So I'm playing as the Lions in the Dean Huston Memorial Football League (web page:
http://dhmfl.phyrebird.com/). The initial files were released last weekend and the first preseason stage file is due tonight. Here are some initial impressions of the team.
Front Office Football 2004
Detroit Lions Roster, Contract View
Code:
Player # Pos Start OnTm EndCnt Exp Cap Cost Save if Rls
Detmer, Ty 14 QB 2001 2003 10 $760,000 $530,000
##McMahon, Mike 8 QB 2001 2003 3 $430,000 $160,000
Harrington, Joey 3 QB QB 2002 2007 2 $2,630,000 $70,000
JohnSy, Joel 17 QB 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
Detmer is a marginally serviceable backup who will be replaced ASAP. McMahon is worthless. JohnSy is raw, but could become a decent backup QB. The real story here, obviously, is Harrington. He has all the potential I'd want, but is surprisingly untrained at this point. It may be a painful couple of seasons while he comes up to speed.
Code:
Stewart, James 34 RB 2000 2004 9 $5,070,000 $3,020,000
Bryson, Shawn 24 RB 2003 2003 4 $480,000 $250,000
Gary, Olandis 33 RB RB 2003 2004 4 $530,000 $300,000
##Cobourne, Avon 31 RB 2003 2004 1 $230,000 $0
Crap, all crap. Would trade 'em if I thought anyone would want them. None of them should really be more than 3rd string. Stewart's contract marks him as definite cut-meat.
Code:
Schlesinger, Cory 30 FB FB 1995 2006 9 $1,210,000 $520,000
Traylor, Marc 44 FB 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
Schlesinger is a very nice blocking back. I'd like a FB who could contribute more on 3rd down, but given dire needs of this team at other postions, Schlesinger will probably be the starter here for a number of seasons. Traylor ain't much.
Code:
Banta, Brad 89 TE 2001 2005 10 $660,000 $430,000
Ricks, Mikhael 86 TE TE 2002 2005 6 $1,600,000 $970,000
##Fitzsimmons, Casey 82 TE 2003 2004 1 $230,000 $0
Owens, John 83 TE 2002 2004 2 $450,000 $70,000
Ricks is a marginal starter, Owens has some fair potential. Not too excited about Banta or Fitzsimmons.
Code:
Schroeder, Bill 84 FL 2002 2005 7 $1,300,000 $450,000
Anderson, Scotty 88 FL 2001 2003 3 $430,000 $160,000
Rogers, Charles 80 FL FL 2003 2006 1 $2,280,000 $750,000
##Jefferson, Shawn 87 SE 2003 2003 13 $760,000 $530,000
Hakim, Az-Zahir 81 SE SE 2002 2006 6 $2,150,000 $870,000
##Drummond, Eddie 18 SE 2002 2003 2 $310,000 $80,000
Rogers, unlike Harrington, is ready to rock from day one. Starting talent already, with potential to be a star. Unfortunately there's nothing to go with him. Schroeder, Hakim, Anderson, Jefferson, all suck.
Code:
Raiola, Dominic 51 C C 2001 2004 3 $740,000 $180,000
##Cunningham, Skip 55 C 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
DePree, Tom 56 C 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
The centers are all completely and utterly worthless and don't even have the potential to become much more than worthless.
Code:
Beverly, Eric 79 LG LG 1997 2003 6 $1,180,000 $890,000
##Lovelady, Josh 70 LG 2002 2003 4 $450,000 $220,000
Bermudez, Bernard 74 LG 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
Brown, Ray 61 RG RG 2002 2003 16 $760,000 $530,000
Beverly can start if I'm really desperate (which I am
). Ray Brown is old. So old I call him up every Monday to make sure he hasn't retired yet. But he's got great skills. Could be a pro-bowler this season. Will try to deal him off to a contender where he can do some good. Lovelady, Bermudez, not worth much.
Code:
Backus, Jeff 76 LT LT 2001 2005 3 $1,360,000 $160,000
##Rogers, Victor 71 LT 2002 2004 2 $310,000 $70,000
##Andrews, Bucky 63 LT 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
Joyce, Matt 75 RT 2001 2005 8 $960,000 $430,000
McDougle, Stockar 73 RT RT 2000 2004 4 $1,310,000 $220,000
For the most part this team ended up considerably worse than I'd hoped for. This was one bright spot though. Backus and McDougle are both very talented young players. Signing them to extensions is a major priority. Joyce is a good backup, and will probably start somewhere on the line this year if he doesn't get traded.
