MFL/TNL HALL OF FAME

Welcome to thirdandlongs Hall of Fame - Here the best of the last 4 years of NFL Fantasy players will grace, once everyone pulls there fingers out

MFL Hall of Fame

Peyton Manning

Torry Holt

Carson Palmer

Antonio Gates

Ladanian Tomlinson

Larry Johnson

Tom Brady

Randy Moss

Drew Brees

Kurt Warner

Chris Johnson

Brett Favre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The TNL Hall of Fame

The TNL Hall of Fame is exactly what it says on the tin - a fantasy football hall of fame. The prerequisits for induction into this prestigious hall are simple, in the year you are inducted you must have, at some point, put up a ridiculous amount of fantasy football points, or you have consistantly over the years ammassed so many fantasy points that it is impossible to ignore.

At the end of every season the TNL nominates who it believes should be in this years hall of fame, which is then put to a vote...

The following players have already secured their place in the chronicles of MFL history...

Peyton Manning (2004), Torry Holt (2004), Carson Palmer (2005), Antonio Gates (2005) Ladanian Tomlinson (2006), Larry Johnson (2006), Tom Brady (2007), Randy Moss (2007), Drew Brees (2008), Kurt Warner (2008).

In 2009 there were 11 nominees - the winners being Chris Johnson, for his phenomenal fantasy performance in 2009, and Brett Favre who despite his age was one of the leading fantasy quarterbacks this season. To read more about the inductees, please read on...

Class of 2004

Peyton Manning HOF

Peyton Manning

Pos Quarter Back

D.O.B March 24th 1976

Career Highlights

The Indianapolis Colts seleted Manning as the first overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he passed for 3739 yards and 26 touchdowns, breaking five seperate NFL rookie records, including most touchdown passes by a rookie in one season. Despite this Manning could only lead the Colts to a 3-13 record.

Manning had shown more promise in his rookie season than any other Quarterback before him, and it was just one year later that he started to fulfill that promise. In 1999 Manning led the Colts to the playoffs, and although defeated by the superbowl bound Titans, Manning had arrived as a major player in the NFL and would consistantly feature as one of the top QB's over the course of the next 5 seasons.

In 2004 Manning became the only QB you wanted in your line-up. He was fantasy gold all season, and be it the hometeam challenge or the draft league, you built your line-ups around him. The Colts won four of their opening five games including a 45–31 win over Green Bay in which Manning threw a 5 touchdown fantasy gold week. Despite losing there next four games Manning was still delivering the goods fantasy points wise, and it was only a matter of time before he turned the Colts season around. Manning led the Colts into the playoffs as they won all but one of their remaining games. During the month of November, Manning was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice; once for his 5 touchdown performance in a 49–14 blowout of Houston and once for his performance in a 41–9 win at Detroit in which he threw 6 touchdowns in less than three quarters. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for a fourth time in the week 16 game against San Diego where he led the Colts to a 34–31 victory after trailing by fifteen in the fourth quarter.

During the season, Manning threw for 4,557 yards, and a record 49 touchdowns. He also recorded a NFL high 121.1 quarterback rating. Manning was selected as the NFL's most valuable player, drawing 49 of 50 votes and was also named unsurprisingly the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The Colts finished the season with a 12–4 record and their second straight AFC South title. They were the third seed in the AFC. However they were once again to fall in the playoffs, and the Superbowl was to remained elusive to Manning until 2006.

Torry Holt HOF

Torry Holt

Pos Wde Receiver

D.O.B June 5th 1976

Career Highlights

Torry Holt was the 6th overall pick in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. In his rookie season Holt was part of a Rams side that won the Superbowl. During that season he had 53 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns. Since then Holt has consistanly posted 1300 yards every season up until 2005, making him the only receiver currently in history to post six consecutive years of 1300 plus yards. Holt may have been selected for this Hall of Fame for the 2004 season, but it is his consistancy that makes him noteable, and his best fantasy season was 2003 where he led the NFL in yardage and receptions. He ranks amongst the top 10 of all 3 receiving categories (receptions, yardage and touchdowns) for the years 2003-2007.

On October 15th 2006 Holt became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards, and is currently the all time leader for receiving yards per game at 84.7 yards

Class of 2005

Carson Palmer HOF

Carson Palmer

Pos Quarter Back

D.O.B December 27th 1979

Career Highlights

As with Manning, Carson Palmer was also the first round, 1st pick in the NFL draft. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. His rookie season was spent on the sidelines playing second fiddle to Jon Kitna, Palmer didn't take a snap all season, but Kitna's mentorship seemed to work and Palmer had a decent 2004 season.

