1998 - MVP AWARD

Shannon Sharpe

13 games /48 Points /averaging 3.69 points per game

Special Mention

Vinny Testaverde

8 games / 48 points / averaging 6.00 points per game

JJ Stokes

11 games / 36 points / averaging 3.27 points per game

 1998 Player Roster

Player	Position	Team
O'Donnell Neil	Quaterback	Cin
Testaverde, Vinny	Quaterback	NYJ
Grbac, Elvis	Quaterback	KC
Harbaugh, Jim	Quaterback	Bal
Leaf , Ryan	Quaterback	SD
Martin, Curtis	Running back	NYJ
Zellars, Ray	Running back	NO
Edwards, Marc	Running back	SF
Strong, Mack	Running back	Sea
Lockett, Kevin	Wide Receiver	KC
Proehl, Ricky	Wide Receiver	StL
Martin, Tony	Wide Receiver	Atl
Pathon, Jerome	Wide Receiver	Ind
Dawkins, Sean	Wide Receiver	NO
Pritchard Mike	Wide Receiver	Sea
JJ Stokes	Wide Receiver	SF
Sharpe, Shannon	Tight end	Den
Johnny McWilliams	Tight end	Ari
Daluiso, Brad	Kicker	NYG
Doug Brien	Kicker	NO
Detroit Teams
New England

1998 Results, Standings and player stats

NIGHTMARE V B52'S	22-32	0-1
NIGHTMARE V GOPHERS	29-20	1-1
NIGHTMARE V HORNETS	7-20	1-2
NIGHTMARE V SHARKS	28-12	2-2
NIGHTMARE V TOMCATS	42-31	3-2
NIGHTMARE V VILLAGERS	21-7	4-2
NIGHTMARE V TIGERS	25-39	4-3
NIGHTMARE V B52'S	21-25	4-4
NIGHTMARE V HORNETS	13-25	4-5
NIGHTMARE V GOPHERS	27-19	5-5
NIGHTMARE V SHARKS	9-21	5-6
NIGHTMARE V VILLAGERS	26-28	5-7
NIGHTMARE V TOMCATS	25-51	5-8
NIGHTMARE V TIGERS	50-73	5-9

Alpha Conference Standings 1998

Team	Win	Lose	Tie	Pts For	Pts Against	Conference	Streak
Tigers	12	2	0	599	421	9-1	W2
Tomcats	9	4	1	475	396	7-3	W8
B52's	7	7	0	420	437	4-6	W4
Sharks	6	8	0	317	384	3-7	L1
Gophers	5	8	1	382	333	3-7	L2
Nightmare	5	9	0	345	403	4-6	L4

1998 Player Performance Chart

Name	Position	Appearances	Points	Average
E Grbac	QB	2	6	3.00
C Martin	RB	13	48	3.69
M Strong	RB	7	12	1.71
R Proehl	WR	3	0	0.00
T Martin	WR	11	30	2.73
J Pathon	WR	4	0	0.00
S Sharpe	TE	13	48	3.69
M Husted	K	1	1	1.00
Detroit	Teams	8	18	2.25
O'Donnell	QB	5	12	2.40
JJ Stokes	WR	11	36	3.27
B Daluiso	K	7	33	4.71
M Pritchard	WR	7	14	2.00
K Lockett	WR	1	0	0.00
R Zellars	NO	3	0	0.00
D Brien	NO	6	39	6.50
V Testeverde	QB	8	48	6.00
Ken Dilger	TE	1	0	0.00
New England	Teams	6	6	1.00
M Edwards	RB	5	0	0.00
	Total points average after 14 games	25.07 pts per game

Inside Story

Woking B52's 32 v 22 Newbury Nightmare

Well, The Nightmare made a less than stunning entry into the AFFL, but I was far from disappointed. Only two of the players I hadn't chosen scored and one of those was QB O'Donnell, who's TD pass was cancelled out by Elvis Grbac's toss in the Kansas, Oakland match up. I have made a bid for JJ Stokes of the 49ers in an effort to strengthen a wide receiver squad which consists of one really decent player in Tony Martin of Atlanta. My next concern is in the running back department, I'll give it a couple of weeks to see what I can do to strengthen that area. There will be a couple of forced changes for game two, Grbac's finger injury has forced me to turn to either O'Donnell or the Rookie Leaf at QB. Also the poor showing by kicker Husted for Tampa Bay against Minnasota has cornered me in to trying out rookie Daluiso of New York who had some pretty good numbers in the game against Washington.

