American fantasy football league

Sunday, August 31th: TownTown´s Fantasy Fottball live darft.
Venue and time to be announced (but it will be in Munich)
Who is in?
1. PES
2. Hazza
3. 3 Lions
4. Eurovol
5. JJ
6. HelterSkelter
7. Courchene
8. JerseyBoy
9. RS500Guy
10. Wahoo
11. RickMunich

Count me in. As a Bears fan, my first pick will be a quarterback, then another quarterback, then another quarterback-- all of whom will suck. I won't decide on a permanent starter until the fourth week in the season when I will go with the one who performed the worst.

I may have to fly to London on the 31st. I hope I won't have to go until Monday...

The Commish and myself decided to check out Champions Bar yesterday, unfortunately it's opening time is 5pm daily. So we need to seriously think about venues. The following are not in order of preference, they are just suggestions.

1. Champions Bar, a strict starting time of 5pm, with a draft pick time of roughly 4-5 hours means we could realisticly start this late in the day. The 5pm start could also be beneficial to anyone who has to travel a long distance to get in to Munich.
2. Bavaria Brau, lots of open space and I'm sure they wont mind us putting up the draft sheet.
3. Beer Garden, if the weather is like it is now, then why not outside?
4. Outland, we can reserve a place big enough for us and it's also a venue for some of the games this season.

For the laptop users, you should plan for a place that wont have WiFi, I dont know if the above have it or not?. Personally myself am just a pencil and piece of paper guy.

Any other suggestions, post them here.

My suggestion would actually be a place with Wifi... makes it way easier for those who can't make it to Munich and wanna use a proxy...

OK, but can you suggest a place with wifi? I don't think we should hold up the whole process on that one criterium.

I agree with JJ on this. In the past a proxy has been someone who was able to attend the event. e.g. Cookie* stepped in for Perdido last year and Wahoo stepped in for the eventual champion Claydog.

People say proxy, but I understand that to be someone who will attend on the behalf of someone else. Not someone on a remote access that could possibly be cut off for whatever reason. I dont want to be half way through a draft pick and have it stop because of a crappy internet connection.

*I believe Cookie is unavailable this year is because her reputation from the TT fantasy league has prompted the Chicago Bears to hire her expertees for the next draft.

If I get my basement cleaned up, I could host it and I have wifi. If the weather is nice, I have a garden too. If it is just a room you are looking for with food and beer, the EineWeltHaus is still a possibility and they have internet.

So we may have 11 teams. Anyone else up for the league?
I would prefer a midday draft as I have to drive home the same day (2.5 hours).

The draft board has arrived in the mail. Excellent...
Must resist urge to play with stickers

How about FORUM on Corneliusstr.? They have Wifi, tasty beer, nice food and are big enough to host a bigger crowd...

I'll try to check out FORUM in the coming days. Here is their website. Perhaps a little posh for this group, but a possibility.
What am I saying? Eurovol's basement is too posh for this group.

The website actually is crap... looks way different in reality.

I am down here in our farmhouse in Italy trying to figure out what I think about Manny being gone. I like Manny as he didn't give a damn. That doesn´t wash well in Boston. Bay may fit in(he won the game last night). Manny asked to stay in Boston an hour after the deal was sealed. Manny being Manny. I will miss him.
Let us get this league up to 12 (or better 14) teams. I don´t want an off week.

The Zar Bar doesn't have internet access, but otherwise may be a good venue, especially if you'd like a nice big breakfast with your draft.

The draft is four weeks away. Start studying those names.
TJ Who's Your Momma

I'd be happy with Zar Bar also, loads of space and trhey wont mind us spreading out. There are a couple of areas that are perfect in size.

We just need a 12th person to make up the numbers now.

And Favre just left Packers camp.

He's retiring, he's not retiring, he's retiring, he's not retiring. Third year now. He's sabotaged the fans' loyalty to Rodgers, and now wants a trade to a division rival so he can play against the Packers twice a year. Nice loyalty to the team. And it looks like the Bucs. So he's f'ng up Chris Simms' career as well. For what? To go on another farewell tour? He's like an obsolete rock band. I'm losing respect for him by the minute.

Might have a 12th contestant by tonight... is there any kind of public transport near that Zar Bar?

@bohemka - Simms?? Hell, he's already fourth on the depth chart. I doubt he'd survive the roster cuts as it is. Although I wouldn't put it past Gruden to have 6 QBs on his roster going into week 1.

@Helter - Zar is about a 5-10 minute walk from Karl-Pries-Platz (U2). The 55 and 155 buses stop within a block of the place. Zar Bar. Note that this option does not support wifi.

ugh! do not get me started on Favre!
Next week's preseason game at Lambeau should be interesting (just to see what people do). Hopefully my tailgating won't interfere and I'll enjoy listenting to every one moan/cheer/fight about the saga.

I used WIfi at the last drafts to do quick searches on late round picks, but I guess I can do without it.

