Chico's Bail Bonds: "The quest for the holy grail of fantasy football"

For the fifth straight year I am on a quest to win the Southern Lakes Fantasy Football title. My team name is Chico’s Bail Bonds based upon the cult baseball classic film “The Bad News Bears”. I am hoping for a little Lupus moment appearing at the end of the season.

Through years of agony and pain it all comes down to this magical year. Forget about two years ago (upon the advice of my father) that I take Joey Harrington in the first round of the draft. Yes that pick will go down as the worst decision ever in a draft next to Tony Mandarich ahead of Barry Sanders.

In our league we can keep up to four players from last year’s team. The draft is over and I am pleased to announce the 2006 version of Chico’s Bail Bonds.

1st Round: Shaun Alexander RB (Seattle Seahawks) This is my man and hopefully the person who will lead me to the title. Alexander had an MVP year for Chico’s Bail Bonds. It was an easy pick last year. How can I not keep this guy!!

2nd Round: Ronnie Brown RB (Miami Dolphins) The only reason why I picked this guy last year was because Ricky Williams is known to be a guy who could screw up a good thing. This could be my best draft pick last year if Brown has a break out year. Just think two stud running backs. It is like winning the fantasy football lottery if they stay healthy!!

3rd Round: Tori Holt WR (St. Louis Rams) I needed to have a strong receiver that could give me dependable numbers in case of an off week by the backs. Holt runs good routes and makes an amazing # of receptions.

4th Round: Matt Hasselbeck QB (Seattle Seahawks) I trust this QB the most because he does not throw an incredible number of interceptions (AKA Brett Favre) and it is proven that Mike Holmgren can flat out coach QB’s.

5th Round: Lee Evans WR (Buffalo Bills) There were two reasons for the selection. Evans has a year under his belt and will the featured wideout for JP Losman. Buffalo has a terrible offensive line that will be forced to throw the ball against a tough AFC East division. Finally he played for the great state of Wisconsin!!!

6th Round: DeShaun Foster RB (Carolina Panthers) This is called insurance in case the big two running backs get hurt. Foster has athletic ability and comes from a program that has a good offensive line along with a team that has Super Bowl potential.

7th Round: De Angelo Williams RB (Carolina Panthers) This pick was a Lloyds of London insurance policy. I realized before the pick than Foster get hurts more than a Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers start. Panther officials are raving about the guy and some compare him to a Barry Sanders types of back. If he is anything like Sanders this is a steal at the 7th round. This would also mean a potential “running back of the future”.

8th Round Mike Williams WR ( Detroit Lions): There is not much to say about this lousy pick but if he would get in shape by mid season form in a Mike Martz offense……

9th Round: Jason Whitten TE (Dallas Cowboys) I was really hoping to get Andre Davis (rookie from San Francisco) so I had no choice but to take the best available player.

10th Round: Neil Rackers K ( Arizona Cardinals) This was my top kicker and am very glad to get this guy!! Thank goodness!! If he was on my team last year I would have gone further in the playoffs.

11th Round: Baltimore Ravens Defense: Did you see that Monday Night football game against the Packers last year? I did and lost the playoffs!! My only fear is that the Packers make everybody look good!!

12th Round: Jon Kitna QB (Detroit Lions) I think I am the only guy who believes in the Lions!! I always seem to take Detroit QB’s and they always seem to let me down. Mike Martz (new offensive coordinator) states that Kitna can be a top 10 QB this year. Yeah and Brett Favre thinks this years Packers have more talent than the Super Bowl champions led by Reggie White. It is a nice dream but all dreams come to an end.

13th Round: Chad Jackson WR (New England Patriots) Message to the Patriots front office… stay with your contract holdout on Deion Branch. One of the few receivers taken in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft and if he gets playing time it might pay off!!

14th Round: Eric Johnson TE (San Francisco 49 ers) This is the guy that Andre Davis has to replace in order to put up the big numbers. I can see the 49ers going to a lot of two tight end sets in the red zone or they might trade him to a team that might need a tight end.

15th Round: Reche Caldwell WR (New England Patriots): Tom Brady is looking to pass the ball at some point this season and with their lead receiver Deion Branch out it is my only hope to find some strength in my weakest area… the wide receiver position.

When the Bears lost 18-0 in their first game Coach Buttermaker addressed his players saying “Come on, Rome was not built in a day?.
We can all remember Ogilvie’s line “Yeah, it took a thousand years”

We can only hope that this is the year!!!