|
WCOFF Interview with Jed Michaelson
2004
On the weekend of Super Bowl XXXVIII, Alex Hayden and Jed Michaelson were in Houston, Texas. They were there to be crowned as the 2003 winners of the World Championship of Fantasy Football. Alex and Jed received a $200,000 check and the WCOFF Crystal Trophy. Lenny Pappano, editor of draftsharks.com and co-founder of the WCOFF, sat down to chat with Jed about his Championship season.
LP: I've heard that you guys are friends from preschool days. ... Is that true?
JM: We've known each other since we were four or five.
LP: Tell me how you first heard about the WCOFF, and what your thoughts were about entering. How confident were you in being able to compete for the World Championship?
JM: We do a lot of fantasy research for our local leagues, and came upon the WCOFF while surfing the web prior to your inaugural season. We didn't end up entering that first year, but were very interested. When it came time to enter in Year 2, we went for it. Working together, we felt there wouldn't be many teams that would have an advantage over us because we pride ourselves in knowing every move that happens week to week. To be honest, we felt we could win our league but never really considered the possibility of winning it all until after we won our league championship game.
LP: Describe the experience of preparing for the draft. How many hours do you think you put in?
JM: In terms of sitting down and preparing together, we barely put in any time at all. We exchanged lists over email, talked a few times, etc. If we were to include the time we put in just doing research on players, however, I think that would be tough to measure. Prior to and during the season, we scour the web for info whenever there is a free moment.
LP: What was it like drafting? Were you overwhelmed or excited to be drafting in Vegas with 1,000 other people in the room? Did the TV cameras bother you?
JM: The draft experience is just awesome. To be honest with you, we really just took it all in and went about our business (football cliché). We each had a binder full of player information, and because we were working together, we were always ready to pick when it was our turn. Regarding the cameras, they weren't really a disruption at all. Strangely enough, the team next to us in the draft was working with a film crew as part of a documentary. ...Guess they asked the wrong team to do that one!
LP: Take us through the first 10 rounds of your draft. What were your best and worst picks?
JM: We picked No. 4 and took Priest Holmes because he was available. However, if we had picked No. 1, we still would have taken him. Our best pick of the first 10 rounds was probably Torry Holt, who we were targeting to get with our third pick. Everything fell right, and we got him in that position. Our worst pick was probably Onterrio Smith at No. 5. We took him because all other good backs were going at that point, and we had to address the need.
LP: Did you have any critical free agent pick-ups during the season?
JM: We had two pick-ups that made our season… after week one, we picked up Anquan Boldin, who everyone knows turned out to be a complete stud. Moreover, we got Boldin for the third lowest price out of all the 50 WCOFF leagues-I think we paid $301. Our second great pickup was Brian Westbrook, whom we paid $11 for. We picked him up before he began to take on a larger role, and he was amazing for us throughout the year.
LP: Where was your team ranked at the beginning of the WCOFF playoffs, and when did you realize that you had a good chance to win the Championship?
JM: We were ranked fifth going into the playoffs, and that was really the first time we thought we'd have a good shot to win. Once all the bye weeks were finished, we realized that when our lineup was at its best, we would score 150+ points per week. That is when we knew we really had a shot.
LP: You were in first place heading into the final week of the WCOFF playoffs. Describe that experience. Any sleepless nights?
JM: After week 2 of the playoffs, the pressure started to mount. We felt that we were in good position (2nd place, down 20 points), and the leader had Clinton Portis, who was injured and was not going to play in week 3. To top it all off, we had hundreds of co-workers and friends following along and rooting for us. If we lost, it would have felt like we let everyone down, even though there was nothing we could do but enter our lineup. Alex, I, and a group of friends went out to dinner on Saturday night of the last week of the playoffs, just after Priest Holmes had run wild in the second half versus Minnesota and scored three touchdowns. We tried to temper our enthusiasm, but it was tough.
LP: When did you feel comfortable that you were going to win the Championship? Last year's champ, Chris Schussman, described a feeling of being relieved when he finally won.
JM: After the early games on Sunday, we felt like we would have to have a big collapse to lose it. We had a lot of players that overlapped with the closest competition going in the late games-Boldin, TO, Garcia-so there were very few areas where our lead could be cut. The feeling after winning was kind of hard to describe. ... Like we knew going in that we had a good chance to win this thing, it actually happened, it was over and what do we do now?
LP: What players came up big for you down the stretch?
JM: Aside for our consistent performers like Holmes, Boldin and Holt, the guy who really came up big for us was Jeff Garcia. He had monster weeks during the playoffs. Also, we had a hole all year with our flex player, and Anthony Thomas came up huge for us when we needed it most down the stretch.
