Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 4

 

Around the League

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Cleantown 15 4-0-0 645 0 185 728 474 41.54 88.6% W4 Syndicate 14 4-0-0 533 112 148 611 434 33.21 87.2% W4 IC Lightning 12 3-1-0 601 44 191 675 482 35.19 89.0% W3 Cousins Mc 12 3-1-0 574 71 159 659 506 35.07 87.1% W1                       Commish East 9 2-2-0 507 138 147 605 493 29.53 83.8% L2 Capital 8 2-2-0 530 115 150 612 556 31.47 86.6% L1 T Bones 7 2-2-0 502 143 166 572 547 27.72 87.8% W1 Dego's R Us 6 1-3-0 497 148 141 560 624 27.56 88.8% W1                       The Jolly Roger 4 1-3-0 437 208 129 519 485 24.49 84.2% L1 Weekend Warriors 3 1-3-0 450 195 130 532 482 22.62 84.6% L1 Midquippa 3 1-3-0 429 216 140 523 498 22.59 82.0% L3 Nasty Aggravators 3 0-4-0 469 176 142 567 593 23.28 82.7% L4

PFFL East Week 5
#1 Cleantown vs. #2 Syndicate
Cleantown 150 Midquippa 100	Cleantown has spent time in all three conferences since joining the league in 2006 but has had by far their best seasons in the East. While in the East in 2007 they didn't lose their first game until week 7 and this year after a move back to the East from the Central they start out 4-0. After making easy work of the team from the slums of Midland and Aliquippa, they lead the entire league in total points and are one of just two teams still undefeated. And as fate would have it they now play the only other team in the league still undefeated, the 2nd place Syndicate. This is our first 1 vs. 2 matchup of the year but it hardly feels that way with the Syndicate 112 points behind. But if the Syndicate win the difference in points won't matter. The winner of this game will be two things: the only undefeated team in the league and #1 in the East Standings. It seems his grip on reality slips more and more with each new message board post (check this one out if you dare: Hey Phil. ) but it seems his fantasy team has taken on the same personality as his reality. Last year he couldn't buy a win even though he was #1 in points because he was also #1 in points against. This year with just average points he is undefeated because he now has the least amount of points against. This may be the first enigma team that also has an enigma owner. Well the team with the least points scored against in the entire league is now playing the team with the most points scored for in the entire league for the #1 ranking in the East and the claim to be the only undefeated team in the league. It's bad enough Mickey gets stranger every year but he is now making the PFFL stranger each year.
Syndicate 146 Nasty Aggravators 94
#3 IC Lightning vs. #6 Capital
The Jolly Roger 115 IC Lightning 120	After two high flying weeks in a row the Lightning came back to Earth this week but still secure a victory that secures their position in the top tier. They do lose some ground to the top two but none in the standings as they remain in third. With the top two teams playing each other this week they are locked out of the top spot but for the same reason the #2 spot will be available if they win again this week. The stats have them favored over this week opponent Capital but add in Capital's best player Rice on a bye and second place may already be theirs. The reason they are fighting for second place this week instead of first is that damn loss they had in week 1 to Commish East. yea Vince Playing the #1 team for the week Capital had no chance for the win. They drop just one spot to 6th but earning 0VP for scoring in the bottom third also leaves them no chance to break into the top tier this week. However they at least have no chance of dropping to the bottom tier either so this week's game is all about setting up what the following week's game will be all about. With their #1 pick Ray Rice on a bye they are a definite underdog in this one.
Capital 118 Cousins Mc 151
#4 Cousins Mc vs. #5 Commish East
Capital 118 Cousins Mc 151	Winning the week guarantees you 4VP but not necessarily an advance up the standings. Because all three teams above them also won they merely maintain their 4th place rank. But this week all three teams above them can't win because two of them are playing each other guaranteeing an opportunity for a move up. The win isn't guaranteed but playing the injury racked Commish East makes that opportunity look golden. After a promising 2-0 first-place start, the wheels came off in week two when  4 top players were lost to injury including Charles for the year. Add in injuries to Gore and Daniel Thomas in week 3 and your quickly 2-2 and wondering if there will ever be a third win. Week 5 isn't conceded but with two key players not back until week 6, week 5 looks like 2-3.
Dego's R Us 141 Commish East 124
#7 T Bones vs. #11 Midquippa
T Bones 134 Weekend Warriors 120	Key win by the T Bones keeps them in the middle of the pack and still in sight at least of  a top four that is separating themselves from the rest of the field. Blah blah blah... how bout dem Bones making two trades. There were three trades so far in the East and they made two of them. I don't think they have made two trades in the 19 previous years they have been in the league. I'm wondering who is behind this.  I can't believe this is the work of "just say no" Dean or "I know nothing" Rich. Rules may have been broken here. There will be an investigation I assure you. They had to be feeling pretty good after winning their opening game without Foster but losing their third straight with him has to be troubling. It's too early to declare anything for certainty, but if they lose this week I declare with certainty they will not get a bye.
Cleantown 150 Midquippa 100
#8 Dego's R Us vs. #9 The Jolly Roger
Dego's R Us 141 Commish East 124	Their defense does what CJ hasn't done all year, have a big day. Thanks to the Baltimore D the Gumbas go from irrelevant to relevant in one week. They move from dead last to 8th and the middle tier in one jump. Their position is far from secure but they are definitely back in the race. Five was an unlucky number for the skull and crossbones this week. They lose by 5 and their QB nets 5 points. It's rare a QB gets less than 10 let alone just 5. Cutler does have a reputation for putting up duds so it's really no surprise. Ok what's done is done and what's done is they now dwell in the bottom tier. But they get a chance at redemption playing the 8th place team giving them a chance to undo the damage.
The Jolly Roger 115 IC Lightning 120
#10 Weekend Warriors vs. #12 Nasty Aggravators
T Bones 134 Weekend Warriors 120	Losing is bad enough but losing to the T  Bones is like salt in the wound. Usually you welcome playing the last place team especially in need of a win but when your in the bottom tier, I think a game with a team in the middle tier is a better option. It's almost like you have nothing to gain and everything to lose as a #10 playing #12. And losing this one will feel like losing everything. Again it didn't matter in the outcome of the game, but that's four straight now they play Big Ben over Stafford and it's four straight now that Stafford outscores him. Mitch, what is it? You have a man crush on Roethlisberger? Ok here it is: Beat the Warriors and move out of the cellar; lose and it's the root cellar.
Syndicate 146 Nasty Aggravators 94

