One day, the senior partner decided he wanted his son to be named a partner as well. He had very little experience, and really didn't have what it took to be a high priced trial lawyer. But the senior partner was blinded by the love of the father. He put his son in charge of daily operations. Soon there were numerous problems surfacing. There were cases being mismanaged. The wrong lawyers were assigned to the wrong cases. Even the plan for how to run the trial was wrong. The firm's reputation began to take a beating. They lost some big cases. They no longer were getting the attention or accolades they were before. As a result, the firm started to have problems landing the best law students. They lost clients. They started losing money.
Finally the firm decided to fire the son. The senior partner got very angry. He took it as a personal attack. The great man also began to lose it - just a little bit at first. He wasn't able to win the big cases much any more. New technological advances were largely ignored. The firm started hemorrhaging clients, money, and lawyers. They still had their name. But the firm itself was slipping badly. The senior partner continued to cast his long shadow over the entire place, even though he had no idea what was going on. He didn't even recognize most of the lawyers working there - having handed over the daily operations to the junior partners. But he still insisted on determining the direction of the firm. And he still took the lead on big cases. Well, he at least looked like he had the lead. Truth is, he sat at the table most of the time and let everyone else do the heavy lifting.
The firm was in trouble. They were having trouble having enough lawyers to meet their case load. They got passed by several other firms in town. As a result, the firm just got content taking mid-level cases. They barely won as many trials as they lost. The old man got worse and worse. He had built the firm, but his hanging around was strangling it now. They had one large case. He stepped up his involvement and took a large role in the preparation and arguments. But in the press interviews after the case, he didn't remember who said what or when. He couldn't remember how the arguments had gone over. He knew they had lost, but didn't seem to understand why or how. He had been a legend. But he was now a liability - only no one had the nerve to tell the man. And, honestly, no one really knew what to do.
See, when you take his name off and change it to a law firm, it is pretty clear what is happening to FSU and Bowden.
FOOTBALL THOUGHTS:
- Bill Belichick is catching a lot of grief for his playcalling at the end of the Indy game on Sunday night. You've got the mainline sports guys wailing about how crappy the call was, how it showed no trust in his defense, how he was being arrogant. Then you have the more "troublemaking" sports guys defending it - saying it was gutsy and if they had gotten the two yards he would be hailed as a genius. Personally, I don't give a crap. You could make a case either way. We all have seen Peyton in the "no way I'm losing this game" mode before. He is going to score on your butt no matter what you do. Ask Miami from earlier this year. He was in that mode. And the Pats' D was sucking eggs. If they had wanted respect, maybe they should have stopped Manning. On the other hand, you're at the 28. That's playing with fire. I think Bill made the right call, but called the wrong play. It should have been a little longer to guarantee the first down. Faulk wasn't at the marker, even if he caught it.
- The Gators and the Saints are going through a similar issue right now. Both teams are winning, but they are winning ugly. So everyone assumes that they aren't really that good. They get seduced by TCU and Boise State whipping up on Idaho and Portland State and Guadalupe School for Boys. So suddenly these undefeated teams lose respect. UF is 10-0, with an undefeated SEC record. That is freaking hard. Same thing for Bama and Texas. Going undefeated in the NCAA is hard - especially in the tough conferences. Just ask the Pac 10 - any time anyone gets close, they lose some dumb butt game. The same for the NFL. So the Saints have won some close games. But they won, and they are resilient. They won games they would have lost in other years. So does that mean they are overrated? Or is it that year when everything seems to fall in place?
- You know I have to do it. UCF! UCF! They won a game I was sure they would lose. You put a number in front of a team's name and that is kryptonite to most smaller schools. I was really happy they pulled it off. I wasn't so happy with them nearly giving up their 17 point lead. They were up 37-20 with 8:30 left. The final was 37-32. I saw the 37-20 score and started saying how exciting it was they would win. Heather looked at me and goes, "Don't jinx it." That's a UCF family right there. I joked they gave O'Leary a contract extension after the game. Then I realized that was very very sad because it could be true.
- I have consistently underestimated the Bengals all year. In my survival league, I got knocked out by back to back Bengals bungles. And, even though I have their D in the SFL, they ride my bench. I guess I should start realizing they may actually be good.
