Fantasy Football Dispute No. 3223-T: Trade Of Draft Picks Tolled Because Trade Not Recognized By ESPN.com

SPORTSJUDGE.COM

COURT OF FANTASY FOOTBALL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	x	Index No. 3223-T Date: September 13, 2009 League Type: H-TO-H, KEEPER Judge: JOE ROMANO TRADE IS TOLLED.
COMMISSIONER TIDMAN Petitioner, - against - FAT JESUS & PROGRESSIVE LEMMINGS Respondent	: : : : : : : : : :
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Petitioner, Commissioner Tidman, brings this claim in the COURT OF FANTASY FOOTBALL, seeking a declaratory judgment of the status of a trade made in the prior season between Fat Jesus and Progressive Lemmings. The trade between Fat Jesus and Progressive Lemmings is waived for the 2009 season but may be applied in 2010.

The Law on Upholding a Trade

In resolving a trade dispute, SportsJudge.com first looks to the specific league’s constitution for guidance in determining the dispute. Where no constitution exists or the constitution does not provide any guidance in determining a trade dispute, the default rule is a trade shall be upheld so long as the trade may adequately benefit both teams. Wicked Threadz Fantasy Football League v. Real Men of Genius & Express, 2306-T (2008). In such situations, SportsJudge.com arbitrators are guided by case precedent. Where the issue is one of first impression, the arbitrator will attempt to provide an equitable and fair resolution.

The Proposed Trade

The proposed trade is a 2-for-1 involving both future draft picks and players.

Fat Jesus traded to Progressive Lemmings:

· 3^rd Round Pick in 2009

Progressive Lemmings traded to Fat Jesus:

· Marvin Harrison (WR, IND)

· 5^th Round Pick in 2009

Analysis of the Trade

This trade presents an issue of first impression to SportsJudge.com. The initial trade is not being disputed, all involved agree the trade is fair. The problem arises in that the trading parties forgot to apply the trade in the current year draft. The league uses ESPN.com as the host of their league, but ESPN.com does not provide a way to trade draft picks. Therefore, each player was responsible for ensuring the trade was completed within the draft room. However, each forgot, and the commissioner seeks our decision as to the proper remedy for the situation.

It is clear from the outset that the trade was valid and, therefore, a binding contract was made between the parties. When each party failed to swap picks within the draft room, the contract became voidable due to mutual mistake. Therefore, the question remains as to what is the proper remedy for this situation.

Two possible remedies exist for the portion of the trade that remains unexecuted. The failure to trade the 2009 draft picks can be ignored or the players selected in the draft can be treated as though selected by the franchise who owned the draft choice as a result of the trade. However, to impose a trade upon the teams is an inappropriate remedy in light of the many individual factors that determine a draft choice. To impose a trade upon the teams will not promote equity and fairness. Trading the players is therefore not a feasible option.

The best remedy to this waiver of contract through mutual mistake is to ignore that the trade ever occurred and continue as thought nothing happened. This resolution does not hurt the league for the current season and promotes stability within the league. The only teams currently affected by this resolution would be the two trading teams. However, as SportsJudge.com history indicates, the stifling of fair trades is not favored. Therefore, at the discretion of the trading teams, they may apply the results of the trade in the 2010 draft. This resolution provides the most efficient remedy while not ignoring the past trade.

Holding

Based on the foregoing, the trade between Fat Jesus and Progressive Lemmings is waived for the 2009 season but may be applied in 2010.

NHL Faceoff Debate: Judging The Avs, Marc-Andre Fleury as Team Canada Goalie, and the Potential For a Breakout Season from Rene Bourque.

This week in our NHL debate, we're going to roll with the SportsJudge theme and rule "Sustained" or "Overruled" on a number of early trends throughout the NHL. Hot topics include the fast start by the Colorado Avalanche, Rene Bourque's breakout season potential, and where Marc-Andre Fleury stands on the Team Canada depth chart.

Marc-Andre Fleury has proven he should be the starter for Team Canada in this spring's Olympics...

Joe Romano: SUSTAINED. I know some of my Penguins bias will seep in here, but I think Fleury is currently the best goaltender from my northerly neighbor. MAF is quickly becoming one of the best goaltenders in the world. He has already started the 2009 season on a strong note after leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season. Other than a hiccup against the Capitals, MAF was arguably the best goaltender in the playoffs. We can't forget the 2008 playoffs when he carried the Pens to the finals with a sub-2.0 GAA. He simply is currently the best Canadian goaltender playing hockey.

Onto his competition, Luongo is over two years removed from actually carrying a team, who already plays in a conservative system. Additionally, when the Canucks lost in the playoffs, much blame could be placed on Luongo's shoulders for more than a few soft goals. Sure, he's nasty in NHL10, but this isn't Xbox Live. Next is Brodeur, who certainly is no spring chicken. The past three playoffs by Brodeur have been marred by less than spectacular performances. Many Devils fans are still wondering how he almost personally handed the Hurricanes a first round win. You also need to go back to 2006 to find the last playoffs where Brodeur shined. Lastly, we have Cam Ward. It completely boggles my mind how much people have fallen in love with him over last year's playoffs. We are talking about a goalie who has been mediocre for most of his NHL career except for six rounds in the playoffs. Even in last year's playoffs he shined against average offenses (Boston and New Jersey), but was completely outmatched by the Pens. The competition is solid, but MAF has an advantage over each.

Mike Colligan: OVERRULED. I don't buy it. I think Fleury is an excellent goaltender and is really beginning to come into his own as one of the league's elite young talents, but it would be in Team Canada's best interest to put him on the team as the #3 goaltender to be sure he's ready for Sochi 2014. 2010 in Vancouver is Roberto Luongo's time to shine. He's off to a slow start this year (which is a yearly occurrence), but he finished with a 33-13-7 record to go along with 9 shutouts last season despite missing two months with a groin injury. Luongo served as Brodeur's understudy in the 2004 World Cup and 2006 Olympics and now deserves the chance to win a gold for Team Canada in a place he knows very well.

