Pittsburgh Franchise Football League 2011 News & Notes

Week 5

 

Around the League

PFFL East Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Cleantown 19 5-0-0 793 0 185 876 607 41.34 90.5% W5 Cousins Mc 16 4-1-0 692 101 159 821 614 35.24 84.3% W2 Syndicate 16 4-1-0 666 127 148 749 582 32.86 88.9% L1 IC Lightning 15 4-1-0 716 77 191 841 586 35.53 85.1% W4                       Dego's R Us 10 2-3-0 640 153 143 707 702 29.02 90.5% W2 Commish East 10 2-3-0 615 178 147 724 611 27.85 84.9% L3 Capital 9 2-3-0 634 159 150 721 671 29.33 87.9% L2 T Bones 7 2-3-0 591 202 166 696 644 26.15 84.9% L1                       Weekend Warriors 6 2-3-0 567 226 130 670 562 24.46 84.6% W1 Midquippa 5 2-3-0 526 267 140 651 587 23.21 80.8% W1 The Jolly Roger 4 1-4-0 515 278 129 632 628 22.74 81.5% L2 Nasty Aggravators 3 0-5-0 549 244 142 681 710 21.90 80.6% L5

PFFL East Week 6
#1 Cleantown vs. #2 Cousins Mc
Syndicate 133 Cleantown 148	With the #1 ranking on the line, the Town was down entering Monday night but when the night was over it was clear who the #1 team in the East was. Both the Syndicate and Cleantown had players in the Monday night game but Calvin was the difference maker for the Clean Machine as they cement their position as the #1 team not only in the East but the entire league. Most VP, largest lead over 2nd, most total points and the only team remaining without a loss. And as if to say we're taking on all comers, they again play the #2 team in the conference for the second straight week. The difference this time is a 3VP lead over that #2 team meaning they don't necessarily lose the top spot with a loss. And as if things aren't going their way enough already, their opponent has some serious issues this week with injuries, byes, and even a possible benching. Yea Kevin! Their week 4 opponent threw a scare into them on Monday night but the comeback fizzled allowing Cuz to float up into the top two. With a 6VP gap over the middle tier their top four position is safe but at 3VP behind first, they may not get another opportunity like this one for the top spot if they lose. But one look at their roster for this week and it looks like that opportunity is already lost! They have just two RB not on a bye and one of them is supposedly benched (Hightower) while the other is a backup (Bush); now add in their best WR Andre Johnson is most likely out and what you have is a huge underdog. If this were a survivor contest everyone would be on Cleantown this week. But wasn't everyone on the Giants last week?
Cousins Mc 118 Commish East 108
#3 Syndicate vs. #6 Commish East
Syndicate 133 Cleantown 148	The opportunity was given to them to take the top spot and if it would have been against just about anyone else, they would have made the most of it. But Cleantown and their 2nd weekly first of the year was just too much. But the 2VP earned keeps them right in the thick of things. With circumstances what they are, most likely Cleantown wins again so they will need to win this one to keep no more than 3 or 4VP back and then hope for another opportunity down the road. With no chance of dropping out of the top tier this game is all about keeping pace with Cleantown and a chance to get back into the top two. Still reeling from the injury disaster in week 2, they lose their third straight and now see a 9VP gap between themselves and the top spot they held in that week 2. Ok if all good things must come to an end maybe bad must also as they should get everyone back this week, except Charles of course. Not a must win per se as they shouldn't lose the middle tier with a loss, but at 5VP from the byes a very important game for sure.
Cousins Mc 118 Commish East 108
#4 IC Lightning vs. #8 T Bones
