Week 9 finds every team within a couple of games of the Elite. Even first place is still in play for most teams Check those BYE WEEKS when making up your lineup. I have added a Free Agent List to the web site (will not include transactions during the week). I have also changed the NFL NewsFeed to ESPN. Send me any Comments on either.

  If you need me to mail the Notes, give me a call, I think we can avoid the postage, one way or another, if not I will mail you a copy of the notes. It is cheaper and also much quicker to go electronic. The league's url is http://swffl.50megs.com .

Key Matchups to watch this Week

  The M. Takers meet the Jelly Beans in rematch of a Week 1 shootout that sent both teams on different paths. The Quiet Storm will try to exact some revenge for their week 1 loss to the Black & Blue Attack. The Attack would like to stay near that top spot. The Good Fellas will try to complete the season sweep against the Sharks. Both teams are hanging around the Elite Line. The Dream Team will try to avenge their week 1 drubbing by the Bull Dogs. The Black Revenge and Body Shop meet in the final game. The Revenge squeaked out the 'W' in week 1.

  Norm (my estimates) was 5/5 this week and is 25/40 (63%) on the season. He retains top billing (my estimates). Spock was 2/5 this week and is 19/40 (48%) on the season. His locks are below:

  One game was over on Sunday. Another 2 were pretty much over. The final 2 were still up in the air.

  The Dream Team defeated the Quiet Storm on Sunday. The Dream Team was led by Trent Green (who finally seems to have come around) and Michael Pittman (who was an 11th hour replacement for Duce Staley). The Storm was led by Anthony Thomas and the RAVENs. A Hassleback start would have made it closer, but the Storm still would have lost.

  The Jelly Beans scored a helmet in their win over the Bull Dogs. The Beans were led by Plummer and Vinatieri who both were tossing TDs. Brees led the Bull Dogs in defeat. The Beans have been a weekly regular at or near the top of the standings. The Dogs started strong but have now lost 3 in a row and they are starting to falter.

  The Sharks, Manning and an 8 point lead were too much for the Black Revenge, James and Stokley. The Sharks were led by a strong running game on Sunday. The Revenge got a few points from many places, but they need some slots with more than a few points and did not get that. Balanced scoring is OK as long as they are all balanced in at least double digits.

  The M. Takers, Bennett, Campbell, Robinson and the VIKINGS were not enough to overcome Body Shop's 25 point lead on Monday night. In this 'Battle for the Basement' the Shop was led by Bulger and Santana Moss. The Takers were led by Big Ben and Elam. The Shop left a lot of points on the bench. The Takers have far too many VIKINGS in their lineup and on their roster.

  The "Game of the Week" honors go to the contest between the Good Fellas and the Black & Blue Attack. The Black & Blue, Culpepper, Burleson and Wayne could not overcome a 34 point lead on Monday night. The Fellas were led by Alexander and Stover, but could have had a much easier Monday night if Donovan could have put up some points. He has done it most of the year, but he has had a couple of gruesome games mixed in. The Black & Blue has relied mainly on Culpepper all year, but he hasn't been quite as explosive without a healthy Moss to throw too. The Black & Blue's running attack let them down especially on a week when they knew they might have top lean on the RB's a bit. Well the top of the standings are starting to look interesting. In fact the top is getting easier to see at this point.

CHATTERBOX:(Get Quotes in by Monday Night)
Dream Team (Norm): "To Joe Smith: Butchy finally asked me for a quote. To League: Dream Team back in the hunt."
Bull Dogs (John T.): "My team sucks."

BEST & WORST OF WEEK 9

MVP: Michael Pittman(36) Dream Team       Best on Bench: D. Jackson, M. Hassleback(24) JB,QS      Low Scorers: Black & Blue (31)   Coaching Efficiency: High: Bull Dogs (98%) Low: Black & Blue Attack (66%)

Top Rostered Players By Position (Rostered Players Only)
QB - Manning(207),Culpepper(187),Plummer(153),Bulger(137)
RB - Barber(132),Holmes(131),Alexander(102),Green(88)
WR - Owens(93),Walker(81),Wayne(66),Moss,Holt(60)
PK - Akers(98),Vinatieri(94),Elam(83),Dawson(74)
ST - RAVENS(99),LIONS(88),SEAHAWKS(81),FALCONS(80)