Interested? Drop me an E-mail

ZFL Debuts Teams
On April 7, 2003 the ZFL was born. League founder and commish, Revrew started the league which would be much different from any of the other football leagues. No longer was the kicker the weakling on the team that never participates in tackling practice, now he would be the tie-breaker in OT.

I'll just copy and paste the league document that Revrew first posted:

The ZFL was born out of a hobby of mine--reducing complex sporting events into simpler games capable of being played with a deck or two of standard playing cards. I've turned basketball, football, and now league football into games people can play with a deck of 52!. My father-in-law and I have duked it out on my football version several times (which is a pretty cool set-up, if a bit simplistic strategically), and I've developed and run personal ZFL leagues, refining the system until it was ready to invite you in.

The rosters of the 10 teams have been set up randomly (using the deck of 52, or actually, I'm using Rook cards, so 56). There is no gameplay necessary on your part, as the scores of games are determined according to a complex mathematical process. The year end draft, however, does require a G.M. to make his or her selections and make roster room for the rookies.

Still with me? Here's how it works: Each team has 18 position players, each who have numerical value as a player (which, however, you won't see. Only your scouts can help you there). Those 18 players then calculate in rational ways to compete with an opponent's 18, producing a final score and victor. The league plays round robin (since the mathematical result between two teams would be the same almost every time you played), with the best-record team crowned champion. Tie-breakers for the championship are first head-to-head record, then FEWEST POINTS AGAINST (since defense wins championships).

Following the final week, a 3-round draft is conducted, and the rosters become full at 21 players. By the third year of the league, some players will have to be cut (of course, some players will age or be injured and lose ability, while others may increase in skill--your scouts will help you understand this later)

If you're up for a little friendly (or not so friendly) competition, proceed to the next post.

Games are generally low scoring, as the ZFL doesn't use crossbars or placekickers. The game is touchdown only. There is, however, one player called the "Kicker" whose only job is to break a tie. How? By kicking the butt of the other team's kicker, of course. No ties in the ZFL; just one man chosen to go mano-a-mano for all the marbles in a gladiator-style event after regulation. The winning "kicker" nets his team 3 points and the victory.

Your first team is stocked already from NFL, CFL, and NFL Europe cast-offs. The rosters have been built randomly, so some are already quite a bit stronger than others. It is, I'm afraid, what they call "the luck of the draw."

When you choose which city you will GM for (and name your team), you will be given a break down of your squad, including its strengths and weaknesses. In subsequent drafts you will be better able to customize your gang.

Regular season will pass quickly, as I will compute scores and dish out brief game summaries to move us through the 9-game season.

Leading up to draft day, there will be 40 or so available players to draft (in 3 rounds), whose positions and talent (as well as busts and breakouts) will be determined by the Rook cards. You will be given a Mel Kiper-like breakdown of the draft board, including his thoughts on where certain players might be drafted, and from there, my friends, you'll be on your own.

Drafting may go a bit slow, and will kill this league if you can't participate with speed around draft days, so please keep that in mind before signing up. If you're not a frequenter of this board, please leave room for those who are.

The rest, I think, will make itself clear in time. Just one more post before you're ready to sign up...