A Revival | Cheese's Expansion Team Franchise

[Cheese2121]

NFL News and Rumors



Phoenix | QB Simms Agrees to Three Year Deal
17 April 2011

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Lansing Phoenix have signed free agent QB Chris Simms (69) to a three year contract worth just over $2 million. Simms is the son of former New York Giants and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Phil Simms. After being drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Buccaneers, he was thought to be the future franchise quarterback of Tampa Bay. However, hampered by injuries and the emergence of other quarterbacks on the depth chart Simms never became the franchise player he was suppose too. During this time his relationship with then coach Jon Gruden worsened until he was released. He most recently played with Denver Broncos seeing very limited action.

"Simms is a player that I often look at and wonder what could have been. There is no doubt he is no longer a young player in this league but I do think he still has a chance to make a mark as a player in it," said owner/GM D.J. Clayton. Simms is currently the only quarterback on the Phoenix roster. He is expected to be the starter heading into training camp.

[kswgrad2012]

Dang it. I had already started working on an expansion team franchise myself, and was gonna be the first one to post. Then you beat me to it. It's all good, I'll be following. You've actually inspired me to get back to working on mine (Procrastination's a [bleep], ain't it?). Looking forward to seeing us both build good teams!

[Cheese2121]

Quote: Originally Posted by kswgrad2012

Dang it. I had already started working on an expansion team franchise myself, and was gonna be the first one to post. Then you beat me to it. It's all good, I'll be following. You've actually inspired me to get back to working on mine (Procrastination's a [bleep], ain't it?). Looking forward to seeing us both build good teams!

Haha, it is all good my friend! You should definitely post yours as well. It's a great idea and a true challenge. I am playing with the same level of difficulty I played with when I had a real team. My team now is made up of all free agents. I will be lucky to win more than three games this first season but I love it. I love rebuilding projects and this is a true build up from the bottom. Hope you continue to follow and enjoy!

[Cheese2121]

Flying with the Phoenix
Sports Column with Phoenix Analyst Cheese2121



Rising From the Ashes

According to Greek mythology, a phoenix is reborn from the ashes of its predecessor. A more poetic and fitting symbol could not have been chosen for the NFL’s newest franchise, the Lansing Phoenix. Following the tumultuous scandal and federal investigation that led to the disbanding of the Detroit Lions, the Phoenix will attempt to bring football and integrity back to the state of Michigan.

To say that there will be growing pains involved would be the understatement of the season. The Phoenix compiled their entire roster from free agents and undrafted rookies. This is a team full of players who are getting a second chance or a first chance at the NFL. These are the players no one else wanted; who people believe didn’t have it. The irony of them coming to a team who’s whole entity is based on rebirth is ironic on a level that this writer is very aware of.

We will see a lot of familiar faces on the team, a lot of players labeled busts or past their prime, but they are the start of something special. However, when things get going this team is young and inexperienced. If they win more than four games this season, no one in the NFL will call them anything but a success.

Five Things to Watch this Preseason:
1. Can they see past all the distractions of the scandal?

2. Is Noel Devine ready to take the workload of an NFL running back?

3. Can Chris Simms finally live up to his legacy?

4. Who is going to step up and lead this team?

5. Will Michigan embrace their new team?

Lansing Phoenix Preseason Roster

No.	Position	Name	Age	Height	Weight	YRS Pro	Overall	College
2	QB	Chris Simms	30	6'4"	220	8	69	Texas
7	QB	Pat Devlin	23	6'3"	225	R	61	Delaware
15	QB	Drew Willy	23	6'3"	217	1	61	Buffalo
9	QB	Keith Null	24	6'4"	219	2	61	West Texas A&M
								
27	HB	Noel Devine	23	5'8"	179	R	65	West Virginia
35	HB	Samkon Gado	26	5'10"	226	5	64	Liberty
37	HB	Jeremiah Johnson23	5'9"	218	2	63	Oregon
32	HB	Darren Evans	22	6'0"	227	R	58	Virginia Tech
								
