Blast from the Past - FOF 2001 Dynasty!!! (With a New Team)

[Abe Sargent]

Team Stats:

4th most rushing yards, 2nd most passing, 8.6, best by 1.0 yards per play
7th fewest rushing yards allowed, the most passing yards allowed
+3 TO margin, -4 sack margin (35 vs. 39)


Other than rushing defense, this was an anemic year for out defense, and that accounted for fewer wins.


Individual Stats:


QB Lenny Sampson, 314 of 484, 64.8%, 4197, 32:12,103.9 Rating, 35 sacks, 1 rush TD , 4 fum & 2 rec


Compared to other Qbs , this is a great statline. Second most passing yards in a season, the most passing TD, Among qualifiers, the best Rating. To me, that sounds like 2nd team All Pro. Here’s the guy who got 2nd team - 66.4%, 3135 yards, 21:9, 95.4 Rating. Why did he get the awards? He was the Denver QB.


RB Kerry Tasker, 314, 1244 yards, 16 scores, 3.9 ypc; 1 rec TD, 6 fum

I can’t have a back with a 3.9 ypc. I tried to increase his ball carrying, the result was clearly not positive. Tasker hasn’t shown that next step level where he gets 1750 yards and 20 Tds.

WR Donald Hightower, 98, 1349, 13 scores (3rd most in each category)
WR Floyd Middleton, 70, 1165, 4, 1 PR RET TD, 1 KR RET TD, 1 fumble
TE Lincoln Woodson, 64, 844, 6.
WR Billy Fields, 27, 370, 5

And there’s the TE dominance I expect. Both Hightower and Middleton are getting me what I want. This is a great trio.

P Bennie Blades, 2nd best punt average in league
K Darrin Maloney, 23 of 31, 48of 50.

I had good return years and good punting. Middleton’s two retruns were great, and his PR Avg is 6th best in the league and KR avg is 4th best. He continues to show good hands.


DE John Cook, 10.5 sacks, 2 hurries
DT Marvin Solymos, 9.5, 4 blocks, 6 hurries

No one else has more than 3.5 sacks. Cook clearly dropped but Solymos was steady. No surprises here.

LB James Joseph, 105 tackles, 35 assist, 2.5 sacks, 2 hurries, 7 pasdef
LB Gene Rivas, 89 and 27, 1 pasdef

Remember that Geoff Drake was injured for much of this year. Not a bad season Mr. All Pro Joseph

S Dean Dawkins, 3 and 6 pasdef
S Leonard Blair, 6 and 6
CB Nixon, 2 and 5
CB Enbysk, 2 and 5

Wow.


OT Colin Hampton, 37 KRB, 5 sacks allowed
C Harvey Stone, 36 and 3
OG Calvin McWilliams, 27 and 1
OG Lewis Scott, 19 and 3


Great years by my non-Scott non-rookie guys. I need to look at moving Scott. He’s a bit too hot and cold for my tastes. Plus, he‘s 31 next year.


FB Ryan Garth, 7 KRB, 26 catches for 223 yards, 1 score; 133 rushes, 474 yards, 5 rush TD

[Abe Sargent]

End of Season:

Performance - 81
Value - 76
Profit - 61
Diff -76

Score - 72

22nd best Stadium
THE best roster
Tied for THE best support
18th best economy
6th most valuable

We lost 34 mill last year (we didn’t host the AFC Championship).

One of three teams with 100% attendance

[Abe Sargent]

Records:

In four years, Hightower has been All Pro three times. His 44 TDs is dangerous. Marvin Graham has the career record in receiving Tds with just 105. While his receiving yards and receptions totals have been bettered, this has not. Hightower is on a parabola to annihilate that.

The most picks is now 101. CB Jim Ackerman’s previous record was 90.


Hall of Fame:

WR Pete Waddle, from Kansas, 205 starts, 17 years, 935 catches for 13969 yard and 80 scores. 1 All Pro.

Another of my guys, making it in!


Retirements:

None on my team

WR Wendell Boone


With a large public support for expansion, I suggest a 50/50 split of costs for a maximized stadium with capacity of 99,900. It’s a cost of 608 million, which we propose to split down the center.

[Abe Sargent]

Free Agency:

Players leaving of note:

C Harvey Stone
OG Lewis Scott

OG Calvin McWilliams
P Bennie Bridges
DE Mo Stokes
WR Donald Hightower
LB Gene Rivas
OG Rico Johnson
OT Terrell Meadows


I extend Bridges for two years.

I have my draft picks back now, having traded away two futures for the 1/1. The draft seems a bit listless, like last year’s.

We give Hightower his first professional contract for four years. He’s earned it.

I extend OG Calvin McWilliams by two years.

I give Gene Rivas his first professional contract, and a two year deal.

What do I do with OG Scott?

I trade DE Mo Stokes to the Saints for their 3rd rounder next year, OG Rico Johnson to the Steelers for their 5th next year,

Stone won’t resign a long contract with me again - annoying. I want to wait on a Scott decision.

[Abe Sargent]

The 2051 NFL Amateur Draft


The first pick is Cris Lane, DT, Pittsburgh for Richmond


I need: QB, RBx2, FB?, TE, WR, OG, DEx3, DT, CBx2

Starters: DE, OT starter only, DT, perhaps OG, CB


My pick arrives. There is a mega good Grady Pender level RB on the board named Corwin Stokes. QB RJ Mitchell is much better than your normal backup. I’m not here for that today. I have had a need at DE for a while, and today, I’m fixing it.

After 2/10, the RB is still on the board, and 3 teams need a RB before I pick at 21. Do I trade up and take him. It’s ballsy, but that 3.9 ypc has scared me. Let’s look:

85 Breakaway Speed; 60/100 short yard;86 3rd dn run; 44/78 ypc; 78 catch; 28/48 ctch freq; 75 3rd dn catch; 100 carrying; 64 endurance

Compare to Tasker:

Same speed; Tasker is 83/92 short yard; 78 3rd down, 88/100 ypc, 52 catch., 56/65 freq, 65 3rd dn, 83 carrying. 54 endurance

Tasker will catch more often, but not be as good. 83 to 100 carrying, 100 to 78 ypc, 8 worse 3rd dn run, 10 worse endurance

Tasker shouldn’t have had a 3.9 season with his stats. That scares me. Tasker is better at ypc than this guy, however. Tasker barely catches the ball now, so the drop in catching is not likely to have much of an effect. I just feel like Tasker is Maurice Carlisle and I want Albert Hall, if that makes sense.

I make the call. I trade Albert Tasker to the Bills, who needed a starting RB and drafted at the 11 spot, for their 2nd this year, 6th this year, and 2nd next year. I take my man. One of the good things in this is that I extend the rookie contract of my starting RB, because I’m extending a lot of contracts right now, so I save the 25-30 million a year I would pay a top flight RB.

S Burt Strickland, QB Mitchell, OG Quinn Young, and a few others fancy me at 2/21. I take Mitchell.

After that, I find Young still on the radar at 33, and then I BAP and need the rest of the draft.



1/33 - DE Floyd McCullar, Arizona, 3.2/5.4
2/11 - RB Corwin Stokes, North C State, 3.3/5.6
2/21 - QB RJ Mitchell, Texas Christian, 3.7/5.1
2/33 - OG Quinn Young, Florida State, 2.9/2.9
3/8 - CB Andre Corsaire, Morehead State, 3.4/4.3
3/13 - RB Colin Newhart, Ohio State, 3.6/3.6
3/33 - TE Rodney Webb, Truman State, 3.0/4.8
4/33 - QB Lorenzo Durham, Mississippi State, 2.3/5.1
5/33 - DE Arnold Blackburn, North Texas, 2.0/2.2
6/9 - DT Bubba Cunningham, Sacred Heart (Conn), 4.0/4.0
6/12 - WR Cornell Graham, Washington, 2.6/2.6
6/33 - FB Marco Austin, Maryland, 3.8/3.8



Our stadium expansion measure passed 2:1


I sign:

RB Johnny Kennedy, Kentucky
CB Randy Hawkins, Fordham
DE Kirk Cortez, USC
LB Wesley Pascal, Florida A&M

[Abe Sargent]

Hello Training Camp!

The rook look, and we have good news:

DT Bubba Cunningham, 43/82 - BOOOOOOM
QB RJ Mitchell, 41/80 - slight boom, and a reliable backup for a while until traded
RB Corwin Stokes, 60/78 - No bust, yay.
DE Floyd McCullar - 37/71
OG Quinn Young, 33/65
QB Lorenzo Durham, 30/59
RB Colin Newhart, 55/57 - Drafted in case of bust of Stokes, pretty good
TE Rodney Webb, 34/56
DE Arnold Blackburn, 14/56
WR Cornell Graham, 26/51
FB Marco Austin, 46/46
CB Andre Corsarie, 29/45 - Bustish


Holy crap, Bubba! With a 1st round draft pick and boomed player, suddenly the two holes on D Line are full.

