This is Halloween.

Yes, this is Halloween around the Stiffler household. Don't get scared now.

NFL: Worst decision of the year

Bill Simmons: "The Dolphins are 0-7 against the spread. They've lost to a 2-4 team and three 1-5 teams. And Drew Brees has emerged as an MVP candidate in New Orleans. Yup, it's safe to say that Culpepper-over-Brees has officially passed Williams-over-Bush as the single-worst NFL decision of 2006."
I'm giddy.

NFL: Getting Breesy in The Big Easy

Random Drew Brees Notes:

- I'm not saying it's the greatest website ever, but I'm not saying that it's not either.
www.drewbrees.com

- Peter King of Sport Illustrated wrote in an article that Drew Brees had dinner at Emeril Lagasse's restaurant and the crowd there broke into applause. Pretty soon everyone in the restaurant was standing giving him a rousing ovation. New Orleans fans: We Purdue alum know how you feel.

- Fortunately the auction for this was over. Otherwise I may have had to mortgage my house and sell all of my possessions to bid on it:

A New Orleans Saints Football Fantasy Trip*
--  Two seats in quarterback Drew Brees' private luxury box at the
    Superdome for any game in the '06-07 season (excluding playoffs); a
    visit to the Saints locker room; photos and autographs with Brees,
    including a signed football and game jersey; and dinner that evening
    with Brees prepared by legendary New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse.

NFL/Purdue: Brees vs. Culpepper

No, I didn't write this article, but it certainly sounds like something I would write, doesn't it?

"Brees making Miami regret QB choice
By Ken Thompson
Lafayette Journal & Courier

If I'm Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban, I'm looking for new team doctors.

The physicians' concerns about Drew Brees' shoulder led Saban and the Dolphins to shy away from the former Purdue great, unwisely cut loose by the San Diego Chargers. Instead, Miami sent a second-round draft pick to Minnesota for Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper was available because of a severe knee injury, which apparently didn't bother those same doctors.

But Saban doesn't get a free pass. An experienced coach should know that a mobile quarterback will have a more difficult recovery from a knee injury than a pocket passer like Cincinnati's Carson Palmer. Not coincidentally, Palmer's comeback has been far more successful.

Sunday, Culpepper wasn't even active for the Dolphins' game against the New York Jets, benched last week in favor of Detroit Lions castoff Joey Harrington.

Brees? He merely threw three touchdown passes for the New Orleans Saints and led an eight minute game-winning drive against NFC East leader Philadelphia.

With Brees, New Orleans owns the second-best record in the NFC behind the Chicago Bears at 5-1. Miami? Last place in the AFC East.

Brees is 138 of 207 for 1,509 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He entered Sunday fifth in the NFC in passer rating (91.6).

Culpepper: 81 of 134 for 779 yards, two TDs, 3 INTs, passer rating of 77.0.

Oops.
"

Original Story.

Pumpkin Works

Pumpkin Works has become a tradition to take my nephew to, so Sunday afternoon Rachel and I joined Brian, Mandy, Andy, and my mom in Paris (Illinois, not France). Our activities included

- Picking pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. We were informed the pumpkin crop had been hit by some kind of bacteria, but we managed to find some good ones after picking through acres of vines.

- Hayride complete with unneeded commentary on Illinois nature history by our driver ("We used to camp out here and drank right from the crik!")

- A nine acre corn maze in the shape of a jungle scene with monkeys. This maze was definitely more difficult than last years. We were a little worried we might have to stay there until harvesting time. Funniest ongoing joke: "I think we went this way before...I remember seeing corn."

- Pumpkin slings where you can take a miniature pumpkin and attempt to hit targets hundreds of yards away. Great way to relieve stress; we so need one of these in our backyard.

- Smaller hay/straw mazes for Brian-sized people.

You can see all the pictures here.

Boo!

Rachel has been busy decorating the house for fall and Halloween. Here are some pictures of our now spooky house. You can see all of the pictures here.

ACL Update: The brace is off.

I went to the doctor this morning and he told me I can officially take my leg brace! So look for me wobbling and stumbling down the street next time you're out.

Indy Traffic Report

I noticed that traffic on I-65 was backed up on my way to work today. Hoping to find out what the problem was and hopefully avoid it, I turned on the radio and waited for the traffic report. Finally,the report came that there was a wreak on I-65 North and that the left lane was closed. That was it. They failed to mention where on I-65 North the accident was. So be warned that someone on I-65 there is a wreak. It could be anywhere from KY to Chicago, but there is a wreak somewhere on I-65.

