Herb's Eval of Darkillers 2000 season:
Team Performance: 63
Franchise Value: 83
Profit/Loss: 65
Difficulty: 71

Overall: 71

Nobody retires during the offseason as they are anxious to meet their new GM

I do a quick eval of our staff and decide that Martin Force definately earned his keep by making the playoffs and will stay but I think Erik Hart gave him some bad talent and I sign away Erik Johann, a 33 year scout for the pitiful Chiefs who had the #1 pick last year and have it again this year. He is an upgrade in every area besides DL where he goes from Fair to Poor, but otherwise he has 6 VG and 2 Goods, so I think its a quick boost.

I also take off the Franchise tag on G Jerome Daniels, in fact I eventually cut him, and after much deliberation place it on T Jamie Nails.

Currently there are 34 players signed and we are $11,810,000 under the salary cap.

I begin the F.A. period and recieve two trade offers:

Miami offers 2nd rd pick(5) for last years #2 pick FB Edwin Bednarik, I decline

KC offers WR Raymond Wiggins, a nice looking wideout, and the #1 overall pick for QB Blaine Davies, I accept...I mean decline.

I determine that the Key FAs we have going into the pool are:
5yr G Raleigh Roundtree
5yr T Tony Hutson
5yr T Jamie Nails-Franchise
5yr DT Tony Williams
5yr DE Jason Taylor

Obviously our lines look like they could be hurt bad, I do some renegotiating with some of our overpaid players and get us to $19,500,000 under the cap and head into the FA signing period.

I'm trying to build cohesion levels so I try to resign most everyone I can and not bring aboard too many new faces but some names catch my eye and I go after some linemen to offset any we might lose and a safety where I feel very weak. I also nab Terrell Owens to play alongside fellow former niner JJ Stokes.

We end up doing quite well

Key Losses:
T Tony Hutson
DT Tony Williams
some other disgruntled linemen

Key pickups:
S Chris Canty
WR Terrell Owens
DT Doug Brown
DE Brandon Whiting
C Steve Gordon

We also resigned Jason Taylor much to my surprise as 3 others teams bid higher for his services.

Indy offers us their 1st rd pick(19) for Jason Taylor, Decline

Jax offers DT Kelvin Pritchett & 2nd rd pick(12) for Edwin Bednarik, popular guy

Onto the draft:
I see a couple good defensive guys that I'd like and there quite a few talented looking QBs but Blaine is doing great, though Jon Kitna was signed by KC so we'll need a new backup.
A few picks go by and I can't stand the thought of the guy I want getting drafted before I get a chance and I offer next years #1(22), this years #3 & 7 and backup C Lance Scott to Dallas for the #4 overall. A pretty fair trade as Scott is a quality backup but is now a #3 on our team and Dallas' #1 need was at C.

Anyway, we select...DT out of Stanford B.J. Mudgett!

Draft Report:
1(4)-B.J. Mudgett, DT, Stanford, 6-2, 299
1(22)-Leon Roose, LB, Notre Dame, 6-1, 241
2(22)-Jerald Mummert, CB, Missouri, 5-8, 225
4(22)-Jeff Clemons, QB, Washington, 6-1, 225
5(22)-Frank Spruce, LB, Maryland, 5-11, 232
6(22)-Moe Jeter, CB, LSU, 5-11, 168, he'll be our kick returner.

After the draft GB offers DT Burt Hampton and 2002 #2 for Jason Taylor, decline

I offer DT Shane Dronett(the odd man out of a now stacked DT position) & 2002 #5 for KC's 2002 #1

I also sign TE Marcus Pollard to fill a missing TE spot I needed and we now have 51 men signed and no room under the cap, but I have guys that can step up in case of injury so hopefully we're ok.

We come out of training camp and Detroit offers us T Juan Owens and 2002 #1 for BJ Mudgett, declined.

We sell 68,800 of our 70,300 Season Tickets and our franchise value is now #1 at $446,600,000, roster strength 100 and support of 93, Go CLEVELAND!!!

On the downside though is our cohesion:
Passing 56
OL 35
DL 45
Secondary 48, all last in the NFL

We'll see if our team can overcome though...