Some combination of Fleury, Cam Ward, and Steve Mason will eventually backstop Team Canada's gold medal hopes for the next two Olympics, but our Canadian readers probably still haven't forgotten (or even forgiven) Fleury for his "goal" in the 2004 World Junior Championships that sealed the victory for the US. As much as I expect Mike Babcock to shake things up this spring for Team Canada, I think Fleury needs to learn from the guys who've been there before.

Rene Bourque will fill the void left by Michael Cammalleri for Calgary...

Mike Colligan: SUSTAINED. I'm guessing I'll be in the minority on this one, but I don't think it's a matter of will he replace Cammalleri, he needs to. Rene Bourque has 25 goals in 66 career games with Calgary which equates to an 82-game pace of 31; all while never finding consistent time opposite Jarome Iginla. In Cammalleri's two seasons on LA prior to his breakout with Iginla, he was on a nearly identical goal-scoring pace and eventually tallied 39 last year. Iginla has been off to a slow start so far this season and new head coach Brent Sutter has been trying to find the right mix of players to get him rolling. Sutter has also given Bourque quite a bit of powerplay time, something Rene never received much of last year under Mike Keenan. It seems inevitable that Bourque eventually ends up on a line with Iginla, and centerman Daymond Langkow (who Bourque and Iginla have both had chemistry with in previous years). If that's the case, I think Calgary may be facing the same challenge of resigning a breakout free agent scorer next summer with Rene Bourque.

NHL Faceoff Debate: Matt Carle and Other Surprises (No Playoffs For Red Wings?)

Is Matt Carle's hot start for real or just a mirage?

Flyers defenseman Matt Carle has come out of the gates on fire notching 8 points in his first five games, leading all NHL defensemen heading into Wednesday's action. The former Hobey Baker winner out of the University of Denver has had a bumpy road since entering the NHL in 2006. After tallying 42 points in his first full season with San Jose, Carle found himself shipped to Tampa Bay in the deal that had Dan Boyle heading to the Sharks. His stay with the Lightning didn't last long and Carle finally landed in Philadelphia last season.

Mike Colligan: I'm always skeptical of fast starts by defensemen, especially when they include a ton of assists (See '08-09 version of Filip Kuba), but I think Carle is for real. He finished the 08-09 regular season with 6 points in his final 9 games and now finds himself paired with newcomer Chris Pronger at even strength and on the powerplay. Kimmo Timonen has been the powerplay QB for the last two seasons but at the age of 35, I think he's beginning to slow down, creating a void the 25-year-old Carle looks to seize.

Joe Romano: I’m not buying it, and it doesn’t have so much to do with Carle as it does with the rest of the Flyers. I just don’t think their is enough room for Carle. Much like hot streaks, there will be cold streaks. Philly, in all sports, hasn’t been known for their patience and one cold streak from Carle has him off the top power play unit and toiling with the second unit, or even worse. I love his talent and he showed us what he is capable of while in San Jose, but for him to keep this up, he must remain a top-two defenseman in Philly. I’m just not sure I see that happening all season. Carle may be a usable defensemen all year, but more like the third or fourth variety rather than the first or second.

What 2009 playoff outcast will find themselves battling for Lord Stanley this spring?

Mike Colligan: I'm going to go with the Los Angeles Kings. Their top line of Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth, and Anze Kopitar has been lights out so far as Kopitar seems to have found an excellent chemistry with his new linemates. Unloading Kyle Quincey for Smyth over the summer was a big loss, but one a team like the Kings can handle with their depth and talent on the back end. Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty are emerging stars and Rob Scuderi brings in the shutdown capabilities the team needs to handle division foes like Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton. Jon Quick is a very underrated goaltender and should be able to lead this team to a berth in the playoffs this season and for many years to come.

On the flip side, expect the Detroit Red Wings to miss the playoffs for the first time in what seems like decades (yes I know, call me crazy). I tossed this idea around before the season after Hossa, Hudler, and Samuelsson skipped town, and the loss of Johan Franzen now means the Wings are down 116 goals from those four players alone. I won't even start on Chris Osgood...Detroit is missing the playoffs, I will guarantee it.

Joe Romano: I love the Kings and they would have been my choice, but I also like Tampa Bay. I know, I slammed them numerous times for the dysfunction and lack of leadership throughout the entire organization. I mean they were considering trading Vinny Lecavalier, really? But somehow, someway, management got it right. They brought in some good young talent, made some key signings and possess one of the better offenses in the league.

Mike Smith is a very underrated goaltender who put up very solid numbers as a backup in Dallas. I also love Steve Stamkos. This super soph will put his name on the map this year and average a point per game through the entire season. Their weak spot is, and will be all season, defense. Bringing in Victor Hedman will pay dividends right away. Many forget he already has a season and a half of professional hockey in Europe under his belt. I think Tampa makes the jump to the playoffs this year, especially considering their weak division. I expect them to finish second behind the Caps, with the Hurricanes, Panthers and Thrashers on the outside looking in.

Mike Colligan: While I agree on your pick, I disagree a little on the reasoning. The top 5 forwards are excellent, but I think a pair of under the radar offseason moves will be the key. Hedman appropriately got all the attention on the back end, but Tampa really upgraded on D with Matthias Ohlund leading the way. He, like Hedman, hails from Sweden and will be a great mentor for the #2 pick. He has size, skating ability, a huge shot and is capable of shutting down the best forwards the Eastern Conference has to offer.

While Smith has performed decent at times, I love the addition of Antero Niittymaki in goal. He's been around the block and although can be inconsistent at times, he plays with poise and is more than you could ask for as a backup. (Oh yeah, and don't forget his love for the division foe Thrashers)

Through two weeks, what fantasy hockey player is still flying under the radar?

