It’s always a somber feeling having to write a Super Bowl recap after having lost the “Big Game.”
This will be the third time I’ve had this feeling. If my team was the Philadelphia Jammers, fans would be calling 610 WIP screaming for my head.
“Fire Jimmy Johnson! He chokes in the big game! It’s time for change!”
They might even say, “Let’s go hire Nick Nikish. Look what he’s done with the News Team!”
Look, indeed.
In 2006 and 2007, the News Team finished dead last both years with a combined 8-18 record.
Since then, he has gone 30-16 with two conference championship losses preceding a Super Bowl title, which he picked up after a 135-92 win over the Jammers.
And it’s easy to pick out what has made the difference for the News Team.
Aaron Rodgers.
He has been a fantasy superstar. Since trading for him, the News Team has gone 30-13. We’ve all heard this before. It’s been written a few times, but it has to be said again because this is Nikish’s moment to shine.
Still, as much as we can look back at the “trade” that changed it all, we must look at the draft pick and the waiver wire pickup that made the difference.
First, Arian Foster, the draft pick of the century. The JFL MVP (I’m declaring him the MVP now that we’re going back to the old system where I declare MVPs on my own) scored 20.3 points to go with Rodgers’ 49.6 points this past weekend. When you get 69.9 points from two players, you don’t need to worry much. Without them, the News Team would have been in trouble because four players — Tashard Choice, DeSean Jackson, Kevin Boss and Robbie Gould — combined for just 13.4 points.
Second, LeGarrette Blount, a great waiver wire pickup. He scored 16.9 points Sunday to give the News Team boost. He had double-digit points three out the last four weeks, and the third and fourth weeks were the big ones. His 17 points last week were crucial in allowing the News Team to advance to the Super Bowl.
Now, just like every Super Bowl winner, he has the tough decision on who to keep for next season.
It shouldn’t be a problem for the News Team who has been the Ruben Amaro Jr. of fantasy football. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cliff Lee somehow crack his fantasy football roster. Great moves and a little luck equal championships. It shouldn’t be long before another great move equals another News Team championship — especially with Aaron Rodgers.
Oh, and this just in. Adam Scheffter has tweeted that general manager Jimmy Johnson has been fired from the Jimmy Jammers. A new GM will be announced soon. In a statement from the team, Johnson said: “Hey. I’m proud of my run. I’ve led this team to more wins than anyone in the JFL. I’m just glad the organization didn’t go the Mike Singletary route and let me go before the last game of the season. Good luck to the new GM, whoever that may be.”
We’ll see who the new GM is in 2011. That is, of course, if there is an NFL season in 2011.
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