Building A Dynasty: The Los Angeles Vipers (Madden 11)

[DrJanItor]

Commissioner Announces Expansion Team
Los Angeles to host newest NFL team, Buffalo to disband
November 24, 2009

Los Angeles, CA - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced at a press conference early this morning some big news regarding the 2010 season. After numerous meetings and debates, the commissioner has pulled the plug on the Buffalo Bills to make room for a new expansion team after the current season is wrapped up. Only eight years after the NFL last implemented an expansion team into the league, they have decided to give it another go in the upcoming off-season.

Currently 3-7, the Buffalo Bills haven't been played quality football since the 90's and with no signs of improvement to be seen, Goodell has decided to give the team the axe in order to make room for the new expansion team, the Los Angeles Vipers. The Vipers will undergo the same measures expansion teams in the past have gone through including finding a coaching staff and the all important expansion draft. The expansion draft rules are as followed:

1. Each NFL team selects 5 players to be entered into the draft.
2. The Vipers are required to pick at least 30 players or 38% of their salary cap. ($45.31M)
3. If the Vipers select a team's player, that team can remove a player from their list.
4. Once selected, the Vipers cannot trade the player back to his original team.
5. Punters and kickers cannot be apart of the team's player list.
6. Players who will be unrestricted or restricted free agents at the end of the 2010 season cannot be apart of the team's player list.
7. Players who have 10 or more years of experience cannot be apart of the team's player list.
8. The Vipers will assume the contracts of all players they select.

The expansion draft will take place during the off-season and unlike drafts in the past, the Los Angeles Vipers will not get the first round pick in the 2010 draft, but will have to wait until the 2011 draft after their inaugural season. The coaching staff and player lists must be confirmed before the end of the present season, so teams all around the NFL have some serious thinking to do.

[DrJanItor]

Note: Year 1 Rules
Madden Expansion Draft Rules
1. No starters can be selected from another team.
2. No one rated 80+ can be selected from another team.
3. I will be removing any play from my team that's 80+ overall to make room for the draftees.
4. Current team model, cupcake team.

Free Agency Rules
1. Option to sign 2 players 80+ overall.
2. Option to sign a max of 5 free agents before the start of the 2010 season.

Trade Rules
1. 2 trades max.
2. I cannot trade more than two players to one team.
3. I cannot trade draft picks.

[DrJanItor]

Teams Reveal Available Draft Selections
Selection process begins in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA - The 31 NFL teams released their 5 choices for the upcoming expansion draft last night and now the Los Angeles Vipers must begin to think about the direction and make up of their future. The list features great athletes that will be sure to contribute to the building process of California's new football franchise. The following are the players selected for the draft and their current contract information.

Chicago Bears
HB Chester Taylor (79 ovr) - 4 years $12.00M
DE Israel Idonije (65 ovr) - 2 years $9.00M
LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (72 ovr) - 2 years $13.00M
CB Tim Jennings (68 ovr) - 2 years $2.60M
WR Johnny Knox (75 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M

Cincinnati Bengals
C Jonathan Luigs (68 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
DT Tank Johnson (77 ovr) - 4 years $8.00M
HB Bernard Scott (74 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
G Otis Hudson (63 ovr) - 3 years $1.20M
DE Frostee Rucker (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.53M

Denver Broncos
QB Brady Quinn (71 ovr) - 2 years $20.00M
LB Darrell Reid (65 ovr) - 2 years $6.60M
CB Perrish Cox (67 ovr) - 3 years $1.80M
S David Bruton (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.50M
HB Correll Buckhalter (78 ovr) - 3 years $12.00M

Cleveland Browns
WR Mohamed Massaquoi (75 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M
TE Robert Royal (72 ovr) - 3 years $10.00M
LB Kaluka Maiava (68 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
CB Coye Francies (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
CB Gerard Lawson (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.50M

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Sammie Stroughter (68 ovr) - 2 years $900K
T Xavier Fulton (62 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
DE Kyle Moore (67 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
DT Roy Miller (71 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M
LB Dekoda Watson (64 ovr) - 3 years $900K

Arizona Cardinals
QB Derek Anderson (67 ovr) - 2 years $7.00M
HB Larod Stephens-Howling (67 ovr) - 2 years $900K
G Herman Johnson (66 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
LB Paris Lenon (72 ovr) - 3 years $3.30M
LB Will Davis (60 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M

San Diego Chargers
LB Donald Butler (72 ovr) - 3 years $4.50M
CB Donald Strickland (68 ovr) - 2 years $1.60M
S Steve Gregory (68 ovr) - 2 years $4.80M
QB Jonathan Crompton (64 ovr) - 3 years $1.50M
WR Buster Davis (68 ovr) - 2 years $8.00M

