Last season, I flew to Israel on October 15th – Sunday afternoon, but made sure to play Jewball first. Get the games in when you can. That’s the Jewball way. On November 3rd of this season – also a Sunday – I flew to Israel, but didn’t play that morning. The threat of injury crept into the back of my mind – something that could ruin the trip. Just one year later. One tendon surgery later. These are the changes in mindset that lead to retirements. Lo Aleinu. Although I did not play, I did go to Hewlett to watch the 8am games. How could I not? It was the debut of Steve-O’s Reapers. A team that befuddled many on draft night. Some said it was Purple Cobras 2.0. A team that took their QB in the last round. A team with a top WR that notoriously leaves early in playoff games and has never won it all. A team with Goldberg and his secret agenda to destroy Leagues. A team that would rely on Solo to be the Solo of the Cronies; and not the Solo of the prior two seasons.
The experiment of new captains makes for interesting team personalities. A team often takes on the persona of its Captain. I don’t know if that has happened with the Reapers, but Steveo is and always has been an enigma. He cannot be pinned down. Just when you think he’s just some design wizard, he’s a brilliant musician. When you deem him a chiller with only love in his heart, you make the gravest of mistakes. Because get him on the football field. The kid is a killer. And he assembled a team of killers with Oppen, Solo, and Mighty leading the charge. The line went after Gronk with a ferocity Gronk was used to seeing work in his favor when he had Solo and Munch going after opposing QBs. Gronk was sacked three times…….by each Solo and Oppen. But don’t worry – the Carnivores have Zinn…and Zinn isn’t human. But in Week 5, he was. Not just human, but having his worst game as a Jewballer. Gronk is the new Yaron. Everyone is dropping his passes this season – no matter how great they are (the pass and the receiver. Sherrif was also not doing his team any favors. The way the Reaper defense was playing, the Carnivores had no room for error – and errors abounded. The questions about the Reapers offense centered on whether Feit would continue to come up small in League games. Two seasons ago, he drafted and lead a team that included Mighty, Singer, Jack, Dobs, Daveo, and Jordan – and they just could not move the ball. After a year off, the Reapers are providing Feit with a new lease on QB life. And – so far – he’s making the most of it. Although the Reapers have a fine back-up in the young gunner, Key, Feit availed himself quite nicely in his Reaper Reds. On two third and longs, he called the fade to Goldberg on the right sideline and the two players – each looking for redemption this season for different reasons – found the connection and executed the play to perfection. It moved the chains and lead to scores. In the red zone, Feit kept his poise and slung one in to Mighty and later to Ross – and two scores would be all the Reapers would need. But Feit ran one in also. He threw only 1 pick. Reapers win 26-7. Jewball to Solo and Oppen. Feit, I hear the argument, but CPOY is given out at the end of the season.
The 8am game I did not see was Pray v. Yaron and Pray won it 3-2. Pray throws 3, but Spira gets 2 scores and a sack. And is the Jewball OG. Jewball to him. Honorable mention to Waldo for coming in for the game. Yaron ran 1 in and threw a TD to Stats (season of offensive Stats). Legs had 3 sacks in the loss.
I believe the late game was on the LHS grass, but I was off to the airport. Avenger beats Dachs 5-2. Throws 5 TDs – 3 to BK, 1 to Samet, and 1 to Pray. Stacked team with 3 QBs. Dachs had 3 to the Ice Man, but not a ton of help from his squad. Looks like the Randomizer f*** over Dachs here. Jewball to the Avenger. Heal up and get back. The Rookies need a QB on 2/9.