In 2005, Palmers break out season, Carson led the Bengels to an 11-5 record and the AFC North Division title. It was the Bengels first divisional title since 1990. Palmer also became the first Bengels quarterback to finish with a 100 + passer rating, whilst tieing with the Colts Payton Manning for the most consecutive triple digit passer rating games. Palmer was 2005's number 1 fantasy QB, leading the NFL in pass completions and touchdowns, whilst being 4th on the overall yardage thrown. On December 21st 2005 Palmer was voted into the 2006 Pro Bowl game. Palmer however was to never make it onto the field. In the Bengels playoff game against the Steelers a tackle from Kimo von Oelhoffen at the knee tore both anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. Ironically Palmer threw a 66 yard completion pass to Chris Henry just before he took the hit (a Bengels record). The Bengels minus Palmer went on to lose the game, and so severe was Palmers injury that it led the NFL to outlaw tackles at or below the knee.

Palmer recovered from his injury relatively quickly, and in 2007 became the 5th quickest player to reach the 100 touchdown milestone. He has yet however to have as good a season as the 2005 playoff year.

 

Antonio Gates HOF

Antonio Gates

Pos Tight End

D.O.B June 18th 1980

Career Highlights

Gates first love is Basketball, and much of Gates college life was spent pursuing his basketball dream. Unfortunately Gates was considered too much of a 'tweener' for the NBA, and thus he turned his attention to American Football. Gates was undrafted as a result of his attempts to forge a basketball career, and tried out for the Chargers in 2003, who uickly realised the potential Gates possessed, signing him to a full contract almost immediately.

Gates could easily be in the 2004 hall of fame, as his break out season saw him become quarterback Dree Bree's favorite target, with 81 receptions, 964 yards and 13 touchdowns (an NFL record for a TE in 2004)

IHowever it is 2005 that Gates has been selected into the MFL Hall of Fame. Gates clocked up his biggest yardage numbers ever despite missing the first game of the season through suspension, catching 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. In week 8, despite being listed as doubtful, Gates helped create one of the most memorable MFL moments. The Chargers were at home against Kansas City, and normally Gates would have been an automatic pick that week against a weak defence at home. With the doubtful tag however most players dropped him from their line-ups especially in the NFL's Hometeam Challenge game. MFL history however shows that to be a huge mistake, and despite week 8 being pretty early on in the MFL season, this one game, this one injury proved to be the pivotal point in the MFL Championship that year. In the MFL Hometeam Challenge league Pete Butcher and James Cooper were chasing down a huge lead at the top of the table held by Ian Cawthorne. Both Pete and James dropped the doubtful Antonio Gates and then looked on in horror as he posted 145 yards and 3 Touchdowns. (as any fantasy football fan will realise, 32 points for a wide receiver is excellent, 32 points therefore for a tight end is fantasy gold!!) Ian Cawthorne on the other hand had not dropped him, and won the week and eventually the league by a huge margin. Gates performance for this one week is attributed as the point in which Cawthorne won the MFL title, and he remains the only other team in MFL history to do so (all the other 4 titles were won by James Coopers chasing Sheffield Supermen.

Class of 2006

Ladanian Tomlinson

Ladanian Tomlinson

Pos Running Back

D.O.B June 23rd 1979

Career Highlight

The MFL class of 2006 pays tribute to just one player. In recent times he has been the season in/season out number one choice in draft leagues, and in 2006 he was a fantasy monster.

Tomlinson was selected by the San Diego Chargers in 2001 in the first round as 5th overall pick. His career since then has proven him to be one of the best ever running backs in the history of the NFL. Tomlinson started as the Chargers running back in his first season, and, in the seven seasons following he missed just one game, posting 1200+ yards in every season. He has a QB passer rating of 154.4, completing 8 passes, 7 for touchdowns and is one of only seven players in NFL history to run, pass and receive a touchdown in the same game (v the Oakland Raiders).

His selection into the thirdandlong hall of fame comes from his fantasy output in 2006, in which Tomlinson had a monster year. He broke an NFL record by scoring 19 touchdowns in the space of 6 games and a franchise record when he went over for 4 touchdowns against the Bengels, 49ers and Bronco's. Tomlinson scored his 29th touchdown in his 13th game against the denver bronco's, breaking the NFL record with 3 games to spare. With the first touchdown against Kansas City on December 17, he surpassed the most points in a season by an NFL player; one which had stood for 46 years. Tomlinson would finish his record breaking season with 2,323 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving) and 31 touchdowns (28 rushing, 3 receiving). He was quite simply made of solid fantasy gold in 2006.

