The 2016 Strike Franchise

[miahwitt]

Chapter 1
The Landscape of the NFL, from a strike to a revolution, to a simple “We Don’t Need You Anymore”
In 1982, a players strike cut the NFL season to 9 games, not long after that a players strike in 1987 the league resorted to “replacement” players, or scabs to some, for 3 games and the league only missed 1 game. Peace lasted in the NFL for some time until the 2011 season with concerns of rookie pay scales and appropriate practice times loomed the NFL lost the famous “Hall of Fame Game” to these shenanigans. What was believed to be a peaceful union, soon faded. The apparent suicide of NFL great Junior Seau left lingering questions in the minds of NFL players, the pushed effort to identify concussions and its soon to follow strict “concussion protocols” drove fear into the minds of many. The questions lingered on and the prominent was “who will take care of them?” 2014 saw the sudden retirement of Top NFL linebacker Patrick Willis, and not long after him rookie teammate Chris Borland followed suit. Was this mass hysteria or true concern? Then in the spring of 2016 news broke that strike was eminent, with one burning question in mind, “who will protect us, who will take care of us?” Mitigation met the walls of frustration. Where is the middle ground? Where is the compassion? Well after months of arguments and training camp around the corner the think tank of NFL brain trust decided there is no middle ground, there is no compassion, simple stating “but we’re paying you aren’t we”. With fear of missing games a decision was made, in order to fill the rosters with fair an equal talent a draft would disperse the talent among NFL rosters. “Of who?” you may ask. Some players crossed the picket lines, some were rookies whose career would have never been more than a practice squad player and others were wily old veterans who had been cast aside for the rush of youthful talent.
The media laughed, the fans cried and the owners moved on. What would Bill Belichick do? How about dem Cowboys? What is going on? Brian Hoyer and Case Keenum found themselves on the throne of NFL relevancy, while the likes of Paxton Lynch, Brett Hundley and Jacoby Brissett found themselves of youthful influx amongst NFL talent. What lies ahead is a world of unknown. Can the NFL survive on what some would call “second hand talent?” Would the talent disparity be closer or farther apart than it has ever been? We don’t know, but what I do promise is we will find out.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 2
When The Dust Settles

[djp73]

This is an interesting premise. Following.

[miahwitt]

Franchise Focus: Detroit Lions
While I’m trying to building a foundation for a franchise that hasn’t won its division since 1993 and their last championship came prior to the Super Bowl era, my best friend is piloting the Green Bay Packers into foreign territory. The draft came and went faster than I ever could have imagined. When the dust had settled and it was clear who was moving forward in the NFL and who was staying behind I thought to myself “I should be able to find a decent amount of talent in this mess”. And then the clock starting and it all went so fast. I thought to myself that these early picks would be the foundation, they would be the players I would be willing to pay top dollar to as the franchise moved forward. As I learned in the past giving the top pick to someone who is not in your plans just puts dead money on your roster. The pressure was on and before I knew it I had drafted LT Jason Spriggs and for my other bookend RT Greg Robinson, what better for a coach planning to pound the rock. I knew next I wanted someone to set the edge on defense, and who better the home grown Grand Valley State Laker Matthew Judon. I found a playmaker for my offense in Wide Receiver Kevin White (fully recovered from his rookie year injury). Confidence teetered on hysteria, as every round passed it seemed as though the talent was quickly disappearing in the pool of players. I kept asking myself if these guys were worth the money these high picks were going to demand. I told myself over and over again that I was going to draft young early. But then it happened, Dwight Freeney, on his last leg, one last spin move left, Dwight “freaking” Freeney. And from there my team began to take on a complete different shape. I began investing in “proven” veterans, oppose to my original thought of “raw talent”. The interior of my offensive line shaped out with “seasoned” goods, Guards Ben Grubbs and Mackenzy Bernadeau and Center Will Montgomery. I found my apparent signal caller in rocket armed vet Derek Anderson. I added ever concussed Wes Welker to help guide my youthful receivers. On defense I added aged but not fully developed Margus Hunt, and at corner guide my youth Brandon Browner. After the dust settled I had 11 players that tipped the age of 30. I missed on several players I thought I could “get later” but later became now and quickly they were gone.

Around the League: Green Bay Packers
As mentioned before, the Green Bay Packers were left in human hands. In surprising fashion he drafted QB Brett Hundley to command his west coast offense. He supplied Hundley with receivers Jeff Janis and Tanner McEvoy. Willie Henry spearheads his defensive efforts from defensive end and young corner Brandon Williams seals the back off. The new season is hopeful as it is frightening. Wish us well.

A thought from a spectator: As much as I have been involved with my own team, watching the league unfold before me has been exhilarating. This is my fifth effort at such a franchise and this is by far the franchise with “least” talent. I believe this is due to Madden adding practice squads which in turn gave more depth to rosters. In the past living legends would dominate the first few season, but thus far, even though those aged commodities still exist they do not have the cast of teammates to allow them to rise. I play some teams and wonder “who the heck are you?” I am excited to see what one draft can do for this league, as i have a feeling QBs will be in higher demand than ever before.

Still To Come
Chapter 3: A Mid-Season Review