Quick post because I’m way behind this season. I haven’t gotten off to the best start. Week 1 Ball Gazer forms are up. See the Bench Swaps page for forms and directions. The form is still not mac-friendly (clickable). Fuck I know, but worst case, you don’t have to submit the form; you can just email me a list of winners. Worst, worst case, you can email me your pick for Thursdays matchup before the game starts, and figure out the rest before Sunday’s games. I’m flexible. Just gotta make your picks before the games actually start.

The 5th anniversary of The Lombardi Three is here. Look outside, the parade is flowing by, and in just one moment all the floats will choke the sky. Imagine helium-filled monstrosities wading through the wind, above cheering crowds that are tearing down the last four seasons we have built with the blaring sounds of ooh’s and aah’s and huge applause, as they scurry to catch a glimpse of our 5th season appearing in the fog.

This is Season 5. It’s happening, and we will be seeing some changes my friends. Look for a new, probationary payout structure, at least two to three new teams, a retirement or two, live draft location, and changes to your roster. Details to follow in the coming months…

It’s time to declare your intent. Dues have been increased to $50 this year to support the new payout structure. The league page has been activated, so you can pay your dues anytime. See the League Dues page on TheLombardiThree.com if you have any questions.

From the bottom of my heart I believe in what we’re doing, and don’t care if it’s unattainable, I’ll still pursue it. Remember, we are all just fighting roosters in a ring, ready to pounce and destroy anything.

-The Commish

Congrats to RGIII’s Company, our 2015 League Champion.

League Trophy has been mailed and virtual trophies have been issued. The League Trophy features the throwback 1965-1969 Redskins helmet.

See the League Trophy Case for your team’s virtual trophies.

Trophy Winner Achievement Detail
League Champion RGIII’s Company 9-7
2nd Place Lake Hickory Swallops 7-9
3rd Place White Wes Welkers 9-7
League Total Points Air Jordy 3,161.85

Regular Season Breakdown Winner Air Jordy 115-28
Regular Season Best Coach Bagel Time -154.90
Regular Season Highest True Ranking Bagel Time 42

Regular Season Breakdown Loser Ya Down With ODBJ 40-103
Regular Season Worst Coach Lake Hickory Swallops -316.60
Regular Season Lowest True Ranking Ya Down With ODBJ 11

Dethroner (Defeat Reigning Champion in Playoffs) n/a
Explosive Playoff Comeback Lake Hickory Swallps +6
Playoff Choke Air Jordy -6

Regular Season Champion Air Jordy 12-1
Regular Season Total Points Air Jordy 2,650.60
Season High Score RGIII’s Company 280.90 Week 3
Longest Win Streak Air Jordy 6 (Twice) Weeks 1-6 & Weeks 8-13

Regular Season Loser Tannehill for Vice President 4-9
Longest Losing Streak (Tied) Lake Hickory Swallops 5 Weeks 9-13
Longest Losing Streak (Tied) Eastside Forty-Ounces 5 Weeks 2-6
Regular Season Single Game Low Score Eastside Forty-Ounces 93.80 Week 5
Dead Last Ya Down With ODBJ 4-11
Least Points Scored Ya Down With ODBJ 2,209.75

Best overall QB Packer Cave 463.80 Tom Brady – NE
Best QB Performance RGIII’s Company 63.35 Drew Brees – Week 8

Best overall RB Air Jordy 309.00 Devonta Freeman – ATL
Best RB Performance Packer Cave 44.90 David Johnson – Week 15

Best overall WR Schoolya’gain 374.85 Antonio Brown – PIT
Best WR Performance Schoolya’gain 49.60 Antonio Brown – Week 9

Best overall TE White Wes Welkers 256.05 Rob Gronkowski – NE
Best TE Performance Tannehill For Vice President 34.40 Rob Gronkowski – Week 1

Best overall K White Wes Welkers 165.00 Stephen Gostkowski – NE
Best K Performance Packer Cave 22.00 Blair Walsh – Week 16

