Brentless Brents vs. Syracuse 44�s
The 44�s were the last team to beat the Brents in 2006 in which the great sage and eminent junkie Owner John Stoer used a play out of the bottom of his playbook by inserting the Brent himself against his once and former team. While I forget exactly what payback is, Stoer can not be pleased to see old friend QB Donovan McNabb on the Brent sideline. The Brents gained a measure of revenge in Week 14 last year as LaDainian Tomlinson piled on late TD�s. This year, Tomlinson has said he is more concerned about winning than TD�s, which is a concern to Owner Steve Johnson. Johnson has gone the route of unconventiality with no Packers and two Bears (drunkard Lance Briggs and sure to be disappointing K Robbie Gould). Vince Young has had a summer to immerse himself in the 44 playbook and Stoer hopes he is the second coming (of Donovan). The Brents hold a 10-6 series lead and won their last 12 games of 2006. They have been touted heavily as a shoe-in to defend their championship.
The Ballbusters vs. The Bull City
For whatever reason, Owner Randy Chambers decided to drop the B[vowel[]vowel] part of his team name (perhaps before the fans became the Boo-ers), making this heated rivalry turn up the stove from medium hot to hot (or just to broil, if you prefer) because it matches The�s. Oooh, The�s. The two teams ended 2006 in opposite ways. Bull City (and please do not pronounce the �C� of city as �sh�) had their first three game losing streak ever, while Owner Rich Joseph�s Busters ended the season by winning their last three and became the league�s bridesmaid. Many of the Busters are familiar, especially Peyton Manning, but now he gets to throw to Terrell Owens! It�s like a dream team for Joseph. Chambers also has familiar troops with Brees and Gore being joined by Ward, Holt, Cooley, Donnie Edwards, and Terrence McGee. That Randy, ever so loyal. BC holds a 5-3 series lead and the Busters have never won in Week One (0-4).
Wookies vs. Red Herrings
While I am sure I will beat the brother rivalry of the Mitchell to death during the season, there is no more heated match up than Charlie vs. Will. Charlie has proven himself many times in other minor leagues, but now he has joined the Big Time. He swooped into Modano land last year and scored a Week 9 92-56 win over his flabbergasted and racially confused (at that time) brother. Surprise will not be on Charlie�s side in 2007, but Shawn Merriman will. Merriman has supposedly upped his offseason workouts. He now takes blue and white pills - not just blue pills. Larry �Bubbie� Johnson is also back on the Herring side and Laurence Maroney makes his Red debut. Will�s Wookies will definitely be roaring (with Lions, that is). The elder Mitchell left the draft in the hands of others and received a basketful of Detroit players for his trouble. He starts Jon Kitna and Roy Williams with a pair of Patriot receivers (Moss and Stallworth) to try to offset Maroney.
Weaselicious Cookies vs. P-Miss Envy
The last time these two met they had to ignore Pride and Prejudice and concentrate on trying to draft a quality team. While A&E�s version of Pride and Prejudice is both well done and excellent for putting someone to sleep, the Modano version will feature pride in the form of boasting and extreme prejudice. The Cookies swept their Fox Valley rival away with wins in Weeks 4 and 13. Neither game was particularly close with the Cookies (who some people call the Wildcats) winning both by 20+ points. The Envy still lead the series at 9-8, but Owner Perry Missner needs to rebound from his team�s disastrous 2006 season. To do so, he has brought in Carson Palmer, who should be somewhat better than last year�s Week 1 starter (the D-Cup, Daunte Culpepper). Owner Dan Weitz hopes to keep his win streak against the Envy going and has inserted Tom Brady (who he apparently does not get along with) to throw to the excellent Bernard Berrian.
San Francisco Cubists vs. County Coroners
Then there is the Rivalry by the Bay. It has always seemed like Owner Jason Moore has had the upper hand when the Cubists meet the Coroners, but the team�s split in 2006 with the Coroners dominating in Week 3 (98-73) before the Cubists took home an ugly 73-61 win in Week 12 that featured only four TD�s. Moore likes to get his team out to a fast start and they boast the best Week 1 record (6-3). In 2006, he will use an opposite strategy from the one that brought all of those early championships to the west coast. Rather than relying on runners (who were not available), the Cubists have assembled an incredible trio of receivers � Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Marvin Harrison. Tony Romo will try to keep all three happy. Owner Chad Nuss is going with a more balanced attack. Through the air he has Bulger looking for Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson. When he wants to pound the run, he can try Willie Parker, Brandon Jacobs, and Thomas Jones. It�s going to be a great week � and look for those Week 1 recaps on time!
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