Denver sent me an interesting trade offer - their 1st for Colin Hampton. The smart move is to say yes. They are a great team, and I suspect it will be a 1/30 or so. Colin is in his 10th year and he’s 34 years old. Getting a 1st for him is crazy good, even a late round one.

The problem is simply that I don’t have good OT coverage.

I sign OT Jack Sutton to a one year contract

I accept the trade offer

We sold all 65k tickets

I trade my extra QB, McDonald to the Ravens for their 3rd in two years. I extend OG Lewis Scott by a year.

[Abe Sargent]

The 2051 Huntington Highlanders

QB Lenny Sampson - Yay!
RB Corwin Stokes - Let’s go rook!
FB Ryan Garth - All Pros a go go
TE Lincoln Woodson - Sexy
WR Donald Hightower - Fresh from a new contract and ready to rock
WR Floyd Middleton - A great compliment to Hightower
OT Desmond Lampkin - Can he do better than last year? Probably.
OG Calvin McWilliams - A Rock
C Harvey Stone - A Stone
OG Lewis Scott - A Boulder
OT Jack Sutton - Patch, not that great
P Bennie Blades - Kick it boy!
K Darrin Maloney - And you too
DE Floyd McCullar - Tres verte
DT Marvin Solymos - Another rock
DT Bubba Cunningham - Will the boom play up to it?
DE John Cook - Return to two years ago please
WLB Geoff Drake - Rock on
MLB Joseph James - Double rock on
SLB Gene Rivas - Triple rock on
CB Norman Nixon - Adequate
CB Broderick Enbysk - A bit better than that
S Dean Dawkins - The old man
S Leonard Blair - His skills eroded a bit. He’s still my best option out there.

KR/PR Floyd Middleton, CB Dennis Addison, CB Andre Corsarie

[Abe Sargent]

What do they say?

THE best QB
12th best RB
5th best FB
THE best TE
THE best WR
6th best C
2nd best OG
2nd worst OT
3rd best P
THE best K
16th best DE
7th best DT
THE best LB
18th best CB
2nd best S

[Abe Sargent]

The 2051 Schedule:

Week 1 - COWBOYS
Week 2 - GIANTS
Week 3 - Titans
Week 4 - RAVENS
Week 5 - Steelers
Week 6 - Bengals
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 - Ravens
Week 9 - STEELERS
Week 10 - Lone Stars
Week 11 - BENGALS
Week 12 - TITANS
Week 13 - Redskins
Week 14 - JAGUARS
Week 15 - BRONCOS
Week 16 - Colts
Week 17 - Jaguars


We go 3-1 in the preseason and have a few minor injuries to Hightower and Stokes.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 1 - 1929 was good year. It was also our score beating Dallas (29-19). Taking out one of the best teams in the NFC is nice first thing. In his first game, Corwin Stokes is Game MVP with 29 carries, 150 yards, and two scores. Hightower has 7 grabs for 114 yards. Garth rushed for a score. Dawkins and Nixon with picks. In his first game rookie DE Floyd McCullar has 1.5 sacks.

Week 2 - The Giants fall 34-9 but we have a couple of injuries to discuss. Both Geoff Drake and Desmond Lampkin are both out for roughly a month-ish. LB Hopper and OT Meadows will start until their return. Middleton catches the sole score. Stokes with a 3rd score. Dawkins gets a pick. DE Cook recovers a fumble for a score.

Week 3 - 24-17 over the Titans. Game MVP and NFL Defensive Player of the Week is Dean Dawkins with a triplet of interceptions and a fumble recover for a score. Enbysk and Nixon also got one. It was a pick-a-palooza. Solymos with two sacks. Stokes gets another score. Hightower grabs a score.

Week 4 -We edge out the Ravens 31-27. Game MVP was Sampson’s 17 for 27, 301 and 3. Woodson got one and Middleton the others. Stokes grabs the 5th TD on the ground. Nixon gets his 3rd pick.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 5 - We lose 20-23 to the Steelers. Stokes rushed for a score. Middleton and Fields with scores. OT Meadows is doubtful and gets benched for Lampkin. Scott is also banged a bit but will keep playing.

Week 6 - The Bengals fall 34-21. Sampson, MVP, 22 of 37, 295 and 2. Woodson and Hightower grabbed scores. Stokes is up to 8 rush TD. Welch and Dawkins get picks.

Week 7 - BYE

Week 8 - The Ravens beat us in OT 31-28.Stokes rushes for two scores, DE Eddie Florian gets a pick and a return for a score. LB Ross Hopper broke his nose. I bring back Geoff Drake a week early.

Week 9 - The Steelers again fall to us 38-7. Rar! RB Corwin Stokes, MVP, 18 for 177 yards. Sampson was 19 for 28, 215 and 3. Woodson and Hightower catch those. DT Cunningham is questionable, but he will play next week for sure.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 10 - The Lone Stars take us down 31-35. Dawkins got a pick. WR Fields his 2nd TD on the season.

Week 11 - 31-3 over the Bengals, and Drake should be okay next week after a lingering wound. Sampson was MVP and had 21 for 30, 248 and 3. LB James rocked two sacks. Middleton caught both scores. Nixon got his 4th pick. We are tied with both the Ravens and Jaguars at 7-3 for the AFC Central.

Week 12 - the Titans are another lose to us, 37-13. Stokes has 22 carries, 100 yards and a score. Sampson is Game MVP and 20 for 39, 257 and 2. Sampson and Garth rush for scores. LB Joseph James has a pick and a return for a score. I have no injuries at all.

Week 13 - We continue dominance with a 30-7 win over the Redskins. Lincoln Woodson catches 9 balls for 132 yards. Sampson tossed 22 for 32, 330 and a score. Hightower got his 6th TD. Stokes his 14th rushing and Sampson rushed for one too. Stokes is injured.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 14 - With a tie in the division, we go into a vital game with the Jags. We win 27-20, and the Ravens lost, so we are no in first. Game MVP and NFL OPotW is Sampson’s 26 for 36, 309, 2 scores to Middleton. He has 8 now. Blair gets his 3rd pick. I’m playing RB Newhart while Stokes gets better.

Week 15 - 34-13 over the Broncos. Sampson, MVP, 27 of 35, 434, 4 scores. Middleton caught 10 for 180 and 2. WR Billy Fields grabbed the others. Dawkins has his 9th pick.

Week 16 - A 33-13 victory over the Colts looks eerily similar to last week’s score. Middleton gets his 10th score of the season. Blair rocked a 4th pick. Welch a second.

Week 17 - We win a shootout against the Jags 38-35. Sampson, MVP<, 23 for 36, 254 and 2. Middleton and Fields catch the scores. Newhart get a rushing score. Blair his 5th pick of the season is returned for a score.


13-3 and the #1 seed with a 12-4 Broncos at the 2 spot.

[Abe Sargent]

The 2051 NFL Playoffs


Wild Card Weekend:




Jaguars over Ravens 46-6
Lone Stars over Rail Runners 24-21
Packers over Lions 37-10
Rams over Saints 34-13


Divisional Weekend:


Stokes won’t play this week, still questionable with a torn ligament - I don’t want to rush that back.

Us 37
Them 21


Sampson was Game MVP 25 of 33, 372 and 3
Newhart rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries and 2 scores
Hightower had 4, 102, and 2


Broncos 31, Jaguars 7
Cowboys 23, Packers 20
Vikings 31, Rams 28


AFC Championship


The 13-3 Highlanders host the 12-4 Broncos.


36-10, us

Sampson was MVP with 24 of 33, 413; Hightower caught 9 for 184


Cowboys over Vikings 34-0

[Abe Sargent]

The 2051 NFL Super Bowl

Your AFC Champion #1 seed 13-3 AFC Central Champion Huntington Highlanders

vs.

Your NFC Champion #2 seed 11-5 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys



RB Stokes is fully healed. He will start.


The Game Log:


We start with the ball. 5 and out. 6 and out by Dallas. 9 plays results in a missed FG by Maloney (not again) of 36 yards. Dallas drives and gets a FG as the quarter ends 3-0 Dallas.

We go 7 and out. Dallas drives quickly and after two pass of 35 ad 2 yards, scores a TD. 10-0 Dallas. 7 pass plays gets us in FG range and Maloney misses wide left on a 46 yarder. Dallas goes 3 and out, and we get the ball. After a few plays, FB Ryan Garth opens a hole with aKRB and Stokes rushes 44 yards into the end zone. 10-7 Cowboys. Dallas tries a quick pass drive before the half ends, but Dawkins ends that with a pick with the ball on their 30. Offsides by Dallas bring sus ot their 25, and Sampson hits Hightower for a 25 yard score. 14-10 with 1:34 left. Dallas drives and kicks a FG. 14-13 at the half.

