Week 10 - Crunch Time!
Week 9 Recap
Let the clusterfuck continue! 11 of 12 teams are hovering between 4 and 6 wins, while the 12th team is only two games out of their division lead with 4 weeks left. Week 9 saw a monumental record being broken - in the Week 9 Game of the Week, the 4th-ranked C-Men took down the all-time AldenLeague record for fewest points scored in a single week with 50.37 . To put that into perspective, #1-L.A. Ninjas QB Jay Cutler has eclipsed that record already in a single game this season. Twice. In a matchup of two teams seemingly heading in opposite directions, Fireseed posted the high score in the league for the second time in three weeks with a 74-point victory over #7 Boys of Summer, who dropped their third straight. Ice Cold Bruschi's won their second AldenLeague contest in a span of three weeks by dropping #5 Syn City. #3 Andy's Team continued their Red Hot streak by topping Karate Xplosion to match the best record in the league at 6-3. Their Ithaca College counterparts, however, #6 The Skyns, dropped their third in a row in a loss to #2 CheektoWojo who, despite the victory, fell to second place in the AldenLeague total points race. The BountyHunters lost their fourth game in five weeks, losing to top-ranked L.A. Ninjas.
Week 10 Power Rankings
Team (Pvs Week) - Voting Pts
1. L.A. Ninjas (1) - 32
2. Andy's Red Hots (3) - 25
3. CheektoWojo (2) - 24
4. Los Petates Mexicanos (7) - 21
5. Syn City (5) - 13
6. The Skyns (6) - 12
7. Boys of Summer (8) - 7
8. Fireseed (NR) - 6
Meet an AldenLeague Member - Andrew Morrish
The first of a new series aimed at helping the members of AldenLeague re-acquaint themselves with each other. The first installment features an opportunity I had to sit down and chat with Andy Morrish, owner of Andy's Red Hots, a prominent team in the league since 2002. An AHS Graduate of 2001 (with The Skyns owner Mike Hoskyns and former Mayumi owner Brian Fix), Andy also serves as our fearless Webmaster of the AldenLeague.com website. The Red Hots were Central Division Champions in 2004 and 2006.
AL: So, Andy, where are you living and what are you up to these days?
AM: I'm living in Brooklyn, and working for Focus Features. Boooooooring. And I try to watch every Sabres game, which gets expensive.
AL: What is your favorite non-fantasy football AldenLeague memory?
AM: That night we went to Puzan's house to watch the Sabres after the End of the Year Banquet was fun. It was the best Banquet I've been able to attend...but that night didn't end up with Justin doing the shots of Gushers and ranch salad dressing. And then painting a picture while Chris was making out with that girl on the couch. Anyway, End of the Year Banquets are the best. Oh! I forgot about the Toronto trip to the Paul Oakenfold show after the Thanksgiving Extravaganza. Sea of Asians. Sea of Asians/Shots of Ranch.
AL: Without looking, name the current NFL leaders in passing, rushing, and receiving yards.
AM: Hmm, that's tough. Drew Brees, Clinton Portis and um, Eddie Royal?
AL: Brees and Portis are right, but Andre Johnson leads in receiving.
AM: Right. That makes sense. Andre Johnson, never would have got that one. I was banking on the 164-yard game for Royal...
AL: What is your greatest victory in AldenLeague?
AM: Beating Adam by 0.32 or whatever a few years back, at the time the closest game in AldenLeague history. I can't really remember the specifics, but that was an important divisional game, and led to my division crown that year. Also set the tone for our rivalry.
AL: Other than your own team, pick a team to win the Fantasy Bowl this year.
AM: Adam Wojnowski (CheektoWojo). He always picks up his play in the playoffs. And he cheats.
AL: What undeserving players do you have an irrational love for, and why? Past or present.
AM: I guess I still love Reuben Droughns. And BJ Sams. And Morten Anderson. They were all members of the same team that overachieved once Priest Holmes got injured. That team was probably my best shot at winning it all.
AL: Andy's Red Hots - AldenLeague Champion. To make this title the sweetest, who would you have beaten in the Fantasy Bowl?
AM: Wow, it would be sweet enough on its own. But, I guess that if that victory came against a Wojnowski, a Hartman, or an Eric(k) then it would be sweetest. I'd feel bad about beating Skyns.
AL: Well, thank you for your time, Andy. Any parting words for the league?
AM: I look forward to everyone else doing their interviews.
AL: ...really? That's your parting shot?
AM: Oh. And get ready for a Red Hot Winter - global warming is coming early this year!
Transaction Watch
The BountyHunters picked up QB Rex Grossman following the injury to QB Kyle Orton, but early indications this week suggest that Orton may be up for playing this week after all. To continue in the wasted ACQ department, Fireseed added rookie RB Ryan Torain, who played an excellent first half during the Thursday game before leaving the game with an injury. Indications show that he may be out for the season. Recently-improved QB Chad Pennington changed hands as he went with WR Torry Holt from Fireseed to C-Men ownership, in exchange for WR Greg Jennings and RB Correll Buckhalter. Finally, what would a week be without a trade between the Hartman brothers? Calvin Johnson moves from Boys of Summer to L.A. Ninjas with RB Selvin Young in exchange for WRs Santonio Holmes, Donald Driver, and QB Sage Rosenfels, who could be starting for up to a month in place of the injured Matt Shaub. Karate Xplosion also dropped benched J.T. O'Sullivan in favor of Miami WR/KR Ted Ginn, Jr.
Week 10 Game of the Week: #2 Andy's Red Hots (6-3) vs. #8 Fireseed (4-5)
A matchup of two of the hottest teams in AldenLeague. After a slow start due to the loss of QB Tom Brady, the Red Hots have won five of their last six games, including the last three in a row. After losing four in a row, Fireseed has turned their own fortunes around by winning two of the last three, posting the highest score in AldenLeague in both those victories. The Red Hots are looking closely at the Jets/Rams game this week, as it features QB Marc Bulger, WR Laveraneus Coles, and RB/KR Leon Washington. With WR/KR Dante' Hall being placed on IR, the team will look to WR Wes Welker to step into the starter's role in the Pats' matchup against a depleted Buffalo Bills secondary. Also key to their Week 9 victory was TE Owen Daniels, who had a career high 133 yards receiving. Daniels's Texans take on Baltimore's tough defense this week. Key to the Red Hots' success, however, will be the success of QB Eli Manning. Manning, acquired midseason to help the hole at QB, has been big for Andy's team thusfar, but playing in Philadelphia isn't the best of circumstances. This has been an unusual season for Team Fireseed. Despite having the third highest points total, the team finds themselves at 4-5, and were long plagued by inconsistency at the RB position, due to largely to the disappointing season of RB Joseph Addai. However, rookie Chris Johnson and veteran Thomas Jones have stepped up of late, and the emergence of rookie WR Eddie Royal and the return of injured WR Anquan Boldin will help their chances. Fireseed will also have an eye peeled to Philadelphia, where QB Donovan McNabb has been a consistent performer in the matchup against the Giants of New Jersey.