Capital 104 IC Lightning 115	That's two weeks in a row they haven't won big but that's two more weeks they win making four in a row now. That's not to say they couldn't have won big. The problem with New England players is they are all valuable but just not every one every week and when you have four of them to chose from it's a guessing game. This week they guess wrong and the consequence is a drop from 2nd to 3rd. But as we said  they still win and Cleantown aside only one other team in the league has won four in a row and that's the Lions in the West. No danger of dropping to the next tier but a loss would increase an already significant 3VP gap to first. And since I don't believe in overkill I am not going to mention that week 1 loss to Commish East that I have been bringing up week after week. Enough is enough already, right Vincent! Needing 21 out of Pettigrew he puts up 13 denying the Bones a come-from-behind win on Monday night. Yes a different lineup could have won this one but since both teams left points on the bench and both had key players out due to injury and or byes, maybe not worth mentioning. But 89 points is worth mentioning. If they play Green Bay's defense and Santonio Holmes like their supposed to they win. But no, they can't even beat a team with less than 100 points; a team from the slums of Midland and Aliquippa no less. And now they have to play my friend Vincent and the IC Lightning, one of the best teams in the league who should easily give them another loss. Yea Vince, Yea Vince. You see Dean, you may have your way on the message boards but in here, I'm the man!
T Bones 89 Midquippa 97
#5 Dego's R Us vs. #12 Nasty Aggravators
Dego's R Us 143 The Jolly Roger 78	Proving a bad start can be overcome (0-3), the Gumbas win their second straight and even though they have a losing record, solid VP points has them right on the door step of the top tier in 5th. And according to them this in spite of their #1 pick CJ not going off yet. Well he might not have gone off yet but what he has been is consistent scoring about 12 points a game. And what they won't have this week is that 12 points as he will be on a bye. They have no danger of dropping a tier but 5VP away they can't break into the top tier either. And a loss this week will put them even farther back. Don't know it they finally switched from Big Ben to Stafford because of  the haranguing they have been receiving in this newsletter, but maybe now wasn't the time to finally listen to us. After four straight weeks of  playing Big Ben while Stafford out did him, they put Stafford in this week and Ben throws for 5 and Stafford has his worst game. At 0-5 I guess you can just say it's one of those years. But at just 4VP from a playoff birth, things could be much worse. Obviously a win still desperately needed here.
Weekend Warriors 117 Nasty Aggravators 80
#7 Capital vs. #10 Midquippa
Capital 104 IC Lightning 115	When you put up a 95.4% rating but score just 104, there's just not much more you could have done. Having Rice on a bye was clearly the difference in their game. But that's two losses in a row now. After a 1-0 start that had them in the top tier in week 1, they bounce around the middle tier for the next four weeks. Better than bouncing around the bottom tier I guess. Well no real bye issues this week so if they want to make a run at one of the byes they will need to start by winning their next game because the top tier already has some serious separation from the rest of the pack. The Midquips clearly get away with one here scoring in the bottom third and still pulling in 2VP. We informed them last week that if they wanted a bye they would need to win and win they did but earning the minimum VP in winning still leaves them 10VP from that bye. That along with the fact they are still in the bottom tier maybe we should restrict the conversation to earning a wildcard instead. With Foster seemingly completely healthy they do have the personnel to move up in the standings for sure.
T Bones 89 Midquippa 97
#9 Weekend Warriors vs. #11 The Jolly Roger
Weekend Warriors 117 Nasty Aggravators 80	The Warriors didn't light up the score board but thanks to AP they did light up the Aggravators. Even if Mitch played Roethlisberger and his 31 points the Warriors still get their second win. Beating the last place team we knew wouldn't get them out of the bottom tier but it does now put them in position to get out of the bottom tier. That's twice now they put up the low score in the East and that's twice they lose in the last two weeks. I don't know whose worse, Ortin or Cutler for throwing up duds. Considering their opponents 143 it really didn't matter. Ok bottom line this week we have two teams in the bottom tier playing each other. Considering that The Jolly Roger has 2 less VP, 1 less win and are 2 behind in the standings to that other team in the bottom tier, their situation is much more desperate than that other team.
Dego's R Us 143 The Jolly Roger 78

 

