* RECORD - A winning season at 8-6 and crept into the last play-off spot on tie-breakers ahead of The Penguins. Got caned by the Zombies in the semis but rebounded to clinch the WGAS bowl in a squeeker - big whoop. A bit like getting 3 numbers on the lottery - it's a win but nobody gives a stuff about it.

* SEASON IN A NUTSHELL - As was a common theme for all play-off teams they started well, going 3-1 out of the gate. Then they acquired Aaron Rodgers to push on, and he promptly got injured and the Athletics went into a funk losing the next 5 on the spin. They righted themselves just in time, turning a 3-6 record around by winning 5 straight to steal in through the catflap. The Athletics also beat all the other 3 play-off teams at some point of the season showing what might have been. A real coulda, shoulda, woulda year for The Trademeister.

* NOTABLE DRAFTEES - Like any night in the Bamboo Club in Hazel Grove, it was a real mixed bag. Traded up to draft Le'veon Bell in round 1 which proved a shrewd move; drafted Sam Bradford in round 1 which provided little more than a kick in the bollocks. Lamar Miller in round 2 avoided the end zone like he owed it money and broke tackles with the same vigour as Paul O'Grady into the bargain. Josh Gordon in round 2 proved a steal and had looked to be a long term keeper until he remembered he had shit for brains this spring (thats Josh not Martin), whilst Brandon Weeden proved his freshman season wasn't an aberration - he really was that bad. Eric Decker in round 3 was a beaut of a pick providing a ton of yards, TDs and production for his owner. Like any draft, some panned out nicely and others crapped out gloriously.

* 5 KEEPERS - Sir Aaron of Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, Le'Veon Bell, TY Hilton and sadly this years off-season Aaron Hernandez knucklehead winner - after a tight battle with Ray Rice - one Josh Gordon; facing a likely year long suspension which means he's as much use as a Nuns tits to Martin. Right up there with Domanick Davis of Athletics past Keepers that went all bucket of chicken and a fishing rod in the off-season.

* WHERE IT WENT RIGHT - Once again had a deep line-up scoring 2nd overall in Bonus points, and registered six tons in the year. The 5 game win streak to close out the year, by an average winning margin of over 32 points, gave high hopes that with Sir Aaron returning for the fantasy play-offs it could be their third title. Sadly like a sailors night out in Bangkok, the excitement of what lay ahead proved to be a "False Dawn." Le'Veon Bell panned out nicely, Eric Decker lived in the end zone and Josh Gordon had looked like the dogs bollocks until he went back on the sniff.

* HOW IT WENT WRONG - Having acquired what looked like the franchise QB he needed to complete the roster, said QB who had no injury history, promptly got injured and sent both Martin and the Packers seasons down the bog. The TE position was poor and on four occasions in the first 10 weeks the Athletics failed to top 70. An offense that looked as threatening as a one legged Mexican bandit with conjunctivitis. Thankfully they pulled a Cheryl Cole of a recovery - in many ways its up there with the multi-tattooed, convicted assaulter turned national sweetheart - to polish a turd and come up smiling .... until they met the Zombies who prevailed in a 191 point "thriller" in the semi. Sadly for Martin, 113 of those points weren't his.

* DRAFT PICKS AND WHATS AHEAD - Normally armed with more choices than Cristiano Ronaldo in a nightclub, Martin finds himself sans a pick in round 1 and 2 this time out - can we say "Draft cameraman!" However he has all 18 other selections and often his lower round nous has unearthed some gems, only this time he will be able to retain most of them as well. More than enough savvy here to complement a starting QB who has won this league on his own in the past.

* A Quote from the GM (under artistic license) - "Aaron Rodgers injury? Arse. I enjoyed as much as Shaun Alexander's 2005 season. Anyway fancy a second hand Josh Gordon going cheap?" A WGAS Bowl win is like winning the title of sanest person in the nuthouse."