As they try to defend their first division title in nearly a decade, the Monarchs look to take the next step and advance in a highly competitive AFC in 2034.

Retirements:
CB Leonard Lino - A surprise retirement at just age 31, Lino joined the Monarchs via a draft day trade with the Seahawks in 2031. After starting at free safety for two years, he switched back to his natural cornerback position for his final season. A solid defender in the secondary who excelled at knocking down passes, Lino started 37 games in three seasons with London, as well as four playoff games. Lino's departure lead management to look for replacements in free agency.

Coaching changes:
London has quietly strengthened its coaching staff the last several seasons, and an unexpected purge by the OrangeCrush allowed the Monarchs to pick up several qualified coaches:
Defensive Coordinator Jason Smith: Smith's availability was too tempting for the Monarchs to pass up. The OrangeCrush's speedy defense ranked fourth in the league in 2033 allowing just 255.3 yards per game, while London ranked 21st at 331.1. The Monarchs slide from 7th overall in 2032 (279.8) during longtime offensive line coach George Markowski's sole season as defensive coordinator was the deciding factor in the switch. Smith will be charged with improving the team's pass rush, and continuing London's ball hawk turnover tendencies.

Defensive Line coach John Gay: Gay is the second OrangeCrush coach to move to London in 2034. Pass rush is a specialty of the former kicking coach, but hopefully he can provide a small improvement to the Monarchs middle of the pack run defense.

Tight Ends coach Grant Ledbetter: After one season as the Shadow Dancers defensive coordinator, London brings in the longtime Thrasher and Hound Dog tight end coach. Ledbetter, who led the Giants to a 15-1 regular season record as head coach in 2027, provides an upgrade over John McDaniel who was let go despite signing an extension in the 2033 postseason. With breakout TE Bernard Smith and second year hybrid George Payne on the roster, Ledbetter should improve the pass catching abilities of this vital part of the Monarchs offense.

Free agents:
London inexplicably continues having difficulty luring top free agents, despite some aggressive offers and salary cap flexibility. The team's most glaring need at offensive line was only slightly improved, as the Monarchs missed out on several of their primary targets. Adding some key defensive depth could continue strengthening London's solid squad.

QB Edwin Johnson - despite looking at some potential replacements, management always wanted to retain their backup QB. While the 26 year old will not replace starter Matthew Avila, a four year contract keeps him in the fold at a reasonable price.

LT John Jacobs - the former Blizzard backup is expected to fill the same role in London, mainly on passing downs.

RT John Sierra - after being out of the league since 2031, he's a longshot to make the final roster, despite his excellent skills as a pass blocker.

RT John Chin - the longtime linemen appeared in all sixteen games for the Teabag Party in 2033, making one start. His pass blocking skills and ability to play either tackle or guard position made him an attractive piece to add to London's poor offensive line.

DT Earl Sims - with three sacks and two forced fumbles for the Shadow Dancers last season, Sims will mainly be called on to be a pass rusher. He could push DT Cameron Couch for starts with a good preseason showing.

WLB Ric Flair - a surprise addition, the veteran LB joins the Monarchs on a two year deal. While not slated to start, Flair can fill in as a quality backup at all three LB slots as a run and pass defender.

CB Greg Craddock - the first of two veteran cornerbacks brought in to fill the hole caused by Leonard Lino's retirement. Craddock had 75 tackles and 3 INTs for the Bangles last season, as well as knocking down an impressive 31 passes, tied for ninth in the league. Craddock has a chance to start, and should see the field often.

CB Terrance Parker - the ten year veteran had six interceptions for Seattle's playoff squad last season, and tied his career high with 23 passes defended. An average tackler, the speedy Parker does have the coverage skills to join London's talented secondary.

Thanks to adding the veteran defenders and without a first round pick this year due to last season's draft day trade to select LDE LaVar Ball, London will look for some desperately needed offensive line help beginning in round two of the upcoming Moguls draft.

London may have to expand the locker room after going big in the 2034 draft. Without first and seventh round picks this season due to previous trades, the Monarchs focused on drafting for need on their troubled offensive and defensive lines. While underwhelmed by the overall quality of this year's draft pool, management still feels like they acquired some useful pieces.

2-25 RT Steve Gabbard - after unsuccessfully trying to trade up into the early second round to select a skill player, London immediately gets to work plugging holes in the offensive line. Gabbard was one of the players the Monarchs targeted for this second round pick as soon as the draft pool was released. The top offensive lineman remaining at this stage, Gabbard is a better pass blocker, and may play a few different positions, possibly left guard or tackle.