LP: Tell us about the WCOFF Check and Trophy presentation. How was it to be in Houston on Super Bowl weekend? And what are your best memories about the weekend?
JM: It was great. The Super Bowl is crazy-like an NFL Players convention. We met a lot of the players, but meeting Priest Holmes and telling him that he won us $200,000 was great. He was so cool about it, like he was really into Fantasy Football, and was genuinely excited for us.
LP: ESPN's Suzy Kolber presented you with the check and Trophy… Is she as cute and spunky in person as she is on TV? Did either of you guys pull a "Joe Namath?"
JM: She is very cute, smart, and cool. Neither of us pulled a Namath, although that joke was bandied about beforehand several times prior to us meeting her.
LP: What's been the reaction of friends and family about your Championship?
JM: We had a huge following for the last few weeks when it was coming down to the wire, so everyone was just really happy for us.
LP: What are you plans for the $200,000 grand prize?
JM: I think Alex is putting a pool into his house, and I'm going to save a good chunk of it to put toward a down payment on a house.
LP: Has anybody commented on the WCOFF Crystal Trophy? Are you guys going to split time with the Trophy?
JM: We are going to handle it with white gloves only.
LP: Have you received any media attention?
JM:We were on FOX 5 News in NY-a three-minute segment that ended up being a very positive piece about us and the WCOFF.
LP: Sum up your thoughts on the WCOFF.
JM: A fantastic experience-one that we've recommended to all of our friends and many are entering their own teams this year. I would say it was once-in-a-lifetime, but we plan to defend our title again this year.
|
|
Our latest Cheat Sheets updated constantly through September.
|
|
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Jermicheal Finley Says No Progress On Contract Yet
(2/3 11:45 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Finley is a free agent this offseason and there hasn't been any movement on a new contract. "Hey, it's the NFL," Finley said Friday. "With business right now, I don't even know what's going on. ...You just have to play that (waiting) game. It's the Green Bay way. "I don't know anything. I'll just hope for the best."
Diehards Line:
As Journal Sentinel staffer Tyler Dunne notes, if Finley does receive the franchise tag from the Packers, it's expected that he will seek to be classified as a wide receiver. An arbitrator would make that final call. The franchise tag number for wideouts will likely be around $9 million. This season, Finley had 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Chiefs Going With Daboll As OC
(2/3 10:00 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the previous item. ... ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs hired former Dolphins assistant Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator.
Diehards Line:
Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and he was selected over QBs coach Jim Zorn and former Raiders OC Al Saunders.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Report: Bills, Rian Lindell Agree To New Contract
(2/3 9:32 PM PT)
The Facts:
According to a league source, the Bills and Lindell have agreed on a contract that will keep him in Buffalo. Lindell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but the two sides have hammered out an agreement.
Diehards Line:
Lindell has spent nine seasons as the kicker for Buffalo since arriving from the Seattle Seahawks. From 2003 to 2010, Lindell didn't miss a single game for Buffalo. It wasn't until this past season that he missed eight regular season games due to a shoulder injury. In his career in Buffalo, Lindell has connected on 204 field goals out of 246 attempts, a field goal percentage of nearly 83-percent. He's also missed only one extra point, that coming on a block against the Chicago Bears at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in 2010.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Super Bowl XLVI Injury Report; Final Edition
(2/3 4:25 PM PT)
The Facts:
Friday's final Super Bowl XLVI Injury/Status Report is now available for your review.
Diehards Line:
Under NFL rules, teams are only required to list if a player practiced or not until Friday. Then they must reveal the player's status for the game (out, doubtful, questionable, or probable). That information can now be accessed HERE.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Ryan: Sanchez, Holmes Have Talked; Hope To Meet Soon
(2/3 2:02 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes have talked by phone in an attempt to repair their relationship, and they're planning to meet soon for a kind of quarterback-wide receiver retreat. HC Rex Ryan told ESPN.com Friday that Sanchez and Holmes have discussed the possibility of taking an entire weekend to hash out their differences -- a couple's getaway, NFL style. "I'm not sure if they're going to or not, but that's something they mentioned," Ryan said. "I'm not sure where it would be or anything like that. I know they had mentioned that to me."
