Since the end of last season, I have been peppered with e-mails, some helpful, some less than. I acknowledge that last year's version of the league was not quite up to the standard I previously set.

Since I took over the CLMFFL in its second season, I poured dozens of hours of work into the league every week. I fielded phone calls, took e-mails, mediated disputes, logged trades, doled out free agents, rattled cages to get the money that would go back into your hands, and (this was the biggest time consumer) I taught myself HTML to whip up this website. Oh, and in my down time, I still managed to create four championship teams. That, friends, was a buttload of work. But I loved the challenge of fighting deadlines and leading a group of guys. For more than a decade, I applied myself 100% to the success of the league.

In 2005, I lost my job. That allowed me to focus even more time on the site, and I believe you got spoiled. Team histories and all-time records were dredged up. This took hours for each team. I started redesigning the team pages. That, also, took several, several hours. I started the team stores so you guys could wear or display your logos with pride. In short, I spent that season turning this into the most highly customized league on planet Earth.

But in 2006, I started working again. I worked overnights, so I ended up sleeping through most of the Sunday games. Then, when I woke up, I had to watch the awful mess that is the Chicago Bears. ("Where receivers go to die," right, Muhsin?) Fantasy football became less fun and more of a job.

When last season rolled around, my priorities had shifted. I was improvising regularly, still working overnights and sleeping through games. I started writing more and developing outside interests. I didn't have the endless hours to pimp the site the way I wanted. It showed.

And now, on the cusp of another fantasy football season, I'm starting to get messages from defectors. That's fine. The league is dead.

When I started doing fantasy football, you had to get your stats from a newspaper. And the Kalamazoo Gazette was notorious for leaving out stats or getting them wrong. We'd get our numbers in the mail, sometime around Wednesday or Thursday. We could only buy or trade players on designated nights. It was totally medieval by today's standards.

In 2008, everyone wants their numbers immediately. They want to be able to make a free agent pickup at 3 a.m. and have it reflected on their roster, which pops up on their iPhone and forwards it to their blog. Hey, that's great if you have a team of software engineers building that world for you. But I'm one guy with a calculator, Photoshop, a fistful of sarcasm and a ton of imagination. By working my butt off to create logos and site content, it was enough to distinguish this league from all the others. Show me another league where you can go run 'n' shoot or heavy jumbo. Where else can you choose and discard cheerleaders? Those were my ideas.

Now, immediacy trumps originality. I shouldn't have to answer cries from people who want the site to resemble a weak-ass Yahoo league. Really? You want the extent of your customization to be which color lightning bolt you pick for your helmet? You want your league to look like everyone else's? Fine. Enjoy. I'm a craftsman in a world of real-time stats.

Being a commissioner is a thankless job. You usually only hear from your teams when they want something from you. It wears on a guy. I know there have been times when some of you showed off the website to your friends to make them jealous. But remember, all that was created by one guy over hours and hours. I did it all by hand. And when I wasn't doing that, I was pestering the Mexican Tartlets to submit a lineup at least once a month, or gunning down some idea one of you had to draft 13 running backs and one quarterback.

Sure, there have been good times with the league. It's helped forge friendships and I've learned lots of new skills. I enjoyed the trash talk at the drafts. I have been excited to share the news of births and weddings. I somehow managed to pull people together over hundreds of miles for our annual draft. I admired so many teams who came back to fight the good fight without even sniffing the Super Bowl. Those things, I will miss.

While virtually everyone else spent the last decade or so getting married and having kids, I spent my free time working on this league. Now it's my turn to live. And so, my friends, this is the end.

P.S. I think the real reason people are backing out is because I could save Adrian Peterson in the second round. I'm a genius.

P.P.S. If someone else would like to run the league (through Yahoo or whatever), I'm open to joining, but I won't commish again... at least, that's what I'm saying now.

P.P.S.S. Donald Hayes forever.

Still haven't gotten addresses from Red-Man, Bears, Mayhem or 'Roids. I've got checks for you guys. Don't you want 'em?

Remember when sports posters didn't need to make any kind of sense?

Thank you for your patience this year. I acknowledge the general suckiness of the league.

