Week 11 review

With help from RB Charles KC's 97-yard kickoff return, Henry was able to post the season's first tie, 34-34, against the Brawlers. In the matchup of the week for Week 12, Newt (8-3) could clinch a share of the Cosell Division title with a victory over the second place Sharks (6-5). The Madden Division? Who knows. Time to breakout the tiebreakers?

Combining and Around the League entry. Enjoy this missive from Barrels owner Chris Traczek:

"This game was a textbook example of how fantasy football can be so exciting--and infuriating.

I went into Monday's game with a 42-32 lead with DJ having kicker Kris Brown on tap for the Texans. I was feeling pretty confident as the teams went to the half tied 14-14. I was still OK when Brown kicked a 25-yard FG to draw DJ within 42-37 in the third quarter. That's when it got exciting/ulcer-inducing. I let out a whoop when Brown missed a 48-yard FG in third quarter, but then watched in horror as the Texans lined up for a 49-yarder with 6 seconds left. Imagine my joy (and DJ's disgust) as that potential game-tying kick (both in reality and in Finksland) sailed wide left, gifting me the victory, and eliminating the chance that Brown would kick a game-winning FG (again, in realty and Finksland) in overtime.

And now, the rest of the (infuriating) story. DJ has to be despondent not only at Brown's misses, but also knowing that if he had started Robbie Gould on Sunday night against the Eagles, he would have totaled 16 additional points and wrapped up the win without having to worry about Monday's game. If DJ had started Gould, I, on the other hand, would have been the one on suicide watch as I wondered why I didn't start Carson Palmer, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson and Lawrence Tynes, who combined for 22 more points this week than McNabb, Jacobs, Marshall and Graham posted.

You see, exciting--and infuriating."

Thursday lineups and a Vegas trip

Thanks for a lively debate on the issue of handing in partial Thursday lineups. There seems to be enough interested owners that would like to send partial lineups on Thursdays. I believe it will be time for another vote on the matter in the offseason.

I did not find as many people interested in taking the Finks League on an all-Web site such as Yahoo or FoxSports. I could still use more input from existing owners that use these sites in their other leagues.

There is one thing we can seem to all agree on. The nine Chicagoland owners would love to fly to Vegas and party with Posse owner Matt Simo, who already lives out there. Last time I was in Vegas, Matt came out to see me in my hotel room. I think DJ Wanberg suggested the Bellagio. It would be cool. It's fantasy football, and perhaps fantasy life. Future Finks League owners meetings at the Bellagio while I'm fantasizing.

Here are some memorable comments on the Thursday lineup debate:

Sharks' Wanberg:
"I don't remember if this has been proposed before or not. But I think a rule change for next season is to allow teams to announce only the players that are playing on Thursday and Saturday and announce the rest of the lineup on Sunday."

Serkus' Goff: 
"Klatt proposed that before and you know what happened to him....just kidding. Actually I mentioned this last year. It does seem to penalize a team that may have one guy going tonight, but who may then learn on Sat. that a player at a different position is being scratched...but you can't do anything about it."

Posse's Simo:
"I third this motion and am not really sure what the big deal is about not allowing people to turn in the rest of their lineups later.  The key point is that they can't change a guy who has already played for them, right?  I'm in a Yahoo league that lets you do this, so why can't we do it this way?"

Week 10 Around the league

From Serkus: "I actually sold myself - and Romo -- short a couple points. The Cowboys offense was horrible all night - very few first downs and very few yards...but somehow Romo got to 251 yards and had the late TD, so I guess he earned me 8 points, not 6...so as of now I should have a 28-26 lead on Joanna. Point will be moot if McGahee does anything against the bad Browns."

Week 10 review

The Week 10 matchup of the week between the Posse (5-5) and first place Serkus (6-4) should help clear up the playoff picture in the Madden Division. Newt continues to forge ahead in the Cosell Division with a one game lead over the Sharks. Congrats to the Barrels, who snapped a four-game losing streak in Week 10.

Do the Bears get a free pass?

