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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 12th September, 2006 - 4:16 am
 In the first edition of my weekly Keyboard Quarterback column I have quite a bit to discuss following the NFL?s opening weekend. I will be announcing the winner of our first annual ?Be an NFL GM? contest, as well as highlighting the player whom you all helped select to become RealGM?s 2006 Franchise Player of the Year.
I will also be highlighting the highs and lows from week one in the NFL. Yes, my popular weekly summation from last season will be returning for yet another year of NFL peaks and valleys. My weekly Keyboard Quarterback column will also keep you up-to-date on the fantasy aspect of football, as well as the drama of my many fantasy exploits.
RealGM?s 2006 Franchise Player of the Year
Peyton Manning may still lack a Super Bowl appearance, but on Monday his Hall of Fame resume received a huge boost courtesy of RealGM.com. Manning defeated Reggie Bush in our ?Be an NFL GM? contest finals rather easily, taking 61% of the nearly 700 votes that were cast. He emerged from a field that included three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, and other elite players like LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, and Larry Johnson. I can?t wait to see if Peyton is able to repeat in 2007.
The ?Be an NFL GM? Contest Winner
After receiving nearly 12,000 votes on the site, and hundreds of entries via e-mail you all helped crown Peyton Manning as our franchise player. In doing so, one of you will walk away with an NFL Retro Jersey courtesy of DistantReplays.com (a $300 value). The winner of our contest, and the aforementioned jersey, is Moishie Dachs. Congrats to Moishie, and thank to everyone who helped make the contest a success!
High Three
The Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals opened up their new stadium with a win over San Francisco on Sunday afternoon. For a team that has averaged five wins a year over last four seasons, a win on opening weekend is a step in the right direction. While watching the game I felt as though it was being played somewhere near Saturn, but the game was entertaining nonetheless. With help from Kurt Warner?s 301 yards and three touchdowns and Edgerrin James? 73-yard debut, the Cardinals outlasted the 49ers 34-27.
Peyton?s Colts
In the first-ever Brother Bowl, Peyton and his Indianapolis Colts squeaked past little brother Eli?s New York Giants. Neither Manning brother had a dominating performance, but at least Peyton can say he got the win. In a game that a lot of people felt would be an offensive shootout it disappointed, but my attention was kept by the amount of Manning commercials. Peyton makes fun of himself just as well as he throws the football.
Seattle Gets Branch
The Seahawks nearly fell to the lowly Detroit Lions after they failed to score a touchdown on Sunday, but after it was announced that they had finally wrestled Deion Branch away from New England their future suddenly became more promising. The acquisition will lessen the load placed on the shoulders of Shaun Alexander and will give Matt Hasselbeck another option in the passing game. Darrell Jackson is talented, but he seems to be injured more often than not ? Branch will excel in Seattle.
Low Three
Trent Green & the Chiefs
It was bad enough that Kansas City received a whooping at the hands of Cincinnati Sunday afternoon, but losing Trent Green for the next few weeks doesn?t bode well for Herm Edwards and his Chiefs. That leaves Damon Huard to quarterback Kansas City?s offense, and even though he handled himself nicely in the fourth quarter against the Bengals, playing an entire game at Denver on Sunday will be much more difficult.
Brett Favre
I hate to say I told you so, but alright Brett, ?I told you so.? Last spring I wrote a public letter to Favre pleading with him to hang it up. Now it looks as though he?s going to further tarnish his Hall of Fame resume. Facing the Chicago Bears and their stellar defense in week one, Brett threw two inceptions and was sacked times while being shut out for the first time in his NFL career.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming off of an NFC South title and a playoff run last season, Tampa Bay opened their 2006 campaign with an embarrassing 27-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The loss came at home, and with newcomer Steve McNair running the Baltimore offense. The loss could end up hurting the Buccaneers in the long run in their race to repeat as NFC South champions, as their division includes contenders like Atlanta and Carolina.