 

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk TD's 12 3-1-0 624 0 193 677 529 35.48 92.2% W2 Arnie's Army 11 3-1-0 546 78 152 600 477 32.67 91.0% W2 Little Johnny & Will's 9 3-1-0 507 117 158 586 480 27.61 86.5% W3 Frannie's Train 9 2-2-0 538 86 179 570 509 29.27 94.4% L1                       Park Valley 9 2-2-0 511 113 160 597 533 29.72 85.6% W1 H Hammers 9 2-2-0 500 124 162 592 526 30.66 84.5% L1 TnT 8 2-2-0 507 117 179 554 476 25.58 91.5% L1 JR's Boys 8 2-2-0 497 127 144 707 514 33.11 70.3% L2                       Bartertown 8 2-2-0 480 144 150 539 503 26.66 89.1% W1 Sharks 6 2-2-0 466 158 121 517 494 24.24 90.1% L2 Twisted Helmets 6 0-4-0 542 82 155 607 645 30.43 89.3% L4 Snake & Shake 3 1-3-0 465 159 125 561 497 23.62 82.9% W1

PFFL Central Week 5
#1 TD's vs. #11 Twisted Helmets
JR's Boys 124 TD's 160	The TD's follow up their Team of the Week Honors with another top finish in the Central. Scoring 353 points the last two weeks I guess you could say they are on a roll. Those points not only send them back to the top of the standings where they were in week 1 but increase their point lead in the Central to 78. No one has a bigger point lead and only Cleantown has more total points right now. While their point lead looks safe for this week anyway their #1 ranking is anything but. The Army is marching just 1VP back. Talk about can't catch a break! I think all four of their opponents had their best week of the year against them. Their 0-4 but THIRD in Central points. Now that's just twisted. And now lucky them they get to play the #1 team in points coming off two red-hot weeks of scoring. Their 6VP means they're anything but dead but now wasn't the time to get a game like this. Of course they need a win but if they lose and at least salvage some VP out of this game like they have been, because of their high point total there is still plenty of time for them to turn this around.
Twisted Helmets 155 Park Valley 160
#2 Arnie's Army vs. #6 H Hammers
Sharks 111 Arnie's Army 124	I guess it was a no brainer with Sanchez playing in Baltimore but yes, they do play Romo this week over Sanchez and yes they win a big big game over the Sharks. They lose some points with the Gore debacle but no blame there as the info was poor. Bottom line the win and Romo carries them to the #2 hole this week. Now this week the decision is made for them as they can't play Romo but what they also can't play is Rice who is also on a bye. But while the bye schedule is against them the PFFL schedule is for them as the #3 and #4 teams are playing each other so even with a loss they will remain in the top four. I hope the Hammers like roller coasters because they are on one right now. They jump from 4th to 1st last week and now 1st to 6th this week. Sitting in first and playing the last place team in the standings and points and you throw up a dud. Opportunity lost for sure and now they get the #2 team in the standings and points. But also another opportunity because the Army will be without their #1 QB and RB so that #2 ranking not so solid this week.
H Hammers 83 Snake & Shake 117
#3 Little Johnny & Will's vs. #4 Frannie's Train
Little Johnny & Will's 135 TnT 90	We said they had a pivotal game last week and this being the Central that means significant movement in the standings with a win or loss. They win and move significantly from the middle tier and 7th to the top tier and 3rd. The good news is their winning without Miles Austin and Mendenhall underperforming. The bad news - and it's only bad news if they lose - although they are in 3rd they are just 1VP from the bottom tier. All three tiers are in play for them with a win or loss this week; and actually that goes for the majority of the teams in the Central this week. This one stings for sure. Up 27 going into Monday night with TWO players left in Mike Williams and Vinatieri. Obviously their opponent wasn't done: Blount and yes he's eccentric, flaky, off the wall and whatever adjective you can think of for different, but Mickey definitely deserves credit for playing Garcon and his 28 points that steal a victory from the Train. Ok the Hammers dropped 6 positions from 1st to 6th with their loss so how far would this loss drop the 5th place Train? How bout a move up to 4th! It's the Central stupid.