Code:
Jett, John 19 P 1997 2003 11 $1,000,000 $580,000
Hanson, Jason 4 K 1992 2004 12 $1,100,000 $670,000
Kickers, blah, who cares
.....
Code:
Porcher, Robert 91 LDE LDE 1992 2004 12 $6,840,000 $2,270,000
DeVries, Jared 95 LDE 1999 2005 4 $930,000 $420,000
Hall, James 96 RDE 2000 2003 4 $1,320,000 $1,090,000
Edwards, Kalimba 98 RDE RDE 2002 2005 2 $780,000 $130,000
Porcher is old and is pulling down some serious money, but he's good. Am considering signing him to an extensions, but am worried about deterioration. DeVries, Hall, Edwards, not good.
Code:
Pritchett, Kelvin 93 LDT 1999 2003 13 $760,000 $530,000
Wilkinson, Dan 72 LDT LDT 2003 2006 10 $1,030,000 $430,000
##Rogers, Shaun 92 RDT 2001 2004 3 $650,000 $180,000
Redding, Cory 78 RDT RDT 2003 2005 1 $410,000 $0
Wilkinson is a good pass rusher, and a good starter quality tackle. Pritchett is borderline and can start if needed (which it is
). Cory Redding has surprising potential, and may be moved to DE.
Code:
Holmes, Earl 50 MLB MLB 2003 2005 8 $1,020,000 $430,000
Rainer, Wali 58 MLB 2003 2004 5 $770,000 $300,000
##Davis, James 52 MLB 2003 2005 1 $270,000 $0
Holmes is rock-solid, particularly against the run, probably my best defensive player. Rainer has decent talent too, definitely good enough to start. Given the dearth of talent on this team, two good MLB's means either we trade one or run a 3-4. Holmes was put on the market.
Code:
Williams, Brian 99 SLB 2001 2003 9 $660,000 $430,000
Bailey, Boss 97 SLB SLB 2003 2007 1 $760,000 $90,000
Cambini, Justin 94 SLB 2003 2003 1 $230,000 $0
##Gooch, Jeff 59 WLB 2002 2003 8 $1,130,000 $570,000
Green, Barrett 54 WLB WLB 2000 2003 4 $750,000 $220,000
I am not terribly impressed with Boss Bailey. He's got decent potential, but he's undeveloped. Also his run-stopping ability (real and potential) is not what I'd hope for. Green has the potential to be a backup. Williams Cambini and Gooch suck.
Code:
Smith, Otis 23 LCB LCB 2003 2003 12 $760,000 $530,000
Molden, Alex 40 LCB 2003 2003 8 $660,000 $430,000
##Babers, Roderick 26 LCB 2003 2005 1 $230,000 $0
Bly, Dre' 32 RCB RCB 2003 2007 5 $3,300,000 $1,770,000
Wyrick, Jimmy 27 RCB 2000 2003 4 $490,000 $260,000
Cash, Chris 29 RCB 2002 2003 2 $300,000 $70,000
The CB's are all crappy. Really crappy. Dre' Bly compounds his crappiness by having a 5 yr contract with loads of guaranteed money. Bastard.
Will do a house-cleaning here next off-season.
Code:
Harris, Corey 25 SS 2002 2004 12 $970,000 $530,000
##Walker, Bracy 28 SS 2002 2003 10 $660,000 $430,000
Walker, Brian 45 SS SS 2002 2006 8 $1,400,000 $770,000
Holt, Terrence 42 FS FS 2003 2005 1 $270,000 $0
Brian Walker is pretty good. Terrence Holt may become a borderline starter. Corey Harris can start if I'm desperate (which, of course, I am
).
Essentially my offense consists of one undeveloped QB, a good blocking FB, a rookie WR, and two decent tackles. My defense is a couple of capable, older D-linemen, couple of middle backers, and a safety. Looks like a loooong season to me. The good news:
Salary Cap: $75,000,000
Cap Room: $17,020,000
Maximum for New Player: $17,250,000
Cap Room Lost (to old contracts): $180,000
Cap Room Lost Next Year (to old contracts): $180,000
Cap Room Required Next Year: $52,280,000
I've got a lot of cap room, and plenty of dead weight that I can cut to generate more (see James Stewart). I ought to be able to make a huge jump next season. By the time Harrington has developed (2-3 seasons) this team will be ready to contend for the title.