Diehards Line:
Ryan said he has spoken individually to Sanchez and Holmes, whose year-long rift became public at the end of the season. Asked if he planted the seed for the get-together, Ryan smiled and said, "I'm not going to take credit for that." Owner Woody Johnson revealed Thursday that he's planning to have dinner next week with Sanchez, and the team also has to make a final decision on Holmes' contract. If they wanted to cut him, they'd have to do it by Wednesday, according to a clause in the five-year, $45 contract he signed last summer. If he's still on the roster by Wednesday, his guaranteed money increases from $7.75 million to $15 million. Ryan, reiterating the team's public stance on Holmes, said there's no chance of him being released. "That's not going to happen," he said. ... We'll see.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Bradshaw, Nicks Listed As Probable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 2:01 PM PT)
The Facts:
Ahmad Bradshaw didn't participate in practice Friday, the final session before Sunday's Super Bowl. Defensive back Tyler Sash and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) were limited. All three players are listed as probable, along with wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot).
Diehards Line:
The absences came after HC Tom Coughlin had presented a rosy picture of his team's health while addressing the media Friday morning. "Everyone wants to be a part of it at this point in time," Coughlin had said. "No one wants to be someone who is not able to participate or be a part of this wonderful experience. We’ve had everyone on the practice field, and hopefully, thank God, it will be that way Sunday. ..." As NFL.com's Albert Bree notes, Bradshaw had participated in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis and was a full participant Thursday. It has not been unusual for Bradshaw to play in a game after missing a day or two of practice since he broke a bone in his foot during the regular season.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Irsay Releases (Another) Statement On Peyton Manning
(2/3 1:57 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Colts owner Jim Irsay released a statement on Friday. “Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts,” the statement reads. “The present focus is on the Super Bowl and the great game that awaits.”
Diehards Line:
At the risk of sounding cyncial and mean-spirited, the words in the release don't match the actions either side have taken this week. The two sides appear to be using the enormous world-wide stage that comes with the Super Bowl being hosted in Indianapolis to gain some kind of media or public relations advantage in what appears to be the process of separating after a lengthy and mutually-beneficial relationship. And every time they say it's not so, it becomes even clearer that it is. ... We'll further suggest we'd expected more from both sides.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Gronkowski, Welker Listed As Questionable For Super Bowl XLVI
(2/3 1:13 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... TE Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. Gronkowski participated in Friday's hour-long walk-through. He practiced for the second straight day after being limited in practice on Thursday. The Patriots listed 10 other players as questionable, including safety Patrick Chung (knee), left guard Logan Mankins (knee), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and wide receiver Wes Welker (knee).
Diehards Line:
All 11 players were listed as taking part in a limited portion of Friday's practice and Boston Herald staffer Ian Rapoport advised his readers that Gronkowski is likely to play, as will likely all of the questionable. "This is kind of like Saturday for us," said HC Bill Belichick. "We've had a little bit of extra time this week (to practice). I think we're ready to go. We've worked hard this week Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in practice, and we had good practices back (in Foxboro) last week. We went through some mental-review things out there (Friday). ..." Stay tuned. We'll be posting the full injury report for Sunday's game once it's released by the league office.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matt Forte Says Intent Of Franchise Tag Will Determine His Approach
(2/3 12:36 PM PT)
The Facts:
Following up on the ongoing story. ... Matt Forte said he would be fine with the Chicago Bears using the franchise tag on him as long as it leads to a long-term deal and is not simply a tactic to keep him off the free-agent market for another season. "It depends on the motive of (the franchise tag)," Forte said Thursday. "If they are doing the franchise tag just to get more time in order to negotiate a long-term deal then I would be OK with it. But if it's just to hold me another year and just 'Let's throw some money at him right now to keep him quiet,' that's not going to solve anything."
Diehards Line:
Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said on Tuesday that the team has no intention of letting Forte become a free agent. Forte, who made his first Pro Bowl in the final year of his rookie contract, hopes that means an amenable resolution to a contract issue that has gone on since the lockout ended in July. Forte turned down a contract offer from the Bears before the season with $13 million to $14 million in guaranteed money, ESPN.com reported. Now with Phil Emery taking over for Jerry Angelo as Bears GM, Forte is hopeful an agreement can be reached. He said his agent has already spoken with Emery and expects to have more conversations in the next few days. Forte missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a sprained right medial collateral ligament during the Bears' home loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4. He finished the season with 1,487 yards from scrimmage and returned to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl.
|
class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chiefs Considering Daboll For OC Opening
(2/3 12:29 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Kansas City Chiefs are talking to Brian Daboll about their vacant offensive-coordinator position, according to a league source.
Diehards Line:
As previously noted, the Chiefs have also looked at Jim Zorn as an in-house candidate and have spoken to former Raiders coordinator Al Saunders, who has worked previously in Kansas City. Daboll, most recently Miami's offensive coordinator, has a history with general manager Scott Pioli and several executives expect him to be a top candidate for the job.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
