by Gerald Udowiczenko

Firstly many thanks to both Brucey & Jon for doing the newsletter while I was on holiday in Australia, great issues lads, do you want a full time job?

Australia is a great place to visit, if you ever get the chance, thought I know Jon will try and convince you, that New Zealand is the place to go. Well maybe next time Jon, so I can compare and contrast? Though some people many be put off by the journey time about 27 hours (we left on Friday at 11pm and landed in Brisbane on the Sunday at 7am)? For me, it did mean that I got to see a lot of films that I missed in the cinemas, or hadn't been released yet, so time flew for me and I didn't really notice.
The next highlight was the Superbowl, for which I am still recovering. I'm glad I went and watched it, well the bits I can remember anyway. I left my glasses at the Hard Rock Café, so a friend of mine had to call the next day, as I was very very horse, to see if they had found them. While explaining the situation, he came up with one of the best quotes ever, "my friend was taken ill last night". Meaning I went outside after the game, having drunk some champagne, passed out and then threw my guts up. Must remember to use that next time as an explanation to the Girlfriend.

And finally the best highlight, which was (timeline wise anyway) the first, getting engaged to Pam. I popped the question just before we flew out on holiday. Well when I say just, it was a good 10 days before hand. To give us enough time to see various members of my family and give them the good news. The wedding is due sometime in September 2003, in the UK. So you've got enough time to start saving for a present.

I hope the week 16 reductions weren't too bad? We had one player (3 points) retire, 12 points of reductions, but the killer was the 10 step losses. They are going to be hard to pay for, but now that I have a 5* QB, I can finally say bye bye to Drew. Well a 2 year old QB can't be any worse then Drew the last couple of seasons? Though he did seem to improve towards the end of this season. Perhaps he knew that his place wasn't safe?

Thanks to Darren, Graham & Brucey for their contributions this week.

Wild Cards Games

NJ (10-6, W3) @ MD (10-6, L1) Last time : wk 16, 2004 (13 - 6)
Gerald : Tough one to call, but I think Miami will get revenge for last week. Fish by 3.
Graham : Déjà vu. Both excellent teams and there isn't much to choose between them. On that basis I have decided that this week it's Miami's turn (scientific, eh?). MD 3
SPLATT : Miami by 4.

SF (10-6, L1) @ WR (12-4, L2) Last time : wk 13, 2004 (3 - 18)
Gerald : Hummm. Can Paul break that jinx , of never winning a play-off game? Hummm. Well they did do it in the regular season (beat the 49ers), but the play-offs just seem to bring the worst out of Washington. But saying that I still think the jinx will be broken, but only just. Skins by 1.
Graham : Well, all reason says that the Skins should be too strong as they've looked that way all season. But . . . they've just lost two home games on the trot (Rams/Eagles) and, let us not forget, it is Paul and the playoffs - a match historically not made in heaven. Still, its time he broke the jinx so I am going to have to go against my divisional rivals. WR 6
SPLATT : Washington by 4.

Silver Bowl

AF (9-7, L2) @ PS (10-6, L1)
Gerald : Both teams are unlucky no to be in the play-offs. The Steelers look the stronger team. Steelers by 7.

NS (6-10, W4) @ CI (8-8, W6)
Gerald : Both teams come into this game with good current form, but the Bengals look the stronger team. Bengals by 10.

CB (4-11-1, L1) @ TB (6-10, L1)
Gerald : New coach, new gameplan, same result (losing). Buccs by 3.

NE (6-10, L3) @ KC (5-10-1, W1)
Gerald : No comment.

DC (4-12, W1) @ DL (4-11-1, W1)
Gerald : The Lions D should win it for them, cause their O sure as hell can't. But new boy Appleby will make it hard. Lions by 3.