Let me start by giving a summary of what our roster looks like:

QB: Blaine Davies, Jeff Clemons, Koy Detmer
RB: Lamont Foley, Tiki Barber, Raymont Harris
WR: Terrell Owens, Carl Pickens, JJ Stokes, Chris Sanders, Matthew Hatchett, Mike Pritchard
FB: Edwin Bednarik, Ray Zellars
TE: Ronald Stark, Marcus Pollard
LT: Jamie Nails
LG: Rueben Brown
C: Steve Gordon
RG: Raleigh Roundtree
RT: Jason Fabini
T: Ephraim Salaam
G: Dan Neil
C: Jeff Smith
P: Quin Slay
K: Corey Rollins
Punt Ret: Moe Jeter, Terrell Buckley
Kick Ret: Moe Jeter, Chris Canty
DE: Jason Taylor, Brandon Whiting, Mike Mamula
DT: Doug Brown, BJ Mudgett, Christian Peter
LB: James Logan, Ted Ridgway, Leon Roose, Dan Brandenburg, Barry Schneiderheim, JR Farmer
CB: Ty Law, Terrell Buckley, BJ Carr, Jerald Mummert, Moe Jeter
S: Charles Mincy, Lamont Evans, Chris Canty

There is no stalworths on defense but it is pretty solid, with the secondary being the heart of it all. I would like to improve the LB core next year though.

I will start a new post for the season...

Outlook: After Darkillers run to the Conf Finals, I'd like to continue to improve and have a birth in the FOF bowl, but as I think luck had as much to do with last year as our talent, I'll be happy making the playoffs again.

Onto the Regular Season!!!

Week 1...BYE, well, I guess this will help Brown get ready to start the season with everyone else...

Week 2 @ Jacksonville(1-0) 1pt fav: W 31-22

We set the tone early as rookie Kick Returner Moe Jeter returns the opening kickoff 92 yards for the score! Jacksonville mounts a late comeback but the Browns were too tough as Blaine Davies starts the season strong going 17/31 for 285 and 2 TDs
Foley's debut was less the hoped though as he goies 13 carries for 38 yards, probably one of the factors in the Jags coming back, our inability to eat the clock.

Week 3 vs N.E.(1-0) 5pt fav: W 45-21
Jeter thought about doing it again but only got 48 yards to start this game as Davies again has a huge game going 24/33 for 288 and 2 TDs. Foley again only gained 57 yrds on 19 carries but Buckley has 2 picks and Taylor and Mudgett combine for 3.5 sacks.

Doug Brown's Turf Toe is acting up again and is now out 3-5 weeks.

Week 4 vs Denver(2-1) 10pt fav: W 24-10
We didn't dissapoint the odds makers as we continue to put on an offensive show. Lamont Foley gets the game ball running for 3 TDs, but only manages 80 yds on 30 carries. Davies struggles throwing no TDs and 2 INTs. Owens has a big day with 8 catches for 117 yards.

Carl Pickens is out 3-5 weeks with a broken finger.

Week 5 vs Tennessee(3-1) 11pt fav: W10-7
We have lots of injuries in this game and its not pretty but we win, improving to 4-0, alone on top of the AFC Central. Foley dislocates his elbow and Tiki Barber steps up going 80 yards on 14 carries.

Week 6 @ Baltimore(1-3) 10pt fav: W 33-0
Our first shutout, can this team be stopped? We're now 5-0 and dominating. Davies goes 25/38 for 255 and 3 TDs. Barber has a good game getting 72 yards on 9 carries, but it's the defense that stood out holding the Ravens to 210 yards of total offense most late in the 4th quarter.

Chris Canty broke his wrist and is added to a mounting DL.

Week 7 @ Tennessee(4-2) 2pt fav: W31-12
Another huge game by our defense as we force 6 Titan turnovers, 5 interceptions of McNair. Davies throws 3 more TDs.

Stokes is added to the DL with a torn caf muscle, out 2-3 months.

Week 8 vs Defending FOF Champ Cincinnati(4-2) 7pt fav: L 21-28
We led at half but the Bengals experience proved too much as we are finally taken down from our undefeated pedestal. Foley returned and was very ineffective. Davies has a big first half throwing for 250 yds but fizzles in the 2nd half ending up with only 334.

Week 9 @ Green Bay(4-3) 2pt fav: L17-23 OT
2 Losses in a row, this one was ugly. Cleveland only manages 18 yards in the first 25 minutes of the game. We tie it late and have a 32 yd game winning FG try blocked at the end of regulation before losing in OT.

Sanders is our 2-3 months with a dislocated knee.

The 2 straight defeats drops us into a tie with the Bengals for the division lead.

Week 10 @ Pittsburgh(3-6) 2pt fav: L 17-23
Kordell absolutely tears apart our secondary going 25/35 for 301 and 2 TDs while Davies tries to match him throwing for 317 himself. The difference ended with Foley only getting 15 yards on 9 carries. This is now a MAJOR need.

We are now 6-3 and reeling, we need a turnaround fast.

Week 11 @ Indianapolis(6-3) 1pt fav: W 16-14
The only thing that can really be said is that with 2 minutes left in the game we punted the ball inside their 5 which led to a Jason Taylor sack for 2 points, big break indeed.

