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Current 2023 Regular Season MFL Statistics    Wheelers, Spears lead playoff odds among those denied in '23 Five teams were awarded with playoff tickets last season, but that left seven others missing their goals and watching the playoffs on TV. But, what are the odds that any of these member clubs could make a playoff run this season? Dr. K lends his insight and may surprise you: FLINT After losing 12 straight games over two seasons, which set an all-time MFL record, the Wheelers ended the 2023 campaign with 6 wins in their final 10 games. With three top players in Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, 2024 could finally be the year that Flint makes the--dare I say--playoffs. A strong draft showing could truly solidify that. No top overall pick? No problem. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 7-2 PITTSBURGH Only two teams in MFL history have started the year 5-0 and failed to make the playoffs. Guess who was one of them? ('05 Chicago was the other.) The Spears did finish the year with two wins in a row and only missed the postseason by mere inches. If either Deshaun Watson or Bryce Young can put together a full, quality season with minimal injuries, that could be Pitt's final piece of the puzzle. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 4-1 MIAMI After parting ways with Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Stroud is now "The Man". If the reigning MFL Rookie of the Year can evade the fabled sophomore jinx, he'll put the Mafia in prime position. The questions surround Jonathan Taylor, however. Can he reclaim his place at the top of the running back charts? Miami cannot afford to have yet another slow start; they won 6 of their final 8 in '23, but it was their start that cost them. Regardless, they're always dangerous. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 5-1 ARKDALE The Aardvarks were stunned just days before the 2023 MFL Draft as Cameron Davies stepped in as the new owner/head coach. Needless to say, it was a rough transition initially. But, he settled in and led the Varks to a 6-8 mark. Disappointing for fans used to winning as of late, but a healthy start. Arkdale will need to firmly commit to a quarterback and to sort out who starts at receiver after Tyreek Hill. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 11-2 ORLANDO The Oracles will live and die on the arms and legs of Anthony Richardson. He accounted for 7 TDs in only 4 games before his season came to an abrupt close. Brody Purdy was a solid replacement, Jahmyr Gibbs had a great rookie campaign, and Ja'Marr Chase led the receivers. But...injuries, injuries, injuries. The uncertainly of a consistent lineup leans their odds toward 'unfavorable'. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 10-1 ANN ARBOR Like Orlando, injuries were the major factor that put the Aces from first to worst. The Super Bowl XXV Champions were just lost without a full season from several, including Austin Ekeler. In fact, only Justin Herbert, Cole Kmet, and Jake Elliott put in starts every week all year. When you have no help, you lose 8 of 9 to close the season. In addition, hope isn't strong that Ekeler will have a repeat of his fantastic 2022 season, though. Ann Arbor will need a crackerjack pick at No. 1 who can spark them right away. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 15-1 CANTON The Cougars currently look like a fish out of water. Canton lost their final six contests in 2023 and seemingly lack a centerpiece from which to build around. There's some talent, but it's aging and inconsistent. Landing a prime draftee at No. 2 might help, but probably won't be enough. PRESEASON PLAYOFF ODDS: 25-1 1/7/24 Mawhorter, Allen, Stroud win MFL Awards Dion Mawhorter has been named as MFL Coach of the Year after leading the New York Lynx to a league-best 10-4 mark and the East Division title. Mawhorter secured 6 votes out of 9 cast and takes the award home for the third time (2002, 2012). D.C.'s James Bruney finished second in the voting. For MFL Most Valuable Player, Missouri Peregrines QB Josh Allen earned the hardware after his league-leading 25 TD passes and 138 total points. He also finished tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns. Allen amassed 5 first-place votes and 22 points. New York's Jalen Hurts (2022 MVP) and Raheem Mostert finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Hurts had 17 total points and Mostert garnered 15. Finally, the commissioner's office named QB C.J. Stroud as MFL Rookie of the Year. The Miami Mafia signal caller was thrust into the starting role quickly after longtime QB Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending injury in Week One. Stroud tied for third in the MFL with 20 passing touchdowns and ran for 3 more. He was the only major qualifier for the award, but several players were named as Honorable Mentions, including Orlando RB Jahmyr Gibbs (6 rushing TDs), D.C. TE Sam LaPorta (6 receiving TDs), and Flint RB Bijan Robinson (7 total TDs). 1/7/24 Scraps commit to RB McCaffrey, but release RB Jacobs The South Bend Scraps made it all the way to Super Bowl XXVI, losing in a tough battle, but the franchise had a tough battle in the board room deciding on how to make more than $3 million in cuts heading into the offseason. Despite a scheduled 2024 salary of $10.2 million, the Scraps elected to keep RB Christian McCaffrey and release RB Josh Jacobs. Jacobs, who was scheduled to make $7.4 million in 2024, scored 6 touchdowns and joins a crowded field of high-quality vets who will undoubtedly fetch big paydays in August. McCaffrey earned his keep with 16 total TDs, including 12 on the ground, tied for second in the MFL. While there is a chance that South Bend retains McCaffrey as trade bait to secure multiple draft picks during the offseason, but Dr. K says that "the chances are pretty low. The Scraps are very happy with [McCaffrey's] production and he will certainly be the centerpiece of their 2024 run to Super Bowl XXVII." 