OVERALL POINTS
1		15532	Overall Point Analysis: The Myzzlz seemed to signal a new era this year, with a new logo, a new name and a new attitude. This was one of the most well-rounded squads the CLMFFL has ever seen. Credit a great draft. After a shaky first round pick of Reggie Bush, you see value all over the board: McGahee in the 2nd, Houshmandzadeh in the 3rd, Romo in the 6th, ageless wonder Joey Galloway in the 7th. Every position was solid, and the team still burned a 14th round pick on Darren McFadden. Nicely done. Averaging over 1100 points a game is quite a feat. How did the Panthers manage to finish 6-8 with the second-most points? Tough competition against their own division must have been their undoing. Peyton Manning automatically catapults you near the top of any point standing. Were it not for injuries among the receivers, you might have seen a better result. And the Bears made one of the great, all-time savvy moves, picking up Brett Favre from the House of 'Roids and strip-mining the Tartlets for anyone worth starting. Nice job, guys. Dishonorable Mention: Pit Bull Rescue Larry Johnson got hurt, Chad Johnson went soft, Andre Johnson got hurt, Brandon Jackson disappeared, and Voss kept starting Vernon Davis over Kellen Winslow. Recipe for disaster. Just 760 points a game.
2		14840
3		14828
QUARTERBACK
1		5855	Quarterback Analysis: What can you say about Tom Brady? Baier made him the 5th quarterback taken, and the dude was a beast this year. Even if we deducted for interceptions, he'd still be head and shoulders above the rest. And if we gave out points based on quality of tail your QB nails, he'd be way up there, too. Brady put up 434 a game. When 1,000 will usually win you a game in this league and the QB gets you halfway there, you'd have to be a moron not to rack up wins. Unfortunately, like many QBs with great seasons, Brady disappeared in the playoffs with just 149 in the Wild Card round. So, we learn the problem with overreliance on one player. Also worth praising, the quality of tail hauled in by Tony Romo. The Myzzlz made him the 10th QB taken. From the word "go," Romo was en fuego, putting up 536 in Week One. Then, the Myzzlz benched him for two inexplicable games. But after he returned in Week 5, the Myzzlz set a trajectory for victory. The Beer Bastard's Drew Brees had a better year than anybody remembers. It's an indictment of the rest of the league that Callovi started Brian Griese for five straight weeks and none of us could put up a better QB total than him. Dishonorable Mention: Mexican Tartlets Step 1: Don't show up to the draft and end up with Vince Young and Alex Smith under center. Step 2: Enjoy 225 QB points a game.
2		5045
3		4707
RUNNING BACK
1		4416	Running Back Analysis: Newsflash - LaDainian Tomlinson is good. So is Clinton Portis. Red-Man rode these two studs to a monstrous total, averaging more than 157 per back, per game. And this was a "down year" for LT. But when you make a guy the #1 overall pick, you expect him to deliver like that, and Tomlinson held up his end of the bargain. Portis, by the way, was drafted after such RB luminaries as Shaun Alexander, Frank Gore, Rudi Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Cedric Benson and Laurence Maroney. Not bad for a guy who put up 130 a game. (Even in Portis' bye week, he outscored his replacement, Michael Turner, who put up -2.) The House of 'Roids had a great tandem, too, employing Marion Barber III and Joseph Addai. Funny how Barber made the Pro Bowl when even Wade Phillips won't start him. What a clown. You have to love how Barber runs - he's looking for contact. And look at the other RBs Rafferty stockpiled in the draft: Thomas Jones and Chester Taylor. Incredible. The Bears rode Brian Westbrook and a cast of thousands to the third place slot. You have to figure they'd have finished higher had Cadillac Williams, LenDale White, Ronnie Brown, or Justin Fargas managed to string together an entire season. Kudos for switching things up to go with the hot hand. Dishonorable Mention: Beer Bastard Callovi put up an unholy 57.5 points per back, per game. So if one of his running backs managed to stumble into the end zone from a yard out, he'd have to run at least four yards backwards to maintain his season average. There were five games where one of his backs put up a zero. And when you make it into the Toilet Bowl and don't even bother to pull an injured RB from your lineup, you deserve a world of scorn. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
2		4286
3		4149
RECEIVER
1		4629	Receiver Analysis: By just five points, the Myzzlz manage to grab the top spot here, too. Each of their receivers averaged over 110 points a game, which is pretty hard to maintain throughout a season. Next year, you have to imagine TJ Houshmanzadeh will be "locked up" before Chad Johnson. This total might have been even higher, had Javon Walker stayed healthy. But the Myzzlz made great use of veterans (a dirty word in fantasy circles). Hines Ward and Joey Galloway were consistent contributors, and the 11th round addition of DJ Hackett paid off late in the season when the Seahawks leaned on the pass. Bowman always makes the top three in this category, and this year, receiving strength was a big reason for his fourth Super Bowl title. Once again, he teamed Donovan McNabb with T.O., and once again, the season ends with McNabb as the goat and Owens as the hero. In week 11, #81 threw up 413 points. Unheard of... unless your name is Randy Moss. (How did Red-Man not make the top 3 with that guy?) Another key to Bowman's WR success: Week One free agent additions of Shaun McDonald and Wes Welker. Identify those gravy trains early, then jump on. We're happy the Panthers made the top three, in large part due to Western Michigan University's own Greg Jennings, the 107th pick in this year's draft. (We look again at Red-Man, who took Terry Glenn 27 picks earlier.) Had Larry Fitzgerald remained healthy, you can bet Nicholson would have placed even higher. Dishonorable Mention: Mexican Tartlets Not a good year for Mr. Davidson. Did we mention he skipped the draft? The guy traded the productive Donald Driver for a name-only Steve Smith and the writing was on the wall. (Smith was the 2nd overall WR selected, but by the end of the season, the Panthers were alternating between fossils and fetuses at quarterback.) Still, Dwayne Bowe had a good season. Nice consolation prize for our worst-scoring receiving team.
2		4624
3		4434

