The names and logos for the new expansion franchises for 2022 MLL season have been revealed, MLL media can confirm.
New GMs Matthew Bradshaw and Benjamin Craven have put together looks for their new franchises. Both GMs bring an innovate and creative design which puts some current franchises to shame cough reading rams cough
First up: the Sandymoor Silverbacks. Bradshaw has come up with a strong design, and this is a great start to his life as an MLL GM. Slick design and a great addition to the league.
New GM Matthew Bradshaw putting pen to paper on his admission to the league and the new logo for the silverbacks as revealed today
How do you rate the new Silverbacks logo?
Next up is the GM Ben Cravens addition to the MLL- The Baltimore Cravens. Inspired by the historic Maryland Franchise but with an MLL twist this brand is set to be an instant favourite- not least because it makes Sandymoor Ravens GM look like a mug for having such a budget logo.
How do you rate the new Cravens logo?
This sets the benchmark even higher within the MLL. With rumours flying of several rebrands coming before the 28th April deadline it may be back to the drawing board for some teams.
This weekend, MLL team owners met to discuss and agree upcoming changes to the league.
There was a strong showing at the event, with all but one franchise in attendance. Following introductions the first point of agenda was exchanging of the league trophy to the Reading Rams. The infamous ‘Harvo’ should also have been passed to Silkworms GM Frazer Mckie but due to his non-attendance and Harvo’s incompetence this was omitted
An Elated Rob Harvey collects his MLL Trophy from an indifferent Samuel White
Next on the agenda was a major point-Expansion Franchises. 4 potential franchises were on the table, but with sustainable growth a major concern for the MLL it was agreed that only two Franchise slots would be made available for the 2022 season. Franchise tenders were put by Andrew Bullough, Benjamin Craven, Caitlin Roberts and Matthew Bradshaw. Tenders were of various quality but the league appreciates all potential candidates for showing interest in the League. After careful consideration it was agreed that two new Franchises would join the MLL- We would like to welcome successful GM’s Benjamin Craven and Matthew Bradshaw to the league. The unsuccessful GM’s have been invited to join future MLL events with a view to them joining in the 2023 season with a better idea of league systems. Alternatively Ms Roberts has threatened to murder 36’ers manager Harvey and take over the elite 36’ers franchise since he couldn’t convince the board to give her a franchise spot.
Next on the list was the introduction of league Fees. Due to the successful growth of the league, and plan for future events it was agreed a £30 entrance fee would be required. This will be used to purchase broadcasting rights to show NFL game pass as well as for catering at future events. this motion was agreed unanimously and shows the collaborative nature of the MLL
Draft order and destination was the next topic – a new round based around the 2022 NFL draft is to be added as a round for the team draft ( more to come on this) but it was also agreed this NFL draft round would decide where any non-attendees would place in the draft. Attendance is still highly encouraged and this is emphasised by the next point, a destination draft looks likely again for 2022, although the location of this is still tbc.
It was also discussed that there would be a forfeit for the loser of the 2022 season. the years loser would have to complete one of the following forfeits:
Car Wash At Moore Rugby Club for all 9 other MLL Members. Interior also cleaned for the leagues winner
tattoo for the loser to commemorate the occasion
Hair to be shaved/Dyed depending on the last placed franchise
Entry and completion of the Warrington half Marathon
Early polls suggest Car washing will be the heavy favourite here but come the freezing January Weather will the idea of a run in 6 months time entice some GM’s?
There were a few minor points to come- More Social media was discussed as an item so expect more blogs, podcasts and potential an MLL instagram to come. Also more social events and special rounds such as the 2021 mental health round to come in 2022. There was also discussions around Stash, it is believed some MLL T shirts can be arranged by Mr Mossop Snr so they will be a welcome addition. Stash is as always encouraged as a key part of the MLL. to facilitate this is was stated that any rebrands/new franchise submissions are to be submitted by NFL Draft event day (28/4/22)
There was some discussions AOB thats not worth mentioning but this ended the 2022 AGM. The first important step in the countdown to the 2022 season- the league looks forward to the new Franchise joining the league and events such as the draft as part of the build up of what looks to be a beauty of a 2022 season.