Frannie's Train 135 Bartertown 139
#5 Park Valley vs. #9 Bartertown
Twisted Helmets 155 Park Valley 160	A lineup decision cost them a game last week but we can say all their lineup decisions won them a game this week. They post a 98.2% near perfect rating, and they needed it, to squeak by the Helmets to even their record at 2-2. The win lifts them out of the lower quadrant to 5th and in sight of the summit of a very close conference. The way this conference is playing out they could end up anywhere but a loss could easily put them right back in no mans land. Yes his message board jabber suggests a person of low intelligence but as I have suggested in the past and maybe proved here on Monday night, what we may have here is a Savant. Notice I didn't say Idiot Savant as it's hard to call someone who wins an Idiot. His lineup decisions this week were the difference in this game keeping them competitive in a very close conference. Yes they move up just one spot to 9th but that spot is just 1VP from 3rd. This conference will not remain this close for too much longer meaning an opportunity to move 5 or even 6 spots with a win may not come again.
Frannie's Train 135 Bartertown 139
#7 TnT vs. #8 JR's Boys
Little Johnny & Will's 135 TnT 90	It seems losing Britt has thrown this team into panic mode. Four weeks in and they already have made 3 trades. Sitting in the middle of the conference it isn't time to panic but if they lose again this week they likely end up in the lower division and panic does seem to set in when your down there. Well we'll see where all that bartering takes them. There was a time you could go into Monday night down 50 with Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne still to go and feel optimistic. Those days might not necessarily be gone forever but it was this Monday night without Peyton. They still earn a VP in the loss so the damage isn't too bad. They drop from 6th to 8th but at least maintain the middle tier. Last year their game with TnT was for the top spot in the conference; this year it is more about survival.
JR's Boys 124 TD's 160
#10 Sharks vs. #12 Snake & Shake
Sharks 111 Arnie's Army 124	The loss puts the Sharks at 2-2 the same record as 6 other teams but they have less VP than those 6 teams. Even with just 6VP this conference is still close enough that they can still earn a bye but they must win this week. If they lose to the last place S&S they will drop at least one spot to 11th and possible even 12th. Like I mentioned before this conference will not stay this close and I do believe this will be the last week it stays this close so huge pivotal game for them. We criticized them for taking Vick ahead of Brady so they trade Vick for Rivers but don't play Rivers; instead they play Fitzpatrick who gets just 9 points but they still win a must game anyway. Hey what do I know they are the defending champs not me and it was a trade they made last year that propelled them to the championship. Bottom line they do win a must game against the then #1 team Hammers and their reward is another must game this week. Well as long as you have must games your still in the race.
H Hammers 83 Snake & Shake 117

