Snake Bitten: The L.A. Venom

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Hi guys, I’m new here so I thought it would be cool to do a chise. I’m journalism major so I felt this would be a good way to practice my writing but an excuse to play madden. I hope you guys enjoy. (This is meant to be overly dramatic).

Setting: All Madden
Quater Length: 7 mins
I will play the first preseason game and will sim the rest of the preseason.

Breaking News

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza

After months of investigation the F.B.I has gathered enough evidence to charge the St. Louis Rams on racketeering charges. Over 50 million dollars of winnings, drug paraphernalia and anabolic steroids were seized at a property owned by Sammy Mancini, supposed Mob boss of the Mancini crime family. He was heard on wire taps with multiple Rams’ players and coaches. NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell responded by banning all players, coaches and staff members of the Rams for life. This is clearly reminiscent of the Black Sox scandal of 1919, where 8 members of the team were banned for life including should- be- hall of famer, Shoeless Joe Jackson. This is undoubtedly a sad day for Rams’ fan but also for fans of the NFL because of the loss of superstar running back, Steven Jackson and future stars, Sam Bradford and Chris Long. We will see what Roger Goodell will do to act in response to this scandal that has rocked the NFL to it's core>>
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Rams will be replaced by expansion team

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza

You read it right people, to respond to the banning of the St. Louis Rams, Roger Goddell has awarded an expansion team to Los Angeles. They will be placed in the Rams spot in NFC West and are being put up for sale to this highest bidder. Goodell gave a statement, “With the banning of the St. Louis Ram, I found this would be the perfect chance to give a team to city clamoring for football… Los Angeles”.

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Los Angeles Expansion team sold to Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban

L.A times
by Joseph Fontanazza


NBA bad boy owner, Mark Cuban confirmed that he gave the highest bid for the new team. Cuban also confirmed that the new team will be called Los Angeles Venom and will play its home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum. At the press conference He was quoted saying “I want be a winner right away so, I hired a coach that is a proven winner…Bill Cowher. Than Bill Cowher affirmed that he has already hired assistants. When Bill Cowher was brought out for the press conference he stated “I want coaches that I know well so I have hired two of the best players that I ever coached as my coordinators, Kordell “Slash" Stewart will be my Offensive Coordinator and one of the best linebackers in history, Greg Lloyd as my Defensive Coordinator”. The Venom might not start out very good but will undoubtedly be entertaining. Their roster will be made entirely of free agents.

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L.A. Venom Roster annouced

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza

The Venom look to have a talented team with the mixing of Old Stars like Terrell Owens, Lufa Tatupu, Flozell Adams, and Keith Bulluck and promising players such as Noel Divine, Tyrod Taylor and Mike Sims-Walker.

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Los Angeles Venom
#	OFFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
11	Josh Johnson	QB	25	6-3	205	San Diego
13	Tyrod Taylor	QB	22	6-0	215	Virginia Tech
2	Jamurcus Russell	QB	25	6-6	285	LSU
26	Clinton Portis	RB	28	5-11	221	Miami
32	Mike Hart	RB	25	5-9	206	Michigan
27	Noel Divine	RB	22	5-8	179	West Virginia
36	Louska Polite	FB	29	6-0	245	Pittsburgh
81	Terrell Owens	WR	36	6-2	224	Tenn Chat
12	Justin Gage	WR	30	6-4	212	Missouri
15	Mike Sims-Walker	WR	26	6-2	214	UCF
87	Benard Berrian	WR	30	6-1	185	Fresno State
14	Malcom Kelly	WR	24	6-4	227	Oklahoma
86	Tommi Santi	TE	25	6-3	250	Virginia
88	Brad Cottam	TE	26	6-7	269	Tennessee
47	Cornelius Ingram	TE	26	6-4	245	Florida
78	Reggie Wells	LT	29	6-4	312	Clarion
72	Bradon Frye	LT	27	6-4	305	Virginia Tech
67	Vince Manuwai	LG	31	6-2	333	Hawaii
62	Cory Procter	LG	28	6-4	311	Montana
60	Shaun O'Hara	C	34	6-3	303	Rutgers
61	Case Rabach	C	33	6-4	295	Wisconsin
71	Flozell Adams	RG	36	6-7	340	Michigan State
73	Adrian Jones	RG	29	6-4	296	Kansas
65	Mark Tausher	RT	34	6-4	316	Wisconsin
74	John St.Clair	RT	33	6-6	320	Virginia
#	DEFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
97	Philip Danils	LE	38	6-5	305	Georgia
92	Alex Brown	LE	32	6-3	260	Florida
95	Antwann Odom	RE	29	6-5	280	Georgia
91	Jay Richardson	RE	27	6-6	280	Ohio State
96	Marcus Stroud	DT	33	6-6	310	Georgia
99	Tank Johnson	DT	29	6-3	305	Washington
97	Maikie Kemoeatu	DT	32	6-5	345	Utah
57	Juilian Peterson	LOLB	32	6-3	240	Michigan State
90	Chris Ellis	LOLB	26	6-4	261	Virginia Tech
51	Lofa Tatupu	MLB	28	6-0	250	USC
50	Akin Ayodele	MLB	30	6-2	245	Purdue
58	Jordon Dizon	MLB	25	6-0	232	Colorado
52	Keith Bulluck	ROLB	33	6-3	235	Syarcuse
94	Kaiwan Mitchell	ROLB	31	6-1	253	USF
23	Leigh Bodden	CB	29	6-1	193	Duquense
26	Fabian Wasington	CB	28	5-11	180	Nebraska
20	Randell Gay	CB	29	5-11	190	LSU
25	Bruce Johnson	CB	24	5-11	182	Miami
35	Anthony Madison	CB	29	5-9	180	Alabama
21	Marion Legget	CB	24	5-11	188	Valdosta State
41	Kareem Moore	FS	27	5-11	218	Nicholls State
37	Dajuan Morgan	FS	24	6-0	203	N.C State
22	Michael Lewis	SS	30	6-1	222	Colorado
31	Roy Williams	SS	30	6-0	222	Oklahoma
#	SPECIAL TEAMS	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
4	Rhyss Lloyld	K	29	5-11	231	Minnosota
6	Matt Dodge	P	24	6-1	224	East Carolina