AAFL: Draft Results

Pick	Pos	First_Name	Last_Name	Team	Team
1	QB	Peyton	Manning	IND	Flapjax
2	RB	Shaun	Alexander	SEA	Steeldogs
3	RB	Larry	Johnson	KC	Creepers
4	RB	LaDainian	Tomlinson	SD	Renegades
5	QB	Matt	Hasselbeck	SEA	Puntmonkeys
6	RB	Tiki	Barber	NYG	Knobs
7	RB	Rudi	Johnson	CIN	Mudslingers
8	RB	Ronnie	Brown	MIA	Hobbits
9	QB	Daunte	Culpepper	MIA	Da Shizzle
10	RB	Edgerrin	James	ARI	Men of Troy
11	RB	Steven	Jackson	STL	Men of Troy
12	RB	Willis	McGahee	BUF	Da Shizzle
13	QB	Carson	Palmer	CIN	Hobbits
14	WR	Marvin	Harrison	IND	Mudslingers
15	WR	Chad	Johnson	CIN	Knobs
16	RB	Carnell	Williams	TB	Puntmonkeys
17	RB	Julius	Jones	DAL	Renegades
18	TE	Antonio	Gates	SD	Creepers
19	RB	Clinton	Portis	WAS	Steeldogs
20	RB	Willie	Parker	PIT	Flapjax
20	QB	Marc	Bulger	STL	Knobs
21	WR	Steve	Smith	CAR	Creepers
22	RB	Reggie	Bush	NO	Puntmonkeys
23	WR	Larry	Fitzgerald	ARI	Da Shizzle
24	WR	Reggie	Wayne	IND	Steeldogs
25	WR	Randy	Moss	OAK	Hobbits
26	WR	Torry	Holt	STL	Mudslingers
27	QB	Tom	Brady	NE	Renegades
28	WR	Hines	Ward	PIT	Flapjax
29	WR	Chris	Chambers	MIA	Men of Troy
31	RB	Warrick	Dunn	ATL	Knobs
32	QB	Jake	Delhomme	CAR	Hobbits
33	QB	Drew	Brees	NO	Men of Troy
34	QB	Eli	Manning	NYG	Mudslingers
35	WR	Darrell	Jackson	SEA	Renegades
36	WR	Anquan	Boldin	ARI	Puntmonkeys
37	RB	Brian	Westbrook	PHI	Flapjax
38	WR	Terrell	Owens	DAL	Creepers
39	QB	Donovan	McNabb	PHI	Steeldogs
40	RB	LaMont	Jordan	OAK	Da Shizzle
41	WR	Roy	Williams	DET	Da Shizzle
42	TE	Jeremy	Shockey	NYG	Renegades
43	TE	Randy	McMichael	MIA	Steeldogs
44	QB	Jake	Plummer	DEN	Puntmonkeys
45	WR	Plaxico	Burress	NYG	Flapjax
46	RB	Jamal	Lewis	BAL	Hobbits
47	WR	T.J.	Houshmandzadeh	CIN	Creepers
48	QB	Ben	Roethlisberger	PIT	Knobs
49	TE	Tony	Gonzalez	KC	Mudslingers
50	QB	Drew	Bledsoe	DAL	Men of Troy
51	K	Lawrence	Tynes	KC	Men of Troy
52	TE	Todd	Heap	BAL	Flapjax
53	RB	Corey	Dillon	NE	Mudslingers
54	TE	Heath	Miller	PIT	Hobbits
55	RB	Thomas	Jones	CHI	Creepers
56	RB	DeShaun	Foster	CAR	Renegades
57	TE	Vernon	Davis	SF	Knobs
58	TE	Alge	Crumpler	ATL	Da Shizzle
59	RB	Deuce	McAllister	NO	Puntmonkeys
60	RB	Joseph	Addai	IND	Steeldogs
61	RB	Kevin	Jones	DET	Steeldogs
62	QB	Michael	Vick	ATL	Creepers
63	WR	Santana	Moss	WAS	Puntmonkeys
64	WR	Donte'	Stallworth	PHI	Renegades
65	WR	Derrick	Mason	BAL	Knobs
66	WR	Joe	Horn	NO	Flapjax
67	K	Shayne	Graham	CIN	Da Shizzle
68	TE	Chris	Cooley	WAS	Men of Troy
69	WR	Joey	Galloway	TB	Hobbits
70	QB	Brett	Favre	GB	Mudslingers
71	WR	Deion	Branch	NE	Mudslingers
72	RB	Chester	Taylor	MIN	Knobs
73	K	Neil	Rackers	ARI	Hobbits
74	RB	Dominic	Rhodes	IND	Flapjax
75	QB	Steve	Mcnair	BAL	Da Shizzle
76	K	Adam	Vinatieri	IND	Creepers
77	WR	Lee	Evans	BUF	Men of Troy
78	QB	Kurt	Warner	ARI	Steeldogs
79	K	Jeff	Wilkins	STL	Renegades
