First off, I hope everybody is doing well after the events of the last couple of weeks. If you've visited the web site, I have replaced that stick-football animated gif with an American Flag. The flag will remain for the foreseeable future. The web address id http://swffl.50megs.com , the old one with users2 and ksmalley does not work any more, please update your favorites or bookmarks accordingly. If you need help with this, give me a call, I can talk you through it. Also I have decided after polling a couple of owners to continue our schedule as it was. So these are Week 3 notes using Week 3's schedule. We will have a Week 18 using Week 2's schedule. Unfortunately the NFL has decided to call this past weekend Week 2 (which means all those pre-printed schedules, pools - not to mention Fantasy Football League schedules out there will now be off a week). I am not interested in following the NFL in this mistake, so next week in our league is Week 4 - regardless of what the NFL calls it.

    The M. Takers and Hammer Heads square off in hopes of notching their first "W" of the year. A 1-2 record is a difficult enough hurdle to overcome, 0-3 might take a miracle. The Good Fellas will try to continue their winning ways against a Bean team that would be 2-0 with just a small bit of help from the scheduling Gods. The Dream team and Black Revenge will square off in a battle of the undefeated. The Defending Champion's will try to reclaim first place from a Team, that if nothing else - has been there before. The Sharks and Black & Blue both bounced back from disappointing Week 1 performances. The question for both teams will be was Week 1 the norm or Week 3. The Bull Dogs will try to avoid the big 0-3 against a Quiet Storm team that is bound to be fired up after their disappointing performance in Week 3.

    Spock will begin the defense of the Oddsmakers this week, as defending champ he gets top billing and his lines appear above. Norm's lines for Week 4 are:

MT  -3 HH (78)     S -3 BB (90)
JB  -1 GF (91)    BD -4 QS (84)
DT  -7 BR (99)

    There were 2 games that were technically over by Sunday night. One was more or less over. Two other two games were still in doubt.

    The Dream Takers and Rod Smith went into Sunday night down by 3 to the M. Takers and Jason Elam. Elam widened the lead early with 3 FG's. Then the Rod Smith show took over. Rod notched a 24 and kept the Dream team in first place. The Dream Team got good performances out of Warner and Smith and nothing elsewhere (2/3 of WR's didn't finish their games). The Takers have put up OK numbers, but just can't get over the hump.

    The Jelly Beans bounced back form that heart-breaking los in Week 1 to defeat the Quiet Storm with Ahman Green still lacing up his cleats. The Beans were led by Griese who seems to be Mr. Consistency so far. After 2 weeks it looks like the Storm's fate may rest on the arm and legs of Aaron Brooks.

    The defending Champion Black revenge and Bill Scroeder took a 35 point lead into Monday night against the Sharks, Favre and Stephen Davis. Even in Favre's hay-days 35 points would be too much to overvcome. The Revenge remain undefeated and the Sharks are looking for someone to step up and fiil in for Candy-Bone Fred Taylor. Not sure when it happened, but Taylor has most definitely wrested the Candy-Bone championship from Robert Smith.

    The Good Fellas and an 11 point lead were to much for the Hammer Heads and Freeman to overcome on Monday night. The Fellas are still undefeated in their inaugural season. The Hammer Heads made it close with a gutsy Olandis Gary start. Hard to see him getting much time, but the Broncos seem to be giving the TDs to the number 2 RB on the depth chart so far.

    The "Game of the Week" honors go to the contest between the Black & Blue Attack and the Bulldogs. For the second straight week we have a shootout that is decided on Monday night. That is really the only "GOW" criteria this early. Later standings positions become more important. The Attack and Longwell easily overcame a 1 point lead against the Bull Dogs and Westbrook. The fact That it was even that close after Manning exploded is a testament to the coaching staff of the Bull Dogs or the lack of support on the Black & Blue (take your choice). Manning had a monster day coming close to a record with 50 points. The Attack go a couple of more points at receiver but their running game got shutout. The Bull Dogs kept picking away at the lead and on Sunday night actually emerged ahead by 1 point. Unfortunately for the Dogs Westbrook was not able to duplicate the Rod Smith vs. Elam performance on Sunday night.

CHATTERBOX:(Get Quotes in by Monday Night)
Dream Team (Norm): "I'd rather die standing than to live on my knees. God Bless America. P.S.: Joe Smith, so much for that average Wide Receiver."
Bull Dogs (John): "I was Payton-ized. Bull Dogs looking forward to net year. Please not 10th pick."

BEST & WORST OF WEEK 3

MVP: Payton Manning (50) Black & Blue Best on Bench: Grbac, Morton, Wilkins (12) MT,HH & BR   Low Scorers: Quiet Storm (14) Coaching Efficiency: High: MT, JB, GF, S (100%) Low: Quiet Storm (52%)

Top Rostered Players By Position (All points included)
QB - Manning(62),Griese(45),McNabb(41),Warner(39)
RB - Green(50),James(32),J. Anderson,L. Smith(26)
WR - R. Smith(36),Harrison(30),Trash(27),J. Smith,Schroeder(21)
PK - Janikowski(30),Elam(21),Wilkins(20),Akers(18)
ST - DOLPHINS,RAIDERS(9),TITANS,CHARGERS,CHIEFS(7)