3-25 LG Paul Berardelli - drafted as a center, Berardelli was immediately switched to left guard. Another lineman better at pass blocking than run blocking, management hopes a good training camp can turn him into an anchor on the offensive line.

4-25 WR Dana Brinson - the lone non-lineman selected in 2034, Brinson profiles as a possession receiver. With only average speed but elite catching and acceleration ratings, Brinson joins a crowded London WR room as a player to help move the chains.

5-4 C Damon Baldwin - with the Teabag Party pick acquired in last season's draft day trade to select LDE LaVar Ball, the Monarchs go back to the offensive line. Larger for a center, Baldwin is another candidate to move around the offensive line for pass blocking help.

5-25 DT Roland Lakes - after debating taking him in the fourth round or earlier in the fifth, management was thrilled that Lakes was still available here. With above average speed and excellent pass rush potential, London is excited to see how he develops at training camp. A depth add on the defensive line, Lakes could cause some disruption to opponent's passing attacks.

6-25 DT Marcell Dareus - management had some reservations before making Dareus their final draft selection. Another defensive lineman who specializes in pass rushing, Dareus needs to really pop in training camp to improve his tackling and run defense skills to have a chance at making the final roster.

After missing out on only two or three "project" players, London management is fairly pleased with the players they acquired this draft. With so much draft capital invested in the troubled offensive line this season, the pressure is on coach Jay Martinson to prove he can develop young blockers. Look for a rookie update after training camp.

2034 training camp update - uh oh.

2-25 RT Steve Gabbard (+7/-1) - a slight increase in run block potential, a -9 in pass blocking potential, now close to his top. Not a total bust, but not the pass blocking cornerstone I was hoping for.

3-25 LG Paul Berardelli (+4/-4) - a -9 in run blocking, -11 in pass blocking potential. Drafted as a backup, apparently that's all he's going to be.

4-25 WR Dana Brinson (+6/-2) - looks to be a down the depth chart receiver. Disappointed with his drop in catching potential, but could be hard to take down if he actually snags a ball.

5-4 C Damon Baldwin (+1/+0) - finally, a little bit of relief. Small increase in run blocking skill, and pass blocking potential stayed at 100. A quality backup and possible future starter.

5-25 DT Roland Lakes (+7/+4) - got the nice pop I was hoping for. Still not great at tackling, but with a +13 strip ball, +7 pass rush and +9 run defense potentials should be a solid contributor.

6-25 DT Marcell Dareus (+4/-5) - nothing of value, going to be cut.

Besides Baldwin and Lakes, not a lot to show from this draft. Luckily, the Monarchs were able to outbid several other teams for 2032 fourth overall pick WR Jeff Davis, a surprising cut by the rebranded Oakland Panthers. Not a field stretching receiver, Davis appears to be a solid if unspectacular player. His preseason performance will determine where he lands in the depth chart, possibly filling the role envisioned for rookie WR Dana Brinson. Management will continue to look at the waiver wire and trades to strengthen the roster.

The Monarchs go 3-1 for the second straight preseason, with more tinkering to do.

- London looks fairly sharp in a 16-3 preseason opening victory over the Shadow Dancers. QB Matthew Avila opens in mid-season form, going 16-18 for 201 yards including a 42 yard TD pass to RB Archie Daniels. The Monarchs dominate time of possession and pick off two passes, while limiting Rapid Valley to only 211 yards of total offense.

- The Monarchs travel to southern California for a showdown with the always deadly Los Angeles Xtreme in week two, and come away with a surprising 23-10 win. LA is able to move the ball all game, but London's Tough Blokes defense is opportunistic, tallying four total turnovers. Avila connects with Daniels for another first half TD pass, and RB Randy Bainter continues to show his value as a backup scoring a TD for the second straight game. The Monarchs return to LA to wrap up the regular season with a full game against perennial MVP candidate QB Ernest Williams in week 16.

- The Irvine duo of QB Robert Arroyo and WR Thomas Constant generously invite 20 other players to their pitch and catch practice in preseason week three. Arroyo finds Constant for 4 TD passes in three quarters of work in a 36-20 win that isn't as close as the score would indicate. Arroyo finishes with 339 yards passing, and TDs of 75, 52, 19 and 1 yards to Constant, who catches 10 passes for 220 yards on the day. The teams combine for 51 first downs and just under 1000 yards of total offense, and the Anteaters offensive dominance puts the final nails in the coffin of some London defensive experiments this preseason.