Joe Romano: For me, this answer is simple, Justin Williams in Los Angeles. Through five games, he has one goal, four assists, four PIM, two power play points and is a plus 3. He is the diet version of Brenden Morrow, he doesn’t dominate a category, but contributes across the board. The last few seasons Williams has struggled with injuries, but prior to that, he was just shy of notching a point per game and matching that with solid numbers in PIM, PPP, and +/-.

I’ll admit, I even forgot about him in a pretty deep “experts” draft, but so did everyone else. I was able to grab him from the free agent bin on the first day of the season. He can be streaky, but when he isn’t scoring, he will still be helping you in other categories. A premium is always placed on five tool guys in fantasy baseball, and Williams fits that role in hockey.

Mike Colligan: I'll stay in California with my pick and say Ryan Whitney of the Ducks, a guy I was very high on coming into the season. He put up a career high 59 points with Pittsburgh in 06-07, his second season, yet underwent heel surgery last summer. Whitney only appeared in 28 underwhelming games for the Penguins before they shipped him to Anaheim in the Chris Kunitz trade. So what do I like so much about this year?

In addition to the major surgery, Whitney was also hampered by a suffocating defensive style former Penguins coach Michel Therrien had implemented. The free-wheeling defenseman has one goal, four assists, 8 PIM's, 2 powerplay pts, and a +4 rating through five games. The departure of workhorse Chris Pronger has allowed Whitney to log an average of 26 min/game, a number that should only increase with the injury to James Wisniewski. Throw in the fact that Whitney hasn't even cracked the forward-heavy top powerplay unit in Anaheim yet and I think his season is waiting to explode.

SportsJudge.com Fantasy Hockey Challenge Draft Recap

Our SportsJudge NHL team and friends recently completed their experts fantasy draft, and now that the regular season is underway, let's take a look at the results. Check out our league preview article for a list of the SportsJudge friends involved, as well as the rules and basic structure of the league. Please keep in mind our standard head-to-head 10 category format may not be completely appropriate for the league you may be participating in. If you have specific questions, feel free to email us at info(at)sportsjudge.com or comment below.

I'll only be reviewing the first ten rounds in this recap due to space constraints, but will be covering the league on weekly basis throughout the season.

Round 1
1 Alexander Ovechkin (SJ Coslov)
2 Sidney Crosby (PuckCentral.net)
3 Evgeni Malkin (InsideHockey.com)
4 Dany Heatley (SJ Colligan)
5 Ryan Getzlaf (SJ Romano)
6 Joe Thornton (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Roberto Luongo (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Evgeni Nabokov (SJ Seto)
9 Miikka Kiprusoff (SaucerPass.com)
10 Jarome Iginla (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: The talented Sharks duo going at #4 and #6 is risky, but if they click each could easily top 100 points next season. Keep in mind Dany Heatley is only two seasons removed from back-to-back 50 goals seasons without the NHL's best playmaker on his line.

Round 2
1 Ilya Kovalchuk (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Tim Thomas (SaucerPass.com)
3 Martin Brodeur (SJ Seto)
4 Pavel Datsyuk (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Mike Green (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Alexander Semin (SJ Romano)
7 Rick Nash (SJ Colligan)
8 Zach Parise (InsideHockey.com)
9 Henrik Zetterberg (PuckCentral.net)
10 Daniel Sedin (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: To some, Romano's Semin choice might be the surprise pick in this round. However, had he been healthy last season the Russian was on pace for 104 points. Starting the season on Ovechkin's wing could mean an enormous year for Semin.

Round 3
1 Nicklas Backstrom (SJ Coslov)
2 Jeff Carter (PuckCentral.net)
3 Corey Perry (InsideHockey.com)
4 Vincent Lecavalier (SJ Colligan)
5 Patrick Kane (SJ Romano)
6 Tomas Vokoun (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Dion Phaneuf (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Martin St. Louis (SJ Seto)
9 Zdeno Chara (SaucerPass.com)
10 Niklas Backstrom (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Bruce took Vokoun far earlier than expected, but I think he may be on to something. Few realize that Vokoun and former understudy Craig Anderson were #2 and #3 respectively in NHL save percentage last season. With the departure of All-Star Jay Boewmeester on defense, Vokoun could be facing even more shots this season.

Round 4
1 Marc Savard (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Devin Setoguchi (SaucerPass.com)
3 Dan Boyle (SJ Seto)
4 Bobby Ryan (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Jonas Hiller (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Henrik Lundqvist (SJ Romano)
7 Cam Ward (SJ Colligan)
8 Marian Gaborik (InsideHockey.com)
9 Eric Staal (PuckCentral.net)
10 Marc-Andre Fleury (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: If Fleury can find his Playoff form of last year, Coslov may have the steal of the draft with the 11th goaltender off the board. Timo Seppa also snagged a gem in Bobby Ryan, who is part of what may be the strongest line in the NHL. He had 31 goals in just 64 games last season.

Round 5
1 Henrik Sedin (SJ Coslov)
2 Patrick Marleau (PuckCentral.net)
3 Mike Richards (InsideHockey.com)
4 Ryan Miller (SJ Colligan)
5 Simon Gagne (SJ Romano)
6 Andrei Markov (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Jonathan Toews (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Daniel Alfredsson (SJ Seto)
9 Michael Cammalleri (SaucerPass.com)
10 Jason Spezza (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: With only 73 points, last year was a down year for Jason Spezza. Losing Dany Heatley hurts, but Spezza has looked extremely fast in camp alongside newcomer Milan Michalek. On a roster that already includes Iginla, Kovalchuk, and Savard, Richard could have an offense to reckon with.

Round 6
1 Shea Weber (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Martin Havlat (SaucerPass.com)
3 Patrik Elias (SJ Seto)
4 Thomas Vanek (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Nicklas Lidstrom (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Sergei Gonchar (SJ Romano)
7 Carey Price (SJ Colligan)
8 Chris Osgood (InsideHockey.com)
9 Ray Emery (PuckCentral.net)
10 Steve Mason (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: It's not too often that a potential 45-50 goal scorer falls to the sixth round, but that's exactly what Timo found in Thomas Vanek. Vanek slowed down after a jaw injury in February and still ended up hitting the back of the net 40 times. Hitting his prime at the age of 25, look out.

