AFC West
Thundercats (Manager: Milspank):
2005 Final Record: 8-5, AFC West Champion, Lost in first round of playoffs
This new manager took over a proven winner that had climbed on top of a fierce AFC West which was not decided until the final weeks of the regular season. In the off-season, the Thundercats went out and struck a deal to bring the top fantasy quarterback to town. The Thundercats traded Donovan McNabb, Corey Dillion and Donte Stallworth to bring in Peyton Manning. Although the most expensive quarterback at $35, Manning is the top quarterback in the league and has been proving it for years. The Thundercats also said goodbye to Jake Delhomme, Mike Anderson and Deion Branch to bring in Thomas Jones and Sammie Parker. The already strong Thundercats stayed strong through this offseason and looks to compete again.
Off-Season Grade: C+
Kringles (Manager: Peepcoalition):
2005 Final Record: 6-7, AFC Wild Card, Lost in first round of playoffs
The Kringles had and up and down year in 2005, stumbling to the finish of the regular season and making the playoffs by 26 points. The Kringles are always on the prowl to make a big move and try to push his team deep into the playoffs. Only 2 players from the 2005 roster reamin on the 2006 team after an explosive off-season. The Kringles managed to convert from starting Kerry Collins, Jerome Mathis, Keyshawn Johnson, Stephen Davis and Kevan Barlow to starting Trent Green, David Givens, Amani Toomer, LaDainian Tomlinson and Ruben Droughns. Kringles have sacrificed cap space to field a much improved team from last year. The Kringles will be in contention this year, but might have sacrificed their future for a shot at it all in 2006.
Off-Season Grade: B
Cleveland Quagmires (Manager: Trevor):
2005 Final Record: 6-7, Missed Playoffs
This team made perhaps the fewest moves this off-season, keeping together a team that underachieved in the past season. The Quags are still sitting on Marc Bulger, Stephen Jackson, Roy Williams, Larry Fitzgerald and others which put him in contention until the last day of the regular season. However, the Quags did not go out and make the change that could have pushed them over the hump, instead they will rely on most of the same guys that took the field last year. Injuries and underachievment left his team out of the playoffs, but keeping the same core should allow this team to make a jump for the playoffs again.
Off-Season Grade: D+
Fumblerooski (Manager: Atrain56):
2005 Final Record: 3-10, Missed Playoffs
Atrain takes over a team which, despite the name How Can I Lose, performed miserably on their way to the 3rd worst record in the league. The new manager came in and stepped the roster up in hopes of cracking into contention this year. Among the new faces are Donovan McNabb, Reggie Wayne and LaMont Jordan. Fumblerooski managed to pick up McNabb and Jake Delhomme to replace Trent Green and Kyle Boller as the team's only quarterbacks on the roster. Jordan replaces Duce McCallister who left via free agency. Overall this team let some injury-prone guys go for some more durable players. This improvment should keep his team around a lot longer than its last manager.
Off-Season Grade: B+
AFC East
Toronto Argonauts (Manager: TorontoArgonauts):
2005 Final Record: 10-3, AFC East Champion, AFC Champioin, Lost in Super Bowl
The defending AFC Champ has reloaded for another run at the title. The Argonauts cracked the first big deal of the off-season, trading away Peyton Manning and ended up trading for Shaun Alexander to join Larry Johnson in the Toronto backfield. The Argonauts stayed strong at quarterback with Tom Brady replacing Manning and wide reciever with Terrell Owens and added Anquan Boldin. With the best 1-2 punch out of the runningback position, there is little doubt that this team will make the playoffs once again and challenge for the big prize for the second year in a row.
Off-Season Grade: B+
El Paso Bandits (Manager: Mark)
2005 Final Record: 8-5, AFC Wild Card, Lost in Second Round
The former Petoria Griffins get back to work as the El Paso Bandits and look to unseat the Toronto Argonauts as the favorite for the AFC East. The Bandits have always focused on improving their running game and went to work again this off-season to improve. The Bandits got even younger at runningback by adding Ronnie Brown in exchange for Edgerrin James and by drafting Lendale White. The Bandits look to be solid for years at quarterback with Eli Manning, but might find some problems at wide reciever this season. The Bandits have weak depth at the position, with Randy Moss and Rod Smith as the stars, followed by a group of lesser-knowns. With three empty roster spots left, the Bandits could still be in the market to add some names during the season.
Off-season Grade: B
Motown Cat Milkers (Manager: bigquarterback11)
2005 Final Record: 6-7, Missed Playoffs
The Cat Milkers saw the playoffs slip away in the last week of play after a late push for the last Wild Card spot. With that in mind, the Cat Milkers went to work gaining much more quality than quanity. This team is thin, but the starters are solid. They have Matt Hasselbeck, Tiki Barber, Edgerrin James, Deshaun Foster, Chad Johnson and Derrick Mason on the starting line. However, the price payed for these stars has left the Cat Milkers with only $2 in cap space, 9 unused roster spots and no tight end. If this entire team stays heathly all year, the Cat Milkers should be very good. However, one injury could cripple this team due to lack of reserves.
Off-Season Grade: D+
Detroit Wolveriens (Manager: detroitwolverines)
2005 Final Record: 6-7, Missed Playoffs
The Wolveriens are the final team in the only divison with all second year managers. The Wolverines saw a tough finish after making a late push for the last playoff spot. The Wolverines went out this off-sesaon and filled its backfield, adding two more runningbacks from last year's total to give them eight this year. Among the new arrivals are Priest Holmes and Corey Dillion, who will join Tatum Bell and Cedric Benson. The weakenss of this team comes in at wide reciever with Keyshawn Johnson leading the way. However, with a strong year out of Drew Brees and/or Steve McNair, this team should be able to play through the weak group of recievers.
Off-Season Grade: B+