42	FB	Henry Hynoski	22	6'0"	257	R	63	Pittsburgh
								
17	WR	Kevin Curtis	32	6'0"	186	8	67	Utah State
12	WR	Dane Sanzenbacher22	5'11"	182	R	65	Ohio State
11	WR	Andre Davis	31	6'1"	194	9	62	Virginia Tech
80	WR	Dwayne Jarrett	23	6'4"	219	4	62	USC
81	WR	Tori Gurley	23	6'4"	216	R	59	South Carolina
87	WR	Terrence Toliver23	6'3"	212	R	57	LSU
								
86	TE	Donald Lee	30	6'4"	248	8	74	Mississippi State
84	TE	Anthony Becht	33	6'6"	270	11	65	West Virginia
82	TE	Ben Hartsock	30	6'4"	270	7	61	Ohio State
88	TE	John Gilmore	30	6'5"	257	9	59	Penn State
								
78	LT	Alex Barron	27	6'7"	302	6	69	Florida State
72	LT	Brandon Frye	27	6'4"	305	4	67	Virginia Tech
								
62	LG	Terrence Metcalf32	6'3"	325	9	69	Ole Miss
65	LG	Justin Boren	23	6'2"	309	R	63	Ohio State
								
64	C	Jake Grove	30	6'4"	300	7	77	Virginia Tech
70	C	Ryan Batholomew	23	6'1"	302	R	62	Syracuse
								
60	RG	Scott Kooistra	29	6'6"	325	8	67	N.C. State
63	RG	Zach Hurd	22	6'6"	316	R	65	Connecticut
								
71	RT	Jammal Brown	29	6'6"	313	6	84	Oklahoma
76	RT	Jordan Black	30	6'5"	305	8	69	Notre Dame
								
96	LE	Travis Johnson	28	6'3"	311	6	68	Florida State
98	LE	Brandon Bair	26	6'5"	276	R	62	Oregon
								
97	RE	Justin Bannan	31	6'3"	310	9	78	Colorado
90	RE	Julius Williams	24	6'2"	260	2	63	Connecticut
								
77	DT	Kris Jenkins	31	6'4"	360	10	89	Maryland
94	DT	Anthony Montgomery26	6'6"	330	5	68	Minnesota
95	DT	Ian Williams	22	6'1"	319	R	64	Notre Dame
91	DT	Dre Moore	25	6'4"	305	3	53	Maryland
								
59	LOLB	Mark Herzlich	23	6'4"	244	R	62	Boston College
57	LOLB	Shawn Crable	25	6'5"	243	3	60	Michigan
54	LOLB	Darnell Bing	24	6'2"	220	3	51	USC
								
92	MLB	Hunter Hillenmeyer29	6'4"	238	8	73	Vanderbilt
50	MLB	Chase Blackburn	27	6'3"	247	6	68	Akron
52	MLB	Monty Beisel	32	6'3"	244	10	61	Kansas State
								
51	ROLB	Jon Alston	27	6'0"	235	5	68	Stanford
53	ROLB	Eric Alexander	28	6'2"	240	7	66	LSU
								
31	CB	Ellis Hobbs	27	5'9"	195	6	77	Iowa State
23	CB	Eric King	28	5'10"	185	6	69	Wake Forest
29	CB	Chevis Jackson	24	5'11"	185	3	67	LSU
34	CB	Travis Daniels	27	6'1"	195	6	66	LSU
30	CB	Will Blackmon	25	6'0"	206	5	65	Boston College
22	CB	Joe Burnett	23	5'9"	192	1	63	UCF
								
20	FS	Will Hill	21	6'0"	202	R	61	Florida
33	FS	Anderson Russell23	6'0"	205	1	61	Ohio State
38	FS	Nick Polk	24	5'11"	218	1	60	Indiana
								
21	SS	Jeron Johnson	23	5'10"	212	R	68	Boise State
24	SS	Sergio Brown	22	6'2"	210	1	62	Notre Dame
36	SS	Nick Sorensen	32	6'3"	210	10	61	Virginia Tech
								
5	K	Leigh Tiffin	22	6'0"	209	1	65	Alabama
								
19	P	Kyle Larson	30	6'1"	204	7	69	Nebraska

[Gronk4M13]

Quote: Originally Posted by cheese2121

You should man. I won't lie though it is is really hard, especially with the roster requirements I put in (only 2 80+ players and 5 70+ players). If we win more than 4 games this season it would be incredible. Thanks for following!