80	K	Josh	Brown	SEA	Puntmonkeys
81	WR	Javon	Walker	DEN	Puntmonkeys
82	RB	Ahman	Green	GB	Da Shizzle
83	TE	Dallas	Clark	IND	Renegades
84	RB	Frank	Gore	SF	Creepers
85	RB	Chris	Brown	TEN	Men of Troy
86	K	David	Akers	PHI	Knobs
87	WR	Donald	Driver	GB	Steeldogs
88	K	Jason	Elam	DEN	Mudslingers
89	RB	Mike	Bell	DEN	Flapjax
90	WR	Braylon	Edwards	CLE	Hobbits
91	RB	Marion	Barber	DAL	Hobbits
92	WR	Rod	Smith	DEN	Men of Troy
93	WR	Laveranues	Coles	NYJ	Flapjax
94	WR	Terry	Glenn	DAL	Knobs
95	K	Jay	Feely	NYG	Steeldogs
96	WR	Andre	Johnson	HOU	Da Shizzle
97	RB	Reuben	Droughns	CLE	Mudslingers
98	TE	L.J.	Smith	PHI	Puntmonkeys
99	QB	Chris	Simms	TB	Creepers
100	WR	Eddie	Kennison	KC	Renegades
101	RB	Duce	Staley	PIT	Renegades
102	RB	Tatum	Bell	DEN	Mudslingers
102	WR	Isaac	Bruce	STL	Steeldogs
103	TE	Jason	Witten	DAL	Creepers
104	RB	Fred	Taylor	JAX	Da Shizzle
105	QB	Trent	Green	KC	Mudslingers
106	WR	Matt	Jones	JAX	Men of Troy
107	RB	Laurence	Maroney	NE	Puntmonkeys
108	TE	Ben	Watson	NE	Hobbits
109	QB	Byron	Leftwich	JAX	Knobs
110	QB	Aaron	Brooks	OAK	Flapjax
111	K	Matt	Stover	BAL	Flapjax
113	TE	Kellen	Winslow	CLE	Knobs
114	K	John	Kasay	CAR	Men of Troy
115	WR	Muhsin	Muhammad	CHI	Puntmonkeys
116	QB	Brad	Johnson	MIN	Steeldogs
117	QB	Philip	Rivers	SD	Hobbits
118	WR	Keenan	McCardell	SD	Renegades
119	WR	Keyshawn	Johnson	CAR	Da Shizzle
120	RB	Mike	Anderson	BAL	Creepers
121	QB	Matt	Leinart	ARI	Creepers
122	QB	Chad	Pennington	NYJ	Puntmonkeys
123	QB	Mark	Brunell	WAS	Da Shizzle
124	WR	Jerry	Porter	OAK	Steeldogs
125	RB	Kevan	Barlow	NYJ	Hobbits
126	WR	Drew	Bennett	TEN	Mudslingers
127	QB	Jon	Kitna	DET	Men of Troy
128	QB	David	Carr	HOU	Flapjax
129	QB	Brian	Griese	CHI	Renegades
130	WR	Brandon	Stokley	IND	Knobs
131	RB	DeAngelo	Williams	CAR	Knobs
132	WR	Ashley	Lelie	ATL	Hobbits
133	K	Sebastian	Janikowski	OAK	Renegades
134	TE	Alex	Smith	TB	Mudslingers
135	TE	Ben	Troupe	TEN	Men of Troy
136	TE	Marcus	Pollard	DET	Puntmonkeys
137	TE	Jermaine	Wiggins	MIN	Flapjax
138	K	Mike	Vanderjagt	DAL	Creepers
139	TE	Ben	Utecht	IND	Steeldogs
140	TE	Bubba	Franks	GB	Da Shizzle
141	K	Olindo	Mare	MIA	Da Shizzle
142	QB	Rex	Grossman	CHI	Renegades
143	K	Jason	Hanson	DET	Steeldogs
144	K	Josh	Scobee	JAX	Puntmonkeys
145	K	Jeff	Reed	PIT	Flapjax
146	K	Ryan	Longwell	MIN	Hobbits
147	WR	Cedric	Wilson	PIT	Creepers
148	K	Nate	Kaeding	SD	Knobs
149	K	Phil	Dawson	CLE	Mudslingers
150	RB	Mike	Alstott	TB	Men of Troy

AAFL: Men of Troy

The roster for the Men of Troy:

QB Drew Brees, NO
QB Drew Bledsoe, DAL

RB Edgerrin James, ARI
RB Steven Jackson, STL
RB Chris Brown, TEN
RB Mike Alstott, TB

WR Chris Chambers, MIA
WR Lee Evans, BUF
WR Rod Smith, DEN
WR Matt Jones, JAX

TE Chris Cooley, WAS
TE Ben Broupe, TEN

K Lawrence Tynes, KC
K John Kasay, CAR