Seer Green Gophers 20 v 29 Newbury Nightmare

  They say that your 1st victory is the sweetest and I must say it did feel good. I was helped by an outstanding contribution in the shape of 12 pts from Shannon Sharpe. This coupled with a solid couple of scores from QB O'Donnell and a Mack Strong catch, made for a very satisfying result. Another plus was the 5pt haul by Rookie kicker Deluiso, not a massive contribution, but an important one. JJ Stokes failed to add to the tally, but after watching the Niners game on Monday night, I'm confident he will contribute a lot more as the season progresses. The Nightmare play the Hornets this week and it will be an interesting clash and not just because my sister owns the Hornet franchise. The bye week for the NFC Western conference hits me where it hurts. I lose Tony Martin @ wr for Atl, Zellers @ rb for NO, Dawkins @ wr for NO, JJ Stokes @ wr for the 49ers and Brien @ kicker for NO. This means that almost my entire receiver squad for this weeks game is made up of inexperienced players, most of which aren't even starters. Lockett for KC, Pathon for IND with the exception being Proehl of StL, who has rather too much experience, and being a vetren probably won't see a great deal of action. Still, my receivers haven't exactly lit up the sky in the scoring department so far, so this could well be the week of the underdogs.

Harlington Hornets 20 V 7 Newbury Nightmare

There is no other word to describe this performance other than pathetic. My offence was totally lame, with all my points bar one coming from Pritchard a wr I picked up just because he was the only starter that wasn't on anyones roster. My disappointment was compounded by the fact that I wanted to play Testaverde but he wasn't the confirmed starter on Friday. Reluctantly I chose O'Donnell as my QB and the rest is history. Luck just wasn't on my side, Curtis Martin had 125 yards rushing and still didn't score. Elway came out of the Denver game with a hamstring injury which meant Sharpe was less likely to score and of course due to the bye week for the NFC western conference I lost my entire 1st string wr squad in one hit. As the weeks progress I am seeing a definite patern of weakness in my squad, without a doubt decent rb's and wr's are something I just don't have at this time and I may have to enter the wonderful world of trading to try and strengthen these areas

Laleham Sharks 12 v 28 Newbury Nigtmare

After last weeks performance I didn't know what to expect in this match up. I was however to be pleasently suprised. Qb O'Donnell did nothing outstanding with only a 3 pt contribution. I was pleased that JJ Stokes my new aquisition finally got a score on the board and particularly rewarding was the 7pts added by my new kicker Doug Brien. This was one area I was determined to improve on from last year. The dumping of Husted was, I feel a good move and 7pts is a total I consider to be a resonably good average for a kicker per game. A good choice on special teams as well ensured the Mares the victory. Detroit's 12point contribution was welcomed and although I still would have won without this, it made the score very healthy indeed and left us 2-2, a step closer to the 6 wins + I have set my self for this season.

Heathrow Tomcats 31 v 42 Newbury Nightmare

This is what you refer to in American football terms as the haymaker. 42 points is pretty outstanding, and it would be an understatement to say that I vas very proud. There is a certain satisfaction about choosing a team that piles on the points. I was particularly pleased with the performances of JJ Stokes, as he is becoming a regular on the scoresheet, which is something I was desperate for in the wr department. Doug Brien's 9 pts was also satisfying, as he was another of my recent tacticle aquisitions. There was another outstanding performance from Shannon Sharpe, and this coupled with Curtis Martin's and Tony Martin's contributions, turned the whole thing into a Nightmare scoring frenzy. The team is now on a 2 game winning streak and with the Villages next on the schedule, I must admitt there is a definate air of confidence emitting from the 'Mares camp that this could well be three by this time next week.

Nightmare 21 v 7 Villagers

Not the scoring frenzy we witnessed last week, but a very rewarding out come none the less. Tony martin hauled in his second score on the trot for the 'Mares. Mike Pritchard of Seattle also scored his second, which I must admit I was more that pleased with as he was the result of one of my recent forages into the trading market. No surprises that Superman Shannon Sharpe added yet another score to his name, making his tally for the season 30pts, installing himself as the odds on favourite to win the Nightmare MVP award. Grbac added a single pass for three points and although this wasn't the most impressive result, it does give the 'Mares their third victory on the trot.

Tigers 39 v 25 Nightmare

The worst thing about this result wasn't losing the game, it was watching the Monday night football game and having to endure Curtis Martin twice getting inside the one yard line only to fail to score, it was painful to say the least. On the plus side, Tony Martin pulled in yet another grab, to make it 3 TD's for the season. JJ Stokes also grabbed his third score for the 'Mares, which was satisfying. Rookie kicker Brad Daluiso however, wins player of the week with his ten point haul in the Giants v Arizona match up. I'm not too depressed by this result, although of course it would have been good to have seen Curtis Martin break the plain of the goal line with at least one of his two failures.

Nightmare 21 V 25 Woking B52's

 This was a classic case of what night have been. If just one of my wr's had managed to score I would have been basking in the glory of owning second place in the Alpha conference out right. Instead I'm left believing that my wr squad would have great difficulty scoring in a brothel. It was left to the toe of Doug Brien for 9pts, the hard nose running of Curtis Martin for 6pts and the throwing arm of Vinny Testeverde 6pts, to make the score respectable. The playoffs seem a million miles away now and it's time I got back to reality and concentrated on getting the six victories I set my self at the beginning of the season. It's fair to say that I am particularly disappointed with this result as I was confident the recent scoring improvement of some of my players would continue and of course because the B52's have now managed to complete the double over us, which as a coach I consider to be unacceptable.