The 2nd half begins with a 3 and out by Dallas and us and another 3 and out to Dallas. They punt and we get the ball at our own 28. Sampson is sacked by a friend Ian Agrawell, for three yards. Then he hits Middleton for a 77 yard score! 21-13.

Dallas mans up and marches down field over the course of 15 plays, with a 3 yard plunge. They fail in a 2pt, and we are still ahead 21-19. End of the 3rd quarter.

We open the 4th with a mighty 3 and out. Dallas drives with 9 plays and misses their own FG from 31 yards. 8:04 left in the game. We have another 3 and out. After six plays, they kick and miss a 54 yard FG. The next play, Sampson hits Hightower for a 56 yard score. 28-19. 2:54 left in the game, and now up nine points.

After a few passes, Dawkins grabs another pick. 8 rushes later, we’ve won the game.

MVP Dean Dawkins
Sampson was 19 for 33, 313 yards and 3 scores.
Hightower 6, 136 and 2.

[Abe Sargent]

Season Awards:


Super Bowl MVP - S Dean Dawkins
NFL MVP - QB Lenny Sampson
Offensive Rookie of the Year - RB Corwin Stokes
All Pro 1st Team - QB Lenny Sampson, TE Lincoln Woodson, WR Floyd Middleton, OG Lewis Scott, OG Calvin McWilliams, DT Marvin Solymos, LB Joseph James, S Dean Dawkins
All Pro 2nd Team - FB Ryan Garth


9 All Pros in one year - sexy!

Of these, none are new besides the obvious rookie Stokes. Remember last year when I was wondering if I should keep Solymos and Dawkins or not? Hehe. It’s nice to note that Middleton is not just second fiddle to Hightower.

Others of Note:



None

Sad

[Abe Sargent]

My Folkses:

My Peops:

LB Joseph James, 2 honors
RB Corwin Stokes, 1 honor
RB Kenny Tasker, 1 honor, Bills
S Leonard Blair, 1 honor
DE John Cook, 1 honor
QB Lenny Sampson, 5 honors
TE Lincoln Woodson, 3 honors
WR Floyd Middleton, 2 honors
WR Donald Hightower, 3 honors
C Harvey Stone, 3 honors
OG Calvin McWilliams, 3 honors
OT Mack Volz, 1 honor
LB Raymond Donovan, 1 honor
FB Ryan Garth, 5 honors
OT Colin Hampton, 3 honors
OG Lewis Scott, 4 honors
FB Ernie Kinney, 1 honor
CB Roderick Hatcher, 2 honors
RB Jake Duffy, 21 honors
QB Rufus Richardson, Bears, 1 honor
OG Donnie Hite, 1 honor
LB Alonzo Scott, Indy, 2 honors
WR Ricky Doucette, 49ers, 2 honors
CB Arnold Dorrough, 2 honors, Bucs
S Dean Dawkins, 7 honors
OT Roosevelt Morin, 2 honors
P Bonnie Bridges, 1 honor
K Darrin Maloney, 7 honors
CB Dwight Stevenson, 1 honor
DE Sam Walden, 1 honor
LB Anthony McKnight, 1 honor
CB Bob Pearson, 4 honors, Packers
S Clyde Del Greco, 1 honor, Rams
DT Marvin Solymos, 4 honors
RB Albert Hall, 17 honors
DT Ike Cochrane, 2 honors, Vikings
DT Ian Agrawell, 5 honors, Dallas
DT Irving Burks, 1 honor, Packers
WR Roosevelt Beverly, 1 honor, Bills
FB Rob Sims, 1 honor, Titans
DE Gus Arellano, 2 honors, Falcons
CB Quinn Vasilatos, 1 honor, Chiefs

[Abe Sargent]

Team Stats:

4th most rushing yards, 2nd most passing, 8.4 yards/pass, the best
Fewest rushing yards allowed, 5th most passing yards allowed
+9 TO Margin, +15 sack margin (27 vs. 42)

Another typical year from my guys


Individual Stats


QB Lenny Sampson, 320 of 490, 65.3%, 4233, 29:11, 102.8 Rating, 25 sacks, 3 rush TD, 6 fum, 2 rec

Another great year for the best QB in the league


RB Corwin Stokes, 245, 1291, 5.2 ypc, 16 td; he caught 1 pass for 16 yards (heheh)

Remembering that he was injured late, this is a good ypc, and a good rushing total. Not a bad year at all.


WR Floyd Middleton, 88, 1320, 11 scores
TE Lincoln Woodson, 77, 1060, 4 scores
WR Donald Hightower, 65, 866 and 6
WR Billy Fields, 60, 751, 6

Having a 1000+ season with my TE is really rare. Middleton shows he’s class. Good stuff!


P Bennie Blades, 2nd best average in league
K Darrin Maloney, 28 of 34, 54 of 54.

Nothing unusual here either.


DT Marvin Solymos, 12 sacks, 2 blocks, 8 hurries
DE Floyd McCullar, 10.5 sacks, 1 block, 6 hurries, pick for TD
DE John Cook, 9.5 sacks, 4 blocks, 3 hurries, 2 fum rec, 1 ret TD


Remember McCullar is green and a rookie. Solymos had another strong year, and the rest of my guys were solid enough. Cook is not a long term DE starter, he was just a one year wonder. When I can replace him, I will.


LB Joseph James, 109 tackles, 23 assists, 3 sacks, 2 hurries, 1 pick, ret TD, 16 pasdef (leads league)
LB Gene Rivas, 62, 23; 2 pasdef

Geoff Drake gets injured a lot. Perhaps it’s time to move him. James is someone I don’t want ot lose.


S Dean Dawkins, 9 picks, 8 Pasdef, 1 INT RET TD and one FR RET TD


S Leonard Blair, 5 picks, 6 pasdef, 1 int ret td
CB Norman Nixon, 4 and 12
CB Broderick Enbysk 3 and 7


Dawkins proves worthy once more. Blair just does enough to hold on but never enough to sell me. Nixon and Enbysk just don’t have the juice.


OG Scott Lewis, 34 KRB, 4 sacks
OG Calvin McWilliams, 29 and 4
C Harvey Stone, 26 and 2

FB Ryan Garth, 11 KRB, 132 rushes for 450 yards, 4 scores; 21 catches, 164 and 1

Everything you’d expect from these four. Harvey’s KRB level was a tad low, but otherwise we are at the level of expectation.

[Abe Sargent]

Team Awards:

Offensive Player of the Year: TE Lincoln Woodard - I’ve had just one 1000+ yard receiving season from a TE in the last 50 years. This warrants a team award. Lincoln has three All Pros in his first three years. Worth the 1/5 pick? I’d say so…

Defensive Player of the Year: S Dean Dawkins - Super Bowl MVP and another All Pro. Dean is aging and yet he isn’t any slower on the field than anyone else is. Dawkins gets everything done. This may be his last year in the league, and going out on a big note is a key of the best players.

Special Teams Player of the Year: P Bennie Blades - A down year for returners, and Maloney misses to Super Bowl Fgs in very makeable range, so Blades continuing dominance of the punts gives him this award again. Even if its by default, he does deserve it. Thanks Bennie!

Rookie of the Year: RB Corwin Stokes - With a great ypc and a strong showing, Stokes has allowed the fans to forget about a certain someone named Tasker who could be found here in this spot last year. It’s a bit obvious award for the lad, I know, but it works and it makes sense. Good job Stokes!

Heart Award: WR Billy Fields - A backup WR with as many catches and TDs as the All Pro WR three out of the last four years, that’s crazy. My 3rd WR just don’t do as well as Fields has done. His year was quite incredible and we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

[Abe Sargent]

End of Season:

Performance: 100
Value:87
Profit: 59
Diff: 77

Score: 80

21st best stadium
23rd best economy
6th biggest value
The best roster and support

We lost 44 mill (Stadium payment of 102 million included in that)

One of four teams with 100% attendance

[Abe Sargent]

Hall of Fame:

No one makes it this year. I have two back to back 100% inductees coming.



Retirees:

None of mine

CB Bob Pearson
C Archie Enbysk


We need nothing, I franchise Tag my C and we move on.

[Abe Sargent]

Free Agency:

The Bears offer me their 1/4 and some scrub for DT Bubba Cunningham. Do I take the offer? What is available? Do I have the money for it? I could take a variety of players there. I do have to make a decision with Cunningham - offer him a professional contract which jumps my cap by 17 mill, or trade him?AS a 6th rounder he only signed two years.

I make the trade.

Players in the last year:

QB Lenny Sampson
LB James Joseph
DE John Cook
DT Marvin Solymos
OG Scott Lewis
WR Floyd Middleton
FB Ryan Garth
S Dean Dawkins
CB Norman Nixon
S Leonard Blair
K Darrin Maloney

8 backups

I have some salary needs. Plus C Stone is franchised - he’s not costing me anything.

