Some MVRL Football Notes

With the 2005 season in the books there are a few items I'd like to record on my blog for future reference. First of all, I think our league is as strong as it's ever been in terms of owners. The group we have now is simply the best we've ever had. In the future, I hope everyone stays as involved as they were this year.
I like our rules. The only thing I would like to change is to have a tiebreaker each week so there are no more ties. In another league I'm in, the tiebreaker is the total points scored by your reserves. We could possibly do something like that, or we could simply designate an individual player, or both-an individual being the #1 tiebreaker and total reserve points the #2 tiebreaker. I don't know and I don't know if anyone else even thinks we need a tiebreaker. Maybe everyone likes ties. I don't, but who am I?

Based on the final regular season standings, here's the number of balls (pieces of paper?) each owner will have in the pot when we go to choose draft order next year-

Horned Puffins (12)
Rampage (11)
Creamers (10)
Burrowing Owls (9)
Double Down (8)
Benchpressers (7)
Girlymans (6)
Maddogs (5)
Crapshoot (4)
Buffet Boys (3)
Carpetbaggers (2)
Pietschskins (1)

Looking at next year, it's always fun to speculate as to what players will be protected and Scott's already posted something on his blog, but I'm going to as well because...well, because I want to.

Benchpressers-He'll keep Carson Palmer & Tiki Barber, but if the Chiefs' new head coach makes a big deal about getting the ball to Tony Gonzalez, then Wes may toss Palmer back into the mix.
Buffet Boys-Larry Johnson for sure. Probably Donovan McNabb. That could change if the Texans, for some ungodly reason, decide to trade the #1 pick and not take Reggie Bush, making Domanick Davis the main man in Houston. He'll also keep his rookie, Ronnie Brown, unless he gets the #1 pick in the rookie draft.
Burrowing Owls-Torry Holt for sure. I'd guess Michael Vick, but wouldn't rule out Julius Jones. Vick played well for TQ and Jones was a dud much of the year (he killed me in another league), but he'll enter next year as the #1 RB in Dallas, so it'll be tough to throw him back in the mix.
Carpetbaggers-Anquan Boldin & Trent Green.
Crapshoot-Clinton Portis & Matt Hasselbeck. Maybe Brian Westbrook instead of Hasselbeck, but I doubt it. He too will keep his rook-WR Matt Jones.
Creamers-Antonio Gates & LeMont Jordan. Jordan gets the nod over Plaxico Burress, but not by much. Not sure on J.J. Arrington as the rook.
Double Down-Chad Johnson & Randy Moss. Mike Anderson is good, but it'd be easier to toss him back than it would be to give up either of those WRs. Not sure on his rook-Cedric Benson. Probably depends on what pick he has.
Girlymans-Peyton Manning & Steve Smith.
Horned Puffins-LaDainian Tomlinson & Tom Brady. Unless Carson Palmer is not protected. In which case I would feel as gay as gay gets trying to decide between a shot at Palmer and Brady. That's pathetic.
Maddogs-Larry Fitzgerald & Steven Jackson. And Braylon Edwards. I think Fitzgerald is a lock, but Jackson could be out in favor of Jeremy Shockey. Or even Eli Manning. I think Scott's got a crush on Eli like I got on Carson. Don't worry Scott, I won't tell.
Pietschskins-Edgerrin James & Willis McGahee. Plus his rook-Cadillac Williams. That's some serious RB depth.
Rampage-Shaun Alexander & Rudi Johnson. Not a bad way to begin his title defense.