My Fantasy Diary
I had been waiting for the 2006 NFL season to start ever since I signed up for one of many fantasy football leagues back in July. I am both proud and embarrassed to admit that I am part of nine leagues. Before you label me as clinically insane and a hermit, let me explain myself.
I am in a league hosted by CBSSportsline.com with a bunch a members from my girlfriend?s family, which is the most competitive and important league that I?m in. I shelled out some cash to join this league, which has been in operation for five years. Another league I?m in is hosted by MyFantasyLeague.com and is comprised of users from TheHuddle.com?s message boards.
Yahoo.com hosts two of my nine leagues, one with old friends from high school and another with other staff members of RealGM. ESPN.com hosts three of my leagues ? one with friends from college, another that I was invited to by another college classmate, and a third which is made up of fellow Indiana Pacer fans. I also joined a Fox Sports public league just to see how they ran things ? already I?m not a fan.
The last league I joined is hosted by RealGM itself, and it?s comprised of eleven readers who were part of the ?Be an NFL GM? contest. They were offered spots in this league, and it should be an exciting season of trash talking and competition.
Week one wasn?t exactly the start I was looking for with my army of fantasy teams. I finished the week with a 3-6 combined record. I lost in the ever-important CBS league. My team, The Drew Crew, suffered a huge setback when starting quarterback Trent Green was carted off the field on a stretcher. Despite an embarrassing loss, The Drew Crew is looking more promising now that Deion Branch finally has a uniform. Branch, who I picked up in the later rounds of our draft, should soon become one of my starting wide receivers next to Larry Fitzgerald.
Fantasy Preview ? Week Two
This weekend should make for a more predictable fantasy experience. Starters are beginning to be established and fantasy performers are separating from the fantasy pretenders. Here?s who I see being the top fantasy performers in week two:
Quarterbacks:
1. Peyton Manning vs. Texans ? Three touchdowns would be a disappointment
2. Tom Brady vs. Jets ? Steady fantasy performer against an iffy defense
3. Carson Palmer vs. Browns ? Any Cincinnati player is a good play this week
4. Marc Bulger vs. 49ers ? Will blow up against the lowly 49ers
5. Steve McNair vs. Raiders ? If he can excel against Tampa Bay?
6. Kurt Warner vs. Seahawks ? Second coming of the Greatest Show on Turf?
7. Matt Hasselbeck vs. Cardinals ? In a shootout with Warner at home
8. Donovan McNabb vs. Giants ? It won?t be easy but he looks like he?s back
Running Backs:
1. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Titans ? The NFL?s only triple threat on offense
2. Rudi Johnson vs. Browns ? Can you say fantasy gold mine?
3. Larry Johnson vs. Broncos ? No Trent Green? Run, run, and run
4. Steven Jackson vs. 49ers ? As long as Bulger shares the love, he?ll excel
5. Shaun Alexander vs. Cardinals ? He can?t play like he did again?
6. Ronnie Brown vs. Bills ? He may not rack up yards, but he?ll find the end zone
7. Willie Parker vs. Jaguars ? Great opener, can he keep the Steelers rolling?
8. Reggie Bush vs. Packers ? It may not all be on the ground, but he?ll get you 100 yards
Wide Receivers:
1. Torry Holt vs. 49ers ? Given the opponent, it could be his best game of the season
2. Marvin Harrison vs. Texans ? See above
3. Chad Johnson vs. Browns ? Assuming Carson continues to improve?
4. Larry Fitzgerald vs. Seahawks ? Most underrated fantasy wide-out
5. Terrell Owens vs. Redskins ? Clicked with Bledsoe, and he?s on prime time this week
6. Reggie Wayne vs. Texans ? Peyton will spread the love against Houston
7. Chris Chambers vs. Bills ? He?ll produce, just give him time to gel with Daunte
8. Steve Smith vs. Minnesota ? If he?s back on the field, look out? |