I only have 47 million in cap room. Sampson, for his professional contract, will have his price jump roughly 30 million.

Ryan Garth, Harvey Stone and LB James won’t sign more than a one year deal.


I trade DE John Cook to the Rail Runners for their 3rd and 6th in three years.

I trade LB Geoff Drake to the Pats for their 2nd and 3rd rounders next year.

I now have 90 mill. Time to extend Sampson’s contract. We’ll pay him 240 mill over four years.

What do I do with my vets - Solymos, Scott, Maloney, and Dawkins? I spend money to extend all of their deals.

I give Floyd Middleton a full time deal for 3 more years.

We now have 46 million.

What about Leonard Blair and Norman Nixon?

I make a weird deal with the Bears. I send them both Nixon and Blair for CB Roderick Hatcher and their 7(4) pick this year.

That should fix me at one of the positions I traded away.

I can’t even get a 6th for C Ralph Pascoe, so I don’t trade him. None of the other backups are good enough for a trade.

I have 53 million but I haven’t signed Stone yet.


I need to make some cash, so I:

Extend TE Woodson by a year and reduce this year by 3 million. This means that Woodson is, technically on a pro contact now.

I have 55 mill, and it will take roughly 16 to sign C Stone. Here’s my issues:

Stone won’t sign more than a one years deal, LB James the same and FB Garth the same. That means next year I can franchise one and I have to fight for the other two. Of that group, which is the most important to me? LB Joseph James. I have the 1/4, 1/34 and 1/36 this year. Here are my current roster needs, starter-wise

DE, DT, OT. Those are the essentials. Ideally, I could use a new S, a new CB, a starting LB.

What I could do is something bad. Something I have not done in a while. I have 13 picks, I could trade my 1st rounders for future picks, and thus reduce my draft cost this year to a much more manageable level. Then I could sign C Stone, compete next year financially for Garth and Stone while I franchise LB James, and make the big drafts then. Where is my money going then? QB Sampson’s cap hit will drop to 51 mill. This frees up room.

Here are my professional contracts:

QB Lenny Sampson, 56 million
DT Marvin Solymos, 21.8 mill
WR Floyd Middleton - 21.6 mill
WR Donald Hightower - 20.45 mill
TE Lincoln Woodson - 17.3
OG Lewis Scott, 16.5
LB Gene Rivas, 15.6
S Dean Dawkins - 13.9
OG Calvin McWilliams - 13.28
FB Ryan Garth - 7.9
K Darrin Maloney - 5.6
P Bennie Bridges - 4.34
CB Roderick Hatcher 3.06


Rookies of size:

LB Joseph James, 19.8 mill
CB Broderick Enbysk, 10.71
DE Floyd McCullar, 8.73


Alright, it’s time to make a decision I don’t want to make. I need to get rid of a least one professional contract. He won’t resign, he’s being ornery, so:


I cut FB Ryan Garth

I can’t even get this year’s 7/34 from a team that needs a FB. This frees up 5 million.

There is a reason I usually don’t keep FBs around for a long time - when I’m paying a QB and RB top dollar money, there’s not always a lot of money floating around/

The guess is that I’ll need 50 mill to sign my rookies. I need to clear up some space, so I make a big trade.

QB RJ Mitchell is great quality. Starter level actually. I invested a 2nd rounder in him to get a god, long term backup for Sampson. He’s cap hit right now is more than 5 mill. If I move him, and sign a cheap rookie, then I clear up some space and still have Lorenzo Durham as the primary backup.

I try to trade him, but the teams are telling me that they want someone who will be of more immediate impact for their team. Feh. It was a good option too.

I could just let Stone go. Or I could sign and trade him. I could just draft, and see where I stand after it.

I just look at Free Agency, and there is a great C, who just wants 13 million this year, and is at least as good as Stone. Stone is being difficult, this is the second time, and as much as I’d like to keep him, he is causing this problem, not me.

Alright, let’s keep him tagged for now.

Near the end of FA I manage to talk Stone into a year 11 million deal. I do it, that’s much more reasonable.


Let’s go drafting

[Abe Sargent]

The 2052 NFL Amateur Draft

Our needs: RB, FB?, OG, OTx2, DEx2, DTx2, LBx2, CBx2, S

Starters: OT, DE, DT, LB, perhaps CB, S, FB

I’m also comfortable taking extra players with backups that I’m paying 2.5 mill too: RB, TE, WRx2, S, C

Chicago take QB Morris Page, of Montana, with the first pick - an OT and RB go, and we have the 4th pick. Who to grab?

Stud RB Ricky Huntley? He makes Stokes look like a chump, as a stud runner and catcher. S Jeffrey Peters? LB Teddy Liakos? Stud DT Zach Amador (40/84 run D, 35/82 pass D, 86 end)? CB Jeremy Manning?

One of the reasons that I traded into this pick was financial. I had this guy for just two years, he was a mega boom, and a contract would be very expensive without seeing production. It’s also been my experience that players who boom may not play up to their new skill set. Gus Arellano got between 10.5-12.0 sacks every year save one he got 14, despite the fact that skill set wise, he should have been raking them in. Other boom players, like CB Jimmy Ordona, perform similarly. They play much better than their original skill set, but not nearly as good as the one I see either. I don’t want to pay professional starter money for DT (expensive) for a guy who didn’t have a great season last year as an admittedly green rookie when I need to pay others and haven’t seen him deliver.

However, taking Zach Amador is different. He’s more developed and more well-rounded than DT Bubba Cunningham. If I take Amador, I essentially traded Bubba for Zach. Bubba was a 6th rounder last year, so that’s okay.

The BAP here is Ricky Huntley, then Amador, Peters, Manning and Liakos at the end. I easily remove Liakos from contention. I could trade Stokes, take Huntley, and I would have traded Cunningham for an upgraded RB and whatever I can get for Stokes (which should be a lot, I think). I thought it was worth doing last year with Tasker, but Tasker had come off a rough 3.9 ypc year. Just for fun, I call up the Buccaneers and see what they would offer for Stokes. I can’t even get a 2nd rounder. I would be trading Cunningham for a 3rd and probably a lower pick too, like 6th or 7th.and then an upgraded RB. This guy would be a force in the passing game. I just don’t think that’s enough. I traded Tasker for two 2nds and a 6th. I’m not sniffing that with Stokes. That makes the deal much less desirable. With Liakos and Manning removed from contention, I am left with Amador and Peters. That’s no decision. Say hello to my new stud DT. This has been a hole for ages, and I’m filling it.

I want to follow the draft slowly, to see which of my targets goes when. By the end of the Top 10, none of the others have went. I’m confident that Zach would have, if I hadn’t taken him. Peters goes pick 11. No one else has gone by 1/20. Then 1/25. Then 1/29. Will Manning fall? Three teams between them and us need CB, Manning is at the top of both lists (current and potential) and one o f the teams, Albuquerque, has no CB on their roster at all. I make a decision. I trade CB Broderick Enbysk, and my 2nd and 5th for Albuquerque’s 1(30). I take Manning.

Manning falls 26, and I was really hoping he’s be there for me. Huntley goes 32. At 1.34, but Huntley and Liakos are there. I grab Liakos. At the 1.36 spot, Huntley is looking very good. Here are the others I like:

WR Colin Franz, C Peter Nastasi, WR Spencer Nichols. The best S is Jessie Clemons. Nastasi is the best C on the board both ways. He’ll go soon. Clemons is the best S by current stats. I need a S starter. I do not need a WR or C. Clemons fits my roster, is the last good S on the draft, and makes people happy. Franz is really strong, Nastasi won’t disappoint and Huntley is brokenly good. I resign myself to grabbing the player that suits my team. Sigh.

At 2/12, my sole pick in the 2nd after trading up, Franz and Huntley are still on the table. Are you kidding me? Well, they won’t be for long. Here is Franz - 22/64, 78, 29/87, 70, 100, 100. That’s a great receiver here. The likelihood that either will be sitting here at 3.24, when my next pick arrives is non-existent. I would shit in my pants if either Franz or Huntley even makes it out of 2. I get one more shot at these guys, and then we’re done. At this point, either is a luxury pick. I need an OT, but they all suck for the 2/12 pick. I need a DE but they all suck for right now. I am not picking a FB this high. That leaves Huntley or Franz. My roster actually needs a RB, but not a WR. Franz would be a lights out 3rd option.

