The Sports Page
Volume 11, Issue 2 The On-Line
Newsletter of the Erie Fantasy Football League
September 14, 2003
Football is back as Erie League kicks off 2003
Four teams top century mark in the opening week
of play
The Erie League returned for its 14th season last weekend, and
as usual in Week One, offenses ruled the day.
Mike
Kuratko (pictured right) and the Hostile Omish led the way with a convincing
124.45 to 79.9 win over newly-named Hard Attack, not the fresh start hoped for
by GM Joe Nunney when he officially put an end to the
Black Diamond franchise. Franchise player Clinton Portis led the way with 27.9
points, as the Omish picked up where they left off last year and built on the
momentum of the 2002 Consolation Bowl title. QB Daunte Culpepper contributed
26.75 and RB Ricky Williams chipped in 18.9 for the victors. The offensive
output for the Omish was good enough to get them ranked 97th in the first
International Fantasy Football Computer
Rankings.
"The quiet guy that sat over there in the corner -
Mike Kuratko," said Team Bud GM Jody Barth. "With no injuries this season, dude
is my favorite for this year. His team is stacked."
In the Browns Conference, Stonehenge took the honors as high
scoring team of the week, as they drilled Jester X, 117.3 to 85. Leading the way
for Jamie Roush's squad were RB Priest Holmes (30.3
points) and surprising WR Joey Galloway (19.9).
Jody
Barth (pictured left) picked up a big division win over
Dave Collins and the Dayton Penatrators, notching an
87 to 80.25 victory. QB Kurt Warner led Team Bud with 21.1 points despite
playing most of the game with a concussion.
"What a wonderful way to start out
the year by beating the Dayton Penistraders," Barth said. "For a minute I was
holding my balls but then I remembered, what kind of team can this guy have? I
mean after everyone had basically filled their rosters, there is Dave Collins
drinking his beer with one roster spot to fill and 23 WHOLE FUCKING UNIT'S LEFT!
That is outstanding!"
The final team to break the 100
point barrier in Week One was LTP, as they held off the Midnight Vigilantes,
102.7 to 96, in a rematch of their epic OT playoff game in the first round last
year. Don Jones' club was led by WR Hines Ward (21.1)
and RB Charlie Garner (19.4).
Newcomers to the Erie League had a good week, as both the No
Limit Ballers (Robert Davis) and the Gridiron Gods (Jeff
Gallagher) posted victories. The Deerslayers, co-owned by
Dave Pastir and Ray Urich, had a tougher time in
their debut, dropping a 86.95 to 43.3 decision to the Gridiron Gods.
A week earlier, the All-American and Browns Conference auctions
both went off without a hitch -- unless you count the lack of representation on
Saturday the 30th from the Titlebound Two team -- as the auctions were held for
the first time at Damon's Restaurant in Kent.
This marked the first year that Erie League owners had the opportunity to
designate more than one franchise player prior to the start of the auction,
provided one of the two players went for five units or less the previous year.
In the All-American Conference, a total of 14 players were protected, bringing
an additional $220 into this year's prize pool. Captain Tripps RB Edgerrin James
was the most expensive keeper, going for 34 units, while Hostile Omish RB Stacey
Mack was the cheapest, as he was retained for just a single unit.
In the Browns Conference, 16
players were designated as keepers, bringing an additional $240 into the pot.
Donikers-DTL RB LaDainian Tomlinson was the most expensive, as he was held over
for the relatively low price of 36 units. Five players who went for just one
unit - WR David Patten (Shadow Bandits), WR Donald Driver (The Godfather), WR
Quincy Morgan (Horn-Headed Degenerates), WR Donte Stallworth (Bonecrushers) and
TE Jeremy Shockey (Gridiron Gods) - were designated by their owners using the
new rule.
Franchise players declared this season, who will be ineligible for protected
status next year include: All-American Conference - RB Tiki Barber, QB
Brett Favre, QB Jeff Garcia, RB Charlie Garner, RB William Green, RB Travis
Henry, RB Edgerrin James, RB Stacey Mack, QB Donovan McNabb, RB Clinton Portis,
WR Peerless Price, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Donte Stallworth and RB Amos Zereoue.
Browns Conference - RB Kevan Barlow, WR Curtis Conway, RB Corey Dillon,
WR Donald Driver, RB T.J. Duckett, RB Charlie Garner, RB William Green, RB
Travis Henry, RB Jamal Lewis, WR Quincy Morgan, WR David Patten, RB Clinton
Portis, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Donte Stallworth, RB LaDainian Tomlinson and WR
Hines Ward.
Click here for a complete rundown of the auction
values as teams enter the 2003 season.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"How long do you think this is going to
last? Calling Bryan Vince for transaction night? Come on! This guy is going to
bail quick. 'Bryan, Do you want to go out for a beer after work with the guys?
No! I have to field a bunch of phone calls tonight.' Yeah right! Bryan's
response, 'OK! Tammy if the phone rings do not answer it.'"
Team Bud GM Jody Barth, upon hearing the news that Bryan
Vince would be handling transactions for the All-American Conference this year.
COACHING EFFICIENCY
-
Atomic Punks lost 80.7 to 77.05 - could have won by
starting RB Garrison Hearst (21.7) over RB William Green (10.5)
-
Masons lost 63.85 to 63.1 - could have won by
starting RB Warrick Dunn (12.1) over RB Antowain Smith (1.9)
-
Donikers-DTL lost 75.25 to 70.6 - could have won by
starting either WR Antonio Bryant (7.1) or Joe Jurevicius (15.9) over WR
Todd Pinkston (0.7)
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