- The Monarchs get back on track in the preseason finale with a come from behind 29-12 win over the Battle Creek Barbarians. Randy Bainter scores his fourth and fifth TDs of the preseason, one on the ground and one through the air. Backup QB Edwin Johnson has a solid day, going 27-37 with 254 with a 2 TDs and 2 INTs. The only down side of the game was a serious knee injury to second year TE/FB George Payne late in the contest. Payne's absence will be a major blow to London's offense, although backup center David Bond, originally drafted as a tight end, catches one of Johnson's two TD passes. Management will look to the waiver wire for a more suitable replacement until Payne can return.

Preseason cuts:
The weakest part of the Monarchs roster makes up most of the cuts to get down to the 53 man final roster.
LT John Jacobs, RT John Sierra - neither offseason signing showed enough promise to be part of the Monarchs rebuilding offensive line
LT Allan Lawrence - Lawrence, who notoriously surrendered six sacks in a single game against Arkansas last season, was pushed further down the depth chart by rookie draftees and not asked to return.
RDE David Johnson - the most expensive cut, Johnson hadn't done much in the last few seasons, and management decided eating his bonus money was still the best option.
CB Marty Shuffler - the offseason signings of veteran CBs Greg Craddock and Terrance Parker convinced management there was enough secondary depth to make Shuffler expendable. Shuffler's highlight in his single season in a Monarch uniform was an INT in London's wild card round victory over the Argonauts.
RT Timothy Hansen - the final cut. A third round pick in 2032, Hansen never developed into a useful blocker and only played sparingly. Despite London's well known offensive line woes, Hansen didn't appear to be part of the solution.

London now prepares to enter the regular season with a home opener against the Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix, as the Monarchs try to defend their AFC South divisional crown. A tough early season schedule including games against the Dildozers, Demons and Thrashers in the first five weeks means it could be rough sledding for Coach David Kirby's squad.

***BREAKING NEWS*** For the second straight season, the Monarchs will be without star running back Archie Daniels for an extended period. Daniels suffered a knee injury with under five minutes to play in London's week three 31-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Daniels continues showing how vital he is to the London offensive attack with a pair of TD receptions in the game, including a career long 91 yard score in the third quarter.

The Monarchs will once again turn to the RB duo of Randy Bainter and Alvin Dillon to fill the major void. Dillon's one yard TD plunge capped the scoring on the drive when Daniels was injured. However, management feels that this could be a lengthy absence, and will most likely scour the free agent pool for additional RB depth.

With injuries quickly mounting across the offensive side of the ball and a tough slate of upcoming games, London will have to scramble to stay afloat in the AFC South division race.

It's good to see A. Dillon still doing some work. That was from my "Cast of Predator" draft year.

I've got Alvin Dillon AND John Cutter on my squad - two of my favorite action stars!

Quarterly report:
Record: 2-2 overall record: 2-2

London's training staff stays busy during an uneven first quarter of the season.

- The season opens with a bang, as the Monarchs roll over the possibly unprepared Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix 19-0. London's first play from scrimmage in 2034 is a 76 yard TD pass from QB Matthew Avila to RB Archie Daniels, and the defense does the rest of the work. Pennsauken is held to just 94 yards of total offense in the game, holding the ball for less than seventeen minutes. Avila finishes with 336 yards passing, and the duel threat Daniels ends up with 221 yards on the day, 92 on the ground and 129 receiving - enjoy it while it lasts. Injuries begin to mount, as starting RT Marcus Barraza suffers a serious leg injury which will hold him out for some time.

- The Monarchs travel back to New York City for another faceoff with the Super Bowl champion Dildozers in week 2. Brawndo decides to put on a fireworks display for the fans after dropping their season opener in Chicago, and pounds London into submission 34-12. The seemingly unstoppable duo of QB Brian Roberts and WR James Brandt connect for TDs of 85, 63, 39 and 69 yards on the day, as Brandt tallies 289 yards receiving. Brawndo's pass rush repeats their performance from last season's divisional round win, sacking Matthew Avila eight times on the afternoon, four by DE Dwayne Elizondo Macho Camacho. The Tough Blokes defense does what it can to prevent further embarrassment, sacking Roberts twice and picking off three passes in the loss.