Week 12 vs Pittsburg(4-7) 6 pt fav: W 47-20
Thats more like our Browns! Buckley grabs game MVP honors for a 72 yards interception return for a TD but Davies grabs Player of the Week honors as he goes 21/29 for 348 with 3 TDs. Owens and Pickens both have big games getting 100 yards receiving each.

We now once again have sole possession of 1st place!

Week 13 @ 2nd place Cincy(7-4) EVEN L 16-48
The Bengals are tired of us having fun and jump out 31-0 early and hold on to win big. Davies goes 3/16 for 22 yards and 2 INTs before leaving with a concussion. Clemons relieves him going 11/14 154 yds and 1 TD but the game ends with 4 WRs on the DL

Week 14 @ Detroit(5-7) 6pt fav L 3-37
This team doesn't like losing as it seems to hurt them for a while. Davies must still be woozy as he goes 10/25 for 130 and 2 more picks.

Week 15 vs Baltimore(5-8) 8pt fav: L 10-20
We're falling like lead, Davies again only 11/27 191 and 2 INTs, I think he might need a CAT scan.

We're now 8-6 and fighting for our playoff lives, as after starting 6-0, we've gone 2-6!
I decide that Davies needs a week off, probable or not. Clemons has done well when he's had a chance and we can't risk permanent damage to not only Davies health but his psyche.

Week 16 vs Chicago(10-4) 1 pt fav W 37-26
How we were favored I'll never know, but Clemons goes 20/43 for 249 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. Barber is the star though gaining 180 yards on 25 carries and getting 3 TDs, he officially takes the HB job for the rest of the year.

We're 9-6 and we actually control our own destiny. If we beat the Jags we'll win a tie breaker with them as we'll have beaten them twice, if we lose, we're out, there is already 6 teams with 10 wins in the AFC.

Week 17 vs Jax(10-5) 4pt fav: W 37-17
Seeing Clemons run the ship last game motivates Davies as he goes 20/29 for 291 and 3 TDs while Barber adds 21 carries for 83 yds and a score himself.

We will host our first ever playoff game as we head into the playoffs for the second straight year.

Wild Card round vs Denver(10-6) 5 pt fav
Our first meeting we won 24-10, but Denver is ready and behind Terrell Davis they finish the first half up 14-7. But our defensive coordinator spots something and in the second half we force 6 turnovers, 3 picks by Charles Mincy, and Davies throws 3 TDs on only 135 yards.

W 37-21!

Divisional Playoff @ Oakland(11-5) 3pt underdog.

Do you realize this is the first time we've been a dog this year? Amazing.

The game is a defensive battle, the way I like them and Oakland leads 7-6 at the half.

Jeff George gets a quick TD pass in the 2nd half to extend the lead to 14-6 going into the 4th quarter where Davies leads us down the field and hits JJ Stokes for an 8 yard score followed by a 2pt conversion to Terrell Owens and we're tied at 14!

A Terrell Buckley interception sets up a game winning field goal attempt with :12 left and it's..........GOOD!

W 17-14

We're going back to the Conference Finals where we meet 1999 FOF champs the N.E. Patriots. We beat them in week 3 45-21, let's hope they don't remember.

Conference Finals @ New England(13-4) 2pt fav
The game is an intense one as Bledsoe and Davies duke it out and we head into the half trailing 14-10.

Unfortunately New England adds 10 more real quick in the 2nd half and a late rally makes it closer than it really is. We will fall 1 game short for the 2nd straight year.

L 18-24

New England goes on to play the Dallas Cowboys(13-4-1) in FOF bowl III. N.E. wins 27-14 to win their 2nd championship in 3 years.

Key stats for the year:
Davies: 15 games 241/438 55% 3509 yds 22TD/17INT 37 Sacks 81.8 QB rating 387 rushing yards
Tiki Barber 3 starts 121 carries 602 yards 7 TDs
Lamont Foley 13 starts 196 carries 505 yards 10 TDs
Terrell Owens 70 catches 1182 yards 4 TDs
Carl Pickens 56 catches 932 yards 7 TDs
JJ Stokes 32 catches 437 yards 6 TDs
James Logan 111 Tackles
Jason Taylor 10 Sacks
Brandon Whiting 9 Sacks
BJ Mudgett 4.5 Sacks 2 Fumble Recoveries in 8 games due to injury
Terrell Buckley 8 INTs

Team Stats:
14th Rushing Off
6th Passing Off
14 Rushing Def
13th Passing Def
7th 3rd Down Eff%
6th in Turnover Ratio at +8

MVP of the league is Emmitt Smith

Terrell Buckley is named as a 1st team CB
James Logan is named as a 2nd team LB

Herbs score:
Team Performance: 72/100
Franchise Value: 100/100
Profit/Loss: 65/100
Difficulty: 70/100

Score: 80/100