Kansas City Chiefs
WR Jerheme Urban (70 ovr) - 2 years $1.50M
G Colin Brown (56 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
DE Alex Magee (66 ovr) - 2 years $4.50M
CB Javier Arenas (71 ovr) - 4 years $6.00M
WR Quinten Lawerence (51 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M

Indianapolis Colts
WR Austin Collie (76 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
TE Brody Eldridge (66 ovr) - 3 years $1.50M
C Andy Alleman (71 ovr) - 2 years $800K
G Jaimie Thomas (62 ovr) - 2 years $900K
DT Fili Moala (66 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M

Dallas Cowboys
FB Deon Anderson (76 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M
TE John Phillips (73 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
LB Victor Butler (65 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
CB Jamar Wall (64 ovr) - 3 years $1.20M
S Michael Hamlin (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M

Miami Dolphins
QB Pat White (66 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M
WR Brian Hartline (71 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
T Andrew Gardner (66 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
C Joe Berger (74 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
CB Sean Smith (79 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M

Philadelphia Eagles
TE Cornelius Ingram (63 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
G Mike McGlynn (66 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M
DT Trevor Laws (66 ovr) - 2 years $4.00M
LB Moise Fokou (70 ovr) - 2 years $900K
CB Macho Harris (72 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M

Atlanta Falcons
QB Chris Redman (69 ovr) - 2 years $5.60M
T Garrett Reynolds (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
DE Lawrence Sidbury (67 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
DT Vance Walker (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
CB Chris Owens (72 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M

San Francisco 49ers
HB Glen Coffee (71 ovr) - 2 years $4.50M
FB Moran Norris (77 ovr) - 2 years $5.10M
G Chilo Rachal (79 ovr) - 2 years $6.00M
DE Ricky Jean-Francois (66 ovr) - 3 years $1.20M
LB Scott McKillop (67 ovr) - 3 years $2.80M

New York Giants
QB Rhett Bomar (61 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
HB Andre Brown (69 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
TE Travis Beckum (63 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M
DT Jay Alford (76 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
CB Terrell Thomas (77 ovr) - 2 years $3.20M

Jacksonville Jaguars
HB Rashad Jennings (69 ovr) - 2 years $900K
FB Montell Owens (68 ovr) - 3 years $4.40M
WR Mike Thomas (74 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
TE Zach Miller (68 ovr) - 2 years $900K
CB Don Carey (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.50M

New York Jets
FB John Conner (67 ovr) - 3 years $1.80M
G Matthew Slauson (65 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
DE Mike Devito (64 ovr) - 3 years $2.00M
DT Sione Pouha (72 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
LB Lance Laury (50 ovr) - 3 years $1.50M

Detroit Lions
HB Aaron Brown (67 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
WR Bryant Johnson (70 ovr) - 2 years $9.00M
DT Sammie Hill (75 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
LB Zach Follett (66 ovr) - 2 years $900K
CB Amari Spievey (68 ovr) - 3 years $4.50M

Green Bay Packers
FB Quinn Johnson (66 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
WR Jordy Nelson (70 ovr) - 2 years $8.00M
G T.J. Lang (75 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
DE Jarius Wynn (60 ovr) - 2 years $1.50M
S Derrick Martin (65 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M

Carolina Panthers
QB Tony Pike (65 ovr) - 3 years $1.20M
WR Wallace Wright (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.60M
G Duke Robinson (68 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
DE Hilee Taylor (61 ovr) - 2 years $1.60M
S Sherrod Martin (75 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M

New England Patriots
QB Brian Hoyer (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
WR Sam Aiken (73 ovr) - 2 years $2.70M
TE Alge Crumpler (74 ovr) - 2 years $4.80M
T Mark Levoir (65 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
LB Tyrone McKenzie (64 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M

Oakland Raiders
WR Chaz Schilens (73 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M
TE Brandon Myers (66 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
T Bruce Campbell (72 ovr) - 3 years $2.40M
LB Slade Norris (56 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
S Michael Mitchell (68 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M

St. Louis Rams
QB A.J. Feeley (66 ovr) - 2 years $6.00M
HB Chris Ogbonnaya (64 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
WR Brandon Gibson (71 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
DT Darell Scott (64 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
S Craig Dahl (67 ovr) - 3 years $1.20M

Baltimore Ravens
DE Cory Redding (76 ovr) - 2 years $6.00M
DT Brandon McKinney (65 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
LB Jason Phillips (64 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
LB Paul Kruger (72 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M
CB Lardarius Webb (74 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M