- The Monarchs bounce back with a 31-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals in week three, but pay a steep price. After leading just 7-3 at halftime, London gains control in the third quarter, thanks to a pair of TD catches by RB Archie Daniels, including a career long 91 yard catch and run score. But disaster strikes with under five minutes left to play, as Daniels suffers a knee injury that will hold him out for an extended period. The loss of the team's leading rusher *and* receiver could deal a serious blow to the Monarchs chances of defending their AFC South division crown.

- The first game after losing Daniels shows exactly how vital he is to the offense, as London falls to the San Francisco Demons 27-13. The Monarchs generate under 180 yards of total offense for the second time this season, and the fill in RB tandem of Randy Bainter and Alvin Dillon are held to minus eight yards rushing for the game. Free agent RB Albert Murtha, signed after Daniels' injury, makes an immediate impact with a 10 yard TD catch to give the Monarchs a brief lead, and the veteran may earn more playing time once he gets into playing shape. San Francisco's offense dominates the afternoon with nearly 200 yards rushing, as RB Edmond Johnson runs for 109 yards and two scores, as well as 11 catches for 78 yards and an additional TD. Former Monarch WR Derek Brown gives London management a reminder they made a mistake releasing him, with 88 yards rushing and 36 yards through the air. The Demons show absolutely no respect for the Monarchs defense, converting four of six fourth down attempts, and not attempting a single punt or field goal on the day.

Things don't appear to get easier anytime soon, as the surging Arkansas Thrashers invade Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in week five. Arkansas sports a dominant run game featuring the trio of brothers Henri and Muhammad Boudreaux and fellow rookie Ignatius Infernus. With another showdown with the Del Fuego Phoenix, a battle for bragging rights in London against the surprising Ravens and the first game against the always dangerous Roswell Invaders coming up, the next month will likely determine the Monarchs fate this season.

Quarterly report:
Record: 3-1 overall record: 5-3

The Monarchs hit the halfway mark with a little momentum and more injuries.

- London welcomes the Arkansas Thrashers to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in week five, and gives the home crowd quite a show. Arkansas' heralded ground game is mostly contained, with only 129 yards rushing, but the Thrashers still were up 10-0 at halftime, thanks to a 1 yard TD toss from John Spartan to FB Martin Riggs. With the Monarchs own run game totally shut down, QB Matthew Avila has to step up, and he's up to the challenge. A 43 TD strike to WR William Ortiz early in the fourth quarter cuts the lead to 10-7, and a 10 yard TD pass to a wide open backup TE Troy Gale puts the Monarchs ahead 14-10 with just over 90 seconds remaining. However, John Spartan refuses to go down without a fight, leading a final drive. Aided by a pair of pass interference calls, Spartan is able to get to the London four yard line, but the second sack of the game by former Thrasher DE John Cutter pushes Arkansas back. Three straight incomplete passes leads to an important conference victory against the perennial AFC powerhouse.

- Week six features a rematch with the Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix. Like Batman against the Joker, you never know what to expect playing the Phoenix. The Phoenix made major headlines prior to the game, trading three draft picks to the Shadow Dancers for speedy WR Sam Evans. Evans has a solid debut in New Jersey, finishing with seven catches for 66 yards. A fairly balanced offensive attack puts Pennsauken up 10-0 in the second quarter thanks to a 1 yard plunge by RB Ignacio Carlton. After another slow start, the Monarchs offense finally lights up the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 1 yard TD pass to backup center David Bond, and a 20 yard pass to RB Randy Bainter just before halftime. After trading field goals in the fourth quarter, London completes the season sweep of Pennsauken with a 17-13 win.

- While technically a road game, the Monarchs only have to hop on a double decker bus for a trip to the Rookery in week seven to face off against the London Ravens. Deciding that playing with a lead is a solid game plan, the Monarchs find the end zone on their first two drives of the game, on an 8 yard run by veteran RB Albert Murtha and 12 yard TD pass from Avila to Ortiz. The Tough Blokes defense does the rest of the work, limiting the Ravens to just 206 yards of total offense, including only 31 yards rushing. Chalking up three sacks, two INTs and a recovered fumble, the Monarchs are able to withstand Ravens star SS Robert Easter's first career touchdown on a 60 yard interception return, and maintain bragging rights in London with a 20-10 victory.

