1992 Season

Kuratko steps down as commish, Bell returns to post

Keith Kuratko resigned as commissioner and convinced Mike Bell to resume the duties after a one year hiatus. Bell's first decision after returning to office was to reinstate the basic scoring system (touchdowns, field goals, extra points only). Bell also scrapped the policy of first come, first serve on transaction night and introduced the league to the concept of "Worst First." This rule change enabled owners with the worst record to have the first chance at acquiring new players each week. 

In addition, Bell created the first rule that attempted to deal with bogus trades, albeit in a joking manner. Item six of the '92 rules read as follows: "Any ridiculous trades with Keith Kuratko will result in a permanent ban from the league. (Just kidding)." As for the playoffs, Bell removed the '91 provision that awarded first-round byes to division winners since the league would now feature three divisions instead of two.

Comings and goings

Bell awarded expansion franchises to the Young Guns (co-owned by Kirk Pavelich and Brad Rzyczycki) and the End Zone Boys (owned by Paul Labonte). Two owners tried to change their luck by altering their team's names. Mike Kuzniakowski changed his team's name to Bud Bashers (formerly Bud Bombers) and Bell did away with Club Fugazi in order to create the Assassins. Only two franchises - the Daks and the Bastards - folded.

The 1992 Draft

The draft took place in late August 1992, with the Hostile Omish selecting RB Barry Sanders with the first overall selection. Other first round picks included: WR Jerry Rice, RB Thurman Thomas, QB Jim Kelly, QB Mark Rypien, QB Warren Moon, QB Dan Marino, QB Chris Miller, RB Emmitt Smith, WR Mark Clayton, WR Gary Clark, and PK Chip Lohmiller. The pick of Lohmiller, made by '91 champion Dominic Reto, remains the only time that a kicker has been selected in the first round.

Pavelich immediately used the new transaction policy to his advantage, selecting standout RB Ricky Watters with the first pick on transaction night after his Week One defeat. Bell began using the league's newsletter to advertise for potential trades, posting the following item after Week Four - "Team 3 needs a wide receiver desperately -- all offers considered."

In the Week Eight newsletter, Bell announced that the '92 Fantasy Bowl winner would receive $350 --  the largest prize the league had offered to date.

Division Champs

The Assassins (10-4) won the Spade Division, the Blue Streaks (8-6) captured the Club Division, and the Punishers (7-7) took home the Heart Division title. Click here to see the rest of the 1992 standings. The Assassins won the regular season points title with 390 points (27.85 per game).

Fantasy Bowl 3

Bell's Assassins (right) won Fantasy Bowl 3 over Shell's Brews Brothers by a score of 29-28. PK Gary Anderson, who outscored PK Pete Stoyanovich 11-10, is named the game's most valuable player. The victory enabled the Assassins to become the first top-seeded playoff team to win an Erie League title, a feat that won't be repeated for eight years.