Round 7
1 Marian Hossa (SJ Coslov)
2 Cristobal Huet (PuckCentral.net)
3 Johan Franzen (InsideHockey.com)
4 Olli Jokinen (SJ Colligan)
5 Pekka Rinne (SJ Romano)
6 Semyon Varlamov (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Nikolai Khabibulin (PuckProspectus.com)
8 David Booth (SJ Seto)
9 Chris Pronger (SaucerPass.com)
10 Anze Kopitar (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Hossa and Huet are great value this late in the draft. Huet stumbled towards the end of last season but he has a nice cushion as the starter for one of the best team's in the Western Conference. Some may think this is early to take Hossa, but in a league like this, your team is only as good as your playoff roster. Hossa should be back by mid-November and in prime shape by the time fantasy playoffs roll around.

Round 8
1 Duncan Keith (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Scott Hartnell (SaucerPass.com)
3 Brian Rafalski (SJ Seto)
4 Sheldon Souray (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Derick Brassard (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Brenden Morrow (SJ Romano)
7 Scott Niedermayer (SJ Colligan)
8 Marty Turco (InsideHockey.com)
9 Teemu Selanne (PuckCentral.net)
10 Scott Gomez (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: Getting a 60-point defenseman this late in the draft like Manson Seto did, shows it sometimes makes sense not to overpay for the big names like Chara or Phaneuf in the initial rounds. With this possibly being Lidstrom's final season in Detroit, expect Rafalski to take the reigns as the go-to guy in Hockey Town.

Round 9
1 David Krejci (SJ Coslov)
2 Shane Doan (PuckCentral.net)
3 Jason Blake (InsideHockey.com)
4 Mike Knuble (SJ Colligan)
5 Steven Stamkos (SJ Romano)
6 Patrice Bergeron (TheHockeyWriters.com)
7 Milan Lucic (PuckProspectus.com)
8 Mikko Koivu (SJ Seto)
9 Jay Bouwmeester (SaucerPass.com)
10 Niklas Kronwall (IllegalCurve.com)

Notes and Reaction: Shane Doan was a nice pick here by Declan as a complement to his already potent offense. Doan is a perfect example of a steady scoring forward that goes completely unnoticed playing the Arizona desert.

Round 10
1 David Backes (IllegalCurve.com)
2 Mark Streit (SaucerPass.com)
3 Bill Guerin (SJ Seto)
4 Dennis Wideman (PuckProspectus.com)
5 Alex Tanguay (TheHockeyWriters.com)
6 Mike Ribeiro (SJ Romano)
7 Alex Kovalev (SJ Colligan)
8 Joe Pavelski (InsideHockey.com)
9 Ales Hemsky (PuckCentral.net)
10 Phil Kessel (SJ Coslov)

Notes and Reaction: While we're on the subject of under appreciated players, Schrembs snagged Mark Streit at a great spot in the 10th round. In a perfect world, Streit should have been up for the Norris Trophy last season, his first on Long Island. Not only did he put up 56 points in only 74 games, he also managed to finish the season at +6. On the surface, this wouldn't blow away the casual hockey fan, but as the leading defenseman on the worst team in the league and almost half his points coming on the powerplay, I think this was an outstanding accomplishment. Adding John Tavares and legitimate starting goalies to the Islanders will only help Streit's cause.

Week 1 Fantasy Football Advice Live Blog

Have a lineup question? Don't know who to start or pick up this week? Looking for up-to-the minute injury updates from around the league?

We've got you covered. Our fantasy football team will be live-blogging this Sunday, September 13 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM Eastern to answer all your Week 1 questions.

Two Minute Drill: Week 1 Preview

If you missed it yesterday, you can read my preview of the Steelers-Titans game to see how I did. Normally, you can find me here every Friday for a preview of the week's games. I am here to give you my thoughts on some of the obvious fantasy players, who to start and to avoid. Feel free to call me out on any bonehead picks or argue with me about winners and losers.

Dolphins at Falcons

This may be our first glimpse at one of the top offenses in the league. I am one of the believers who jumped on the Matt Ryan bandwagon. I liked what I saw out of him last year and with a full offseason under his belt to learn and grow with Roddy White and the addition of Tony Gonzalez what isn't there to love. I see Turner, Ryan, White, and Gonzalez as definite starts. Miami is coming in with a lot more questions on offense. Luckily, Atlanta's defense isn't a top D and there may be some room for them. Ronnie Brown is a solid #2 running back option this week, but I would avoid most other Dolphin players until we see how the RB situation breaks down and whether Pennington can throw the ball further than 15 yards. If you are looking for a sleeper, I like Greg Camarillo more than Ted Ginn Jr, he provides a better possession option for the weak armed Pennington. The Falcons start the season right, 27-16.

Redskins at Giants

For an upper-echelon team, the Giants come into this season with plenty of questions on offense. They still have a good running game and solid defense, but when Kevin Boss is your best receiving option, troubles may be ahead. Speaking of Boss, he is my sleeper special for this game. Boss developed well last year and with him being the only NFL capable receiving option available to Manning, I expect a lot of looks. I like Jacobs as well, but the Redskins D-line isn't too shabby and should be able to close some holes. The Redskins don't have anything better going for them on offense. Portis is still a very solid back, but with Jason Campbell throwing the ball, the Giants will stack the line. With Campbell slinging the rock and the Giants D bringing pressure, I expect the entire Redskins passing game to suffer. If you have a decent option instead of Moss, take a shot. This one should be close, but the Giants inch this one out 17-13.