- Looking to wrap up an undefeated month, the Monarchs return home to host the Roswell Invaders in week eight. Neither team puts on the best performance for the crowd of 48,190, as they combine for four turnovers in their first eight drives, and six total for the game. After settling down and trading field goals, London finally breaks through in the second quarter on a 9 yard TD pass from Avila to WR Michael Woodmansee. Leading 10-6 at the break after giving up just 113 yards to Roswell before halftime, the Monarchs may have been too confident. The Invaders defense completely bottles up the London in the second half, surrendering only 57 yards total after the break. Roswell CB Brian Berry's interception in the end zone in the third quarter ending London's only serious scoring threat after recovering a fumble at the Roswell 24. Roswell RB Richard Thompson's 8 yard TD run just before the two minute warning gives the Invaders a 13-10 win, their third straight, and pulls them into a second place tie with the SnowSharks at 4-4 in the AFC South standings, one game behind the Monarchs.

Injuries continue to be a concern for London, as starting FS Malcolm DeVry is done for the year. The second year player hits the IR with a serious knee injury against the Invaders, and with the trade deadline now passed, the Monarchs will have to look towards free agency for more depth in the secondary. With starting RT Marcus Barraza (serious leg injury week one), starting RG Robert Walters (leg injury week two), and FB/TE George Payne (serious knee injury preseason game four) all nearing return, and star RB Archie Daniels (knee injury week three) not far behind, hopefully London's quiet offense will be able to pick up the pace in the second half of the season.

Quarterly report:
Record: 2-2 overall record: 7-5

London's uneven season continues with some big wins and big losses and more injuries.

- The Monarchs begin the second half of the season hosting Cincinnati. Despite holding the ball for nearly 10 more minutes, the Bangles can't do much with it as London cruises to a 24-6 victory. RB Alvin Dillon does his best Archie Daniels impression, dominating on the ground and through the air. Dillon racks up 129 yards rushing, and adds 75 yards receiving and a pair of TD grabs. CB Osvaldo Costales, having a somewhat quiet season, picks off two passes in the win.

- Week 10 features a road contest against the Terre Haute Terror. Anybody hoping for an offensive shootout would be seriously disappointed, as neither team tops 240 yards of total offense or finds the end zone, as Terre Haute comes out on top by the odd score of 11-6. London's well known offensive line woes are on full display, as QB Matthew Avila is sacked eight times, including a third quarter safety. Terre Haute's veteran LDE duo of Jamison Stock and Joseph Cunningham each record 3 sacks in the all important conference win. Second year LDE LaVar Ball suffers a serious ankle injury in the loss, which will likely keep him out the remainder of the regular season.

- To say the Monarchs parade got rained on in week 11 at Seattle would be a major understatement. Arguably the league's top team, the Seahawks completely dominate the contest, handing London its second straight loss 32-0. After a quiet first quarter, Seattle explodes in the second, notching three long TD passes from QB Randall Prosperie. Prosperie finds RB George Schaffer for 58 yards, WR Richard Wilson for 34 yards, and a backbreaking 80 yard TD to WR Eli Pentecost at the two minute warning that puts the game out of reach 24-0. Seattle's defense is otherworldly, registering five interceptions of QB Matthew Avila, more than he'd thrown the entire season entering the contest. Avila is sacked three more times, including the second straight week for a safety. Seattle outgains London 527-211 on the day, as the Monarchs suffer their first shutout since week 11 2032 vs. Memphis.

- London returns home with their heads down following the blowout loss in Seattle, hosting the Wisconsin Frozen Tundra SnowSharks in week 12. In an ominous start, Avila is sacked and fumbles on the very first play from scrimmage, setting up a chipshot field goal to put Wisconsin ahead 3-0. However, the Monarchs regain their composure and explode the rest of the way in a stunning 52-3 win. London scores TDs on their next five possessions, with Avila having one of his finest days in a London uniform. He goes 30-36 for 353 yards and five TD passes, peppering his running backs through the air. RB Alvin Dillon catches two more TDs, and RB Archie Daniels shows he's completely recovered from his week 3 knee injury, tallying 140 yards rushing, plus three catches including a 13 yard score. TE Bernard Smith, having a down year, shows up with eight catches for 100 yards and his first TD of the season. Deciding that being a good host isn't important in a divisional game, the Monarchs outgain the SnowSharks 563-72, and hold onto the ball for nearly 43 minutes to snap their two game losing streak.

The final stretch of the season will begin with the Monarchs traveling to Roswell for a rematch against the Invaders. With the Invaders head to head win in week 8, and currently riding a seven game winning streak, London is running out of time to right the ship and defend their AFC South division title. A wild card berth seems like a stretch in the always competitive AFC, so the Monarchs may only have one option to return to the playoffs for the third straight season.