PFFL Central Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Arnie's Army 14 4-1-0 658 72 152 720 573 31.42 91.4% W3 Frannie's Train 13 3-2-0 671 59 179 708 607 30.49 94.8% W1 Park Valley 13 3-2-0 636 94 160 760 644 31.01 83.7% W2 TD's 12 3-2-0 730 0 193 824 653 33.10 88.6% L1                       JR's Boys 11 3-2-0 613 117 144 827 627 32.72 74.1% W1 Sharks 10 3-2-0 600 130 134 651 607 26.35 92.2% W1 Twisted Helmets 10 1-4-0 666 64 155 752 751 31.06 88.6% W1 Little Johnny & Will's 9 3-2-0 605 125 158 687 613 25.82 88.1% L1                       TnT 9 2-3-0 620 110 179 722 592 25.90 85.9% L2 H Hammers 9 2-3-0 596 134 162 720 638 28.58 82.8% L2 Bartertown 8 2-3-0 591 139 150 667 628 25.71 88.6% L1 Snake & Shake 4 1-4-0 578 152 125 693 631 24.08 83.4% L1

PFFL Central Week 6
#1 Arnie's Army vs. #4 TD's
H Hammers 96 Arnie's Army 112	Without the services of their #1 pick Rice, the issue was still in doubt for Arnie going into Monday night. But down 19 the Hammers were probably asking a lot out of Knox whose 3 points were definitely not a lot, giving the Army their fourth win and top spot in the Central. In a very tight conference that has had four different leaders through the first five weeks, they will need to win again against the #4 TD's to maintain their newly begotten status. They will once again be without the services of one of their backs but RB is their deepest position so it shouldn't be a problem. While they could possibly still maintain the top spot with a loss, it is unlikely. And if anyone is counting, right now a Cody Consortium team is leading in two of the three conferences. Yea Kevin, Yea Kevin! The TD's roll they were on crapped out this week with their poorest effort of the year resulting in their second loss and a drop from #1 to #4. They continue to lead the conference in total points however and actually have a serious lead for this early in the year of about 60. The 1VP behind both the #2 and 3 teams puts them at a disadvantage but their high point total could be the difference if they win this week to put them back on top of the Central where they resided in weeks 1 and 4. And don't think we didn't notice there hasn't been one incident involving Timmy where a message board post had to be erased or an icon deleted in weeks. Tim were proud of you and let me know when your out of rehab, we'll have a drink.
TD's 106 Twisted Helmets 124
#2 Frannie's Train vs. #7 Twisted Helmets
Frannie's Train 133 Little Johnny & Will's 98	Last week they move up one position with a loss and this week they move up two positions with a win. I have a feeling this has nothing to do with winning or losing the game but rather Marty making trades for standings positions. He's traded everything else! I think he has about three players left from his original team. Some traded players never even get to play for him as he trades them away again before the start of the week. We're not criticizing mind you after all they are in 2nd place but I'm also not going to predict what their team will do this week because I don't know what their team will be come Sunday. In fact as I write this another trade approval pool involving him was just posted so point made. Bottom line the Central standings are as unstable as Marty's roster so we'll just have to see what position he trades for this week. With their backs to the wall and a game with the #1 ranked team in the conference the Helmets come through with a big win that pulls them out of the darkness and into the light of the middle tier. Their luck has been anything but good playing teams having their best weeks of the year and then get a game with the #1 team in points and rankings. But they get by #1 and now their reward is #2 in both points and the rankings. Ok so they have to make their own luck; they are the #3 in points so they're not overmatched. But they're #7 ranking is and a loss could undo what their win did last week.
TD's 106 Twisted Helmets 124
#3 Park Valley vs. #5 JR's Boys
