Participants,

Yes, you read the headline right.  Sadly, Ben the Butler has not fully recovered from last year’s absence to a point where he feels worthy of making a run to capture his 1st Hewes Super Bowl Trophy.  Several surgeries and slower than anticipated rehabs have hindered his ability to be at 100%, so he has opted to sit out a 2nd consecutive year.

An excerpt from his email to me 2 days ago reads: “…my personal recovery is incomplete at this time.  I know that if I say I’ll do it (i.e., participate in the trophy competition) I’ll end up unable to perform at the max level required based on the significant competition, so I’d like to come back when I’ll be able to devote 100% to my winning strategy and enjoy it together with you guys (i.e., win my 1st trophy!).  I’ll certainly miss it, but I know it’s not something I can take on this year.”

Ben the Butler will certainly be missed.  His career has been unfortunately marked by season-ending injuries and this will be his 3rd inactive season in 12 years, since joining in 2007.

Moving on to another matter at hand — the playoffs!  The 12 teams have been finalized and the WildCard games begin this Saturday afternoon, with the Buffalo Bills in Houston.  Will current trophy holder Henrico FiveOh be dressed in Bills logo wear from head to toe and choose his beloved Bills to move on the next round?  There are a few other Bills fans that may be making game picks with their hearts…  Plus, Greg the Great has his beloved Seahawks in a WildCard game, so look out for his game pick!  Pete the Terp gets a week off as his Ravens rest up for the Divisional games.  Suppose they play the Bills?  JTB, as has been the case in recent years, will not have the struggle of whether or not to pick his beloved Browns this weekend.  Will that free up his mind as he goes for his 2nd trophy in 3 years?  I have also heard rumblings that Comeback Kid wants to pencil in the Bills for the Super Bowl Bonus Pick before the playoffs even start!  Is this a new level of madness in Western New York?

Those questions and more will be answered in my upcoming analysis and predictions for the 4 weekend games.  Our analytics team has been running models since the end of the wild 49ers – Seahawks game that concluded the regular season last night.  It’s looking like simulations on steroids when I peeked in earlier today to see how they are doing.

Until then, I am

THE Commish