Larry Johnson HOF

Larry Johnson

Pos Running Back

D.O.B June 23rd 1979

Career Highlight

Class of 2007

 

Tom Brady HOF

Tom Brady

Pos QuarterBack

D.O.B August 3, 1977

Career Highlight

Brady was selected with pick #199, a compensatory pick, a decision that a 2007 NFL Network special deemed the greatest "steal" in the history of the NFL Draft. Brady started as the fourth string quarterback behind starter Drew Bledsoe and backups John Friesz and Michael Bishop, yet by the season's end, he was number two on the depth chart.

Brady was thrust into the starter's role on September 23, 2001, during a home game against their AFC East rivals, the New York Jets. In that game, which the Patriots lost, Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding after a collision with Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Later that week, Brady was named the Patriots' starting quarterback. Brady led the Pats to the playoffs in his first season, and against the Oakland Raiders, Brady threw for 312 yards, and led the Patriots back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win on an Adam Vinatieri field goal in overtime. Brady helped lead the Patriots to the Superbowl that year against the Rams. With the score was tied with 1:21 left in the Super Bowl Brady drove the Patriots offense down the field to the Rams 31 before spiking the ball with 7 seconds left. The Patriots won the game on another Adam Vinatieri field goal as time expired. Brady was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXVI while throwing for 145 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, becoming the then-youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl. Brady followed up that success in 2003 Brady when he led the Patriots to a 32–29 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time. During the game, Brady threw for 354 yards with 3 touchdowns and set the record for most completions by a QB in the Super Bowl. A year later On February 6, 2005, the Brady-led Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to win another Superbowl. Brady threw for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, while capturing the Patriots' third NFL championship in four years.

None of the above was to prepare the fantasy world or the MFL for the season of 2007. Brady was to be blessed firstly with a dramatically overhauled receiver corps, the Patriots acquiring wide receivers Donté Stallworth, Wes Welker, Kelley Washington and Randy Moss in the off season. It was to be the aquisition of Randy Moss that would ignite fantasy scoreboards accross the globe. In the MFL, Randy Moss, a 7th round pick almost single handedly led the English Eagles to the championship. Many sports writers, experts, analysts, fantasy owners, or the guy down the corner shop agree that Brady enjoyed what can only be described as the best season ever by a quarterback. Brady not only led the Patriots to a 16–0 record, outscoring opponents by more than a 2-to-1 margin, but reached numerous career, franchise, and NFL records and milestones as well: (the following taken from wikipedia.com...)

The season was to end in ultimate disappointment for Brady and Moss when they lost the Superbowl to the New York Giants. Brady was pressured heavily and was sacked five times, as the Giants came out with a clear game plan, however with less than three minutes remaining the Patriots led the game, however the Giants were able to score a last-minute touchdown to upset the Patriots 17–14. (and send most neutral fans into raptures). It has been considered by many as the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, and it was a sad end to season of fantasy heaven from Brady.

Randy Moss HOF

Randy Moss

Pos Wide Receiver

D.O.B February 13, 1977

Career Highlights

Randy Moss could easily claim he was the vital component to the 16-0 regular season record by the Patriots in 2007. Many of the plaudits were laid squarely at the door of Tom Brady, but it was without a doubt the Brady/Moss combination that made the Patriots so destructive that year. Not since the Manning/Harrison, Culpepper/Moss combos of 2004 had fantasy players had such a prolific combination to work with, and therefore it is no surprise that both players appear here, in the MFL Hall of Fame.

During the 1998 NFL Draft, Moss, who was projected as a high first-round pick, was taken by the Minnesota Vikings with the 21st overall pick after a number of NFL clubs—even those in need of a WR—were concerned with Moss' well-documented legal problems. Before the draft Moss was quoted as saying, "teams that pass on him 'will regret it once they see what kind of a player I am and what kind of guy I really am.'

In 1998, Moss helped the Vikings to become the number one ranked offense that season while they set a record for total points by a team. They finished with a 15–1 winning record and were poised to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. However, the Atlanta Falcons stunned the Vikings by winning the NFC Championship Game 30–27 in overtime. At the end of the 1998 regular season, Moss was named a Pro Bowl starter and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his 17 touchdown receptions and the third highest receiving yardage (1,313) total of 1998.

In 1999, Moss had another impressive season, catching 80 passes for 1,413 yards and 11 touchdowns. He went on to record 5 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings 27–10 NFC wildcard playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys though once again the Vikings missed out on a superbowl place.