Bartertown 111 Park Valley 125	Ok your down 7 going into Monday night and you have your choice of the star QB or the star WR in the game. I don't know who the Valley would have chosen but they had the WR and Calvin came through big time thanks to throws from the QB and win a tier changing game. They move from 5th to 3rd and just 1VP from the summit. They now play another possible tier changing game with the current #5 team. Most likely both #1 and #2 teams need to lose for them to become #1 but a fall back to #5 is likely if they lost and the #4 team wins. It's the Cardiac Central so what else but a Monday night thriller game. Up 10 the Boys had a solid player in Forte but their opponent was countering with Best at home. They would need most of those 10 points as Best threw 27 at them but the Boys hang on and win a strategic game that moves them from the bottom to the top of the middle tier. The win now sets them up for entry into the most desirable real estate in the conference, the top tier. A win over the #3 ranked team will place them anywhere from 2nd to 4th.
JR's Boys 116 TnT 113
#6 Sharks vs. #11 Bartertown
Snake & Shake 113 Sharks 134	We put a lot of pressure on the Sharks in last weeks writings and they responded with an all out effort in the form of a perfect efficiency rating of 100%. Well seeing as most of their team was either on a bye or IR I guess the odds of a 100% rating were close to 100%! Hey Frank, you do know that Jamaal Charles isn't coming back don't you? Actually a huge win here as a loss would have dropped them to dead last. But lose they didn't and they now sit in the dead middle of the conference just 2VP from a bye. But no time to sit on their laurels as the bottom tier is still just 1VP away and their opponent would like to do this week what they did last week, get out of the bottom tier. They come up short on Monday night and in the standings dropping to near bottom 11th. We touted them for their lineup decisions last week and yes, their potential points were actually enough to win this game and we have indicated Mickey may be some kind of a savant, but I think only Rain Man could have gotten this one right. Anyway in a very close conference they are still just a win away from the next level. But I do have to say now also a loss away from the bottom of the bottom level.
Bartertown 111 Park Valley 125
#8 Little Johnny & Will's vs. #10 H Hammers
Frannie's Train 133 Little Johnny & Will's 98	Unless they were expecting 48 points from Brandon Pettigrew I don't think Johnny was expecting a come-from-behind win on Monday night. Well playing without Miles Austin and Mendenhall finally caught up to them and what we feared could happen with a loss did; a significant drop in the standings. By significant we mean 3rd to 8th. At least they stayed out of the bottom tier which was also a real possibility with a loss. Ok as we have been saying and witnessing, substantial movement in this conference is easy. The direction of that movement is dependant on a win or a loss of course. I don't think the Hammers thought they were going to pull it out on Monday night needing Knox to get 19 but knowing anything is possible I'm sure they were disappointed with just 3. I hope they took their Dramamine because these 4 and 5 position changes every week is making me dizzy. That 1st place position they were sitting in in week 3 has to look awfully far away right now. Well for the first time this year they reside in the land of the dead but the living are just a win away.
H Hammers 96 Arnie's Army 112
#9 TnT vs. #12 Snake & Shake
JR's Boys 116 TnT 113	When your QB gets you just 1 point it's usually because they got hurt. Well Orton's benching after putting up just 1 point hurt TnT badly. Losing by three and your QB, a position that averages at least double digits for every team, gets you just 1 is just wrong. The loss takes them from playing a game to get back into the top tier to playing a game to get out of the bottom tier. And playing the last place team means no guarantee a win lifts them to the next level. It's hard to feel bad for a team that had so much success last year so, we won't. But if they lose this week they will feel bad about being close to mathematically eliminated at an early age. And I do believe they see the desperation in their situation because as I write this I see they just traded away their #1 pick CJ who has a bye this week.
Snake & Shake 113 Sharks 134