Corwin Stokes vs. Ricky Huntley

82 Breakaway for both
66/100 vs. 26/77 short
87 vs. 81 3rd down run
50/89 vs. 28/90 ypc
75 vs. 93 catching
31/50 vs. 38/96 catch freq
76 vs. 96 3rd down catch
100 vs. 81 carrying
64 vs. 58 endurance


Stokes is better at short yardage and slightly better at 3rd down running, carrying and endurance. Huntley is much better at catching, catch frequency and 3rd down catching. Is exchanging 23 short yardsages, 6 3rd down r, 19 carrying and 6 endurance worth the 18 catching, 46 freq and 20 3rd down catching gains? Huntley will have those great receiving games, but right now, I don’t need that. Right now, I have Hightower, Middleton and Woodson. Where is the need for a receiving back as well?

On the other hand, what role will Franz play? Yeah, he’s a great WR that falls later than he should’ve, but he’s just a 3rd dude on my team. Either of these guys would be great backups and good trade fodder later. I’ve passed Huntley by too many times. I grab him.

At 2/27, Franz is still available. He will go soon, and the price to trade up and get him is getting low. I trade my 5.5 and RB Seth Marais to the Jaguars and take Franz. Then I start BAP and need drafting.

Players I Like OT BJ Pomeranz, DE Dwayne Sies, and FB Matt Malinowski


1.4 - DT Zach Amador, Wake Forest, 4.4/7.7
1.30 - CB Jeremy Manning, Ouachita, 5.1/6.5
1.34 - LB Teddy Liakos, Mississippi State, 4.5/5.4
1.36 - S Jessie Clemons, Illinois, 4.7/5.5
2.12 - RB Rickey Huntley, Arkansas, 5.0/5.0
2.27 - WR Colin Franz, West Virginia, 5.3/5.3
3.24 - FB Matt Malinowski, Virginia, 5.1/5.3
3.36 - OT BJ Pomeranz, Eastern Michigan, 3.5/3.5
4.46 - DE Dwayne Sies, Kansas, 2.0/3.9
6.36 - DT Lance Robbins, Southern Methodist, 2.0/3.6
7.4 - OG Levon Gardner, Texas Tech, 2.9/4.5
7.36 - S Howard Summers, Illinois, 2.8/3.5

I need to clear out some cash.

I trade WR Howard Slay to the Eagles for their 6th rounder in 54. I trade S Butch Gilmore to them for the 7th that year. I cut TE Rodney Webb. WR Billy Fields to the Giants for their 3rd and 6th. S Russell Welch to the Bills for their 7th.

UFAs:


DE Roy Kelley, Ohio State
TE Tyrus Heeson, Mississippi State
WR Alvin Daniels, South Carolina
S Louie Linquist, Illinois
LB Korey Adkins, Duke


I need more players, but I want to hit up camp first, and see what’ up with my rookies.

[Abe Sargent]

The Camp:

We sold all of our tix

The Rook Look:

LB Teddy Liakos, 43/90 - A bit of a boom
DT Zach Amador, 48/78
RB Ricky Huntley, 53/76
CB Jeremy Manning, 50/72
WR Colin Franz, 51/72
S Jessie Clemons, 39/66
S Howard Summers, 46/65
OT BJ Pomeranz, 26/62
DE Dwayne Sies, 14/61
DT Lance Robbins, 20/57
FB Matt Malinkowski, 24/56 - a bust-ish
OG Levon Gardner, 24/39 - Ick




I have been offered a trade, and it gives me a way out. Someone is giving me their 1st for OG McWilliams. I love Calvin, but a 1st round pick from the Chargers? I make the trade.

I now have 12 million I room, and I don’t have to keep cutting and trading people.

I sign, rookies

OT Lorenzo Sanford, Kentucky
OG Kelvin Martinez, Eastern Michigan
CB Andre Kirk, South Carolina
CB Desmond Adkins, Stanford
RB Lewis Llewellyn, Howard

I have 5 million left for injuries.

Wait. Ryan Garth is still in the FA pool after not being signed. I could sign him for 3 mill, cut Matt, and just spend 1 mill for the upgrade. I have the money for a one year with him, but no doing. Since I cut him earlier in the ff season, he doesn't want to come back. Stupid.

[Abe Sargent]

The 2052 Huntington Highlanders


QB Lenny Sampson - There’s no question about him
RB Corwin Stokes - With Huntley pushing for a starter role, but green, Stokes will start.
FB Marco Austin - I wanted this to be Malinowski, but he busted a bit, so I reduced our use of the FB
TE Lincoln Woodson - There’s no question about him either
WR Donald Hightower - Nasty
WR Floyd Middleton - Nasty, Jr
OT Desmond Lampkin - Not good, but at least should be a good run blocker
OG Lewis Scott -The man, the legend
C Harvey Stone - Is this his last year for us?
OG Quinn Young - A pretty good substitute starter, and developed
OT BJ Pomeranz - The rookie starts
P Bennie Bridges
K Darrin Maloney
DE Arnold Blackburn - Just a temp
DT Marvin Solymos - Fresh off yet another All Pro season
DT Zach Amador - From him whom much is given…
DE Floyd McCullar - Let’s build off last year
WLB Teddy Liakos - Amazingly green, but with very good potential
MLB Joseph James - Will be franchise tagged next year
SLB Gene Rivas - Solid and sexy
CB Roderick Hatcher - He returns. We needed help at corner, so I traded for it…
CB Jeremy Manning - …and I drafted it
S Dean Dawkins - 17th year in the league. For years, I’ve speculated that each would be his last.
S Jessie Clemons - Not good run D, but really strong pass D
PR/KR Floyd Middleton, nickel back CB Andre Corsarie, WR Cornell Graham


We haven’t looked at Jessie and Jeremy, so let’s do that:

Jeremy - 29/88 run d, 25/71 man to man, 37/100 zone, 78 picks, 66 endurance
Jessie - 23/59, 35/89, 35/86, 70, 61

You can see why I traded up late in the 1st for Jeremy. This was a good off-season. I’ve been hurting for corners and D Line for a while. I now have a great DT, two new/old corners, and a better safety than Leonard Blair.

[Abe Sargent]

What do others say:

THE best QB
2nd best RB
16th best FB
THE best TE
THE best WR
8th best C
10th best OG
6th worst OT
3rd best P
THE best K
19th best DE
6th best DT
3rd best LB
8th best CB
17h best S

[Abe Sargent]

The 2052 Huntington Highlanders

Week 1 - Vikings
Week 2 - Lions
Week 3 - TITANS
Week 4 - Ravens
Week 5 - JAGUARS
Week 6 - STEELERS
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 - RAVENS
Week 9 - Jaguars
Week 10 - LONE STARS
Week 11 - Steelers
Week 12 - Titans
Week 13 - PACKERS
Week 14 - Bengals
Week 15 - Broncos
Week 16 - RAIL RUNNERS
Week 17 - BENGALS

[davehibb]

This is a fantastic read.

I remember following this dynasty probably a year ago now and I got up to date with it yesterday.

I hope there's more to come from the Huntignton Highlanders.

I was so inspired that I delved back into single player in between MP sims and set up a fantasy league and full draft and simmed my way through a season just for the hell of it.

I'm thinking of using the current game file and choosing a team that might be ripe for relocation given that I don't have a copy of the game that allows expansion.

Anyway... Keep it up. It's great reading!

[Abe Sargent]

Glad you liked it! Twice I've picked it up again after leaving it, and I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the last we've seen of the Huntington Highlanders

[davehibb]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Glad you liked it! Twice I've picked it up again after leaving it, and I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the last we've seen of the Huntington Highlanders

Looking forward to it.

[Abe Sargent]

I just screwed up badly.


I picked up this dynasty and played three more seasons and wrote it up. Good stuff here! I want to ensure that I stick with it before I continue. I was in the draft of the 2060 year, with picks near th eback of each round.


When I went to pick, I had a hugely talented caste of awesome characters to draft from, it was the most talented back of teh first round I have ever seen. I took my favorite player of the bunch, and I will be traidng a ton of picks ot move up and get a bunch more players. I am going to ,make my team from this draft. I hit resume draft like normal, not thinking, and it sims to my next pick, mid 2nd round, and I go, whoops! I exit and go to load. In 2001, the load and save buttons are very close together, and there is no confirmation when you hit save, so I accidentally hit save and save the draft at the middle of the 2nd round rather than loading it from before my draft - my last save. So I lost my plac.e My previous save was the end of the last season from another save, so I lost out on all of that talent, and I cna;t go back. I am so pissed off I can barely stand it, so who knows if I keep going this iteration. I'll get you the write ups up to this point though. Who knows if I'll have it ready by then or not. I'm steaming mad!!!

[Abe Sargent]

About the Cities. The NFL and America, 50 years later.


Today we begin to look back at American history the past 50 years, ad to look at how the cities have changed. In particular, we want to observe how the NFL has changed several places. Who would have thought, 50 years ago, what changes were in store.