- USC is just one of those teams that I love seeing get tripped up. They need a good come-uppance. And this year was one heck of one.
- Have you looked at the BCS Standings? In the top 10, there are 3 SEC teams, 2 Big East, 1 ACC, 1 Big 12, 1 Big 10, 1 WAC, 1 Mountain West. No PAC 10. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before. It's also funny how everyone a few years ago was trying to strip the Big East of their BCS spot - saying they had no chance to field competitive teams.
SFL WEEK 10 RECAP:
- Week 10 went against the grain this week, with a complete lack of close matchups. The games were decided by 14, 22, 22, 27, and 92 points. With the exception of Monkey vs Gator Greats, the higher ranked team won each game. It was a pretty rare week for the SFL.
- 92 points. Yes, Tally Noles beat Tampa Bay Rams by 92 points. Noles finally had a huge week when his opponent didn't have a bigger week. Huge performances by Peyton Manning, Sidney Rice, Reggie Bush, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai - and the Non Active Dwayne Bowe. The Rams, on the other hand, have Drew Brees. That's all.
- The closest matchup all day was between the 8-2 Stickboy and 2-8 Steelas. The Human Bye Week gave Stickman all he could handle. Here's the thing to think about. Steelas has Darren Sproles riding his pine every week, while he starts the inactive Anthony Gonzalez. How many games could he have won if he made that one change?
- Gator Greats had to win that game and he did. Monkey seems to be impersonating the New York Giants, losing four in a row. They now are in a tie, with the points scored breaking the tie. It is hard to tell why Monkey is struggling so badly. His point scored is fine - 4th in the league. It just seems to be a run of bad luck - injuries and by weeks and such.
- Bad Counsel continued his strong run of late, beating up on Da Bus. BusDriver is probably out of the playoff hunt at this point. Even though he is only two games out, his low point total is going to keep him from winning any tiebreakers. Counsel, on the other hand, has gotten into a tie for 3rd with Ugly Consequences. This is good for him - he doesn't want to end up tied for 4th with anyone (like Tally Noles). His relatively low point total will also hurt him in a tie.
- It was pretty scary for a while for SFL leader Bloodthirsty Ferrets against Ugly Consequences. Ugly was winning up to the Sunday night game, when Tom Brady helped push the Ferrets ahead for good. Ferrets is like the New Orleans Saints of the SFL. His team is really not that impressive and he doesn't win big often. He just happens to luck out and play teams on their down week. Consequences was tearing through the SFL for the last month. This week he only scored 99 points. Lucky Ferret.
SFL WEEK 11 PREVIEW:
- Trade Deadline is Friday. Just letting you know.
- Instead of doing my traditional preview, I wanted to look at the playoff race and see how the teams are set up for a potential playoff run. Going 12-1 in the regular season is hardly a guarantee of postseason success. Let me explain. Bloodthirsty Ferrets one year went through the regular season undefeated. 15-0. It was something to behold. This was back when the Kansas City Chiefs were one of the powers of the NFL. Well, Ferrets had stocked their team with Chiefs. Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez, Dante Hall, Johnnie Morton. Then Holmes got dinged up, and the Chiefs rested their starters on the way to the real playoffs. What happened? Ferrets got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. So, there is a difference. How will your team do in weeks 16 and 17? Let's look.