PFFL West Standings

Franchise VP W-L-T PF PB Max PF PP PA PWR Eff Strk Brookline 14 3-2-0 747 0 177 840 605 35.62 88.9% W1 Archie's 13 3-2-0 654 93 154 732 608 32.23 89.3% W1 Detroit Lions 12 4-1-0 620 127 151 739 582 31.24 83.9% W4 Irish Talbots 12 3-2-0 658 89 153 793 605 32.84 83.0% W3                       Schleprock 12 3-2-0 657 90 166 777 605 31.46 84.6% L2 Bid 66 Bandits 12 3-2-0 626 121 166 738 639 30.49 84.8% L1 Smiley's Snipers 11 2-3-0 623 124 149 756 640 29.76 82.4% L1 MNE 10 3-2-0 596 151 142 722 675 27.88 82.5% W2                       B&B 9 3-2-0 558 189 121 642 579 24.78 86.9% W2 Endzonerz 7 2-3-0 588 159 140 707 640 26.07 83.2% L2 French River 5 1-4-0 605 142 153 696 666 26.08 86.9% L2 Commish West 4 0-5-0 577 170 126 655 665 23.24 88.1% L5

PFFL West Week 6
#1 Brookline vs. #3 Detroit Lions
Brookline 174 Endzonerz 105	Up 45 on Monday night Brookline gets a penalty for pilling on adding another 24 with Calvin Johnson. George that's not like you. I told everyone you and Archie are the nicest guys in the league. But after what happened last week scoring in the top 4 and losing I can see why you were taking no prisoners this week. We did say last week with a win the schedule was favorable for Brookline to take over 1st place and we are of our word. A win was all that was needed but congratulations also for the Team of the Week Honor. The big week also stretches their West point lead to about 90 and moves them into 2nd overall behind Cleantown. Who said nice guys finish last? Ok now the trick is keeping the top spot. A 2VP win aside another win guarantees it. The Lions aren't undefeated like their NFL counterparts but with four straight wins they are close. After starting the season 0-1 and in the bottom tier they have progressed steadily up the standings and have not only arrived into the top tier, but now have an opportunity to earn the top spot. The summit isn't guaranteed with a win because Archie's is 1VP ahead but the #2 spot is also ripe for the taking. But in the last couple weeks this conference has tightened up considerable so the potential is there for a big fall with a loss.
Schleprock 96 Detroit Lions 114
#2 Archie's vs. #9 Endzonerz
Archie's 114 French River 101	I guess it was possible that Pettigrew score 26 or more on Monday night but he didn't allowing Archibald to stop the bleeding of a two game losing streak and remain in the top tier. In fact they move up to 2nd just 1VP from where they stood in week 2 which was first. But reiterating what was said above, this conference is now tighter than even the Central and although they remained in the top tier after losing two games in a row, I doubt they can now remain there with even one loss. Also reiterating what was said above while George is considered one of the nicest guys in the league, Archibald, your still #1. Back to back 0VP weeks you have to expect bad things to happen and that bad thing is a drop from the top to the bottom tier. Losses aren't the worse thing, 0VP is. Playing Campbell over Big Ben wouldn't have changed their position in the standings but the 1VP that would have been earned would have made it that much easier to recoup some of the losses of the last two weeks. Not a good time to play a good team but a good time to reverse a losing steak.
Brookline 174 Endzonerz 105
#4 Irish Talbots vs. #9 B&B
Bid 66 Bandits 108 Irish Talbots 133	It wasn't guaranteed but down just 8 with Best and Hanson on Monday night the Irish didn't need any luck to win. But it was kind of unlucky what happened to their QB Orton! Now why couldn't Orton do this last week? It's still kind of impressive to win this big with just 1 point from your QB. Getting back to it the win as advertised gives them entry into the gated community of the upper tier and even an outside chance they get to live in the mansion if things fall just right this week. But with 8 teams all within 4VP a loss means they probably get evicted. A 56-point lead going into Monday night may sound safe, but when your opponent has 4 of his 9 left to play not so much. Without going into details, why because it hurts too much, B&B holds on to win their second straight. You might think winning two in a row would get you out of the bottom tier but when your coming off two straight 0VP losses your just undoing the damage first. Well the damage is undone so if they can make it three in a row they should see the fruits of their labors.
B&B 107 Commish West 101
#5 Schleprock vs. #12 Commish West
Schleprock 96 Detroit Lions 114	It's rare a #1 team drops out of the top tier with a loss but  the wild West is now wide open. There are now no less than 8 teams in range of the top spot. We knew without Rice and Marshall they would struggle this week and we also knew it was possible they not only lose the #1 ranking with a loss but the entire top tier. Well worse case scenario realized as they drop to 5th. But nothing that can't be undone just 2VP out and they couldn't ask for a better way to get it done than a game against the last place team. Had to pick up Jacoby Jones just to have enough players for a starting lineup and he gets you 1 point and you lose by 6. Not sure if this team is really bad or really unlucky but I kind of think both and that is a bad combination. OK, 0-5 in dead last; must win this week period to have any chance at a wildcard. But as luck would have it, or more correctly as bad luck will have it, they play without their best WR Fitzgerald.
B&B 107 Commish West 101
#6 Bid 66 Bandits vs. #8 MNE
Bid 66 Bandits 108 Irish Talbots 133	It is kind of incredible just how close this conference has become. You start the week in 2nd and lose but earn 1VP in the loss yet still drop all the way to 6th. I guess it works both ways so a win could put you right back where you were. On the other side of the coin MNE gets a 4VP win and moves up just 1 spot to 8th. The reason is everyone is crowded up at the top and there was just no room for MNE to get in. But the 4VP has crossed them over the line and although they are in 8th, actually in range of 1st 4VP back.
Smiley's Snipers 127 MNE 142
#7 Smiley's Snipers vs. #11 French River
Smiley's Snipers 127 MNE 142	Don't know if losing Andre Johnson cost them this game but it didn't help. Can't say the loss was too costly either dropping just one spot in a conference this tight. I wouldn't call this week a must win but I do predict this conference will look entirely different next week and will not be as close as it is this week again this year. Actually a devastating loss for the Creek now 5VP from 8th and 4VP from even 9th. This conference is at a turning point this week and it won't remain this close and right now the Creek isn't part of it. One look at the standings will tell you this is a must game for this team.
Archie's 114 French River 101

