Okay, we're just 'bout a quarter of the way to the end of the regular season and things are beginning to shape up.

We still have 5 undefeated teams: wow! And, 4 of them are teams based in the great state of Pennsylvania: Philly, Pittsburgh, and the two teams from my hometown of Erie. Don't forget Springfield though; they are coming out STRONG this year!

The Slayers did a great job of controlling the clock (over 38 minutes of time of possession!) and shutting down the Hand Grenades' running game to remain unbeaten w/ an impressive win over New Orleans. Props to them.

Texas had their hands full w/ a very good and very balanced Springfield team. McGahee was over 100 yards while Palmer had another standout effort throwing the ball. The Isotopes' D also kept Gore under wraps (16 rushing yards....yikes!) and limited Cutler to a 60.2 passer rating. Outstanding. That's why they sport the league's top ranked defense to go w/ their 2nd ranked offense.

Congrats to Oakland on their first win! Maroney was unstoppable, going for just under 200 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, Big Ben was equally dominant throwing the ball, well over 300 yards and 5 TDs w/ ZERO turnovers! Nice.

Poor Ottawa. Though they are 0-4, they have lost to some very good teams. Two losses to the 10th ranked and undefeated Slayers, a loss this week to 6th ranked and undefeated Philly, and a loss to once beaten and top ranked Indy. Can this team get a break? They're not this bad; they have an offense ranked 9th in the league and are giving up just 5.4 yards per play defensively. My Assassins are ranked 6th in the league defensively and give up 5.1 yards per play. I think this team is going to bounce back from this brutal start to the season.

On to the props. Offensively, Oakland had three stars in RB Maroney (193 yards), WR D.J. Hackett (8 catches, 179 yards and 3 TDs), and QB Roethlisberger (358 yards, 5 TDs, no turnovers). AD led Tempe to victory w/ 147 yards and a TD and Edmonton got a great all 'round effort from RB Joseph Addai (24 rushes 86 yards, TD; 11 receptions, 123 yards, TD) in their big win over the Hoosier Daddy?

Defensive standouts included Slayers' CB Dre' Bly (3 tackles, a sack, and 2 INTs), Edmonton pass rusher Osi Umenyiora ( 7 tackles, 3 sacks), Springfield LB Jon Beason (10 tackles, 1 INT), Ottawa LB Will Witherspoon (12 tackles, 2 sacks), Pittsburgh LB Shawne Merriman (4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble), and Oakland DE Jared Allen (9 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB pressures), though there are many more, as you'll see in the defensive player of the week poll.

Special teams wise? Nothing special. Devin Hester had 2 more punt returns for scores. Yawn. It's getting boring.

On the injury front, the Hand Grenades lose return man Mark Jones to a hip injury for 8 weeks. Edmonton loses LB Patrick Chukwurah for 6 weeks due to a knee injury, but the news just gets worse for Chicago. They lose QB Jake Delhomme for the remainder of the season w/ a wrist injury.

There are some big divisional battles coming up next weekend. Springfield and Indianapolis will have a war to settle the score, as will Edmonton and the Erie Slayers while Seattle will try to hold onto their division lead when they travel to Tempe to face the Sand Devils.

Welp, I was hoping for the upset, but my offense just got shut down by a better team.

it's going to be a looooong season in Vegas.

another game I loose by under 4 points

An early turnover proved costly as well inability to contain Addai on O and Umenyiora D lead to the Hoosier? Daddy loss. Yet sometimes losses can be a good thing as let's us refocus on somethings that will hopefully makes a better team.

Whoo Hoo Mario! Mario! Mario! Mario! Mario!

Mario Williams got a game winning sack/safety to propel the Phelons to 4-0

Cleveland is already thinking about rebuilding...can we trade yet?

Trading is open 'til week 9.

Check your PMs.