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Schleprock 12 3-1-0 561 12 166 660 491 34.46 85.0% L1 Bid 66 Bandits 11 3-1-0 518 55 166 624 506 32.69 83.0% W1 Brookline 10 2-2-0 573 0 177 653 500 32.89 87.7% L1 Archie's 10 2-2-0 540 33 154 616 507 33.40 87.7% L2                       Detroit Lions 9 3-1-0 506 67 151 610 486 30.86 83.0% W3 Smiley's Snipers 9 2-2-0 496 77 149 618 498 30.13 80.3% W1 Irish Talbots 8 2-2-0 525 48 153 614 497 31.16 85.5% W2 Endzonerz 7 2-2-0 483 90 140 582 466 26.79 83.0% L1                       MNE 6 2-2-0 454 119 134 569 548 25.86 79.8% W1 B&B 6 2-2-0 451 122 121 516 478 24.40 87.4% W1 French River 5 1-3-0 504 69 153 571 552 26.85 88.3% L1 Commish West 4 0-4-0 476 97 126 543 558 24.87 87.7% L4

PFFL West Week 5
#1 Schleprock vs. #5 Detroit Lions
B&B 121 Schleprock 107	The Rock suffers their first setback of the year but as reported last week had such a good start would hold onto the top spot even with a loss. They do remain on top but earning 0VP last week has put them in range of at least 5 other teams and the low point total also cost them the conference point lead. This week they play one of those teams in range of them and they will do it without two of their best players Rice and Marshall both on a bye. With their cushion gone they should lose the top spot with a loss and the schedule is such possibly even the top tier. The Lions get on the board with their best week of the year and earning their first weekly money. They now sport a winning record and while they move just one position up from 6th to 5th, their situation has moved up considerably more. Last week they needed a win to move into contention and this week they need a win to become a contender. It's not guaranteed but a win should at least lift them into the top tier and although it would take the 2nd thru 4th teams all losing, a jump to #1 is at least possible. A now very different situation from last week and that's what a crossroads win will do for you.
Endzonerz 103 Detroit Lions 151
#2 Bid 66 Bandits vs. #7 Irish Talbots
Bid 66 Bandits 166 Brookline 139	The Bandits score almost 100 more points than last week and turn a weekly low not only into a weekly high but a weekly Team of the Week. As advertised the win moves them back into the upper class neighborhood and the nature of the win moves them all the way to the top two in 2nd. The decision to play Cam Newton over Romo wasn't the reason they won the game but it was the reason they won the Honors for highest score of all conferences. The Central is the overall closest race but the West has the closest top four. I tried to talk them into playing Sanchez over Ortin but it didn't work. I guess Kevin really is in charge here. He's probably taking credit for Jordy Nelson too. They remain in 7th even with the win but then again they only beat the winless Commish West so couldn't expect much. They are now in range of the upper echelon but to get there must first beat a real team in the #2 Bandits.
Commish West 126 Irish Talbots 138
#3 Brookline vs. #8 Endzonerz
Bid 66 Bandits 166 Brookline 139	Brookline may have lost the battle but earning 2VP they didn't lose the war. Unluckily they play the hot team for the week but their top 4 points earns them 2VP and allows them to remain in 3rd even with the loss. They actually take over the conference lead in points and now play an 8th ranked team with almost 100 less points. With the way the schedule is set up this week and the way their team in performing, 1st place is a real possibility this week. Teams can overcome losses as Brookline illustrated this week but what's hard to overcome is the 0VP loss. Earning 2VP in their loss Brookline maintained their 3rd rank but the Zonerz 0VP week dropped them 4 ranks from the top tier in 4th to the bottom of the middle tier to 8th. Sitting at the gateway to the underworld just 1VP out they don't necessarily have to win to stay out but they probably at least need to earn some VP to stay out.
Endzonerz 103 Detroit Lions 151
#4 Archie's vs. #11 French Creek
Smiley's Snipers 149 Archie's 121	You'd think getting 30 points out of your defense would put you in a position to win but getting just 10 from your running backs kind of nullified it. The loss costs them the top two but not the top four as they drop to 4th. They maintain their 3rd rank in conference points making them a potent opponent to anyone. Losing two in a row and still residing in the top section is an indication of a high point total. With Mendenhall doing nothing coupled with Miles Austin's absence it's amazing they are still 3rd in West scoring. The Creek has been bouncing in and out of the bottom tier through the first four weeks of the year. I guess that's better than never leaving the bottom tier through the first four weeks. If the pattern continues they will be out of the bottom tier in week 5 but for the pattern to continue they will have to win this week.
French River 119 MNE 134
#6 Smiley's Snipers vs. #9 MNE
Smiley's Snipers 149 Archie's 121	The  Snipers make up for the 0VP week that dropped them from the top tier to the bottom tier last week with a 4VP rebound win this week. You wouldn't think there would be anything negative in a 4VP win but they did leave Beanie Wells and his 31 points on the bench. While it didn't cost the win, it may have cost a Team of the Week Honor - depending of course on who Beanie would have replaced in the lineup - and also cost them one position in the standings and about 3 or 4 positions in the point rankings. Hind sight and conjecture yes but a fact nonetheless. Also a fact another win could break them back into the top tier. The Express went into Monday night with just a 3 point lead but with Blount going against the Creek's TB Def I don't think they were much worried. But then again the Creek is part of the Cody Consortium and those greedy corporations are always coming up with loop holes to screw the rest of us. Blount did his job unobstructed though and so did we in reporting that they wouldn't get out of the doldrums with a win, but it would set up a possible escape with another win this week. It's not guaranteed but the odds are in their favor they break out with a win.
French River 119 MNE 134
#10 B&B vs. #12 Commish West
B&B 121 Schleprock 107	Last week we said B&B had the players to win this game but having to play against the likes of Brady and Rice #1 Schleprock would be hard to beat. Hard maybe but apparently not impossible. The win doesn't change their position in the standings but it keeps the light at the end of the tunnel in visible. Well if they can beat the #1 team they should have little trouble with the #12. Actually put up their best score of the year but of course still lost. And aside from their injured, even more will sit because of byes so unless B&B has some serious players on a bye this team is in for its 5th straight loss. They don't so 0-5.
Commish West 126 Irish Talbots 138