Eagles at Panthers

This should be one of the better games this weekend. Each team is most a playoff contender, each has a good defense, each has some stars on offense, but the difference should be the number of them that Philly has. The most notable difference maker will be Donovan McNabb. When everything is even, trust the better QB. I think Desean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, and McNabb are all strong plays this week, but hold off on sleepers Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy until we see more from them. For Carolina, I love DeAngelo Williams. I think Philly's aggressive D over pursues and Williams finds holes. I also like Steve Smith, but who doesn't? I would sit the rest of the Carolina options this week. In the end, the Eagles soar, 27-20.

Cowboys at Buccaneers

I've gone back and forth on this one a couple times. Both teams are coming into the season with some interesting questions. How will Dallas fare sans Owens? Will anyone step up for the 'Boys? Can anyone complete a pass in Tampa? What will the running back carousel look like for TB? I would sit every Bucs running back until we get some idea of what is going on down there. Especially against an above average Cowboys D. Antonio Bryant is an OK play this week and Winslow will be a solid TE play. You need to start all the usual suspect in Dallas, including Felix Jones. I love Jones, I think he really breaks out this year and I see no reason why he can't make something happen this week. If you need to start a third back this week, Jones isn't a bad option. I think his special teams play could be the difference with Dallas spoiling the home TB home opener, 24-20.

Lions at Saints

I won't try and make this game sound interesting because it isn't. The Saints are solid, the Lions are still bad. I like the direction the Lions are going, I really do. But they are still going to be lucky to top six wins. If you own a Saint, start him, start him twice if you can. In fact, my sleeper special of the week is Mike Bell if Pierre Thomas can't go. I expect the Saints to score early and often leaving Bell to grind the clock down. The Saints are far from a juggernaut on D, so I like Megatron and Kevin Smith a lot, more so Megatron because of the catch up duty in the 4th quarter. Don't start Brandon Pettigrew, but keep an eye on him this week, he could be a future sleeper TE. The Saints, this year's greatest show on turf, win easy, 31-20.

Colts at Jaguars

The Jaguars look to be one of the more intriguing fantasy teams to start the year. They are the proud owners of a 1st round fantasy stud, but don't have much else to flaunt. What they do have is a couple under the radar guys that could pay big dividends. David Garrard dropped about 20 pounds this offseason and the Jags improved their receiver core with Torry Holt and Troy Williamson. Neither is amazing, but it has to be better than Matt Jones, right? I think Garrard, Holt and MJD are all startable this week against a soft Colts D. Indy still has that Manning guy throwing to that Wayne guy, they are both sure things. I also love Anthony Gonzalez this year, I just see Reggie Wayne circa 2006 written all over him. Avoid the Indy running backs against a solid run-D and until we see how that situation will play out. I am calling an upset here, Jaguars win the home opener, 24-20.

Jets at Texans

If they weren't playing a strong D, I would love every Texans starter on offense. Since the D is solid, the only one I would think twice about is Kevin Walter. Andre Johnson should never sit, Daniels, Slaton, and Schaub get the week 1 benefit of the doubt. I won't mention D's very often in this article, Juliann Hayes covers that in her weekly column focused only on fantasy defense, but I would also start the Texans D. They have a very good defensive line, and as the giants showed us two years ago, that makes any defense automatically good. I especially like the match up this week because they are playing against a rookie QB, an old and slow RB, and there really isn't a great receiver to help out. With that said, the only Jet I am starting is Thomas Jones. The rest I'll save for a better time. Texans get there first win en route to a playoff birth, 27-13.

Vikings at Browns

This should be a pretty easy opener for the Vikings, its not exactly Florida playing some D-III team, but its close. Start all your Vikings, even the old man. As a buddy told me, "it is just about the only time he'll be healthy, and he's out to prove something." My start list includes Favre, AP, Berrian, and Shiancoe. Make sure to keep Shiancoe on your radar if he isn't already owned, Favre loves his tight ends. I can't recommend any Browns except maybe Braylon "Sir Drops-Alot" Edwards. Jamal Lewis is a definite bench, as he was almost cut this week and is facing a stingy run-D. Browns fans will see better days than this Sunday, Vikes win easy 24-6.

Broncos at Bengals

Is it possible for two teams to lose? Neither plays any D and each is fairly dysfunctional. I guess I like the Bengals a little bit more this week because of Palmer. Like I said earlier, when everything is even, go with the better QB. There are high school QBs better than Orton. This might be one of the best weeks to play Eddie Royal and you must start Brandon Marshall. Let's just hope he doesn't throw a tantrum on the sideline. For the Bengals Palmer and Ochocinco are sure things this week and I actually like Cedric Benson is, for lack of a better description, not good. While he isn't good, he isn't as bad as the Broncos D, that 8th round pick may be useful this week, if ever. The winner of this slapfest? I guess the Bengals, 20-17.

Chiefs at Ravens

This one is another blowout special. The Chiefs should battle for 1st pick in April, while the Ravens will be battling for a division crown. The only Chief worth considering is Dwayne Bowe, and that's because most leagues start three. If you only need to start two, find someone else. I am generally optimistic about Larry Johnson this year, but he is at best a flex option this week. This should be the Ray Rice coming out party. The Chiefs probably won't be able to move the ball, and the Ravens will control the clock with Rice. I just don't see the Ravens having to throw much, but keep an eye on Flacco to see if he may be worth owning in the future. Willis McGahee may not even be the worst play this week. Ravens win easy, 20-3.

Rams at Seahawks

The same buddy I mentioned earlier always kills me for liking the Seahawks offense this year. This game will shut him up a little, but he is smart enough to know they are playing the Rams. Take advantage of the Rams' weak D. Hasselback, T.J. Houshmanzilly, John Carlson, and even Julius Jones, in deeper leagues, are worth starting this week. Also, keep an eye on Nate Burleson. With Housh drawing safety help, Burleson may be a viable deep threat. Think Bernard Berrian. For the Rams, Donnie Avery makes for a nice third receiver this week and S-Jax is a very solid play against an average Seattle D. I would want to see the Rams play before I risked starting anyone else. Seahawks get the gravy train rolling, 27-17.

