Food for Thought (Div B) – Week 14

 

Spring season 2010 is over and fall is tentatively approaching. As FlagPlus goes into hibernation for the next four months, many of you will be going back to school, studying game film and having fun outdoors. And as you weave your way through the cool late summer evenings and the colourful autumn days, this last season will keep playing in your heads like a washed up movie on a torn cine-park screen, continually reminding you that you may yet again have another chance to make things right and finally, once and for all, erase the past…

 

 

The Creamiest Corn

 

The cream of the crop surfaced last Sunday as the G-Men proved too strong for the underdog Prestige World Wide. As many anticipated, Gianni Settino had another interception-free performance, ranking his season as one of the best by any quarterback to ever play in FPF, despite not winning any awards. His tenure in the playoffs, aided by Nareg Yessayan’s stellar performances throughout the post-season, propelled the G-Men to their second championship in 3 seasons.

 

But though they mightily contributed all along the playoffs, last Sunday’s game story was written by the soul of the team, Paul Kamel. Piecing together an inspired defensive show (including 2 interceptions) with a game leading 108 yards receiving, Paul proved to be too hard to cover for the dumbstruck Prestige World Wide defence. Having to contend with two of the best receivers in the league was a heavy burden all night for a group of players who decided to play their worst game at the worst time. Perhaps the lack of competition in the first two weeks of the playoffs hurt their chances?  If so, it will remain a tough pill to swallow, especially for Alex Lever, who will still be in search of his first championship as a QB in 2011.

 

 

Flash forward

 

What’s next? I wonder…

 

 

Falcons

 

As they seem to be doing worse every season since early 2009, next season should prove to be redemption for Simon Richard and company. Now that they’ve realised they have to make changes as all the teams around them have been improving over the years, the 2011 Falcons should do a lot better than 0-9-1 with a possible new and improved look.

 

Rude Bwoys

 

Playing most of the season with a last-minute QB replacement prevented the Rude Bwoys from continuing their ascension after a surprising season in Winter 2010. As they will be looking to add 1 or 2 impact players before next season, their main obstacle might become keeping their unfading team chemistry intact. If they do, they might rekindle their lost magic.

 

FTMP

 

A typical mercenary team, FTMP will most likely not be back in 2011…at least not with the same name. Rehan Sarwar, who served as team GM and captain, will probably be looking to piece together a Division 3 team to complement his main Div 2 franchise: the Kingz. Unpredictable as he is crafty, no one still knows who will compose that team, let alone quarteback it. Actually, there might not even BE a Div 3 team with Sarwar in it…who knows…

 

Alkoholiks

 

Usually a spring-only manifestation, this team’s core might still band together to continue to build the winter DK franchise. One way or another, Jamal will surely be looking to play with his brother Brandon and the most likely players to suit up with them will be the Alkoholiks regulars. But as it is the case with any Empire-affiliated teams, final rosters will not be decided before the first week of January…if we’re lucky…

 

Maniax

 

What will happen after the fiasco of the semi-finals? I am afraid it is too soon to tell. Perhaps the AMB Eagles will return in 2011, and perhaps they won’t. But rest assured that whatever roster this team puts forth in winter, it might end up being the meanest yet.

 

Blackshirts

 

Another collection of free-agent signings that will not survive to next year. Perhaps there will be a revaluation of the Shockers destiny and some players might end up rebuilding the Black and Green franchise. Most scenarios will depend on Jacques Void and Mathieu René’s availability during winter. If they both decide to stick around, personnel movement around Ross Castleton should be interesting to follow in the off-season.

 

Redemption

 

After yet again playing above their potential, this team should be thinking of building through winter if they one day want to crack the top tier of their division. A perfect fit in a very competitive and open Div 3, they would continue garnering the experience required to finally reach a new level of excellence in spring. A player like Olivier Saleh could be exactly what they need if they decide to stick around…

 

Big TDs

 

If they want to be taken seriously, the Big TDs will need to surround Jamil Springer with at least 1 other talented football player. As most teams who swim in the second tier of a Division, the quantum leap that needs to be taken often involves 1 or 2 impact players. With Springer’s new contacts in Empire-land, he just might get the reinforcements he needs…

 

Prestige World Wide

 

Alex Lever. What will he do? While sources tell me that he is presently being regarded as the future QB of the Kingz for 2011, he will most likely also be playing with his buddies from the Cobras. If new multi-division QB regulations are put into place for next year, this might prove to be a problem for at least one of the two teams. Something to follow?

 

Terminators

 

Gino Di Fazio will be playing in Div 3 next winter. Will he be the pivot for the D-Boys? Will he assemble a stronger SWAT team or even continue his playing relationship with Anthony Thompson and Marc Champagnie? Once again, the will of the sith proves to be somewhat…hard to decipher…

 

G-Men

 

The G-Men will be back for the 2011 winter season. What’s the deal with the old Click Clack team? It will probably fold. With Gianni Settino, Paul Kamel and Nareg Yessayan forming once again a formidable offensive powerhouse, the Div 2 championship might actually be a realistic objective for this team.

 

 

The Last Train

 

As we are about to split into different directions for the next few months, I would like to thank you all for this wonderful season. Without you, none of this would be possible (and without the media much less interesting!). I wish you all good luck in your respective endeavours, a wonderful thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a happy end to your 2010-year.

And now, in the words of the famous Milli Millz:

“Peace Out!”