A massive weekend of football is coming up in the MLL. In the penultimate week of the regular season the MLL sees possibly the biggest week of matchups since the inception of the league in 2020. With a huge BYE week in the NFL, play offs spots and title deciders at both ends of the league all coming up it should be an absolute cracker at the lane.
The Current League Leaders Norfolk and Idea have certainly had an idea of how to win fantasy football games this season as they sit atop the league with a 9-4 record. This week they face the Injury struck fiveskins (also 9-4) in a top of the season clash which could very well decide the regular season leader for MLL II. With both teams coming off of a loss in week 13 they will be eager to get back to winning ways.
The action doesn’t stop there as there’s also the battle of the 7-6 teams. 4 orgs are currently neck and neck fighting for the 3rd and 4th playoff spots- and 2 matchups this week see these teams go head to head.
First of all, a repeat of last years Superbowl sees 2 Gurleys 1 Kupp Take on the Sandymoor Ravens. Both teams coming off big wins last week mean that this one will be hotly contested- the ravens go in as the early favourite with GM’s beloved fins on a BYE week causing a few selection headaches, but it is sure to be a high scoring affair which will be pivotal in deciding who makes the post season.
Next up in the 7-6 games another classic matchup, as we see another classic episode of the Harvobowl. Rams take on the 36’ers in the best Harvey derby the league has ever seen. The 36’ers come into this on a 4 game win streak and are the form team in the league, but BYE weeks for the GM’s two loves in life mean the 36’ers are depleted for week 14. The rams go in as favourites but its sure to be a thriller.
Finally there is the battle to avoid ‘the harvo’- the Broncos vs the silk worms. Things have not gone well for either org this year but there is a chance here to avoid the most infamous honour in all of fantasy football, the harvo. There is still some serious talent on these rosters though and the key thing to watch here will be if the Broncos can rely on a big performance from her triple stack of Seahawks.
With all of the above happening in one weekend its easy to see the hype for this one. Majority of the GM’s in the league will be in attendance at Moss Lane and its bound to be an absolute cracker.
After deliberating with teams earlier this week, the League office today announced that Round 11 of the MLL season will be used to champion mental health causes in the inaugural ‘Moss Lane Mentality’ round.
All GMs will be expected to work with their opponent that weekend to make some sort of gesture towards supporting mental health; with suggestions such as charitable donations, social media takeovers, and open conversations having been floated already. The scope of the partnerships is limitless.
League Commissioner Max Holland said: “The Moss Lane Mentality embodies the league’s willingness to stand up for mental health, support its own and the people around it.
“We’re lucky to be a small part of an incredible community within the MLL, Moore Rugby Club and the wider community, and I know all the GMs appreciate that.
“We’re asking all teams to take some time, and work as pairs to make some sort of positive impact on mental health area – no matter how small. We appreciate this is the first MLL event of its type and our expectations are minimal, but we believe this has the potential to grow in future years.
“It goes without saying, that every member of the MLL is there to support each other. I think every GM has previously stated their willingness both to talk and listen when it comes to mental health, and we’re incredibly proud of that.
Round 11 takes place on the weekend of 18-22nd November, with the below fixtures set to occur; Fiveskins @ Silkworms Ravens @ Broncos 36ers @ Gurleys Norfolk @ Rams
A full round up of the efforts from each match up will be posted following the event.
According to a study of posts on Whatsapp through the preseason and the first six weeks of the MLL season, the Sandymoor Ravens are the “most-hated team” in the league.
MLL Media compiled data on more than 400,000 nibbles on Whatsapp with negative phrases such as “Ravens suck” and “Bin Juice” to reach their conclusion. Messages with stronger language were also included in the calculation.
The study broke down the percent of “hate” tweets per Postcode. The Ravens lead the league by dominating the “hate” in 14 of the 16 postcodes.