OR (3-13, L10) @ SS (3-13, L1)
Gerald : Well its sad to see that Derek (the last remaining original coach) is no longer with us. What can the new coach do? I think even "new coach" luck will not be enough quite yet. Raiders by 7.

by Graham Canwell (Week 16)

	Offence	Buffalo	A tough choice (as ever in the AFC for this award). Buffalo just edged it, but there was hardly anything between them and the Browns, Bengals, Steelers and Seahawks
	Defence	New York	Kept the Dolphins out of the endzone, which is no mean feat and makes them the clear winner of this award.
	Coach	Purrington (NY)	Got his team into the playoffs at the death with a great win in a do-or-die situation at a very very tough venue. No contest.
	Offence	New Orleans	An early warning from a team who will astonish me if they don't take the division crown next season. Over 200 yards both rushing and passing is tough to argue with, not to mention the 36 first downs. Not too much competition, with the possible exceptions of the Rams and Cowboys
	Defence	Philadelphia	In a crisis you can usually rely on Jon's D to come up with the goods and they didn't disappoint. Best of the rest were the Rams (much less reliable) and Vikings.
	Coach	Heath (PE)	Got his divisional title back with a great win against a great rival, to set up yet another playoff clash with yours truly. Terrific coaching as usual.
	The Diddley	Denver	The Broncos are regaining a bit of their traditional prowess at Diddleyism (another new word). I seem to recall them beating me in a Superbowl several years ago by similar methods, but this weeks victims were divisional rivals Seattle.

Gerald to Richard : Very lucky last week. But then, which was more important, the draft position or beating you? I think you know which?

Gerald to Darren, Keith, Richard & Paul : Welcome to the league and good luck for next season, but please fail in the Con Bowls.

Gerald to Brucey : I'm not going to be baited by you, but at least I did have a better record than you. And don't forget the other teams in the division (all 3 of them) also got to the play-offs. What about your lot? Only one decent team.

Gerald to Tim : Well done, though luck did seem to be on your side for a number of games. Any chance I can borrow some of it for next season?

Gerald to Dean : Commiserations on going 0-16, but well done on sticking with the team. Here's hoping that 2005 will be your year and you'll win those close games this time and you never know perhaps a winning season?

Graham to Jon : Spooky, isn't it, how this happens pretty much every year. The last ever Miller/Cunningham showdown - hope it's a classic (but of course I'll settle for a scrappy win if can get one!)

Graham to Paul S : Good luck on getting a playoff win at last. Gerald broke his duck last year so its your turn.

Graham to New coaches : Too many to name individually, but you know who you are. Welcome to the league. Looks like all hell is about to break loose, which in this game is no bad thing.

Graham to Paul Macguire : Oh god - isn't three times a season in AC enough???? And now we have two Paul M's so its confusing to boot. Seriously though, I'm looking forward to another duel (at least it can't be more than two a season here!)

Graham to Tim : Congratulations. Immaculate throughout, as all those Rammys indicate (I've lost count but I bet it's a lot).

Darren to All Coaches : Hi everyone, looks like a pretty tough league just got even tougher with the new additions. Looking forward to seeing how good I really am as there are some top quality coaches here. Mark Dixon suggested I should join the league, and 'someone' also suggested I should change the Titans to the Ravens just to annoy Julian. I think I'll wait until I play him before I annoy him!

Darren to Julian : Just in case you hadn't realised, that wasn't me calling the plays for the Titans last week...

Brucey to All : The league is FULL! Added to that, there is at least one other coach on stand-by, which should make for one of the most competitive seasons yet. Things are really hotting up.

Brucey to The New Coaches : Nice to see you, to see you... lose? I should wish, but, if you're playing me, it'll probably be me with the loss :o(

Brucey to Coach Appleby : I'm expecting great things.

Brucey to Jon & Paul S : Oh dear. You'd better get that Bowl now, before it's too late.

Brucey to Paul Mac : Be gentle.

Brucey to Gerald : Only finished half a game behind you this season. Either I'm much improved, or ... :o)

Coaching Profile
Name	Darren Birtchnell
Age	24
Fav NFL Team	Saints
Gameplan Experience	NFLBP Sept 97-present, NFLBF Aug 99-present, NFLBY Dec 00-present, NFLKG
Overall Record	158-35-1, played in 4 Super Bowls, winning 2, reached conference championship 3 other times & only missed playoffs once, my first season.

Web Sites

Don't forget to visit the following sites :
uk.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/gameplan
www.endzone1.co.uk
brucey.net/nflab/

Well that's all for this week and good luck with the draft, which has 29 3 point (or better) players. Should mean quite a few will be still there come the second round.