In 2003 Moss became the second wide receiver in history (behind Jerry Rice in 1995) to play more than 12 games (he played 16) while averaging over 100 yards and one touchdown per contest. He finished with 111 receptions for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns. All three of the numbers either tied or became a new personal best.

Randy Moss made the Pro Bowl 5 times in his 7-year career with the Minnesota Vikings (1998–2000, 2002, and 2003) before an unsuccessful spell with the Raiders. Before too long Moss was to re-ignite his career by becoming Bradys 'go-to' guy. On April 29, 2007, the Raiders agreed to a trade with the New England Patriots. In August, draft sheets across the globe barely featured Randy Moss. In the MFL Moss was almost undrafted, being picked up by the English Eagles in the 7th round. However, just 3 months later on November 4, 2007, James Black, NFL Editor for Yahoo! Sports wrote, "Every week, in addition to out-leaping at least one defender for a touchdown, Moss keeps making incredible one-handed grabs that make you mutter, 'How the heck did he come up with that?'". On December 29, the Patriots defeated the New York Giants 38–35, finishing their season with a perfect 16–0 record. Moss caught two touchdown passes for a total of 23 season catches, breaking the single season record of 22 previously set by Jerry Rice. On the same play, Tom Brady broke Peyton Manning's single season record of 49 touchdowns set in 2004 with his 50th touchdown. It was the ideal end to the most perfect of regular seasons, unbeaten and probably the most devastating offence in NFL history, Brady and Moss' 2007 season will live long in the memories of all American Football fans, especially the ones they led to fantasy victory that season.

Class of 2008

Drew Brees HOF

Drew Brees

Pos Quarter Back

D.O.B January 15, 1979

Career Highlight

Brees was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the second round in 2001 playing his first-career game on November 4, 2001 against the Kansas City Chiefs. In his rookie season, Brees played only one game under head coach Mike Riley and earned a passer rating of 94.8. In his second year he passed for 3,284 yards and 17 touchdowns earning a 76.9 passer rating for the season. Brees third season as a charger didn't go to plan. Failing to put up any decent numbers, Brees ended up with a career low 69.0 passer rating, and the Chargers went 4-12. San Diego earned the first overall pick after that season, and traded with the New York Giants for Philip Rivers instead of Eli Manning. However, as the details of that trade rumbled on, Brees carried on as the starting quarterback, and enjoyed a breakout season which would see him finish the 3rd best ranked quarterback of the season. (behind Culpepper and Manning). His run of good form would continue into 2005, until in the last game of the 2005 season against the Denver Broncos, Brees injured his shoulder while trying to pick up a fumble. Brees' injury was much worse than previously thought.

After the injury, San Diego Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith told Brees that the team wanted him back to full strength and that they wanted him to lead them to a championship. However when it came to an actual contract offer, the Chargers fell way short of what Brees expected. Brees has since made no secret that he felt let down by the Chargers, and the falling out led to Brees signing for the Saints. Where the Chargers seemed to have little confidence in brees injury, the Saints showed otherwise.

Brees was productive in both 2006 and 2007, and for the last 3 years he has been a much sought after quarterback in fantasy drafts the world over. However it is his 2008 performance that sees him inducted into the MFL Fantasy Hall of Fame. Brees finished top of the fantasy points standings with 361 points. Brees finished 15 yards short of the NFL record for passing yards thrown in a single season set by Dan Marino in 1984, finishing the season with 5,069 yards becoming only the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. He also passed for 300 yards ten times during the season, tying Rich Gannon's 2002 record. He was named FedEx Air Player of the Week for his performances during weeks 8 and 12 and was also named the AP 2008 Offensive Player of the Year.

Kurt Warner HOF

Kurt Warner

Pos Quarter Back

D.O.B February 13, 1977

Career Highlight

Kurt Warners 2008 season, even without the final win in the superbowl was somewhat remarkable. Locked in a preseason battle with Matt Leinart saw very few draft league managers take a chance on either. Both quarterbacks were left undrafted in the MFL and yet by the seasons end Warner had finished 4th in the fantasy points rankings, and led the unfancied Arizona Cardinals to the Superbowl. As such Warner earned his spot in the MFL's Hall of Fame.

Matt Leinart was named the Cardinals starter going in to the off-season for 2008, but Ken Whisenhunt stated that it would be very possible for Warner to be the starter before Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season. Indeed, Warner was named the starter on August 30, 2008. That season, Warner had 4,583 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and a completion percentage of almost 70%.