The first major change to the American landscape was the California Earthquake of 2011. Afterwards, many businesses in the LA area left, including entertainment business, and relocated to places like Vegas and Vancouver. While the rest of America was largely growing ,California began to lose population. A great California Emigration occurred that rivals the Immigration that ensued for decades. Today, LA and the surrounding area is still the largest city in the state, but it is sitting at 5.58 mill in the metro area - a big crash. Meanwhile, other cities are not where people predicted them - Sacramento’s 7 county metro area is one mill, and others are dwindling. A state that many thought would get more NFL franchises has instead clung mercilessly to the three it had. Oakland is down is 1.45 mill, San Francisco, 1.16 and San Diego is sitting at 1.63.Remember, these are numbers for the whole metro area.

America has undergone a second major urbanization project as inventions loomed. Large Hydroponic Greenhouses have provided nearby healthy food and the discovery of the new alloy Bluesteel © by the Hansbrook Consortium with double the strength of normal steel has enabled buildings to be built even higher and still study. Just like the Green Revolution 100 years ago enabled more people to live comfortably, because more food was made, increasing developments in the making of food have enabled America’s population to skyrocket. Most people moved to the classic places in the Atlantic coast and Mid West, Texas and the hot west (like Vegas and Phoenix). The South lost people, since its cities didn’t have the infrastructure to build these new mega-opolises around. The east coast metropolis stretches from Boson down to New York and continuing to Baltimore and Phily and New Jersey and into DC and down the coast into North Carolina - and that’s where it ends.

These developments have led to New York’s growth, rather than decline. Today, the city and metro area stand at 250 million, the 5th largest city in the world. What NFL franchises have the largest metro population? Here are the top ten:

Jets/Giants - 251 mill
Cowboys 94 mill
Eagles - 89 mill
Warriors - 74 mill
Bears - 60 mill
Cardinals - 56 mill
Ravens - 47.5 mill
Vikings - 47 mill
Rams - 37 mill

Of the expansion teams, San Antonio sits at 29 mill, Richmond 16 mill, Corpus Christi - 5.75 mill, Austin 20 mill and Albuquerque 10.5 mill. What 10 NFL franchises are in the smallest metro area?




Green Bay - 420k
Jacksonville - 620k
Tennessee - 830k
New Orleans - 930k
Carolina - 940k
San Francisco - 1.16 mill
Tampa Bay - 1.38 mill
Denver - 1.48 mill
Oakland - 1.5 mill
San Diego, 1.63 mill

(we have the 12th smallest in Huntington with 2.1 mill)

The reason a lot of NFL franchises have not moved is that the league wants geographical representation. The largest city in the south with an NFL franchise is Atlanta, with 2.3 mill. The cities without franchises are huge, but outside the South and Cali. Here are the 10 biggest metro areas without an NFL Franchise:


Houston - 86 mill (Texas has NFL teams in Corpus Christi, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas)
New Brunswick - 36 mill
Newark - 32 mill
Las Vegas - 26 mill
Norfolk - 23 mill
Raleigh - 20 mill
Oklahoma City - 18 mill
Grand Rapids - 17.5 mill
Greensboro - 15 mill
Tucson - 12.6 mill


Most of these places are close by others. Newark and New Brunswick NJ are right by the NY teams, Norfolk, Raleigh and Greensboro are right by the Panthers and Warriors. Of these, Vegas is the obvious expansion or relocation target.

[Abe Sargent]

As a reminder, here are all of my draftees in the HOF:


San Antonio Lone Stars -

WR Marvin Graham
CB Clarence Hudson
CB Jack Huntley
QB Tony Clements


Albuquerque Rail Runners -

DT Ross Meadows
TE Ed Gardener
CB Leon Morabito
WR Donald Wagner
S Eric Carlson
RB Heath Shepherd
WR Jerome Baker
C Marty Brennan
S Travis Westbrook
LB Quinn Burroughs


Richmond Rattlesnakes -

RB Ralph Barrett
RB Grady Pender
CB Rufus McGowan
C Jesse Tate
CB Jessie Pirtle


Huntington Highlanders -


DE Bert Curtain
CB Mercury Greene
TE Brant Carman
CB Jim Ackerman
S Derek Long
RB Maurice Carlisle
LB Joseph Martinez
RB Jake Duffy
WR Pete Waddle
TE Rick Rivers
QB Grady High
CB Bob Pearson


Players who I did not draft but who had extended stints on my teams in the HOF:


CB Sam Madison
CB Samari Rolle
LB Ray Lewis
K Olindo Mare
DE Phil Lee
DE Cristian Torres
K Claude Johnson
S Tyrone Rexin


That’s 31 drafted inductees in 55ish years. When I signed Rolle, Madison and Lewis, they were already HOF bound so they don’t count. So I put Mare, Johnson and Rexin into the HOF< lee and torres were short stints on my roster as fa signees. So I made one non-kicker non-draftee into a HOF player in my years, and that’s Rexin.

[Abe Sargent]

2057 begins

We go 2-2 in the preseason. At the end, backup LB James Milstead is injured and benched.


Week 1 - We crush the Eagles 31-7. Sampson tossed 24 completions off 37 throws, 295 yards, 3:0 ratio. In his debut, RB Omar Kirby rushed 18 times for 109 yards and a score. WR Middleton, Hightower and Meske caught the score.s S Raymond had a pick. C Lennon rocked 4 KRB. No major injures


Week 2 - We lose to Austin, 34-31. WR Meske is questionable for a few weeks with a knee injury. We’ll still play him. Offensive Player of the Week fo rthe NFL and Game MVP was Lenny Sampson, with 25 of 35, 379 and 2:2. Middleton had 145 yards and as core and Hightower 128 yards and another. Kirby held to one td rushing and 20 yards, Sampson had a rushing TD.


Week 3 - We defeat the Titans 24-20. WR Middleton was game MVP with 12 catches, 146 yards and a score - Hightower with another score. Sampson 22 of 43, 2:1, 237 yards, Kirby held to 38 yards on 16 carries and a score. LB James rocks a pick, Prescott grabbed a pair of sacks. We have a few probable injuries to CB Manning and Jernigan and LB Milstead is upgraded ot probable. He’ll be bac kfor the fourth game.


Week 4 - The Steelers fall 42-20 before us. Sampson is NFL Offensive MVP and Game MVP with 21 of 35 for 336, 5:1 ratio. Kirby added a score and 94 yards on the ground. Hightower caught three scores and 115 yards, Middleton a score and 128 yards, and TE Woodson 77 yards and a score. DE McCullar rocked two sacks. CB Jernigan is down to questionable. We will keep starting him

[Abe Sargent]

Week 5 - We edge Baltimore 31-28. CJ Shroeder nailed a FG with 2 seconds on the clock. MVP is Omar Kirby, who rushed 18 times for 147 yards, and 2 scores, with a long of 59 yards. Sampson passed just 22 times, 16 hit, for 222 yards and 2:0. Hightower and backup WR Wyoming caught scoress. C Lennon notched another quartet of KRB.

Week 6 - We lose to Cincinnati the final week before our bye. We lost 24-31. Kirby held to 51 yards on 20 carries. Sampson was 24 of 39 for 306 and 2:0. Hightower and Middleton caught scores. Pick by nickel back Terrell returned 51 yards for a score.

Week 7 - BYE


Week 8 - All injuries are healed. We crush the Steelers 31-10 to go to 5-2. MVP was Sampson with 26 of 34, 307 yards, and 3:1 Ratio. He nailed Middleton 8 times for 126 yards and a score, and Hightower 7 times for 78 yards and 2 scores. Kirby had 92 yards rushing an a score on 17 carries.

Week 9 - We host the 5-2 Ravens and smash hammer them 41-24. S Randall Raymond is questionable with a broken nose but will play. Sampson, MVP, had 26 of 38, 348, 4:0. Middleton rocked 134 yards, but not a score. Woodson had 2 scores, Meske and Hightower each one. CB Manning rocked a pick.

We finish the first half 6-2. In the AFC, Buffalo and Indy are each 6-2 in the AFC East, and Albuquerque and New England are each -3. In the West, San Antonio has the only winning record at 5-3. Baltimore is 5-3 in our division.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 10 - We defeat the Chargers 35-20. DE Gerald Burks is questionable with a broken finger, and will start as well. Kenny Raymond had a 91 yard kickoff return for a score. Sampson, MVP took over. 17 of 31, 186 but 4:0. Middleton and Meske each with a score and Hightower with 2. Kirby held to 43 yards on 17 carries.

Week 11 - We blast the Bengals 48-0. NFL Offensive Player of Week and Game Mvp was QB lenny Sampson, who was 22 on 28, 2929 and 3:0 left for Aldrich, who was 5 of 6 for 102 and 1:0. Hoke had a 10 yard pick returned for a score, and we sent in backup QB Aldrich to get some playing time and he hit Middleton for a score. Hightower had 117 yards and 2 scores ,Middleton 77 yards and 2 scores, and Meske 128 yards. Kirby added a score on the ground and 75 yards on 13 carries.