OK, we have 12 players now! It's Jake from last years league, so it's kind of the same chain-gang as last year!

Excellent news! That does put us at 12. We can expand as high as 14, but any new players must be added in pairs.

Hi all.

I just finished reconfiguring the ESPN scoring rules to get them as close as possible to last year's rules. Some things didn't translate 100%, but I was able to come pretty close.

Passing
Every 10 passing yards 0.5 ⁽¹⁾
TD Pass 6
Interceptions Thrown -2
2pt Passing Conversion 2

Rushing
Every 1 rushing yards 0.1
TD Rush 6
2pt Rushing Conversion 2

Receiving
Every 1 receiving yards 0.1
TD Reception 6
2pt Receiving Conversion 2

Miscellaneous
Each Fumble Lost -2

Kicking
Each PAT Made 1
FG Made (0-39 yards) 3
FG Made (40-49 yards) 5
FG Made (50+ yards) 7

Team Defense / Special Teams
Each Sack 1
Interception Return TD 6
Fumble Return TD 6
Kickoff Return TD 6
Punt Return TD 6
Blocked Punt or FG return for TD 6 ⁽²⁾
Each Interception 2
Each Fumble Recovered 2
Each Safety 2
0 points allowed 10
2-6 points allowed 8
7-13 points allowed 5
14-17 points allowed 2
28-34 points allowed -1
35-45 points allowed -3
46+ points allowed -3
Less than 100 total yards allowed 5 ⁽³⁾
100-199 total yards allowed 3
200-299 total yards allowed 1

Notes:
¹Last year it was .05 points per passing yard. We need can't go that deep on decimals, so it will be .5 points for every 10 yards passing. 9 yards gets you nothing.
²There was some confusion around defense/special team touchdowns last year. Courchene, please take a look at these rules as these are slightly different!
³Last year there were separate bonus points for rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed. This year it is only TOTAL yards allowed.

If there are any objections or suggestions regarding the scoring rules, please raise them this week. I would like to lock these down by Sunday the 17th in order to give folks time to plan their draft strategy.

The problem I believe was kickoff and punt returns for a TD where receivers/backs that double up as returners not getting individual points while on D for returns.

Is there a way to score return yardage?

I would say on the total yardage allowed, make that 7, 5, 3 (or 1) and then zip. Any team being held to under 200 yards is damn good and under 100 is nearly impossible.

Personally, I would favor interceptions to be +3/-3.

Allowing 46 or more points should be a minus 5.

I don't see blocked punt or field goal attempt? They should each be -3.

Right, the key decision then is whether a kick return for a touchdown is scored for the Defense/Special Teams unit or for the individual scoring the TD.

I'm not in favor of changing the interception points.

In looking at the past threads, I have not seen any mention of awarding points for blocking kicks, so this would be a new rule which the various league members should weigh in on.

Kick return for a TD - points should go to the defense/Special Team.
If a blocked field goal/punt is -3, then logically the defense/special team should score +3 for that.

Are we decided on Zar Bar now? What time starting?

I need to know too and would prefer a lunch time/early afternoon draft.

I'll work on finalizing the draft location this weekend with a couple of site visits. If anyone is interested in joining, please PM me. I would like to aim for a 1:00pm gathering on the 31st, with the intention of starting the draft promptly at 1:30pm.

Could you make it 2 passing yards = 0.1 point? It's also only 1 decimal, but would be more accurate.

I'd also prefer somewhere with WLAN. I don't know that many players and would like to be able to look up players during the draft.

We've had one WLAN-enabled suggestion which I intend to check out over the weekend. Please post more suggestions if you have them. Otherwise, no promises.

Mate, neither do I. All I'll be using is my usual cheat sheet and my super scientific scheme of -

1. He's highest on the list, so pick him.
2. I like the sound of his name...Michael Vick on paper sounds like a fine upstanding member of the community!

Drop by the EineWeltHaus tonight. I will be there.

OK, I've scouted a few places.

• Cafe Forum, while nice, is probably the wrong venue for the draft. They'll be quite busy for Sunday brunch.
• Hard Rock Cafe was in the running, but we don't have enough people to reserve their back room and the main room would be too crowded and noisy.
• Kilian's could be a possibility but I was unable to verify internet connectivity.
• Shamrock is supposed to have connectivity and may end up being our best bet. I'll stop by there tomorrow to verify.
• I know little about EineWeltHaus. If Shamrock falls through, we can check that next.
• If all else falls through, I'll reserve something at Zar Bar.

Cafe Forum: Or you mean we'ld be driving out the brunch people...
Hard Rock: Crap beer (last time I was there was 4 years ago - so if they might pour nectar by now - that'ld be cool).
Kilians: Used to have wifi, but as far as I experienced not open to customers anymore.
Shamrok: s.a. Kilians.
EineWeltHaus: Good place, but also no wifi (just held a class there two month ago - eventhough there is a wifi with their name, the staff seemed to have no idea what I was asking them about).
Zar Bar: Don't know the place...

