Got to talking with a friend about the impact...

[Reginald Rutledge]

of an injury.

Picture this, I've played and studied the game of football practically all my life. I use to run the ball 20-30 times a ball game. Took a lot of hits but I did not understand the impact of it as a player. After I got older and studied the game from an intellectual point, I saw how the loss of an impact player could all but destroy a season.

In my NFLGTSL, two things are very important in the outcome of season. The element of chance and the quality of players. Last week, in a game between the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the All-time Baltimore Colts team, the Miami Dolphins lost Manny Fernandez, their nose tackle. At that point, the Baltimore offense was getting yardage rushing but it was not significant.

Fernandez got the dreaded season ending injury fate. I guess, torn ACL or broken leg. You take your choice. When that happen, Bob Heinz, and undersized lineman had to be plugged in to that spot. Fernandez weighed 6.5 grams. Heinz weighed 3.8 grams. For MF, that's massive!

With the roll of the Box, a play called for Pro-set dive from the 1 yard line by the Baltimore Colts. Handoff was to Lenny Moore! 99 yards later and an NFLGTSL record run, I wondered, "Coincidence?" Then, Lenny Moore began to pile up yardage, finishing the game at 257 yards rushing. Mind you, this is an "ANY TOUCH" format!!

Later in that same game, Alan "The Horse" Ameche got knocked out for the season. This is an anomaly! I've never seen 2 players go down for a season like this. The guys were hittin'! What can you say? Ameche had to be replaced by Lydell Mitchell. Immediately, Mitchell runs a curl route and Unitas hits him for a touchdown pass of 33 yards.

I probably would not have known Mitchell could do that if Ameche had not got hurt.

This has been very entertaining when you can distribute weight according to your star system. My Buffalo Bills will probably have an offensive line weighing about 6.5 to 6.8 grams per player. With that being said, their defensive line may be just under 4.2 grams. Buffalo will be able to have the Electric Company rolling but that defense will be like the 72 Bills, putridge! We've got to have a few floor mats. I loved that 72 team. Just don't let any of the Bills O-line go down with injuries because it will make that team very suspect.

This is one of the joys of playing with a star system based on weight. If your great players go down, how does a team compensate and which players will stand up and make a play?

Reg