I'm doing one with Madden 25 actually. I relocated the Jaguars to Portland to become the River Hogs. In the 2013 preseason I cut everyone above 75 overall and signed free agents (all below 75 overall) to replace them. The Jags went 0-16 in their last season in Jacksonville. I let most of the guys I signed in the preseason walk, and again only signed FAs in offseason FA below 75 overall. Going 0-16 has its perks, as I had the first overall pick, and the first pick in every round. I selected Johnny Manziel first overall to be the face of the franchise. I also drafted Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham, Justin Gilbert, Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, CB Chris Davis, and Bishop Sankey. Manziel, Lewan, and Beckham are starters (Beckham is #2 receiver.)

the 2014-2015 team:

QB: 1 Johnny Manziel 2 Matt Scott 3 Jordan Rodgers
HB:1 Reshad Jennings 2 Branon Bolden 3 Denard Robinson 4 Bishop Sankey
FB Lonnie Pryor
WR 1 Dexter McCluster 2 Odell Beckham Jr 3 Ace Sanders 4 Damian Williams 5 Toney Clemons 6 Richard Goodman 7 Tobias Palmer


TE Konrad Reuland Richard Gordon Ryan Otten
LT-Taylor Lewan 2 Mark Asper
LG-Will Rackley 2 Austin Pasztor
C Garrison Sanborn/ Dan Gerberry
RG Tyronne Green/Austin Pasztor
RT Reid Fragel 2 Mark Asper

LE-Jeremy Mincey 2 Kyle Moore
RE- Corey Wootton/ Armonty Bryant/ Geroge Johnson
DT- Corey Peters/Brandon Deaderick/Sen'Derrick Marks/Markus Kuhn/Roy Miller


LOLB- Keith Rivers/Audie Cole/Taiwan Jones (rookie, Michigan State)
MLB- Akeem Jordan/DJ Smith/ CJ Mosley/Mike Zimmer
ROLB- Jonathan Casillas/Brandon Marshall/Taiwan Jones

CB- Tommie Campbell/Chris Davis (rookie)/ Myron Lewis/ Alan Ball/Jeremy Harris

FS-Sherrod Martin/Antwon Blake/Ha-Ha Clinton Dix
SS-Craig Steltz/Sergio Brown/Chris Prosinki

K- Caleb Sturgis/P Brian Moorman

[Cheese2121]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gronk4M13

I'm doing one with Madden 25 actually. I relocated the Jaguars to Portland to become the River Hogs. In the 2013 preseason I cut everyone above 75 overall and signed free agents (all below 75 overall) to replace them. The Jags went 0-16 in their last season in Jacksonville. I let most of the guys I signed in the preseason walk, and again only signed FAs in offseason FA below 75 overall. Going 0-16 has its perks, as I had the first overall pick, and the first pick in every round. I selected Johnny Manziel first overall to be the face of the franchise. I also drafted Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham, Justin Gilbert, Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, CB Chris Davis, and Bishop Sankey. Manziel, Lewan, and Beckham are starters (Beckham is #2 receiver.)

This sounds great man and a heck of a draft you had. I have a feeling we could be looking at a high draft pick with the kind of talent we currently have. Would love to see you post that dynasty or something similar!

[Gronk4M13]

Quote: Originally Posted by cheese2121

This sounds great man and a heck of a draft you had. I have a feeling we could be looking at a high draft pick with the kind of talent we currently have. Would love to see you post that dynasty or something similar!

I want to post this as a dynasty. However, I have a thread going for a 32 team CFM with 2014 rosters (haven't started the season yet.) Decisions, decisions.....

[LopaKa]

this is awesome Cheese! I love the idea, it's definitely going to be a long road, that roster is brutal haha