49ers at Cardinals

Everyone's favorite grocer, Kurt Warner, is back leading the Cardinals passing attack. He is a must start simply because of the toys for him to play with, but keep an eye on that hip. Many people forget that he is old and coming off a surgery. I don't need to tell you start Fitz and Boldin, but I would hold off on Hightower and Wells. I wouldn't want to risk either without seeing some kind of work ratio, plus the Niners have a surprising solid D. For San Fran, Gore is a must start just about every week and Josh Morgan is a nice sleeper pick for the week. The Cardinals keep their winning ways alive, 30-16.

Bears at Packers

My favorite NFC team, Green Bay, meets my favorite fantasy player from last year, Matt Forte. I love the Packers offense this year. They have looked very good in the preseason and should be running on all cylinders. This Bears D is not the Bears D that once struck fear in the hearts of opponents. I'd feel confident starting Rodgers, Grant, Jennings, and Driver. On a side note, Grant is my sleeper pick for NFL MVP. This is going to be a tough opener for the Bears. If Cutler and the Bears offense can get things going, it will bode well for the season. The Pack have a solid D, which could make things tough for the Bears. Go ahead and start Cutler, Forte, and Olson, but leave Hester on the bench for now. Keep an eye on super-sleeper Earl Bennett. Fondu for everyone, Pack win, 28-17.

Bills at Patriots

This should be a fun one to watch. Brady to Moss, Brady to Welker, Brady to the water boy, all are possible touchdown combos. For those that like to see it aired out, this is for you. The smart fantasy owner is watching this game to try and get some kind of read on the running back situation in NE. The big question, other than Brady, is TO. How long will the honeymoon last with Trent Edwards? My guess, about five minutes left in the third quarter when Lee Evans has more yards than TO. I'll go ahead and start TO and Lee Evans, but I am not jumping on the Fred Jackson bandwagon, at least not this week. The Bills will be playing catchup, which means less touches for Jackson. Unfortunately, the Patriots win easy, 34-13.

Chargers at Oakland

The last game of the kickoff weekend includes a Super Bowl contender and the most dysfunctional team in sports. The Chargers should have no problem getting the season started with a win as I expect LT to roll. Tomlinson should be running with a chip on his shoulder to quiet all his detractors. Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, and Antonio Gates shouldn't have a problem getting it going through the air. If you don't have a decent option other than Run DMC, go ahead and start him, but the Chargers have a solid defense and should slow him down a good bit. Other than McFadden, sit every Raider. Chargers roll, 24-10.

Two Minute Drill: Week 1 Preview

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? That’s right, the long anticipated wait is over, it is time to make those final roster moves because the season is beginning. If you can’t tell, I am excited, this is my favorite time of year. If you ask me, there are few things as enjoyable as sitting around all Sunday watching football and checking my fantasy stats. I will be here every Friday previewing the games, giving you some of the players I like and hate for each game.

However, I am here a day early to preview the kickoff game, Steelers-Titans. It is the world’s first glance at the soon to be back-to-back champs. I know, I am a bit of a homer. Allegiances aside, I like the Steelers tonight. I just can’t help but feel that Tennessee ended up on the shorter end of the stick this offseason. They lost perennial All Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to free agency and lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Jeff Fisher is a fantastic coach, but I can’t help but think the Titans got worse this offseason.

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers weren’t winners nor losers this offseason. As usual, the Steelers replaced expendable moving parts from within. The key loss was Bryant McFadden to the Cardinals. His departure will hurt the secondary more than most Steelers fans like to think, but the Titans don’t have the passing game to exploit this. Owners of the Steelers D should also keep an eye on the Lawrence Timmons injury. He is doubtful this week, and the Steelers D is a definite downgrade from last year without him.

Does your league have a history of disputes? A one-week promotion is in effect for our Twitter followers: The SportsJudge.com Dispute Resolution Season Package is on sale now to all SportsJudge followers at a reduced price of only $89. Simply email us at info@sportsjudge.com with your Twitter username. Once we confirm that you're a follower, we'll get you signed up at this special rate. Hurry, sale ends Thursday, September 17!

Speaking of the Steelers D leads me to my first sit of the year, Chris Johnson. Well I wouldn’t sit Johnson, you just need to have realistic expectations. If he can get 80 total yards and a score, consider yourself lucky. However, Johnson is the only Titans player I would be starting this week. A sleeper pick for the game is Willie Parker. Parker was taken as a second or third running back in most leagues, but I expect the Steelers to test that Tennessee defensive line without Haynesworth. Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward aren’t bad plays, but I would avoid Big Ben, Heath Miller, and Rashard Mendenhall until we see more from this offense.

I am sure Jeff Fisher will have the Titans ready to go tonight. Fisher always seems to have the Steelers’ number, but I don’t think it helps. The Steelers at home on national TV is about as close to a lock as you will ever get.

Tomlin and Co. take their first step to the repeat, 20-10.

Have a lineup question? Don't know who to start or pick up this week? Looking for up-to-the minute injury updates from around the league? We've got you covered. Our fantasy football team will be live-blogging this Sunday from 11am-1pm Eastern to answer all your Week 1 questions. Be sure to check it out!

SportsJudge Deputy Justice Joe Romano Appears on 105.9FM in Pittsburgh

Earlier this week, the morning show at 105.9FM "The X" in Pittsburgh contacted SportsJudge with the hopes of having a few words with us prior to the the quickly approaching football season. This morning Joe Romano, Chief Operating Office and Editor here at the SportsJudge Blog, chatted with Tim Benz and Bob McLaughlin and answered their questions regarding the service and the upcoming fantasy football season.

Here's a brief excerpt from the interview:

Tim Benz: I described this on the air, and you tell me if I did this accurately or not...I sort of said you are the "People's Court" for fantasy football leagues.

Joe Romano: That's exactly what we are. What you see, is a lot of leagues where teams are putting in entry fees, they're all friends, and something happens during the year and what you have is a lot of long-term relationships affected by this, especially the higher the buy-in goes. What we provide is someone to come in and give you an outside opinion that's not biased and we're trying to do the best thing for the league.

