Paup           17      JAX     CIN     2003      
Sacks               Ndukwe Kalu          4.0     JAX     CIN     2001      
Touchdown Passes    Chris Chandler       5       ATL     CHI     2004      
Touchdowns Scored   Garrison Hearst      4       SFO     PHI     2005

Super Bowl Winners

Below is a summary of the Super Bowl Winners through the 2029 season:

Year    Team  
1999    New England Patriots            
2000    New England Patriots            
2001    New England Patriots            
2002    San Diego Chargers              
2003    Denver Broncos                  
2004    Atlanta Falcons                 
2005    Tennessee Titans                
2006    Denver Broncos                  
2007    New Jersey Jets                 
2008    Cincinnati Bengals              
2009    San Francisco 49ers

Hall of Fame

Below is a summary of players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame through the 2009 season:

Player                Pos   Indct Pct Vote  
Warren Moon           QB    2004  100%    
Jerry Rice            WR    2004  82%     
Dan Marino            QB    2005  100%    
Bruce Matthews        G     2005  81%     
Barry Sanders         RB    2005  84%     
Steve Young           QB    2005  95%     
Vinny Testaverde      QB    2007  89%     
Randall Cunningham    QB    2008  92%     
Emmitt Smith          RB    2008  84%     
Troy Aikman           QB    2009  89%

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The story of the Iowa Barnstormers continues this Sunday, January 23, 2005!

Stay tuned!