May you and your families have a wonderful New Year!

And in the Toilet Bowl, the Thieves will sharpen their knives against the Tartlets.

I hope everyone in the league has a happy, safe and healthy Christmas. The CLMFFL wouldn't be what it is without you guys. Feel free to send in goofy pictures of you, your kids and your dogs in Santa hats. This place needs a little holiday decoration.

Here's Rasheed Wallace and a few other Pistons to lift your spirits...

Upset City! The 5 and 6 seeds upset the 3 and 4 seeds in the Super Bowl chase. Now the Mighty Myzzlz tangle with the Main St. Mayhem and the Burly Bears dance with Ramming Speed.

In the Toilet Bowl, the Forty Thieves try to steal a win from the Mexican Tartlets and the Nicholson Panthers duel the Pit Bull Rescue. Congrats to Voss for being the only higher seed to win last week.

The Beer Bastard and House of 'Roids deserve a spot in the Hall of Shame for playing Jesse Chatman and Roy Williams, respectively. Those guys are injured, suckas! Have some dignity.

If you want to insert any Steelers or Rams into your lineup, get it to me before kickoff tonight! And don't let Saturday's Cowboys/Panthers matchup catch you off-guard, either.

Check your Week 16 lineups!!!

Cut! Ramming Speed shoots Brandon Jones out one of its torpedo bays.

Playoff Byes: Morning Myzzlz, Decatur Bears
Playoff Games: Oprah's Fa-jay-jay vs. Main St. Mayhem, Red-Man vs. Ramming Speed.

Toilet Bowl Byes: The Forty Thieves, Nicholson Panthers
Toilet Bowl Games: Chris Benoit's House of 'Roids vs. Mexican Tartlets, Pit Bull Rescue vs. Beer Bastard

1. Myzzlz
2. Bears
3. Oprah
4. Red-Man
5. Ramming Speed
6. Mayhem

Everyone else is in the Toilet Bowl, and is a disgrace to fantasy football.

Peep your Week 14 lineups! Ten teams are still alive. Don't give up!

Yes, you can buy free agents up until the start of the playoffs. Since this week is already underway, anyone you'd get now would be added to your roster before next week. All roster moves must be completed by Thursday, December 13 at 8 p.m. EST - Kickoff of Week 15.

It's been a while since we posted some video on the HQ...

Do NOT watch this next one at work, or in the presence of women or children...

If the playoffs would start today, the seeds would be...

1. Myzzlz
2. Bears
3. Thieves
4. Red-Man
5. Ramming Speed
6. House of 'Roids

But obviously, Week 14 will shake things up significantly. At least one 7-7 team will make it in, but you'd better have a lot of points to break the tie.

Playoff Spot Clinched: Bears
Eliminated: Bastard, Tartlets

Oprah vs. Thieves - Oprah needs a huge night from Brady. The Golden Boy will have to outscore Derek Mason by 405 to keep Baier in prime position for a division title.

Mayhem vs. Panthers - This one is all but over, folks. Unless the Ravens shut out the Patriots, or Belichick decides to go for two every time, the Mayhem will win a crucial victory in our tightest division.

Red-Man vs. Myzzlz - Both these teams will likely end up in the playoffs, but the winner has a huge advantage in the division title race. The Myzzlz take a 138 point lead plus whatever McGahee gives them, versus Red-Man's pair of Patriot wideouts. If Brady flings the rock like he has been, that lead is not insurmountable. This one is a coin toss.