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: The scoring shows no sign of returning to the averages of the previous 5 years as week 4 clocks in as the highest week 4 of the past 6 years. The overall scoring seems to have settled in at about 10 points higher than we are used to. The current yearly average of 128 is 10 points higher than 2007's record high final average of 120.1. Week 4 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 126 128 131 128.3 128.0 116.9 ● Just two teams remain undefeated and both are in the East. No team has all 16 possible VP points. Three teams remain winless. ● The East is currently a segregated conference. All four teams in the bottom tier are more than 10VP out of first. No other conference has even one team that is double digits in VP behind the leader. ● Cousins Mc in the East and TnT in the Central are the only two teams in the league without any Coulda Won or Woulda Lost games. Both are the only two teams with zeros in both columns.   ● Wes Welker and Aaron Rodgers have both hit the 50-point mark this year. Welker with 51 in week 3 and Rodgers with 50 this week. The record is held by Chris Johnson with 55 in 2009. The 50-point mark has been hit by a player just 8 times total including this year's two. ● The TD's own the current high week of 193 in week 1 but the highest potential week so far this year belongs to the JR's Boys, 223 in week1. ● So far there have been two perfect games in the PFFL.  Bartertown in week 2 and The Jolly Roger in week 3 have both posted 100% efficiency ratings. And yes both won those games. ● I don't know why I am even bringing it up, but what is all this vampire stuff Mickey is posting on the message board, or for that matter what is anything he is posting. And I think I am making another mistake here but I do have to agree with Dean. Here is a quote from a posting in the Sandlot league by Dean concerning Mickey's posts: "hey mickey make a little sense in your messages mine for example are filled with hate and vengeance and jabs at mr tight end vince and the hitler like cammish we have so please take your medications and write a little more precise---thank you too much" I'm actually impressed he only misspelled one word. The point is I can at least comprehend a good portion of what Dean says. Please notice I didn't say all! ● The byes start this week: Baltimore, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, St. Louis, Washington. ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 7 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 Cleantown 645 2 TD's 624 3 IC Lightning 601 4 Cousins Mc 574 5 Brookline 573 6 Schleprock 561 7 Arnie's Army 546 8 Twisted Helmets 542 9 Archie's 540 10 Frannie's Train 538 11 Syndicate 533 12 Capital 530 13 Irish Talbots 525 14 Bid 66 Bandits 518 15 Park Valley 511 16 Commish East 507 17 Little Johnny & Will's 507 18 TnT 507 19 Detroit Lions 506 20 French River 504 21 T Bones 502 22 H Hammers 500 23 Dego's R Us 497 24 JR's Boys 497 25 Smiley's Snipers 496 26 Endzonerz 483 27 Bartertown 480 28 Commish West 476 29 Nasty Aggravators 469 30 Sharks 466 31 Snake & Shake 465 32 MNE 454 33 B&B 451 34 Weekend Warriors 450 35 The Jolly Roger 437 36 Midquippa 429   Average 512

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!