DT Ross Dixon is out with a dislocated shoulder. We place him on IR, and sign backup DT Luther Dickson, a ufa, from New Mexico.

I am just shocked by the lack of production on my defense, and we’ll look at this later. As of right now, this 8-2 team had collected a mighty five picks, and no one has more than one. Our sacks are okay, but in small numbers. One here, a half there a so forth. No one is exploding, but DE McCullar has 10 after ten games - a fair amount.

Week 12 - We defeat the two win Titans 34-10. After scolding my defense, rookie CB Jernigan is mvp with a pick and a sack. Other picks by S Pietraszak, Raymond follow. Prescott grabs another pair of sacks. Kirby rushes 21 times for 137 yards and a score. Backup RB Schwartz gets a rush TD as well. Sampson was 15 of 22 for 181, 2:0 and hit Hightower and Middleton for scores. We have seven probable injuries after that game, but none to any significant players and I massage a few backups onto and off the active squad to cover.


Week 13 - On the road, we manage a victory over the Cowboys 24-17. SS Raymond is Mvp with a pick. S Pietraszak after gabbed a pick. 4 KRB by Garner. A Pedestrian day for Sampson saw him toss the ball 25 times, hitting 15, for 2:1 and nailed Hightower for both scores. Kirby rushed for a score and 73 yards on 24 rushes. DT Dickson is questionable with a foot injury, but we will keep playing him.

[Abe Sargent]

Week 14 - We win our Jacksonville game 28-21. Hightower is MVP with a two point conversion, 144 yards and both TD scores of Sampson’s. FB Whiting had a ground score. OG Scott rocked 4 KRB. DT Dickson is now out for the rest of the season.


Week 15 - We defeat the 9 win Lone Stars 38-24. Sampson is Game MVP and NFL OPotW. 23 of 31, 325, 3). Kirby was 24 for 142 rushing yards and a rush TD. Meske had two scores, and Middleton 114 yards while Hightowe rgot the other score and 94 yards. Pick by Jernigan. LB Lonnie McKenzie recovered a fumble and returned it for a score.


Week 16 - The three win Jets defeat us 34-17. Kirby held to 53 yards, Sampson picked twice, 2.5 sacks by DE McCullar,

Week 17 - The final game. We lose in OT to the 8-8 Jaguars 28-31. Rookie LB JJ Monroe is doubtful with a broken finger. Kirby had 12 carries, 59 yards and a score. Sampson was 15 of 21, 2:0 with 196 yards with TD passes to Kirby and Hightower.

[Abe Sargent]

The NFL Playoffs



Wild Card Weekend


Miami over Buffalo 23-17

San Antonio over Seattle, 38-9

Washington over New Orleans, 16-13

Austin over San Francisco 31-28


Divisional Champ Weekend

We host the 10-6 San Antonio Lone Stars.


LB Monroe will start after being upgraded ot questionable.


We lose 17-14 and are knocked out of the playoffs.


Kirby had a rushing yard, Hightower 127 yards and a score, Sampson was 21 of 36 for 277 and 1:1, but we lost.


Indy over Miami, 24-20


St Louis over Washington 16-7

Detroit over Austin 28-18

Conference Championships


Detroit over St Louis 34-7


San Antonio over Indy 21-17


Super Bowl

The #3 seed San Antonio Lone Stars vs.

The #1 Seed Detroit Lions



Detroit wins 23-21

[Abe Sargent]

Awards:


NFL MVP - QB Lenny Sampson
NFL Offensive Player of the Year - QB Lenny Sampson

All-Pro 1st Team - QB Lenny Sampson


That it for awards.

Others of note:

All Pro 2nd Team - DT Zach Amador, Carolina, CB Broderick Enbysk, Cincinnati

[Abe Sargent]

My Peops:


LB Teddy Liakos, 1 honor, Pittsburgh
DT Bubba Cunningham, 2 honors, Bears
TE Ben Norfleet, 1 honor, Cowboys
LB Joseph James, 3 honors
RB Corwin Stokes, 1 honor
RB Kerry Tasker, 1 honor, Bills
DE John Cook, 1 honor
QB Lenny Sampson, 20 honors
TE Lincoln Woodson, 6 honors
WR Floyd Middleton, 3 honors
WR Donald Hightower, 7 honors
C Harvey Stone, 3 honors, Colts
OG Calvin McWilliams, 4 honors, Chargers
DT Alonzo DaSilva, 1 honor, Titans
OT Mack Volz, 1 honor, Cyberhawks
LB Raymond Donovan, 1 honor
OT Colin Hampton, 4 honors, Broncos
OG Lewis Scott, 7 honors
CB Roderick Hatcher, 2 honors
QB Rufus Richardson, Bears, 1 honor
OG Donnie Hite, 1 honor
LB Alonzo Scott, Indy, 2 honors
P Bennie Bridges, 1 honor
K Darrin Maloney, 7 honors
CB Dwight Stevenson, 1 honor
DE Sam Walden, 1 honor
LB Anthony McKnight, 1 honor
FB Rob Sims, 1 honor, Titans
DE Gus Arellano, 2 honors, Falcons
CB Quinn Vasilatos, 1 honor, Chiefs
RB Ricky Huntley, 5 honors
CB Broderick Enbysk, Bengals - 3 honors
S Leonard Blair, 3 honors, Eagles
LB Gene Rivas, 2 honor, Cardinals
DE Thurman Soileau, 1 honor
CB Jeremy Manning, 2 honors
S Randall Raymond, 3 honors
OG Jack Blades, 1 honor
RB Mitchell Winslett, 1 honor
OG Byron Quinn,1 honor
OT Dustin Brewer, 1 honor
DT Zach Amador, 1 honor, Carolina

[Abe Sargent]

Stats:


RB Omar Kirby, 277 rushes, 1262 yards, 4.5 ypc, 12 rush TD, 1 rec TD

Not a bad year for a temporary measure until the next great RB comes across my desk


QB Lenny Sampson, 325 of 501, 64.8%, 4254 yards, 43:8 ratio, 113.4 rating. 503 rush yards, 89 carries, 5.5 ypc, 2 rush TD, 4 fumbles, 36 sacks.


Once again, just a sterling season, with nothing to complain about at all.


WR Floyd Middleton, 102 catches, 1387 yards, 9 TD

Are you ready for this next one?

WR Donald Hightower, 94 catches, 1316 yards, 25 TD catches

WR Chester Meske, 44, 669, 5
TE Lincoln Woodson, 45. 576, 3


How does a WR with 25 TD not get all pro? Because there are only four spots, and we had players with 13 TD and 1800 yards, 1750 yards and 16 TD, and two with 12 td each and 1680 or 1690 yards. His yards were too low. Middleton and Hightower were 5th and 6th in receiving yards. For the first time, ever, one of my favorite receiver’s records of all time has fallen. In 2008, a feisty Marvin Graham had 142 catches, 2114 yards, and 16 rec Tds, a mark which has been equaled, but never broken until this season, when TWO receivers did it. Clearly, a mistake was made in not giving him an All Pro nod, that would never happen.

Not a bad year for Woodson but a bit off his norm.


Kenny Raymond with 2 KR TD.

K CJ Schroeder 17 of 25 FG, 64/64 PAT

P Benjamin Carpenter, 75 punts, 41.8 punt avg, 28in 20.


The rookie was okay, the new older kicker was okay, and the KR was awesome.


Defense:


LB Joseph James, 133 total tackles, 1.5 sack, 1 pick, 9 pas def
DE Floyd McCullar, 13.5 sacks, 6 blocks, 7 hurries
DT Jason Prescott, 9 sacks, 1 block, 7 hurries

No one else had any sacks worth mentioning or interesting tackle numbers. I invested heavily in my defensive line and I did not get the results I expect. DT Prescott looks great, McCullar is fine, but seriously - where were my other lads?

Pass Coverage

S Randall Raymond, 3 picks, 8 pasdef
S Claude P, 2 and 6
CB Darryl Jernigan, 2 and 5
CB Jeremy Manning, 1 and 5

That is just horrible. I have players of severe importance, and that is the best they can do. Awful.


C Lance Lennon, 27 KRB, 2 sacks allowed
OG Shane Garner, 26KRB, 7 sacks allowed
OG Lewis Scott, 23 KRB, 6 sacks allowed
OT Bobby Clark, 18 and 7
OT Dustin Brewer, 18 and 4


For Lewis Scott to make the HOF, he needs better numbers in the zenith of his career than this. He now has 441 KRB, and he needs just a little bit more after an All Pro season last year. He had a few down seasons, 2048 with just 12 KRB and 2050 with just 19. If he returns for another year, I think it will help a lot. I invested a good pick and a lot of hope on Garner, and I want to see improvement, but this is a fine rookie season. I want a bit more from Lennon, but we rushed fewer times this year with Kirby back there.