Sandlot Defending League Champion M4

Welcome to the 2nd season of the PFFL Sandlot League

 

PFFL Stuff

The Score: The first six-team bye week had a profound effect on the scoring average. After four straight weeks of considerably above average scoring, week 5 drops below average for the first time this year. The overall yearly averaged dropped nearly three points but still remains well above the beginning 5-year average. Week 5 Year Beginning East Central West Overall 2011 5-Year Ave 111 115 118 114.7 125.3 116.9 ● There is now just one undefeated team remaining in the league, Cleantown. Last year at this time there was also just one undefeated team TnT who went on to finish the season 10-1 and didn't lose their first game until week 10. ● Currently only two first round draft picks are in the top 10 in scoring: Calvin Johnson (7) and Matt Forte (10). Cam Newton is currently the #2 scorer in the PFFL. Of the current top 10 players 7 are QBS, 2 are WRs and 1 is a RB. ● After just five weeks there are no teams remaining without any Coulda Won or Woulda Lost games. Only once did a team go through the entire regular season with zeros in both categories and that was the Rounders 17 last year.   ● The current low week of the year is 68 points put up in week 3 by the Bid 66 Bandits. But don't feel too bad for them because they followed that up with a Team of the Week Honor in week 4. ●  The JR's Boys have improved but still have the worst efficiency rating in the league. In fact they are the only team under 80% and well under at 74.1%. The current efficiency leader is Frannie's Train with a 94.8% rating. ● It is just week 5 but Cleantown almost has a bye locked up already. They are 9VP ahead of 5th place. They could go two weeks without earning a single VP and at worst be in 4th. ● Other than wins the Twisted Helmets are holding up pretty well as the team with the most points scored against. With just one win they are in 7th place but just 4VP back of the first place team. Ranked third in Central points and 8th overall, your luck has to be pretty darn bad to have just one win. But those solid points have earned them 10VP and are keeping them in contention. ● This week's byes: Arizona, Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee ● Regular Season Games Remaining: | 6 |

League Total Point Rankings Rk Franchise PF 1 Cleantown 793 2 Brookline 747 3 TD's 730 4 IC Lightning 716 5 Cousins Mc 692 6 Frannie's Train 671 7 Syndicate 666 8 Twisted Helmets 666 9 Arnie's Army 658 10 Irish Talbots 658 11 Schleprock 657 12 Archie's 654 13 Dego's R Us 640 14 Park Valley 636 15 Capital 634 16 Bid 66 Bandits 626 17 Smiley's Snipers 623 18 TnT 620 19 Detroit Lions 620 20 Commish East 615 21 JR's Boys 613 22 Little Johnny & Will's 605 23 French River 605 24 Sharks 600 25 H Hammers 596 26 MNE 596 27 T Bones 591 28 Bartertown 591 29 Endzonerz 588 30 Snake & Shake 578 31 Commish West 577 32 Weekend Warriors 567 33 B&B 558 34 Nasty Aggravators 549 35 Midquippa 526 36 The Jolly Roger 515   Average 627

PFFL Defending League Champion Snake & Shake

Welcome to the 20th Season of the PFFL!