FFL TEAM STANDINGS

FINAL RANK TEAM

1.                Grovertown Rams

2.                Crawford Lame Ducks

3.                Michiana Mud Hens

4.                Lake Shore Bombers

5.                Asian Mafia

6.                Marcellus Marauders

7.                Main Street P-Hunters

8.                Purgatory Fighting Pacifists

9.                Birmingham Ballbashers

10.              Offshore Bucknuts

11.              Flowerfield Flashes

12.              Bair Lake Fighting Cowboys

13.              Hicktown Heroes

14.              Dallas Texans

15.              Cass County Wiley Coyotes

16.              Elkhart Cardinals

TIDY BOWL XVII:                                                Consolation game:

Grovertown 47 (77%), Crawford 26 (42%)               Michiana 40 (77%), Lake Shore 36 (86%)

(coaching efficiency listed in parentheses)

Announcements:

            In week #17, it’s all about the coaching.

            After holding the Tidy Bowl on week #16 for two years, the league returned to the old format of holding the championship on the final week of the NFL regular season.  This presents a host of unique challenges for fantasy coaches, as they must determine which of their stud players will be warming the bench, and which of the usual backups will suddenly have a substantial impact.  When one misjudges such things, they are sometimes alarmed to discover that their two reserve players have unexpectedly outscored the combined total of all the starters.

            And that was precisely the situation with the Crawford Lame Ducks, as the potential winning points were racked up by the two players who were riding the pine, waiting for an opportunity that never came.  Thus the Grovertown Rams (who, ironically, had vehemently argued against the 17-week format) were able to sustain their margin of victory (despite scoring their fewest points since week #9) and to claim their second Tidy Bowl trophy.  The Rams have now appeared in five of the last seven Tidy Bowls, with their first title having come in 2003 against Flowerfield.

            Early reports out of Grovertown described the residents as being “cautiously enthusiastic” about the return of the trophy to their podunk little town.

            Meanwhile, the Michiana Mud Hens were victorious in a tightly-fought affair against the Lake Shore Bombers for the third-place prize.

            Thanks to everyone for another terrific season!  Watch your email for the time and place of the award presentation, and get ready to do this all again in the fall.  Have a happy and safe New Year!!!

TRANSACTIONS:

MICHIANA MUD HENS – Signed Fred Jackson (RB), $17.  Released J.J. Arrington (RB).

GROVERTOWN RAMS – Signed Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), $1.  Placed P.J. Pope (RB) on injured reserve.