To hear the interview in it's entirety, click on the link below.

"105.9 The X: Joe Romano on why silly fantasy sports arguments should be taken seriously...by the SportsJudge!"

SportsJudge.com 2009 Fantasy Baseball League: And They're Off

Welcome to the bi-weekly recap of the SportsJudge.com 2009 Fantasy Baseball League. About a month and a half ago we posted Part I and Part II of the draft recap. Two weeks ago we took a look at some of the more important moves during the preseason. This week we will get our first look at the standings and some of the moves that occurred over the first two weeks. Remember, our league uses a very limited bench and a two transaction per week limit.

I am currently in first place as I was able to overtake Jesse Spector yesterday. Spector has been in first for the first two weeks of the season and it didn't look like he was going to look back. Luckily, I was able to make a push, it is doubtful I will stay on top all year, though. Scott Simon also made a big push to get his team out of the cellar where it has been all season. A fourteen point swing between Chris Carmona and Simon pushed Simon over the edge. Brian Doyle, last year's champion, is also off to a very strong start currently sitting in third. There is a strong probability that the standings will be completely different five months from now, but it never hurts to get off to a strong start.

As you would expect, there were numerous transactions over the last few weeks. However, unlike some of my other leagues, there haven't been any moves that were all that questionable. Much like all of your leagues, the hot starts were pounced on. Bonifacio was picked up the first day and Nyjer Morgan was grabbed the next day. Conversely, the cold starts have found their way to waiver wire, but they were all smart decisions. Jason Motte and his flat fastball are sitting in free agency, as are Lastings Milledge and Hideki Matsui. Here are some of my favorite moves over the first two weeks.

Mike Colligan finally went all in on his Trevor Cahill man crush, but dropped Ryan Franklin in the process (in his defense Franklin had not yet saved a game). As the unfortunate Motte owner, I quickly jumped all over Franklin and it looks like I have lucked into St. Louis' closer for the near future. I like Franklin and I think he will probably keep the closer gig. He doesn't have dominant stuff, but he did a reasonably good job last season and is off to a strong start this year. I consider Franklin a must own in all league formats.

Darren Heitner made a very strong move yesterday grabbing Chris Duncan in exchange for Griffey. I had been watching Duncan all week, but previously used my transactions. In a deep league with a CI position, Duncan is very valuable as he has first base eligibility. Duncan has been batting anywhere between fourth and sixth in St. Louis' potent lineup. He is combining a strong average with solid RBI and run totals. He has also been getting compliments from LaRussa in the press. He could produce top 10-15 numbers for a first baseman and top 30 to 40 numbers for outfielders. Duncan should be owned in all but very shallow leagues.

There must be something in the water in Kansas City and Chris Carmona is drinking from the same fountain. Zach Greinke, Gil Meche, and Kyle Davies have each had very strong starts and Carmona was able snag Davies. Davies is a young pitcher who could be coming into form. He was very strong last September and is building off that finish. He showed good control last season and is using that control to his benefit this season. He currently has a 13:3 strike out to walk ratio and is averaging a hair over a strike out per inning. KC is playing well to start the year and if they can give Davies decent run support, Davies could be a strong fourth or fifth pitcher.

Carmona also made what was probably the best move of the two weeks in picking up Nick Swisher. Swisher has been killing the ball for the Yankees and with the recent injury to Xavier Nady, looks to be in line for plenty of playing time. Sure, Swisher shouldn't continue to hit for average, but he has shown legit power in the past. Swisher has been hitting fourth recently and that should continue until A-Rod gets back or Swisher goes cold. You have to like the odds of Swisher hitting about 25 home runs, collecting 80-90 RBI, and scoring 70-80 runs. I'll take that from my third or fourth outfielder, even with a .270 average.

Jordan Zucker made another strong move by adding super-rookie Elvis Andrus. Andrus probably won't continue to hit .300, but his speed is for real. In a very good Texas lineup Andrus could get about 80 runs and combine it with 25-35 stolen bases. In a league that uses a MI position, those numbers are very useful. Andrus' value in a 12 team mixed league is debatable, but in deeper leagues, Andrus is a solid option. If Andrus can hit at least .280, though, he becomes an option in deeper leagues. However, I don't expect to see the five-tool talent until next year.

In desperation to make something happen, Scott Simon is looking for help from...the Pirates? Yeah, that's right, Scott picked up Zach Duke to help bolster his underperforming pitching staff. It is the same Pirate that jumped on the fantasy scene a few seasons ago and was coached into obscurity. Duke seams to have found his mechanics and has pitched strongly. I view him as slightly better than a match ups pitcher, which makes him valuable in just about all leagues. Remember, there is still solid value in players that play for bad teams.

There were plenty of other moves, but these were the most interesting. Check back in two weeks for our second bi-weekly league roundup. As with any SportsJudge article, feel free to leave a comment or question.

Fantasy Baseball Dispute No. 3004: SportsJudge.com Overturns Late Bid for Free Agent

SPORTSJUDGE.COM

COURT OF FANTASY BASEBALL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	X	Index No. 3004 Date: April 10, 2009 League Type: BASEBALL -- MIXED Dispute: FREE AGENT BIDDING PROCEDURE Chief Justice: MARC EDELMAN Deputy Justices: BRIAN DOYLE, MATTHEW COHEN, MICHAEL COLLIGAN, JOSEPH ROMANO COURT UNAMIMOUSLY OVERTURNS LATE BID SUBMITTED BY CEDARBURG TIGERS
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS Petitioner, - against - CEDARBURG TIGERS & THE HAMPSHIRE BASEBALL LEAGUE Respondent	: : : : : : : : : :
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	X

This dispute involves whether the Commissioner of the Hampshire Baseball League was within his rights to allow one of its teams, the Cedarburg Tigers, to submit a late bid for free agent second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Based upon a review of the facts, this court rules that it was not proper for the Commissioner to extend the bidding period beyond the stated 24-hour period. Therefore, the court orders the rights to Emilio Bonifacio to revert to the Philadelphia Freedoms—the team that had submitted the highest bid at the time the player auction officially expired.

