Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 6)

Ronnie Brown was flying high this weekend as his new team, the Golden Gryphons, destroyed his old team, Arizona-Kickery. Will this deal end up working out for both teams, or did the Kickers give up their do-anything back for nothing?








Goal Line Stand (Week 6)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



Mid-season deals have become a bit of a taboo in the FAC-10. Teams are so bent on sticking to the players they made commitments to, and often demand too much for those that are contributing to their team. In 2007, only 5 deals were made during the regular season, and last year that number dropped down to 3.

With the deadline over a month away, and only 3 trades (2 since the season began), there's still plenty of time for some action to occur. Unfortunately, with all the one-sided trades that have resulted, the market has been more stagnant than a fat teenage girl during a One Tree Hill marathon.

Let's see why these deals haven't worked out yet:


AUGUST 24: Bud Heavy receives QB Kurt Warner from Twin City Tech for RB Reggie Bush
One can argue that this is a simple "Age for Potential" trade, but which side is which? 38 year old Kurt Warner has missed 2 games over the last 2+ years while putting up all-pro numbers. 24 year old Reggie Bush has missed 10 games, barely produced (1133 rushing yards, 7 TDs over the past 3 seasons), and has been stuck in a deep backfield with plenty of other reliable rushers (Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, etc.). The key to this deal may be that Warner was expendable, but how many places did the Red Raiders shop him before landing at Bud Heavy? Even an old QB like him has the potential to put up huge numbers, especially in that offense, but Bush's upside is slowly decreasing with every injury-ridden season.
Advantage: Bud Heavy

SEPTEMBER 3: Arizona-Kickery receives RB Joseph Addai and a 1st Round DP (WR Ted Ginn Jr) from Twin City Tech for RB Frank Gore
Nobody can predict injuries (unless you're a Donovan McNabb owner), but people should have seen Frank Gore's ankle pain from a mile away. The aforementioned ankle has been carrying his team for 2 years now, so it was only a matter of time before it buckled under the pressure. People also cannot predict players losing their jobs... wait, yes they can. The hype surrounding Donald Brown has forced Addai into a 3 quarter afterthought, with Brown playing the role of 4th quarter Mariano Rivera. One bright spot in this deal has been the draft pick, which turned into speedster Ted Ginn Jr. Ginn got his first TD of the year last weekend in a losing effort, but his ceiling is very high. If Gore had more than 39 carries this year, it'd be a swing in the other direction. Unfortunately, you can't score points from the sideline in street clothes.
Advantage: Arizona-Kickery

SEPTEMBER 30: Arizona-Kickery receives WR Santonio Holmes from Golden for RB Ronnie Brown
The theme of the previous two trades has been production versus upside. In this deal, there really is no debate between the two: Both have upside, one has produced, one hasn't. Santonio Holmes has been a yardage hog all season, yet refuses to get himself into the end zone. This argument has been had many times this season, but regardless of how you stand, it's touchdowns that get you victories. Ronnie Brown knows this, rushing for 6 scores this year, 4 since being traded to Golden. Holmes's 67 yards per game looks great in the Kickery scorebook every Tuesday, but not so much in the standings.
Advantage: Golden

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Week 6 Matchups
(11) Weymouth over (1) Golden
(2) Athol A&M over (8) Dublin
(4) Busch over (3) Bud Heavy
(6) Gillespie State over (5) Arizona-Kickery
(7) Twin City Tech over (10) Stardust
(9) Mexico over (12) Rakeville

Last Week: 2-4
Season: 15-15

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Week 6 Power Rankings
1. Golden (+1)
2. Athol A&M (-1)
3. Busch (+1)
4. Gillespie State (+2)
5. Bud Heavy (+2)
6. Dublin (-1)
7. Arizona-Kickery (-4)
8. Twin City Tech (+1)
9. Weymouth (-1)
10. Mexico ( - )
11. Stardust (+1)
12. Rakeville (-1)

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League Notes
- In their Week 5 matchup, Weymouth decided to play without a Tight End, Kicker, and Defensive Player. Unfortunately, they remembered to start a quarterback.

- There is plenty of backlash of the possible sale of Stardust University to a group headed by Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh. Apparently it's OK for players to go to casinos and strip clubs until 4AM, but not to be owned by a Republican.

- The top performer from Week 5 was Athol A&M Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The week's lowest performer was anyone in Rakeville's lineup.