Washington Redskins
WR Malcom Kelly (70 ovr) - 2 years $4.00M
TE Fred Davis (76 ovr) - 2 years $4.00M
T Artis Hicks (66 ovr) - 3 years $9.00M
DE Jeremy Jarmon (69 ovr) - 2 years $900K
S Chris Horton (72 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M

New Orleans Saints
TE Jimmy Graham (64 ovr) - 3 years $3.00M
DE Bobby McCray (76 ovr) - 3 years $20.00M
CB Malcolm Jenkins (76 ovr) - 4 years $15.00M
CB Randall Gay (75 ovr) - 2 years $18.00M
S Chip Vaughn (63 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M

Seattle Seahawks
QB Charlie Whitehurst (71 ovr) - 2 years $8.00M
HB Justin Forsett (76 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M
WR Deon Butler (67 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M
C Steve Vallos (73 ovr) - 2 years $2.00M
DE Nick Reed (65 ovr) - 2 years $900K

Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Arnaz Battle (72 ovr) - 3 years $3.90M
TE David Johnson (69 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
LB Larry Foote (79 ovr) - 3 years $9.00M
CB Joe Burnett (66 ovr) - 2 years $1.80M
S Will Allen (70 ovr) - 3 years $4.50M

Houston Texans
QB Dan Orlovsky (63 ovr) - 2 years $9.00M
TE James Casey (72 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
DE Connor Barwin (71 ovr) - 3 years $6.00M
CB Brice McCain (68 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
CB Sherrick McManis (65 ovr) - 3 years $1.80M

Tennessee Titans
HB Javon Ringer (67 ovr) - 3 years $1.80M
WR Justin Gage (77 ovr) - 2 years $14.00M
T Troy Kropog (69 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M
DT Jason Jones (77 ovr) - 2 years $3.60M
LB Gerald McRath (73 ovr) - 2 years $2.40M

Minnesota Vikings
TE Jeff Dugan (63 ovr) - 2 years $5.00M
DT Jimmy Kennedy (73 ovr) - 2 years $6.00M
LB Erin Henderson (62 ovr) - 2 years $1.20M
LB Jasper Brinkley (69 ovr) - 2 years $2.10M
CB Asher Allen (68 ovr) - 2 years $3.00M

[Deuce2223]

Looks good. Lots of WR's to choose from. I doubut J. Knox or M. Thomas would be on a Expansion list and Indy wouldn't put A. Collie on the Expansion list either but probalby more likely to give up A. Gonzales who was hurt all of last year.

Also doubt Seattle would put C. Whitehurst or Forsett on the list either. There are so many other players. Whitehurst is the QB of the future and even though Forsett isn't listed as the starter he gets the bulk of the carries.

[DrJanItor]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

Looks good. Lots of WR's to choose from. I doubut J. Knox or M. Thomas would be on a Expansion list and Indy wouldn't put A. Collie on the Expansion list either but probalby more likely to give up A. Gonzales who was hurt all of last year. Also doubt Seattle would put C. Whitehurst or Forsett on the list either. There are so many other players. Whitehurst is the QB of the future and even though Forsett isn't listed as the starter he gets the bulk of the carries.

Thanks for the input and a lot of the players on the list, I knew I wasn't going to pick. A lot of players that were under 80 overall had one year contracts, so I couldn't include them. I picked Whitehurst because he is one of my favorite soon to be awesome quarterbacks in the league. haha. I just finished picking the team so I will post my selections in a few seconds.

[DrJanItor]

2010 Expansion Draft Selections

Pick #1 - QB Charlie Whitehurst (71 overall) from the Seattle Seahawks
Pick #2 - HB Bernard Scott (74 overall) from the Cincinnati Bengals
Pick #3 - DT Jay Alford (76 overall) from the New York Giants
Pick #4 - S Chris Horton (72 overall) from the Washington Redskins
Pick #5 - FB Deon Anderson (76 overall) from the Dallas Cowboys
Pick #6 - LB Donald Butler (72 overall) from the San Diego Chargers
Pick #7 - WR Chaz Schilens (73 overall) from the Oakland Raiders
Pick #8 - S David Bruton (67 overall) from the Denver Broncos
Pick #9 - C Andy Alleman (71 overall) from the Indianapolis Colts
Pick #10 - CB Macho Harris (72 overall) from the Philadelphia Eagles
Pick #11 - WR Sammie Stroughter (68 overall) from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick #12 - G Duke Robinson (68 overall) from the Carolina Panthers
Pick #13 - LB Zach Follett (66 overall) from the Detroit Lions
Pick #14 - TE John Phillips (73 overall) from the Dallas Cowboys
Pick #15 - G Matthew Slauson (65 overall) from the New York Jets
Pick #16 - WR Jerheme Urban (70 overall) from the Kansas City Chiefs
Pick #17 - DE Jeremy Jarmon (69 overall) from the Washington Redskins
Pick #18 - CB Tim Jennings (68 overall) from the Chicago Bears
Pick #19 - HB Larod Stephens-Howling (67 overall) from the Arizona Cardinals
Pick #20 - T Troy Kropog (69 overall) from the Tennessee Titans
Pick #21 - S Craig Dahl (67 overall) from the St. Louis Rams
Pick #22 - CB Coye Francies (67 overall) from the Cleveland Browns
Pick #23 - DT Brandon McKinney (65 overall) from the Baltimore Ravens
Pick #24 - T Andrew Gardner (66 overall) from the Miami Dolphins

