Jimbo,

Back in the day... For league play I used to build my teams according to their real-life counterparts. For example, the '84 Dolphins (Marino, Strock, Duper, Clayton, Moore, Cefalo, Jensen, Hardy, Nathan, Bennett, and Franklin) were a pass-first... run-second (if at all) kind of team. I made sure I equipped them with a number of home run hitters with plenty of speed. I passed the ball appoximately 80% of the time and threw for over 6000 yards and 54 tds. Including 11 td passes in one game.

My '84 Niners squad featuring Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig, rushed for over 2800 yards with Tyler breaking the 2000 yard mark.

Walter Payton and Roland Harper both rushed for over 1000 yds on my '77 Bears squad. While QB Bob Avellini threw for over 1500 yds.

Now bare in mind (back in the day) our league games typically ran for about 3hours, and there were no figures designed to hold.

In the present day... my league teams are built more for fun. I don't try to emulate the real-life version anymore, except in the looks department. Our TBA games last between and 1-1/2 to 2 hours with food and music (AKA mini party) to accompany all the playing.

In the six years I've been playing in this league (stat-wise)... The most yards I've had rushing were 1331 by Dennis Gentry of the '85 Bears, and most TD passes I've thrown were 20 by Brett Favre of the '02 Packers.

As far as tournaments go... I don't build teams to reflect their real-life counterparts. I try to build a team capable of accentuating what I like to do on the field. I give it some playmakers and some role-players and hopefully coach them well enough to be difference makers during the game.

As long as the team is offensively and defensively capable... That's all I care about.

- OldSchool