Anyway - thanks JJ for putting in the effort!

I'ld call for the Shamrock, Forum or the EineWeltHaus!

Orton named starting QB. Other than that see you fellas in two weeks. Hazza-man I still have the money I owe ya, sorry about the lateness but had the IRS on my back.

Good work scouting, JJ. I'll trust your judgement - I just need to know the WiFi situation a few days in advance so that I can print off more stuff if it's not available.

@Perdido - Does that mean you're here for the draft and playing?

I thought you guys had an even 12.

We might find another player - still a week and a half left...

My vote is Zar Bar, screw the WiFi.

Cafe Puck has Wifi and is not located somewhere in the outback like Zsar...

Location update:
Shamrock no longer has wifi.
Kilian's does have a hotspot but will only have the outdoor area open if the weather is nice. Ned's will be busy with the Blues-Spurs game.

At this point, please plan NOT to have wifi at the draft. Even if we did have a hotspot, there are no guarantees that it would be working anyway. I will check out one last place (Cafe Puck) tomorrow. If that doesn't work, then I'll be reserving space at Zar Bar. Check back here tomorrow for the final decision.

Also, Hazza and Wahoo, don't forget to register on the ESPN league site.

EineWeltHaus has Wifi if I am there. IF we have room 108, we can sit inside or outside or both.

What is EineWeltHaus?? Is this just a meeting building or do they have a working kitchen and barman? That is actually more important than wifi, in my opinion.

Again, regardless of the location chosen, do not assume wifi will be available. It will be a bonus if it is.

EineWeltHaus was founded in 2001 as place where the different cultures represented in Munich today are supposed to meet. They opened as part of the "local agenda 21" and also focus on bringing issues and topics like fair trade, solidarity with the third world and intercultural communication closer to the Munich citizens. From the traditional Irish dancing class to the Swahili lacemaking course they invite and open their place to anyone who needs a room to practise, meet, cult or whatever... They do have a working kitchen and and a restaurant - was there three months or so ago, for a weekend course I had to hold and there was no wifi because they were having troubles with the provider (as staff stated). Would be an interesting spot though, since prices are cheap, food is nice and there would also be he possibilty to rent out room for us (involves costs of course, but for a whole weekend the room was 65 Euros so for two or three hours should be nothing literally...) + as said before: it's not somewhere in Siberia like Zar...

I'm tempted to book this at Zar just to make you trek out to "Siberia" and brave the dragons on this side of the river. God forbid you should travel when you could have me travel instead.

Thanks for the lowdown on EienWeltHaus. @Eurovol, I'm open to this if you can book this and work your wifi magic. At this point, I'm honestly just tired of looking.

Just had a look at the site, it looks shit.

JJ, thanks for going through the hazzle and organizing all this! I'ld always come to Siberia to met you and the dragons though...!

@3 Lions -- Don't make me angry. You really wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Well after a long afternoon on a pisser I watched the Cowboy/Texan game. So there are opinions thrown out there. Either Dallas’s first offense looks good or the Texans first team defense sucks. I think more of the latter. Crayton did make some nice catches but I am still hesitant on naming him a second receiver. The hype on Slanton may be justified and lets face it, Ahman is always hurt and for any team to have 4 backs on their roster this late in the preseason is a sign that the starting position is up for grabs. Remember though you have Kubiak as skipper and this offense operates the same blocking schemes that West Virginia uses, which gives Slanton another advantage. Also Shaulb if he stays healthy will be in the pro-bowl (if the HB position is solidified).

PS Barber looked like a machine although I question him as a 30-40 rep guy but think that a 25/5* scenario is more than likely.

*25 carries 5 passes

Here are the final scoring settings. I've incorporated some, but not all, of the input earlier in this thread. Start setting your draft strategy accordingly.

Passing
Every 10 passing yards 0.5 (@Hazza - This is the most granular setting I can make it without changing the points-to-yards ratio)
TD Pass 6
Interceptions Thrown -2
2pt Passing Conversion 2

Rushing
Every 1 rushing yards 0.1
TD Rush 6
2pt Rushing Conversion 2

Receiving
Every 1 receiving yards 0.1
TD Reception 6
2pt Receiving Conversion 2

Miscellaneous
Each Fumble Lost -2

Kicking
Each PAT Made 1
FG Made (0-39 yards) 3
FG Made (40-49 yards) 5
FG Made (50+ yards) 7

Team Defense / Special Teams
Each Sack 1
Interception Return TD 6
Fumble Return TD 6
Kickoff Return TD 6
Punt Return TD 6
Blocked Punt or FG return for TD 6 (2)
Each Interception 2
Each Fumble Recovered 2
Each Safety 2
0 points allowed 10
2-6 points allowed 8
7-13 points allowed 5
14-17 points allowed 2
28-34 points allowed -1
35-45 points allowed -3
46+ points allowed -5
Less than 100 total yards allowed 7
100-199 total yards allowed 5
200-299 total yards allowed 2