[Abe Sargent]

Team Awards:


Offensive Player of the Year - WR Donald Hightower. With 128 Tds, he has the most in any career, and with 25 this year he has the most of any season, These records deserve serious recognition in our team awards.


Defensive Player of the Year - DT Jason Prescott - I invested a high pick, lots of money and high expectations into Prescott and he finally delivered. I want 8-12 sacks and other forms of penetration from my starting DT annually, and he delivered. Good job.

Special Teams Player of the Year: KR Kenny Raymond, in a year with down performances from my new kickers, he did not disappoint and would have won in any year. Gave us two scores and good field position all year long.

Rookie of the Year Award - OG Shane Garner. I had a lot of starts and disappointing performances, but Garner was not one of them,and quickly gave me reason to support his draft pick and faith. May he continue to do so for years to come!

Heart Award - DE Gerald Burks - Moved to the bench after new highly touted rookie Jose Fulcher replaced him, he grabbed 5 sacks spelling other players and had the 3rd most sacks on my team - good stuff Burks.

[Abe Sargent]

Team Stats

5th most rush yards, 4th most pass yards
4th fewest rush yards allowed, 2nd most pass yards allowed
+4 TO margin, 23 to 19, +14 sack margin, 50 to 36.


Not a good year for our club defensively. 2nd worst passing defense is not acceptable. Wee had the 3rd highest yards per pass as well, so it just wasn;t teams throwing on us because we were up a lot. We won a lot of our games close, with just three or four blowouts- not our usual mo.

[Abe Sargent]

End of Season:

Performance - 87
Value - 83
Profit - 60
Diff - 80
Score - 76

18th best stadium, 2nd best roster, tied for best support, 21st economy, 4th highest value


New Hall of Fame-ees

S Dean Dawkins, 94% of vote, UNLV’s pride, 18 years, 286 startsm 1256 tackles, 444 assists, 105 picks, 8 honors

RB Albert Hall, 94% of vote, SMU grad. 12 years, 173 starts. 3235 carries for 141010 yards, 155 scores, 17 all league honors


As a reminder, WR Roosevelt Beverly was inducted into the team HOF but not the league one. Despite 12255 rec yards, 210 starts, 80 scores, but one honor holds him back I think.

Retirees - none of ours, and none of note


Players out of contract - TE Lincoln Woodson, S Randall Raymond

It was my intention going into this year to franchise Woodson but in his 10th year, off a down season, with cap issues, perhaps it’s time to let him go. I do not franchise him

We hire no new staff,

[Abe Sargent]

now it’s time.


I am considering jumping ship. I have made Huntington WV into the NFL location. I have guided into into the dynasty of dynasties. But now, it’s time. I have a lot of older players who are HOF bound like Sampson, Hightower, Middleton, hopefully Lewis Scott, Woodson, and who knows with others. My youth are okay and the team has a lot of momentum. It’s time to build a new dynasty.

I want:

A good team a horrible roster, bad stadium to move out of, poor record, and has the potential to relocate to a new city, so I can take advantage of the wealthy territory in the nation.

Every team save Richmond will take me. Duh, I’m awesome.

I have had stints at:
Lone Stars, Rail Runners, Rattlesnakes, and now the Browns/Highlanders. It’s time to move on


Here’s my new team


3rd worst stadium
Tied for worst support (0)
Roster ranked 33, for 9th worst
The lowest franchise value in the NFL
5th lowest attendance in 2057 with 47.1% stadium capacity
Just one Hall of fame player drafted in the last 50+ yeras
7th worst record over last 50-some odd years with 426-499-3.
Appeared in playoffs 15 times, and actually showed up at four Super Bowls and won 2, but that was a long time ago, when everything was cracking for them


Say hello to…

[Abe Sargent]

Tampa Bay!



We have 28 active players and just 1 million in room under the cap out of 417 mill

We’ll look more closely later, but for now


We made 294 million last year, but lost 209 million the year before. A stadium proposal was recently rejected, so I can try to move to a new city. My choice is Las Vegas. Vegas has 28.2 mill in the metro area, an average income of 166k, 39% poverty level, 86th percentile desire for team, 90th for trend, but 95th for competition. It’s a great choice for relocation.

A middle of the road, with Indoor/Sparkle BioGrass is chosen, due to the heat of the game at times. We select 75k capacity, 12k club seats, 100 luxury boxes and 40 Virtual reality boxes. We offer to pay half. We can upgrade it later. I don’t want to lose out on a sweet location because I shot for the moon.



Head Coach - Ian Cox, 1 year left, 55 years old, 19.29 mill, Very Good in RB, WR, Oline, D Line, LB, Motivation, Discipline, Good in QB, K, Y. Talent, Fair at Offensive Play Call, Poor at Secondary, Def Play Call and Injury Avoidance. He’s a developer of talent, but not a manager of it.


Lead Scout - Charles Gray, 5 years, 54, 2.09 mill annually. Excellent in O Line and RB, Very Good in Y Talent, D Line, QB, Good at LB, DB, K and Fair at WR. He’s ok and alright for now.

[Abe Sargent]

Roster:

We have under contract:

2 QB
4 RB
1 FB
1 TE
4 WR
2 OG
3 OT
K
2 DE
1 DT
2 LB
3 CB
2 S


Since we have huge cap issues, I take a look at my players, from highest cap hit to lowest.


They had the 1/1 pick last year, and their drafted DE Kennedy Bourne is just 33/50 in run d, 28/66 in pass d and 52 in endurance. They had the 1/23 pick last year too and took QB Richie Bento, who is only a backup caliber QB, and could be outdistances by the occasional UFA. It’s crappy drafting like this that got them in this mess. I’m going to clean it up.


I move to the offseason free agency period

[Abe Sargent]

Players I like:

WR Pat Donovan, 14th overall pick four years ago, solid stuff
DE KC Gladney - olde,r in his 11th year, has two all pro seasons, expensive but still quality
DT Spencer Caldwell, older, 7th year, expensive, but solid for now
OT Clause Welch, older, in 11th year, but solid.

S Oscar Adams, in 9th year, is okay and will suffice for now
TE Alan Kennedy - also okay

Cuts -

RB Danny Vargas
CB Randy Biccum
OT Claude Southrey
RB Herb Buckner
OT Bryant Rhodes
CB Sedrick Yost
LB Christian Boone
FB KC Owen
S Jessie Mueller

Denver offers their 2nd round and a RB for my QB, who sucks, so I accept.

I’ve been letting go a lot of older players. Not of high quality, getting paid too much salary.

Trades:


RB Sherman Kerr to Raiders for Oakland’s 7th rounder
WR Geno Sato to Cyberhawks for their 5th rounder

[Abe Sargent]

Down to 17 players on the roster, and cleared up 197 million under the cap. We just have the 1/13 pick this year, so not much hope for a light out player.


I make an offer to FA TE Lincoln Woodson, S Everett Welch and C Korey Knieval, three of my draftees that are good and loose. I also offer to P Ross Von Hagel. I have an RFA who’s not bad, but this guy is money.

Needs - starting QB, RB, FB, TE-ish, WR, OT, OG, C, P, DT, LBx2, CBx2, S


I take a look at the draft to see if I can find good starting QB or if I’m forced to grab someone from the FA market. There are two good QB - Zack Miney is okay and Floyd Sheppard is a great prospect. I doubt either is falling to us, so I make an offer to a FA and star QB Myron Evans, in his 19th season, been NFL MVP twice in 49 and 50, won Super Bowls, and so forth.


Okay, that’s it, five targets for my team.

Our Punter signs after the first week. I up my offers on a few players we are outbid by other teams. Nothing in week 3, and I massage my offer to Woodson. In week 4 , C Knievel signs with us, and my QB heads elsewhere. Everett Welch heads to San Diego. I had a better offer. Ah well.

I make an offer to QB Anthony Dorman, 17 year vet. He signs the following week. We sign Lincoln Woodson three weeks later, week 8. I missed on Everett but hit on everyone else I cared about - P, Knievel and Woodson.

[Abe Sargent]

New roster starters I trust:

QB Anthony Dorman
TE Lincoln Woodson
WR Pat Donovan
C Korey Knievel
OG Howie Flander
OT Claude Welch
P Ross Von Hagel
K Alonzo Bruce
DE KC Gladney
DE Kennedy Bourne
DT Spencer Caldwell
S Oscar Adams


I move TE Alan Kennedy, who’s okay for a starter, to the Chiefs for their 5th this year

Alright, draft time

The Titans missed on getting their QB for they make me an offer for Anthony Dorman, for a 3rd rounder and some chump TE. I say no.