Nightmare 13 V 25 Hornets 

The Hornets are the 2nd team this season that has managed to do the double on the Nightmare and in doing so, they have virtually sealed our fate as also rans in this year's race for the Alpha conference title. This was our third defeat in a row and this coupled with the team only managing a sad 13 pts left me a bit gutted to say the least. Tony Martin was the only player to really produce any form. His six points takes his tally to 24pts for the season and puts him into the frame as a late contender for the Nightmare MVP of '98. He is finally beginning to live up to his nickname of Tony "Touchdown" Martin, and he is quickly becoming the only consistent point's scorer on the team. My other brave hope JJ Stokes had a touch of butter fingers dropping a catch in the end zone in the Green bay, 49ers match up, which would have made the mares total far more respectable. The rest consisted of 3pts from Vinny Testaverde, a 2pt contribution from the boot of Brad Daluiso, in what turned out to be a disappointing display by the Giants against Washington and a two point conversion by Mike pritchard.

Nightmare 27 V 19 Gophers

I know this sounds a bit naff, but I really didn't expect this victory at all. Infact, I was extremely chuffed with the 27 points we managed to score. Vinny Testaverde came up trumps with a 9pt contribution. Curtis Martin is becoming a regular on the scoresheet at last, collecting another 6pts this week. JJ Stokes another regular scorer also managed to hold on to the pig skin long enough to register 6pts. Last but not least, Brad Daluiso's boot collected a further 6 points for the cause. With a record of 5-5 going into the final 4 weeks I am feeling fairly optomistic. My original aim of 6 vitories is a very real possibility now, and I am harbouring a secret hope of a possible 7-7 finish. I still believe realistically that a wild card spot is beyond us this year, but you never know, we have beaten three of the reamining four teams we have to play already this season.

Nightmare 9 V 21 Sharks

The 'mares are up and down more often than Nigel Kennedy's elbow, it seems these days. There's very little that can be said about this weeks performance, other than I fancied the match ups, made a few adjustments and hey presto! Bugger all!. Vinny Testaverde's measly 3 points helped keep the embarrassment at a reasonable level and Doug Briens 6 point contribution almost made the score respectable. It's back to the drawing board this week. As the season draws to a close, I am still searching for that elusive 6th victory. My gamble to play Ricky Proehl was my biggest disappointment, I had a really warm feeling about his inclusion in the line up. It's now clearly obvious I was standing too close to the radiator.

Nightmare 26 V 28 Villagers

The elusive sixth victory is becoming something of a Holy Grail for the Mares. A tough end of season schedule has left us 5-7 with two very high scoring opponents remaining to do battle with. My wide receiver squad let me down this week, chalking up a massive nil points. Inconsistency in this area has been costly this season. Vinny Testaverde come up trumps again with six points and Curtis Martin got back on the score sheet with a TD for the Jets. It was also good to see Shannon Sharpe scoring again, although he should have had a second in the Denver, Oakland match up. Finally Daluiso continued to impress with an eight point haul, to make up our 26 point total. I'm not too disappointed with this result, my attention is now drawn towards the draft and what improvements I can make during the close season.

Nightmare 25 V 51Tomcats

The result was inevitable and sadly so was the inept performance of my wr squad, ensuring that the result wasn't even close. Basically three men scored all bar one of our total. Testaverde threw 2 TD's, encouraging consistency from a man who was considered merely a back up at the beginning of the season. From the same game Curtis Martin scored 2 TD's, making it 18 points from the one game. Shannon Sharpe provided another 6 points, a feat which all but engraves his name on the Mares MVP award for this year. Disappointing was Daluiso's solitary point from the Giants v 49ers match up on Monday night. I know this is going to sound like a bad pun, but the back end of the season really has turned into a nightmare and I'm just glad that there is only one week left before I can continue further rebuilding of the team.

 Nightmare 50 V 73 Tigers

Against anyone else but the Tigers 50 points would have guaranteed a victory, I guess it just wasn't to be for the luckless Mares. Off the record, I class this as that elusive 6th Victory for that exact reason. We may have now been officially crowned Alpha conference basement boys, but we certainly went out kicking and screaming. Vinny Testaverde proved to be a valuable first choice at qb for the back end of the season and managed to score 12 points including a controversial TD. Curtis Martin is finally becoming Mr Consistent, or be it too little too late, with another 6 point contribution. Tony "TD" Martin was back on form with another 6 points. JJ Stokes confirmed himself as my best acquisition of the season and with his 12 point haul this week, earned himself a late pop at the MVP title. Shannon Shape newly crowned Nightmare MVP for '98, finished what turned out to be an outstanding season with yet another TD and new boy Doug Brien used his foot to good effect collecting a further 8 points for the cause.