While the court recognizes this case is complicated by the Commissioner’s original error in prematurely announcing the auction for Bonifacio closed, the Cedarburg Tigers nevertheless are barred from challenging this original decision under the Doctrine of Laches. This is because the Tigers had failed to bring such a challenge to the Commissioner’s attention within a reasonable period of time.

THE DISPUTE

The Hampshire League Free Agent Auction Rule:

The Hampshire Baseball League is a mixed league (AL & NL) fantasy baseball league, currently in its ninth season. The league maintains a free agent auction rule, which allows teams to bid for free agent players using an in-season auction bidding process. This means, each time a team seeks to sign a free agent, that team must place a bid for the player. The other teams then have a chance to top that bid.

From the league’s first season in 2001 through 2007, Hampshire League maintained a free agent bidding period of just four hours. Then, in 2008, the Hampshire League changed its rules to allow for a 24 hour bidding period.

The 2009 season marked the Hampshire League’s second season under its new 24-hour bidding procedure. All league owners were on notice of the league bidding procedure having competed in the league during the previous season,

The Bidding for Emilio Bonifacio:

On April 7, 2009, at 8:00 A.M., the Cedarburg Tigers called to auction Florida Marlins second baseman Emilio Bonifacio with a bid of $0.25. Two hours later, at 10 A.M., the Philadelphia Freedoms topped that bid with a $2.00 offer. Then at noon, the league Commissioner posted a message on the league message board declaring the auction “CLOSED” and awarded Bonifacio’s rights to the Philadelphia Freedoms. This decision, however, was incorrect. Pursuant to the current league rules, the auction should have lasted for twenty-four hours—not four hours. Therefore, other teams should have still had the opportunity to top the Freedoms’ bid. Nevertheless, no team challenged the Commissioner’s decision to close the bid process early—even though all teams in the Hampshire League played under the 24-hour auction rule the previous season.

Thereafter, on April 9 at 10 A.M., the Commissioner realized himself that he had improperly closed the bid period on Bonifacio. In an attempt at fairness, the Commissioner then unilaterally decided to offer the Cedarburg Tigers additional time to match the Freedoms bid on Bonifacio, which they did. The Commissioner then sought to award Bonifacio to the Cedarburg Tigers.

The Parties Arguments:

Both parties submit somewhat reasonable arguments as to why they should be allowed to keep the rights to Emilio Bonifacio.  The Cedarburg Tigers contend that they might have matched the $2.00 bid for Bonaficio; however, he “figured that [the commissioner] would know the rules [so he] respected that and moved on.  Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Freedoms contends that “[the league] rules are very clearly written ….The other owner should have known the rules.  If he did not know the rules, he could have simply looked at them.  They are posted on our website.”  Nevertheless, neither of these arguments resolves the situation in a perfect manner.

THE RULING

The general rule of this court is that wherever there is a dispute over league rules, language in the league constitution trumps all other considerations. (See Public Opinion No. 257, Hermann’s Head v. Commissioner of Yale Football League). In addition, unless stated otherwise in the league constitution, the league commissioner is no more powerful than any other owner when it comes to changing the rules in the league constitution. (See Public Opinion No. 257, Hermann’s Head v. Commissioner of Yale Football League) (denying the league commissioner the right to unilaterally change the league’s roster size).

Here, the dispute amongst the parties involves the length of the free agent bidding period. All parties agree that the league constitution states this period shall last for just twenty-four hours. However, the parties disagree about whether the Commissioner is allowed to increase the length of this period as a way to correct for his own earlier mistake in declaring the period prematurely complete.

This court recognizes that there may exist an exception to the general rule for certain extremely usual circumstances could toll a constitutionally stated bidding period. For example, potential reasons why a commissioner might be allowed to toll the twenty four hour period, in theory, might include an outage on the site that collects bids, or a temporary suspension of league operations.

While this court is mixed on the issue of whether a commissioner’s inaccurate statement could ever toll a bidding period for a free agent, the court is unanimous that the commissioner may not unilaterally toll the period in a situation, such as is here, where no party even requested tolling until the bid period had concluded. This conclusion is based on the equitable Doctrine of Laches, which this court has applied on several previous occasions. (See Public Opinion No. 2959-T, Commissioner v. Teams 1, 2, and 3). This is a legal doctrine that, as matter of fairness, prevents an unduly slothful party from thereafter seeking a remedy.

Here, it would be unfeasible to allow a Commissioner to indefinitely extend a bidding period based on his own mistake given that no league owner researched the Commissioner’s decision and brought it to his attention during a reasonable period of time. Indeed, the Cedarburg Tigers had access to the rules. The Cedarburg Tigers could have checked the rules, and brought their grievance to the Commissioner before the 24-hour bid period lapsed. However, they chose not to do so, and instead simply proceeded with the season without having Emilio Bonifacio on their roster. As a result, it was improper for the Commissioner, thereafter, to conduct his own independent investigation and award a remedy to the Cedarburg Tigers.

Indeed, the Hampshire League Commissioner attempted to extend the bid period for the Cedarburg Tigers by only a short amount of time. However, allowing such an extension would naturally lead the court down a slippery slope that it finds inappropriate. What if the Commissioner discovered his error one week later? One month? Three months? This court is simply not going to go down that path.

If the Cedarburg Tigers had correctly believed they had an additional twenty-hour window in which to bid on Bonifacio, they should have made that known within this twenty-hour window. By waiting longer than that period, as a matter of fairness and certainty, they forever waived such rights, if any.

Holding

For the foregoing reason, this court unanimously overturns the late bid submitted by the Cedarburg Tigers and awards the rights to Emilio Bonifacio to the Philadelphia Freedoms.