The Ravens2-4 are up against the High-Flying Gurleys this week
The two harvobowl Teams the 36ers and Mahomes alone made up the other two spots, although surprisingly not in their own postcodes. WA4, home to several franchises, naturally chose the ravens to come out on top. WA7 couldn’t vote for the ravens, but i’m sure they would have if they could.
Ravens GM was approached for comment but was too busy trying to figure out how maps worked to respond.
Moss lane Media is back (following a brief strike from the editor over pay and conditions) – and there’s plenty to Catch up on
Week 1
Week 1 saw some tense matchups as the weeks of pre draft build up finally came to a head. The matchup of the week was probably the Stocky Silk Worms beat the Sandymoor Ravens by just 3 points, but all 4 matches could of gone either way.
The main tale of week one was the flops, with the Packers flopping massively causing issues for OJs Broncos and Mahomes Alone. Big money mover Brandon Aiyuk scored a donut for the Ravens which was pivotal in the Silk worms win- Early signs for the big trade not looking good for Mossop Jnr.
The Holiday
Week 2 prep was interrupted somewhat by a late MLL trip to the Costa del Nerja- officially listed as a business trip to help expand the MLL brand but it has to be said the main focus was pleasure. An excellent time was had by all and the League will deinitely be looking to return to the Balcon in future years. Activities included Bus Riding, Drinking, Watersports and most importantly eating. the tapas model will no doubt be a mainstay in the MLL for years to come
The infamous Dark Cloud of Europe
Week 2
Following the big break there was a short turnaround before week 2 for some of the GMs. this did not detract from the quality on show though for the most part, with 3 of the 4 games shipping huge points tallies- the star of the show definitely Norfolk n Idea with a massive 178 on the week. This tally was bigger than the points tally of both teams combined in our 4th matchup of the week though- as the reigning champ 2 Gurley’s 1 Kupp hobbled to a win over the Fiveskins. this was not pretty by any means but it has to be said that playing this poorly and still picking up the win is a hallmark of a championship team.
The league is anyones going into week 3 with all 8 teams looking good. Even our only 0-2 team Mahomes alone have looked solid both weeks and it seems a win is only a matter of time. The next few weeks will be pivotal in setting the pace in the early running and with some big names looking to come back from stuttering starts, there could be some surprise results to come.
History will be made this week as the MLL sees its first ever franchise partnership deal as the Broncos GM Jess Hannon signs a lifetime deal with Max Holland and the Warrington Fiveskins.
The two organisations have undertaken years of market research to form a deal
This is a partnership years in the making with the two managers in background discussions for almost a decade. The partnership will be confirmed at an exclusive gathering at Moss lane HQ, which should see representatives from all MLL organisations attending.
The coalition all but confirms long term suspicion of collusion between the two parties. There will no doubt be questions to answer in the coming months regarding this, but given the recent growth of the MLL and the massive support for the partnership to take place the focus now is on the alliance itself and making sure the two orgs have a long and fruitful partnership in the MLL (as well as in real life!)
15th July 2021 will go down in the annals of history as the MLL announced that the league would expand from 6 teams to 8 in advance of the 2021 season (and also for Jessie’s Hen Do).
MLL media can reveal that successful bids have been made by 2 new GM’s: Frazer Mckie and Andrew Mossop
Mckie has seen his recent interest in the MLL be rewarded with a spot in the 2021 league. Mckie promises to bring an element of unpredictability to the league (especially given he knows nothing about fantasy football) and being a jets fan there will no doubt be some “that’s so Jets” moments (see this beautiful clip for reference). However Mckie will be hoping his fresh look at the league will prove an advantage going into 2021. HE also better sign Elijah Moore since he literally picked a team based off where he landed.
Mossop brings a different dynamic to the league. Bringing a wealth of experience to the MLL (admittedly from his co-workers and not himself). Introduced to the league by son Matthew, GM of the Sandymoor Ravens, Mossop Snr will be hoping he can make a big impact in his first year (and hopefully not bottle it in the final like his son)
Org names for the two teams are TBD but what we do know is fresh blood is bound to bring even more twists and turns in what is shaping up to be another blockbuster year.