- Bloodthirsty Ferrets - Currently 1st place (9-1) - Late Term Dangers: Tom Brady -- The team is surprisingly well built for the long haul. Brady is the only player whose team will have wrapped up the division early. But Ferrets also has Big Ben on the big bench. The Steelers are in a dogfight with the Bengals, so they won't let up at all. Ferrets also has big players from the Packers, Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins, Panthers. They all should be playing hard - trying to get into the playoffs. No players from potential tanking teams either. Playoff Strength: Very Good
- Stickboy - Currently 2nd place (8-2) - Late Term Dangers: Pierre Thomas -- Another strongly built team. The biggest positions are filled with teams making a late season surge (Titans, Jaguars) or who are stumbling and trying to stay afloat (Packers, Giants, Eagles). Only one tanking player - Terrell Owens - who is usually parked on the bench anyway. Playoff Strength: Very Good
- Ugly Consequences - Currently 3rd place (6-4) - Late Term Dangers: Minny's D, Calvin Johnson -- There are a couple of question marks here, but mostly the team is just as well built as the top two. It is doubtful the Bengals, Chargers, Cardinals, or Broncos will wrap up anything too early. The Falcons, Cowboys, Texans, Ravens are all fighting for spots. Minny will wrap up the North soon, but their Defense won't stop playing. Biggest question is Calvin Johnson. Will the Lions tank at the end to improve draft spot? Or is that dangerous to a team with a legacy of losing? Playoff Strength: Very Good
- BadCounsel - Currently 4th place (6-4) - Late Term Dangers: Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Joshua Cribbs, Danny Amendola, N.O. D -- Bad Counsel is in the classic quandary. He has some great players he wants to start. But he has a ton of players on teams with a huge division lead, or who will be tanking for the draft. Favre will be playing limited action toward the end, probably, to save him from injuries. (Backup Kurt Warner is strong, though.) Randy Moss will probably sit out week 17. New Orleans D is in the same boat as Minnesota's - can't stop playing, won't play as hard. Several players on the Browns, Rams are warning signs. Most of his backups are a pretty big dropoff from the starters. Playoff Strength: A Little Scary
- Tally Noles - Currently 5th place (5-5) - Late Term Dangers: Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Sidney Rice, Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, Kevin Smith -- Tally Noles has the single player that makes this though process even necessary. Peyton Manning. He has killed more fantasy teams in the playoffs than anyone. The Colts shoot out to a huge undefeated record. Then he plays in weeks 13-17, but he doesn't play much. The drop off from Manning to Orton? ENORMOUS. Manning can win you games alone. In addition, the lineup is peppered with Colts, Vikes, Saints. And he even has a Lion, Chief, and Raider to hit the tankers too. Wow. Playoff Strength: Very Scary
- Monkey - Currently 6th place (4-6) - Late Term Dangers: Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Mike Bell, Patriots D -- Monkey is smart about building his team. He has won the SFL twice by avoiding the late season swoon. This year is pretty similar. Aside from a Saint and the Pats D (same as Vikes and Saints), Monkey is in good shape. His dangers are in Westbrook - who always gets injured late in the year (and is now) and Romo - who always sucks at the end of the year (and is now). No QB backup means that Monkey is hoping Romo shakes his late season trip to suckville. Playoff Strength: Good
- Gator Greats - Currently 7th place (4-6) - Late Term Dangers: Percy Harvin, Jamaal Charles, Fred Jackson, Steven Jackson, Jay Cutler -- Gators has been personally responsible for picking off the Ferrets late in the year on several trips to the playoffs. This year, though, Gators has more warning lights than usual. Harvin is on a Vikings team that will probably let up a little in December. He also has several draft pick tankers from the Chiefs, Rams, Bills. And he has Jay Cutler on his bench, who seems to be going crazy as the season goes on. Playoff Strength: A Little Scary
- Da Bus - Currently 8th place (4-6) - Late Term Dangers: Donovan McNabb, Marques Colston, Tomlinson, Marshawn Lynch, Kellen Winslow, Donald Brown -- Da Bus is peppered with players whose teams will be taking it easy (Colston, Brown), trying for top picks (Lynch, Winslow), getting hurt (Tomlinson), or choking in big games (McNabb). He is on the outside of playoff possibility anyway, but if he did make it, he would probably leave quickly. Playoff Strength: Very Scary
- Steelas - Currently 9th place (2-8) - Late Term Dangers: Wes Welker, Adrian Peterson, Dallas Clark, Matt Cassel, Visanthe Shiancoe -- At 2-8, playoff strength is irrelevant. If we are trying to decide who will finish last, then this becomes relevant. Steelas is great shape to tank at the end of the year. The players propping their team up won't be playing at the end (Welker, Peterson, Clark). And the team routinely starts a player who is out for the year. Cellar Strength: Very Good
- Tampa Bay Rams - Currently 10th place (2-8) - Late Term Dangers: Drew Brees, Pierre Garcon, Devery Henderson -- The Rams were built to finish the job. Once Drew Brees starts sitting out the second half, the Rams have no one to generate points. Cellar Strength: Excellent
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