Bears vs. Tartlets The Boys from Decatur need a monster game from the Patriots D to avoid slipping in the race for a #1 seed. 205 from the New England defenders? A tall task, but the Ravens offense is completely inept, so...

Remember: All that matters is that you get in the playoffs. After that, it's anybody's game.

Can you believe this is the second-to-last game in the regular season? Man, time flies. Good luck in your playoff hunt!

The House of 'Roids is on the verge of forfeit. Loan Shark, Rafferty! Loan Shark!

The House of 'Roids and Decatur Bears should have forfeited Week 12 due to a Loan Shark attack. Since the Commish didn't alert you, you have one more week to pay up. It'd be a shame if you started racking up forfeits during the playoff chase...

With just three weeks to go in the regular season, we now enter The Gauntlet. The rest of your season depends on your ability to defeat all three divisional opponents. Win all the games, and you could catapult yourself to a division title. Lose all three, and you could find yourself on the outside of the playoffs, staring in.

I love how this season's shaping up. While the Myzzlz and Red-Man have the best records in the league, only one can claim the division title. In the Blaine Division, anything can happen. And aside from the Tartlets, the Henning Division is up for grabs. Get ready for things to get wild over the next three weeks.

The Mexican Tartlets have been eliminated from playoff contention. You may not trade with them.

With the three games on Thanksgiving, be sure to get your lineups in early. You will be allowed to switch guys out, so long as they don't play on Thursday. (Obviously, you can't switch someone in after the fact.)

Cut! As a result, the Bears cut Trent Edwards and Cadillac Williams.

Commish will be out of town starting Friday morning, so if you want to avoid total panic, submit your lineups early. Here's Week 11.

Please do another photo shoot. It is hard to find pictures of you.

Love,

The Commish

Trade! As the result of an equal opportunity lawsuit, the Panthers are forced to pick up white wide receiver Kevin Curtis. In turn, Ramming Speed picks up Maurice Jones-Drew.

Cut! Red-Man has had enough of the Cardinals Defense.

The Loan Shark will pour himself a nice mug of Beer Bastard if payment isn't made by Sunday.

From the Mistaken Identity File: Got this e-mail from someone who must think we're the real Chuck Long.

Hi Chuck,

I met you at a swim meet in Lake Elsinore. I am interested in working at a Charger game. Please let me know what I need to do.

Marco Garcia

Well, Marco, I would suggest getting really good at football or learning how to work a cash register...

Bowman-

Can you start Cutler instead of Garcia please? Thanks.

Voss

Cut! The Bears have no use for Todd Heap.

Cut! Red-Man tells DeShawn Wynn to turn in his playbook and Oprah shoots Joe Horn out her Fa-jay-jay.

Check your Week 9 Lineups. This is a fun week since we have three matchups involving older teams and the expansion teams they brought into the league. Bowman begat Baier. Hach/JJ begat Bogan/Jablonski. And Voss begat Callovi. This weekend should tell us whether the learners have become the masters (to paraphrase the best movie ever).

Thanks to everyone for avoiding the Shark.

If you guys really loved me, you'd buy me the T.O. home gym. It's a work-out just scrolling down that page. My finger's numb.

Sick of a lack of humorous anecdotes? Head to The Commissioner's Blog for a frequent dose.

People have actually posted on the league message board this year. Intriguing. People are just lining up to grab Jason Campbell.

The Beer Bastard wins the Jesse Chatman sweepstakes.

Check your Week 8 Lineups.

Meet Lily Mae Longtin, born to founding CLMFFL member Chad Longtin and his wife, Stephanie. Lily joined this crazy world on October 17 at 12:23 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz. This kid is beyond adorable. As a gift, I suggest trading your best player to the 40 Thieves for a backup kicker.

Free agents have arrived in the Depot.

The Panthers would like to put Jason Campbell (QB, WAS) up for trade offers.

The 40 Thieves have a date with the Loan Shark on Sunday.

Red-Man needs to trim his roster by one player to make it under the cap.

Check your Week 7 Linueps. This is our last divisional week until Week Ten, so you want to use this opportunity to build a lead.

Commish will be away from home base effective immediately, so lineup updates will be spotty. Don't panic if your lineup change isn't reflected, but try to get it in early just to avoid trouble.

I don't know how the internet existed before YouTube, but it must have been a grim, grim place.