Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Just call it the New Faces League

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Sept. 1, 2000 | 11:57 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

The Rams' Super Bowl win in January punctuated the complete changing of the guard that has in many ways defined the NFL over the past two seasons.

As a fan, you have to make adjustments, too, particularly in fantasy football, where it pays to know your way around the New Faces League.

Such was evident for me in a draft last weekend. It was obvious I was in over my head, right from the get-go. I was happy drinking beer, but these savvy team owners were bloodthirsty.

"This is your first draft?" one befuddled owner says to me, just before we start. "I'm already in nine leagues -- three local, three regional, two free online and a new one at www.fantasyfootballfreak.com/i-have-no-life."

I try to save face. "Oh, no. I meant that this list of players I have is merely a first draft. I'm trying to rank my list of wide receivers."

"Wide receiver rankings?" he says. "You should have gone to widereceiverrankings.com. I have them ranked here by number of receiving yards, number of touchdowns scored, age, salary, IQ, height, weight and by number of offseason arrests."

We roll through the first few picks with no glaring snags. But by the time the fourth round hits, I've scratched off every name on every list and I'm searching for answers. Meanwhile, other owners are dialing war rooms on helmet-shaped phones and logging into www.mockdraft.com/fourth-round/idiot-picking-behind-you.

I panic. As I search frantically for any serviceable name, some wiseguy turns up the speakers on his portable computer so everyone can hear the Final Jeopardy music. No mercy, I tell you. Fortunately for me, the place we drafted was rather crowded. "I'll take ... um ... is Ali Haji-Shiekh still out there?"

The message gets relayed to the commissioner: "Sal takes Azir Az-Hakim, St. Louis."

Whew. The rounds after that are immaterial, since by that time the beers were flowing pretty well. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Ed Marinaro on my roster, though. They must have misunderstood me while I was ordering sauce for my lunch. Hey, you win some, you lose some.

Expanded panel

For those who aren't familiar with my column, here's my annual disclaimer: I am not a professional prognosticator, nor do I play one on TV.

I pick games based entirely on my opinions, but to dissuade anyone from the notion that they should spend their hard-earned bucks backing my horses, I offer weekly selections from a panel of experts, in the form of a friendly contest.

A little about the 10 combatants:

Dave Cokin, handicapper/analyst: Hat's off to this well-known handicapper, who is the contest's defending champion. Among other ventures, Cokin co-hosts the "Clubhouse" at noon daily on KENO 1460-AM.

Jackie Dell, oddsmaker: Dell's odds have been listed in various publications, locally and nationally, for 48 years. His line appears in the Las Vegas Tribune.

Mike Lee, handicapper/analyst: Lee's "Moneymaker" newsletter is in its 17th year of publication. Lee also writes and handicaps for vegasinsider.com

Chuck Esposito, Las Vegas Hilton.

Jay Kornegay, Imperial Palace.

Mary Sapp, Arizona Charlie's.

Rob Terry, Palace Station

Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas mayor: Not unlike the Neonopolis project, the mayor will surely have his work cut out for him with this group.

Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas": The ultimate entertainer has graciously agreed to step up to the mike with his weekly selections.

Bobby Franco, slot machine engineer, Bally Gaming: Franco, 31, is in many ways the prototypical Las Vegan. He moved here nine years ago, taking a job as a slot technician at Bally Gaming, and is a self-described "recreational bettor and avid sports fan."

What brought him to Las Vegas?

"I laugh when people say they move out here for the weather, but not for the free booze and the gambling. I'm sure they really like living in an oven during the summer."

My top five

Rather than pick every game, as I have in years past, I'm trimming my weekly choices down to five, so I can at least count the number of losers on one hand.

CAROLINA +10 1/2 at Washington -- Everyone is high on the Redskins, and with good reason, but I think they'll need a few weeks in the lab before they develop a team chemistry. Washington 27, Carolina 21.

TAMPA BAY -3 at New England -- Drew Bledsoe should take a few aspirin before kickoff, just in case. Tampa Bay 16, New England 10.

NEW YORK JETS +2 1/2 at Green Bay -- Vinny Testaverde has waited a long time for this game to avenge a lost season. New York Jets 27, Green Bay 20.

KANSAS CITY +3 1/2 over Indianapolis -- The Colts ought to blow past the Chiefs. But it seems like most teams ought to blow past the Chiefs, and especially at Arrowhead Stadium in September, it just doesn't happen. Kansas City has won 11 straight home openers. Make it 12. Kansas City 24, Indianapolis 23.

NEW YORK GIANTS -6 1/2 vs. Arizona -- The Cardinals have lost several key players to injury and star defensive lineman Simeon Rice remains a holdout. With a revamped offense, New York coasts at the Meadowlands. New York Giants 26, Arizona 7.