On December 7, 2008, Warner led the Cardinals to a 34–10 win over his former team, the St. Louis Rams, securing for the Cardinals the NFC West Division title and their first playoff berth since 1998. It was the Cardinals' first division title since 1975 and third of the post-merger era. On January 3, 2009, Warner led the Cardinals in their defeat of the Atlanta Falcons 30–24 at home in the first round of the playoffs. During the game Warner went 19 for 32, a completion percentage of 59.4%, for 271 yards. He threw two touchdowns and one interception. This win represented the first time the Cardinals had won a post-season home game since the 1947 NFL Championship Game. On January 10, 2009, Warner led the Cardinals in their 20-point defeat of the highly fancied Carolina Panthers 33-13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the game Warner went 22 for 32, a completion percentage of 65.6%, for 220 yards. He threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. On January 18, 2009, Warner threw for 279 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles to help lead the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance in history. Warner is the second quarterback to make Super Bowl starts with two different teams. He also became the third quarterback in NFL history to win a conference championship with two different teams (Cardinals and Rams).

In Warner's third career Super Bowl appearance, he failed to end his dream season with a dream victory, but he pushed the massive favorites the Pittsburgh Steelers all the way, throwing for 377 yards (the 2nd-highest total in Super Bowl history), completing 72% of his passes, and had a quarterback rating of 112.3 against a defence touted as one of the NFL's best ever. Warner has now recorded the three highest single-game passing yardage totals in the history of the Super Bowl.

Class of 2009

Chris Johnson HOF

Chris Johnson

Pos Running Back

D.O.B September 23, 1985

Career Highlight

Chris Johnsons induction into the Hall of Fame was the cause of much discussion throughout the MFL. His controversial vote into the Hall of Fame is more intriguing considering that he is the youngest inductee into the hall of fame by a massive 5 years and that 2009 was just Johnsons 2nd year in the NFL. Johnson was just the 6th running back drafted in the 2009 MFL draft (8th pick overall) - yet he finished the season far and away as the number 1 back in the league.

Chris Johnson was drafted by the Tennesee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft (24th overall) and enjoyed a successful first year as a rookie, endearing himself to fantasy owners with weeks such as his 168 yards and a touchdown on only 18 carries against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 19, 2008. The potential shown by Johnson is his rookie season propelled him into many fantasy leagues first rounds around the world. Their faith was to be rewarded over and over again throughout what was to be a phenomenal year,

He was the obvious choice for the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year, and became just the 6th player in history to run for over 2000 yards. His yards from scrimmage totalled 2509, beating Marshall Faulks record by 80 yards. His single week performances were outstanding in themselves having an active streak of six games over 125 yards, which tied the NFL record shared by Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson. Johnson also set the single month record for rushing, with 800 yards in November 2009. Johnson also had 3 touchdown runs of 85+ yards. No other player has achieved that many in a career. Despite Johnsons relatively short time in the NFL - these acheivements are deserving of his 2009 induction into the MFL Hall of Fame.

Brett Favre HOF

Brett Favre

Pos Quarter Back

D.O.B October 10, 1969

Career Highlight

From the youngest ever MFL HOF inductee, to the oldest - Brett Favre is 16 years Johnsons senior. His 2009 inclusion in anybodies fantasy drafts was both inevitable, and yet surprising. His performaces for the season however belied his years - as he became one of the leading quarterbacks in the league once more, leading the Vikings to the playoffs.

Favre holds pretty much every quarterback record in the league, his storybook career has spanned 2 decades and 19 NFL seasons since he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round in 1991. Favre will always be known as a Green Bay Packer, spending 15years at Lambeau field between 1992 and 2007. During that time Favre has won one superbowl, and led the Packers to the NFC Championship twice. He has led his respective teams to the playoffs 11 out of the 19 seasons he has played in the NFL. In 2009 Favre enjoyed a resurrgence, putting up his best ever passing figures since his career began at the ripe old age of 40. His passer rating of 107.2 was far and away his best ever. He threw for 4200 yards, his best for 11 years, whilst his 33 TDs was his best in 12 years. Favre will always be known as much for his turnovers as his brilliance. So, what was impressive in Favres 2009 season was the lack of turnovers. Favre threw just 7 interceptions during the regular season, his best performance ever. Ironically enough however, depsite Bretts composure during the regular season, Favres irratic form would rear its head once again during the playoffs - with the Vikings on the brink of the superbowl, Favre threw a mind bogglingly poor pass across his body when it seemed easier to just run into field goal range. Even that however does not detract from Favres invaluable contribution to fantasy football owners the world over for the last 20 years.

Class of 2010 - who will make it this season?