From the fans, that is. I would be curious to hear from the couple of Bears season ticket holders in our little Finks army. Why do the Bears deserve so much support from this city? There was a time when I was kid in this town that I wondered why Chicago did not have an AFC team. When I read more about Halas, Bears history and the McCaskey family, I realized that would never happen. They've got the dynasty in this town and would never be willing to share it.

I guess like any other team, you learn to take the good and the bad. Currently, it's bad and I don't know when it will get better. Just a few years ago, it must have been pretty good. Because the Bears are the only show in town, I guess they can do no wrong. No matter how poorly the organization is run, Soldier Field will always sell out and sports talk radio stations are constantly hoping for "Civic Pride Mondays" to feed their ratings. I've got to be realistic and learn that the Bears will never become the Jaguars, who are unable to fill their stadium due to a poor economy and no playoff appearances. Most JAX games are not sold out, and thus blacked out in eastern Florida.

At least the jokes are starting to roll in for the Bad News Bears. My extended buddies out there don't know whether I am a Bears fan or not. (I'm not.) But I guess everybody on a contact list is starting to get these:

COURT RULING
Chicago Illinois, 11/09/2009 
(AP)

A seven year old boy was at the center of a Chicago courtroom drama today when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with the child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat  him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.  
   
When the judge suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the Judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.  
   
After two recesses to check legal references and confer child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Chicago Bears, who the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

Week 9 review

Newt holds on to first place in the Cosell Division, the Barrels have lost four in a row in the Madden Division, and other than that the rest of us can't figure out who we are. Is this the season where two to three tiebreakers will be needed to determine playoff teams? I left the tiebreaker chart on the old Tripod Finks Web site, but will soon get it back and post it somewhere on the new Web site.

How are you guys enjoying the new Web site? Anyways, the new rash of Thursday NFL games should make things very interesting. It forces owners to send in a lineup long in advance of Sunday games if you are using a Thursday player. Former Finks owner Paul Klatt tried to pull an end-round by wanting to just give his opponent one name for a Thursday game and then send the rest of his lineup later, but I didn't think that was fair to his opponent. Injury reports are bogus now days, but it's going to be even more important to stay on top of injury news earlier in the week now.

At least with our new AT&T U-verse, my wife and I have the NFL Network. That was not the case with Comcast.

The mystery of Power Polls

It seems like everyone who covers the NFL has a Power Poll. When did these things start popping up? It must have been a product of the internet craze. I found at least three sports Web sites that have NFL Power Polls. I'm sure there are more, but I didn't have the patience to seek them out. When I have more time, I should compare them side by side. I found:

Sporting News

FOXSports.com

ProFootballTalk/NBC

I bring this up because all three polls have the Saints ranked No. 1. Since Power Polls have only been around for perhaps the last 10 years, this is the first time I can recall the Saints ever being No. 1. I go back to following the Jim Finks Saints of Bobby Hebert, Eric Martin, Dalton Hilliard, Morton Andersen and even the Dome Patrol defense of Rickey Jackson, Vaughn Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling.The Who Dats are one win away from equaling their best start in franchise history, which last occurred in 1991 when we didn't have the internet or Power Polls. I don't think Power Polls are necessary. Aren't they just a listing of the standings in reverse order? No one truly knows if the Saints or Colts deserve to be 1-2 until they play each other, which won't happen in the regular season so it's possible that will be determined in the Super Bowl. The Saints' next big game is hosting the Patriots on MNF later this month. Beating the Falcons was big and N.O. doesn't play Atlanta again until after the Pats game.

If you're looking for a Finks League Power Poll, go ahead and assume that 6-2 Newt is at the top of the list. After that, I can make a list like these guys, but it would just a guess wouldn't it?

Week 8 review

In another round of crossover games, the Cosell Division trumped the Maddens 4-1. The Posse were the only Madden winners with a 41-27 victory over the Sharks. Week 9 is the last of the midseason crossovers. There is one more week left, Week 13, before the end of the regular season.

Behind Week 8 MVP RB C. Johnson TEN and QB P. Manning IND, Newt is taking over control of the Cosell Division with a sparkling 6-2 record.