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Venom Impress in Preseason opener against Colts

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza
Mark Cuban promised a competitive team right away and it seems he was not lying. The game was against the lowly Colts but the offense looked crisp and the defense flew around field like powder blue blurs. The first team gave the Colts a steady doss of their speedy backfield comprised of West Virginia star, Noel Divine and Tyrod Taylor. Taylor showed flashes of what made him a highly regarded recruit out of Hampton High School. He began the game with some short throws in tight windows that tested his accuracy and scrambled when needed for 32 yards on the ground and a impressive touchdown run, juking and spinning for a 20 yard gain. Divine looked quick and patient slashing through the Colts' porous run defense for 86 yards on 10 attempts. The back up quarterback Josh Johnson had the best game of the 3 players fighting for the first team spot, throwing for 122 yard, 1 touchdown and adding on another 33 yards on the ground. Yes, People their was also a Jamurcus Russell sighting. He looked very rusty starting out going 0 for 5 on passes than regained his composure and finished the game as with the passing yards high with 133 yards from the strong armed but undisciplined quarterback. While the
skill position players looked good, the offensive line left alot to be desired. The line let up 9 sacks against a relentlessness Colts pass rush.The Venom defense kept the Colt's offense at bane for most of the game, only allowing 7 points, a poultry 12 rushing yards and 140 yards of total offense. Leigh Bodden was very opportunistic, picking off 2 wayward passes and playing good man coverage while the defense showed shades of the "Blitzburgh" defense of old. This is good start to the season and we will see expansion team can built of this.

Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Venom
Aug 15, 2011	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Indianapolis Colts (0-0)	0	3	3	0	n/a	6
Los Angeles Venom (0-0)	7	10	0	21	n/a	38

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Venom finish 1-3 in Preseason.
Johnson named starting QB

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza

week 1: Venom 38- Colts 6
week 2:Titans 24- Venom 8
week 3: Colts 24- Venom 14
week 4: Venom 7- Jags 7

Well after an impressive showing in the first game, The Venom did not show the same explosiveness in other games. We will see how this translates in the season

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Venom turn "Dream Team" Debut into Nightmare

L.A. Times
by Joseph Fontanazza

For the first game in the history of the Los Angeles Venom's existence almost as much stars packed the L.A. Coliseum as the stars that toke the field. The Venom's offense looked right at home at the Showtime capital of the world through an impressive aerial assault and a steady ground game. The undoubted star of the game was young quarterback and Kordell Stewart's protégé, Josh Johnson, totaling 189 yards and 3 TDs in the air and also added 66 yards on the ground. His favorite target was ageless wonder, Terrell Owens who caught 5 balls for 82 yards and 2 TDs. Terrell looked ready to prove is doubters wrong and played with a fire not seen in him since his Cowboy days. The games inuring image was a T.O. slant route which he toke into the end zone after giving Eagles safety, Nate Allen a face full of hand. Scat back, Noel Divine looked determined to punish every Team that passed up on him in the draft. Noel finished with an amazing 135 yards on 10 carries. A highlight of the game was Noel after taking a pitch from Johnson, sped past the Eagles’ defenders for a game long gain of 67 yards and touchdown on the play. The Venom defense looked like a furious defense built in the image of Cowher's Steelers. Venom Defensive Coordinator, Greg Lloyd was not shy in dialing up the blitz which made Mike Vick visibly frustrated. Vick did not look comfortable in the pocket at all as he threw for a poultry 134 yards and a pick. But after bottling up the potent running attack of Eagles for most of the 1^st half both Lesean McCoy and Mike Vick found openings around the field and combined for 180 on the ground.
The old man of the team, Keith Bullock looked like a young buck again reeking havoc on the Eagles for 9 tackles, a sack and 2 forced fumbles. The Venom's Playmaker again was veteran cornerback, Leigh Bodden how picked off a ill advised Vick pass and brought it back to the Eagles' 20.
The Venom also showed a sort of toughness unexpected from a L.A team. After a T.O. touchdown, he mocked the Eagles' fly dance and some Eagle players toke offense to that. They got into his face but the Calvary arrived in the form of the Venom offense line and a scuffle was broken up by officials. No Punches were thrown so action from the league office is unlikely.

Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Venom
Sep 11, 2011 1 2 3 4 F PHI (0-0) 0 3 0 7 10 LA (0-0) 10 14 0 14 38 Top Performers PASS: Josh Johnson- L.A. - 189 yds 3 TDs RUSH: Noel Divine- L.A. - 135 yds 1 TD REC: Terrell Owens - L.A. - 5 catches 82 yds 2 TDs	Team Stats Comparison PHI LA First Downs 3rd Down Efficiency 4th Down Efficiency Total Yards Passing Yards Rushing Yards Penalties-Penalty Yards Turnovers Time of Possession