Franchise: MoRRie's Pogiboys

I doubt I'll have time to do this for every team, but over the years I've done this for every team in my other keeper league. So maybe that'll happen with time here. For now, we'll bring the focus onto MoRRie's Pogiboys!

Historical Record
Wouldn't you call a franchise that has won six division titles in eight seasons and compiled a sterling combined regular season record of 71-32-1 (0.683) a huge success? Of course you would. For MoRRie's Pogiboys, it's been one great run since 2004. Four straight division titles from 2004-7, including back to back seasons of 11-2 and 12-1. Alvin has been an ultra-involved GM, an owner willing to spend money, and also wields a commissioner's hammer with the power of Mjolnir. In many ways, this has been the model franchise.

Even when the Pogiboys have been down they've bounced right back. In their lone losing season (until last year), they bounced back with ten wins in 2009. And even though they hit the divisional cellar with 2011's 5-7-1 record, the Pogiboys have made bold moves to return to the top. It's truly been Alvin and the Chipmunks for most of the past decade and few teams can measure up to their sustained success, especially in the Western Conference.

However, this is a fan base that knows pain. Oh yes, the pain of having only one playoff win and a whole bunch of upsets in the post-season. Despite all these wins, all these accolodes, and millions spent on potential championship celebrations, there is no Maize and Blue crown for Alvin to wear. In five of their six trips to the playoffs, the Pogiboys have been upset by the first opponent they faced. That is not good. In their lone trip to the conference finals in 2004, they were defeated by eventual champ Another Bad Creation and never got that far again. MoRRie is sad.

Yes, this is a franchise that could rightfully be called "chokers." I know that's harsh, but I'm not sure how else to categorize a team that wins so often yet never comes through when the big lights turn on. The Pogiboys are the San Diego Chargers: always talented, always coming up short. Now with a startling roster transformation this off-season, Alvin hopes his perennial contender can finally enter the championship circle.

Core Roster
In the beginning there was Daunte. Mr. Culpepper set his career marks during the 2004 season and the Pogiboys were right there to benefit from his monster year. In that initial draft, Culpepper (#13 overall) was joined by a past his prime Marshall Faulk (#20), an up-and-coming Willis McGahee (#77), and Chad Johnson (#52) who was just finding his stride. Steve Smith and Todd Heap were high picks but ultimately lost most of 2004 to injuries. Also, true Go Blue fan Alvin leapt on the Drew Henson bandwagon in Round 8. Oh yeah, and former Wolverine Tyrone Wheatley in Round 10. What, was Desmond Howard retired?

After a conference finals showing, GM Alvin got to work, assembling the core of a team that would dominate for the next couple of years. Chad Johnson became a franchise caliber receiver, McGahee was a steady second running back, and Alvin turned Faulk, Smith, and Heap into Larry Johnson and Hines Ward. Let's be reminded of what Johnson did in 2005-6, which was total more than 4,000+ yards and score 40 TDs. Even though Steve Smith went on to some productive seasons, this was undoubtedly the greatest trade in Pogiboys' history.

Propelled by Johnson and Johnson (plus McGahee), Alvin kept half his keeper core intact for quite a long time, over four years. During this time, he continued to search for more franchise players, but took a few swings and misses on the likes of DeAngelo Williams, Roy Williams, Felix Jones, Michael Turner, and the most unfortunate move of all, acquiring Tom Brady -- who played a whopping quarter for the Pogis before getting his knee destroyed in 2008. You can't win'em all right?

It's incredible how many trades Alvin has been involved in over the years and that's part of the reason why he has had such sustained success. For example, when Larry Johnson and Willis McGahee starting fading, a trade for Frank Gore, and the drafting of Rashard Mendenhall kept the strong ground game alive. And Chad Johnson transitioned neatly to Calvin Johnson, even if there was always a rotating cast of cast of WRs looking to be paired opposite them. Some short term candidates included Deion Branch, Ward, Braylon Edwards, Roy Williams, and Sidney Rice. It wasn't until Larry Fitzgerald was acquired in 2010 that the Pogiboys had two superstar receivers on the roster.

How about at the helm? Who's been leading this team? After Culpepper's career collapsed, it was the Dallas Cowboys' QB era with Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo for a brief period. But it was from another part of Texas that Alvin got his longest tenured signal caller, Matt Schaub. From 2008-2010, Schaub posted fantastic numbers for the Pogiboys. In total, he played five seasons for the team, and after an injury riddled 2011, Schaub was traded for two second round picks. Perfect use of a player's prime and then flipping him for assets. However, this marks the first time the Pogiboys will enter the draft without a quarterback on the roster. Rumors are that they could select Andrew Luck or RG3 with their recently acquired 2012 first overall pick -- in exchange for Fitzgerald and McGahee -- but that's not certain. Who will lead the Pogiboys into the future?

Over the years, Alvin has shown a propensity to bring back his favorites. Braylon Edwards, shipped out in 2007 for Roy Williams, returned to make the keeper roster in 2006, 2008, and 2009. Hines Ward came back a few times too. He was traded to the Pogis in 2005, cut and re-acquired via trade in 2007, and then re-re-acquired in another trade in 2010. And what about Willis McGahee? After starting strong with the Bills but then struggling with the Ravens, Alvin brought him right back when McGahee picked up his pace with the Broncos. What does Alvin do? Catch and release and track all of his former players like a wildlife program?

Normally I don't feature so many trades but since Alvin's been very active -- perhaps the most active general manager in all of Maize and Blue -- I found it interesting to trace how he got from there to here. Take a look at a long compilation of some of the major moves that have shaped Alvin's roster over the years. Including a curious trade for a kicker, John Kasay, in exchange for a second round draft pick in November 2005. Pushing for a title I guess?

The keeper roster heading into our new season is definitely the weakest the Pogis have ever had. That's what happens during a franchise rebuild. Calvin Johnson has emerged as the beastly Megatron, but most everything else around him is shaky. Beanie Wells, acquired for the price of two RD1 picks, still has to prove himself. Rashard Mendenhall is coming off a ghastly injury. Same with Mikel Leshoure. Greg Little was selected in the fourth round of last year's draft, and who knows if he's ready to be a factor this season. At least the tight end position is looking secure for the upcoming future. Aaron Hernandez was selected by the Pogis in RD9 two years ago and then scooped up via free agency for his breakout 2011. He's gonna be a longtime keeper.

After a season at the bottom, Alvin looked around and hit the reset button. We love bold moves like this and wish MoRRie's Pogiboys much continued success. And at least one more playoff win!

Season Breakdowns
2011: 5-7-1; Lost five games to end the regular season, upset in first round of consolidation ladder by WS Tartars
2010: 8-5; Won division title, an up and down season that saw a three game losing streak and then a three game winning streak to close the regular season, upset in first round by Another Bad Creation
2009: 10-3; Won division title, bounced back to become second overall seed heading into playoffs, upset in first round by Team Cameltoe
2008: 6-7; Started off 0-3, fought back to 5-5 but collapsed and missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history
2007: 10-3; Won division title, started off 5-0 but was upset in first round by Another Bad Creation
2006: 12-1; Won division title, second overall seed heading into playoffs, almost undefeated except for a loss in WK6, upset in first round by Thundercats
2005: 11-2; Won division title, top seed overall heading into playoffs, started off 0-2 before ripping off eleven straight wins, upset in first round by Rhythm Drive
2004: 9-4; Won division title, two 3-0 streaks to bookend the season, defeated in conference finals by eventual champion Another Bad Creation