Images of the season 4 champs. Honorary Captain- Justin Vargas pictured here. Drafted (yes you read that correctly) as tomhanrahan's Flex player. Also doubled as QB Bert Jones' heavy. Antonio Gates also pictured had the winning TD in the Super Bowl.

Rachel Nichols sat down for a Q & A with the league creator:

Rachel: So what is a bubble for these Offensive lines and Defenses?

Faceless person with computer voice (FPWCV): The bubble allows you to select lets say the 1998 Broncos. You are allowed up-to 11 years around your dream year in mind. You could select 1995-2005 Broncos. You don't have to designate what year you will use. This gives you salary cap flexibility and you can block anyone from having those years. You also can claim less years if you chose such as the 2019-2025 Ravens.

Rachel: Novel concept.

FPWCV: Um, not really. You state specifically what it is.

Rachel: Does the bubble burst?

FPWCV: No, you could just think of it as a calligram. But it doesn't burst sweetie.

Rachel. Darn. But I like those telegrams that we used to see on Bonanza.

FPWCV: I like western style shows of that era. But that's a completely different thing, but an image I suppose.

Camera man: Someone is having a case of the Mondays.

Rachel: so when you ban a great Defense? do you just pick the years you want? Is it also 11 years?

FPWCV: Now, that is a good question. No, you must ban an Offensive Line or Defense only by decade, 10 years total. Otherwise no ban votes would match up with other owners. Say you want to ban the 50s Rams. You would submit 1950-59 Rams OL as your ban.

Rachel: We gotta wrap this up.

FPWCV: yes indeed.

Very entertaining. Even if I miss many cultural references, being the ignoramus dinosaur I am

We try. I mean they try. Here is the latest news from our freelance reporter Joey:



Joey Greco: Various owners were contacted for a LDL reboot. Some have resurfaced, others have not. We hope to bring the live draft spirit back to the game. We have private investigators out in the streets looking for clues. We have set up surveillance in every nook, cranny, and crevice of the WIS gaming world. I am determined to rekindle the love shared of LDL.

Naysayer riding by on his bike: Eat it Joey! Nice soul patch.

Joey: Why don't you stop and say it to my face?! Ya sissy!

Joey (returns to face the camera in a calm and soothing voice): Sorry folks. Never know what you might get 'round here.

Camera man: Would you like cut the segment and restart? We edit it out.

Joey: I'm vintage baby. None of me goes on the cutting room floor.

Camera man (speaking slowly and holding back a smile): Fair point Mr. Greco. You are the king of live.

Joey: I am. I put the Live in Live Draft League. We will keep an eye out for new and old owners to finalize the facts for our case. I am both dedicated to the faithful, and presented to the false-hearted to encourage their renewal of temperance and virtue.

Gomez (via Joey's ear piece): We have the van in position.

Joey: Alright patrons, we are now racing onsite to find a jubilant crowd in an uproar. People are yelling for player and unit bans! And their love lost to other owners with the same lover.

Rowdy woman: I want my roster to be mine Joey. Instead you got Gronk on TV lookin bored and surrounded by old dudes. You got my Aaron on Jeopardy reading answers to questions. Crazy Legs must have 20 legs for all I know, he is on 10 different open league teams at a time. Where does he have the time? Betrayin me like dat.

Joey: I understand. We will get you sorted out. All the support you need darlin. Live Draft. Bans. Exclusivity that you rightfully deserve.

We're right
We're free
We'll fight
You'll see

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx-JixZ9KDA

The roster core of the Super Bowl winners: NEW BAN IDEA BELOW

QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Adrian Peterson
RB: Travis Jervey
RB: Mike Gunter
WR: Herman Moore
WR: Jordy Nelson
WR: Jerheme Urban
TE: Raymond Chester
TE: John Hilton
OL: 1975 St. Louis Cardinals OL (bubble 1970-80)
DL: 1951 New York Giants Def (bubble 1946-56)
ST: 1996 Minnesota Vikings ST (bubble 1991-2001)

QB: Duante Culpepper
RB: Terrell Davis
RB: Travis Jervey
RB: Mosi Tatupu
WR: Chad Johnson
WR: Harlon Hill
WR: Jake Reed
TE: Pete Pihos
TE: Tony Samuels
OL: 1999-09 Indianapolis Colts OL
DL: 1966-76 Los Angeles Rams Def
ST: 2004-14 St. Louis Rams ST

QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Gale Sayers
RB: LaBrandon Toefield
RB: Cyril Pinder
WR: Harlon Hill
WR: Brandon Lloyd
WR: Hines Ward
TE: George Kittle
Flex: RB Steve Van Buren
Off: 1997-2007 Green Bay Packers OL
Def: 2001-11 Philadelphia Eagles DEF
ST: 2001-11 Indianapolis Colts ST

QB- Bert Jones
RB- Jim Taylor
RB- J.D. Smith
WR- Mike Wallace
WR- Rick Upchurch
TE- Antonio Gates
Flex- RB Justin Fargas
Off- 2020-22 Tennessee Titans OL
Def- 1944-54 Philadelphia Eagles DEF
ST- 2000-10 Philadelphia Eagles ST

We shortened the amount of drafted players to cut off a day or two on the draft. Added a Flex position and dropped a 2nd TE.

So, after reading back on the 2023 polls we had in lieu of a banned round. The majority wanted to keep a banned round. You seem to like the 1 for 1 bans on your terms. I understand. With that, how about this idea---

You choose when you want to ban someone within the first 2 rounds. At anytime.

-Completely your choice of who and when.
-1 ban per owner.
-Maximum of two bans per hour during the first 2 days of the draft.

What are your thoughts? Please post. I'm asking for feedback.

This accomplishes the following:
It helps to eliminate an attempted cleaning out of a specific position in a short period of time.
Opens up the draft to those elite players that got banned every time.
Gets rid of the banned selection day.
Less time-consuming for you and me- than doing either a banned round or banned list. Working smarter.

We are in search of new owners all the time. Especially those from other sim games that are looking for something different. If this intrigues you. Give it a shot. Probably 4-5 more owners to join and we could have an April or May live draft. The week of May 4th- my schedule is completely open, but I could start sooner.

Fine ideer.
I might make picks in rds1 and 2 and then BOOM ban someone from a position I don't need bwa ha ha ha

Posted by tomhanrahan on 3/6/2026 9:16:00 PM (view original):
Fine ideer.
I might make picks in rds1 and 2 and then BOOM ban someone from a position I don't need bwa ha ha ha

Certainly, I realized that some people were less enthusiastic about bans that we didn't have in the first season. And, they wanted a shot at those elite guys. So people would dump their ban selections (choose an unworthy ban selection) like you mentioned or not even make them in subsequent years.

I think this ban method of anytime during the first 2 rounds would add some excitement back to banning while providing a few surprises. You would have less lull periods too. Owners would be queueing up to get their picks in for fear of a ban happening to their next selection. A chance to land their favorite player or a normally banned player or unit.

This approach of bans at anytime makes the live draft more engaging--as the supply and demand of elite players or units can change the way you draft your team. More possibilities or a different direction in terms of team strategy.

*** Keep in mind that a few of us could do the "draft and donate a team option" to fill some of the remaining spots. We draft an extra team with the intent making one of the teams available for someone to claim them as the owner. We could list as many as 4-6 teams to choose from. Happens all the time in baseball leagues. People sometimes like a ready-made team with options as they get the final call on what years they use for the drafted players and units, and what gets filled in for the other 13 undrafted spots. We did it in the last league and it filled fast. ***