The MLL Commissioner’s office today announced details of the league’s first ever destination draft. Representatives of all franchises will attend the event between 13-15th August, with the draft itself scheduled for Saturday 14th.
The host location has been announced as Red Wharf Bay on the iconic Anglesey coast, which will provide a stunning backdrop for one of the most anticipated occasions in league history.
A statement from the Commissioner’s office read “After sifting through applications from towns and cities across the country, and after lengthy negotiations, we’re thrilled to be heading to North Wales for the 2021 draft. A full itinerary will be released closer to the time, however we warmly invite management of all MLL franchises to the event, and hope that they will fully buy in to the spirit of the event. Accommodation has been acquired for all attendees in a premier location, with stunning views of the beach, and ample sleeping room.”
Attendees are encouraged to pack appropriately for the events on offer, with early reports suggesting that essential items will include swimwear, and attire for a league dinner on Friday evening. Suggestions for additional activities are welcomed by the league office.Red Wharf Bay was home to a famous battle between Welsh settlers and invading Viking forces in 1170 AD, and the peaceful Anglesey cove looks set for more turbulence in the late summer of 2021.
We take a look at the new look MLL franchises ahead of the 2021 season, and give our opinions on who got it right, who got it wrong, and who didn’t bother trying…
1. 2 Gurleys 1 Kupp
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is the official word from White Camp this year as they keep the classic 2G1K look from 2020. as Reigning champs they have decided to focus efforts in other areas, but some suggest this lack of innovation could come back to bite them in an ever evolving MLL. 5/10
2. Sandymoor Ravens
Where do we start here…
MattMossMandem enjoyed a prolific 2020 season which due to some unusually shrewd acquisitions from the GM such as Kelce and an 8th round kicker saw them take the runners up spot in the 2020 MLL Season. Perhaps it would of been smart then to stick to the solid foundations which were built in year 1-or Perhaps not.
We can give the Ravens the benefit of the doubt and suggest the logo may have been thought up by the GM’s 4 year old niece while Mossop Jr was asleep/hungover, but without knowing for sure we have to look at it at face value. The Cooltext Font, the ghastly gradient shading, the wonky S, the black background on a white background app- everything about this new look screams budget. With rumours of heavy pre-season mock drafting coming out of Sandymoor camp, Ravens fans will have to hope that the management have spent more time focusing on recruitment than they have on their dismal rebrand. 0/10
3. Warrington Fiveskins
A Rebrand that has not been without controvesy, the Warrington Fiveskins have returned to the MLL. A vintage org name which has enjoyed much success elsewhere, GM Holland will be hoping that these former successes can be translated into a title in the MLL in 2021. As for the logo itself, by all accounts its much improved on the org’s 2020 effort.
There’s nowhere to hide for the Fiveskins now, the dust has settled and a title challenge has to be the goal. with a logo like this they are on track to do it. 8/10
4. OJs White Broncos
After a respectable 2020 Season, the commish has gone for a fresh look here and its paid off. The edgy and satirical approach is a big improvement from last years niche and confusing branding, and the Broncos will be hoping that this pushes them onto a better finish in 2021.
The logo itself is respectable but some have questioned if its a copy and paste job- if it is its a good one since MLL researchers could not locate the source material. There will still be some doubts but in the absence of evidence marks are high 7/10
5. Mahomes Alone
Going to put as much effort into the review as GM Harvey did on the rebrand. Pathetic 1/10
6. Sutton Street 36ers
Vast changes were needed at the Todds following a dismal 2020 campaign, but if the rebrand is anything to go by 2021 could be something special. Clean visuals and a name which harks back to the GM and the great city of Philadelphia, there’s a lot to like here. The 36ers will look stunning propping up the table after the franchise RB tears his ACL. 10/10
Some clear winners and clear losers, but whatever happens, with D-Day looming closer it promises to be a bumper 2021 season
Moss Lane League 