Best overall DEF White Wes Welkers 417.90 Denver Broncos
Best DEF Performance Packer Cave 49.50 St. Louis Rams – Week 7

Best overall LB Schoolya’gain 263.20 NaVorro Bowman – SF
Best LB Performance Bagel Time 32.00 Paul Posluszny – Week 3

That’s no misspelling, Week 11 was Weak! Our lowest output of the season at a mere 1,717.75 total points. Last week I barbed at our second lowest output of the season so I wanted to put together a little graph on this info to see if there was some sort of trend we could identify. Interestingly enough, the total for Weeks 11 across all four of our seasons is the lowest output on record. There are certainly a few other trend lines that could be worth assessing, but to me it looks like a perfect visual representation of the up-and-down nature of fantasy team performance over each of our seasons. Other than that, this graph doesn’t really say shit other than the fact that I have way too much free time on my hands during the day.

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Just in case you weren’t following, there were some really exciting matchups this week that came down to the final hour. Monday night’s Bills – Patriots game held exciting implications for the Schoolya’gain vs. IJamAllDay contest, and the White Wes Welkers vs. Bagel Time tie-breaker showdown. The results of each matchup hinging on the performance of key New England Minutemen.

The first cited matchup versus league muffin-ass, Schoolya’gain (7-3), and IJamAllDay (5-5), rested on the shoulders of one Danny Amendola. With top target Julian Edelman on the surgical table, Amendola was expected to pick up the bulk of his workload and benefit from some significant points. Schoolya’ was up 25.50 prior to game time. Throughout the first half it was clear that Amendola was a key target and was on pace to challenge the points needed. Then, beginning early in the third quarter, one of the worst halves of NFL officiating ensued. Much of which involved Amendola and his potential stat line. To save you from my typical run-on drivel, read this piece at ESPN.com and come back to this post for commentary.

Game situation (1 & 2): Amendola was credited with the fantasy points for a reception and 14 yards on this botched call/whistle/whatever the fuck they called it (see below). For those that missed the play, Amendola would have likely taken the reception for long yardage and probably would have scored a TD. Essentially this fuckup by the refs cost IJam a fantasy W. But just so it doesn’t give you heartburn buddy – had the inadvertent whistle not blown, the defender might not have discontinued coverage and allowed the reception to occur. The whistle was blown before Amendola caught the ball and the defender appeared to back off a bit in response to it.

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Game situation (3): The Patriots “simulated” substitution. Those crooked sheisters have no shame in their game. Moving on.

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The second matchup that went down to the wire was between Pugmaster, Bagel Time (6-4), and Little Belichick, the White Wes Welkers (6-4). Bagel held a desperate 14.20 point lead going in to Monday night and the Welkers had Gronkowski and Gostkowski (smh) left to play. Surely the league leading TE can cover more than 14.20 points by himself. Despite season-low performances by both players, the Ski-bees managed to put up just enough to take down the Bagel by a mere 0.50 points. That’s half a yard for any player on your roster. Inches man.

A question was brought up regarding Gronk’s point breakdown in this game. He had only 2 receptions; one for 10 yards and one for 27 yards. That’s 1 point per reception and 1 point per 10 yards receiving (fractional). By my math that’s 1 + 1 + 1.00 + 2.70 = 5.70 points. However Gronk finished with 7.70 points and an asterisk next to his stat line. That asterisk represents points in a category not normally associated with that position. Targeting Gronkowski, Tom Brady threw an interception at the 13:38 mark of the 4th quarter and Gronk consequently tackled Stephen Gilmore. Gronk was credited 2.00 points for the tackle; a stat not typical for a TE, hence the asterisk. This play is actually viewable via the first video highlight listed in the Play-By-Play section of the Game Center for this matchup.

Standby for Week 12 and 13 coverage. This is the last week of regular season matchups where we each play each other once. As advertised, we will have a one-week, mini-playoff before the official playoffs. Week 13’s schedule will be based on the standings at the conclusion of Week 12. Stay tuned.

-The Commish