1/5/24 D.C.: QB Burrow has become expendable QB Joe Burrow is no longer a D.C. Dinosaur after four years with the club. Burrow was drafted 6th overall in 2020 and quickly jumped to starter for the Dinos. He led them to Super Bowl XXV last season, but has been hampered by injuries throughout his career, becoming only a small contributor this sesaon despite D.C. winning Super Bowl XXVI. His release became an expected move after the Dinos pulled off a coup to acquire QB Patrick Mahomes via trade from Arkdale just days ago. Burrow joins a growing list of strong veterans who will make up the 2024 draft class, creating what should be a massive bidding war in the first and second rounds for the veteran QB and many others. 1/4/24 "Forever...grateful": Mafia grants release to QB Rodgers After three stints, five Central Division titles, two Super Bowl championships, and 16 seasons with the Porpi/Gunslingers/Mafia franchise, QB Aaron Rodgers has been granted his release from the club. Rodgers will be known as one of the all-time greats in the MFL. He was a three time MFL Passing Champion, won the MFL Most Valuable Player Award in 2011, and took the Super Bowl MVP in 2012. Owner/head coach Dave Wills stated that "Aaron Rodgers was the face of this franchise who brought us 2 championships. We will forever be grateful to Aaron and wish him the best in his future endeavors." Wills added that Rodgers' recent controversial comments had nothing to do with his release. Despite his age and injury status, Rodgers is likely to be selected in the mid-to-later rounds of 2024 MFL Draft and could end up back in Miami at a reduced rate. In addition, the Mafia parted ways with QB Gardner Minshew and RB Zach Charbonnet. 1/3/24 End of an era: QB Mahomes, TE Kelce dealt to D.C., Missouri The Arkdale Aardvarks are only three days into the offseason and after a disappointing 6-8 campaign and a desperate need for draft picks, Owner/head coach Cameron Davis decided to part ways with QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce. Both were part of the amazing 2018-2020 playoff runs of the Varks, which included a Super Bowl title in 2019, but the shine wore off this year. Mahomes is heading to D.C. for four 2024 draft picks, including the #12 and #15 selections. Kelce was dealt to Missouri in exchanve for QB Baker Mayfield and a 3rd rounder. The shakeup send the MFL social media world ablaze and will certainly have far-reaching ramifications for years to come. Mahomes was originally drafted by D.C. in 2017 and Kelce was signed as a mid-season free agent by the Gatlinburg Gunslingers in 2014 before bouncing around between D.C., Miami, and Arkdale before settling in as an Aardvark in 2018. spent 1/2/24 RB Barkley becomes yet another high-profile cap casualty The Miami Mafia have released RB Saquon Barkley. The running back was scheduled to make $9.7 million in 2024, but the franchise decided that that was too much of a financial burden compared to the payoff. Barkley spent six seasons in South Florida, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 after finishing 4th in rushing. He scored 8 times on the ground in 2022 and 7 total TDs in 2023. Barkley is expected to be another prize in the 2024 Draft in August. spent 1/1/24 RB Henry cut by Chicago after 8 seasons RB Derrick Henry has been released from his contract by the Chicago Ravens after 8 seasons with the organization. Owner/head coach Jeremy Bonk said "[Henry] will go into the Hall of Fame as a Raven" and one will be pressed to argue that point. Henry has been a dominant force on the ground in the MFL since his arrival as the 2nd pick overall in 2016 and will most likely be highly sought after in the MFL Draft in August since the running back position doesn't have many vertical runners in current days. He was a member of the Ravens championship team in his rookie year. Henry was scheduled to $13.5 million in 2024, leading to his release. Other players of note who were released on the opening night of the cut period: Missouri RB Najee Harris (No. 3 pick in '21, 3 years with the Peregrines) and D.C. RB Miles Sanders (No. 3 pick in '23, drafted 3 times in the last 5 seasons). 12/12/23 Mostert, Allen, Hill take statistical titles Josh Allen won two of the MFL's four statistical titles in 2023. He took the Passing Title by throwing 25 touchdown passes as he led his Peregrines to an 8-6 record and a playoff berth. He also clinched the Points Title with 138, the league's highest total in 10 years. Raheem Mostert snagged the Rushing Title with 16 touchdowns for the Lynx, helping--along with teammate Jalen Hurts--to position New York in the top spot in the playoff race. Tyreek Hill's season ended in the regular season, but he was able to take the Receiving Title with 12 TDs on the year for Arkdale. 11/21/23 Lynx become second franchise to reach 200 wins With Dion Mawhorter at the helm and Adam Stephens in the presidential suite, the New York Lynx became the second MFL member club to reach the 200-win plateau. Overall, the franchise is 200-175-11 in 26 seasons in the league. Next on the list is Missouri, which currently sits at 197 wins, followed by Chicago with 190. Pittsburgh hit the magic 200 mark nearly 3 years ago to the day and rests at 223 currently to lead all clubs. 10/10/23 WR Chase becomes the first Orlando receiver with 3 TDs In 15 seasons of play, the Orlando Oracles have never had a receiver with 3 touchdown catches. That is, until this past Sunday, when WR Ja'Marr Chase snagged three touchdowns in their loss at Canton. Twenty-three times previously, Orlando had receivers with 2 receiving scores. Many date back to the early days of the franchise and include Tony Gonzalez ('13), Jacquizz Rodgers ('13), Marques Colston ('11), Roy Williams ('10), Derrick Mason ('09), and Chris Cooley ('09). No more. Now Chase reigns supreme at the top of the list. |
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