Total CAP Used: $44.60M of allowed $45.31M

Note: The remainder of the team will be made up of undrafted free agents (create-a-players) from the past three drafts.

[DrJanItor]

2010 Los Angeles Vipers Depth Chart

Los Angeles Vipers Depth Chart - 2010
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	C. Schilens	S. Stroughter	B. Roe
TE	R. Whitmer	J. Phillips	M. Biden
LT	W. Simpson	A. Gardner
LG	A. Hull	M. Zimms	M. Slauson
C	A. Alleman	R. Potts
RG	G. Francis	L. Morgan	D. Robinson
RT	T. Kropog	D. Rodgers
WR	J. Urban	R. Jeffery	R. Washurn
QB	C. Whitehurst	S. Diamond	M. Walls
FB	D. Anderson
HB	B. Scott	L. Stephens-Howling	M. Hansen	D. McClain
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	J. Jarmon	A. Stevens
LDT	J. Alford	A. Jackson	J. Lowe
RDT	B. McKinney	N. Manuel
RDE	D. Suggs	J. Jarmon
WLB	Z. Follett	D. Fulton
MLB	D. Butler	W. Manuel	J. Reese
SLB	H. Marsh	J. Reese
CB	M. Harris	C. Francies	L. Stuart
SS	C. Horton	A. Newman
FS	C. Dahl	D. Nash
CB	T. Jennings	E. Shelton
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	J. Short
P	C. Otto
H	C. Otto
PR	L. Stephens-Howling	S. Stroughter	R. Jeffery
KR	L. Stephens-Howling	S. Stroughter	R. Jeffery
LS	A. Alleman

[DrJanItor]

Los Angeles' Coaching Staff Signs On
Former MWC coaches to step to the professional level

Los Angeles, CA - Now that the 2010 expansion draft is complete, the Los Angeles Vipers have the team, but are missing one important piece to the puzzle; a coaching staff. Many experts have been debating on who will lead the NFL's new franchise, but few expected to hear the names of the Brighham Young University Cougars coaching staff to be call on.

Trembling on the news of leaving the Mountain West Conference, the coaches of BYU had one more season before the potential end of their beloved football program in Utah. After much persuasion and negotiating, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came to terms with former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall who accepted the offer under one condition, his fellow staff members come with. Little time before training camp begins, Goodell had no choice but to agree and ship the entire BYU coaching staff to California.

"This should be an interesting couple of years," stated Mendenhall who signed to a three year deal. "I feel bad about leaving my school behind, but sometimes you have to just go with the flow and take a risk every now and then. We have a lot to do before the preseason and I'm glad my guys are coming with me to help get this team ready."

Robert Anae will play the roll of offensive coordinator and has a lot on his plate to get this team ready in time for the regular season. After drafting quarterback Charlie Whitehurst in the first round of the expansion draft, Anae will have a good base to work around.

2010 Los Angeles Coaching Staff
Bronco Mendenhall - Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Robert Anae - Offensive Coordinator
Patrick Higgins - Special Teams Coordinator
Lance Reynolds - Running back's Coach
Brandon Doman - Quarterback's Coach
Nick Howell - Secondary's Coach
Steve Kaufusi - Defensive Line Coach
Kelly Poppinga - Linebackers Coach
Mark Webber - Offensive Line Coach
Jay Omer - Strength and Conditioning Coach

As apart of Mendenhall's contract, he will assume the position of defensive coordinator until he finds a worthy coach. He was very certain on finding the best available option for the leader of the defense. "I just want the best team on the field being directed by the best coaches," stated Mendenhall. "If we have any shot of strengthening this team, we need good coaching and until I find someone suitable, I will be in charge of the defense."

Now that everything is in place, the Los Angeles Vipers can now focus on the upcoming season. There are many skeptics that are saying this team will not amount to anything and football should of stayed in Buffalo, but Bronco Mendenhall and his Vipers are ready to accept the challenge and take control of the AFC East.