WEEK 1: THE DRAFT THAT WASN’T
Well gentlemen, here we are. A brand-new season. New goals. New storylines. A clean slate where every one of us walks into Week 1 with a fighter’s chance at hoisting the ultimate prize—the JNIC FFL Championship. The beauty of this league is that no matter what happened last year, it all resets today. Each of us is 0–0. Each of us is swinging.
… And that’s all I’ve got.
Unfortunately, there are no funny anecdotes or stories from the draft weekend this year—no Steve falling asleep on my floor in shame after botching his auction strategy, no Zayn falling off an ATV in Costa Rica and becoming the cautionary tale of why fantasy football doesn’t mix with off-road vehicles, no moments that we’ll reference five years from now when one of us is losing an argument in the group chat. Why? Because we were all over the place. Jersey. New York. D.C. Atlanta. Florida. And only two holding down the fort in Brazil, the original draft location that we somehow fumbled like the Jerry Jones fumbling this Micah Parsons fiasco.
Which brings me to the thing I’ve got to address.
Draft Weekend: The Non-Negotiable
Year 15 should’ve been a celebration. Fifteen years! Do you know how many fantasy leagues make it this far? I’d bet less than 10%. Half the leagues out there don’t even survive the “is this still fun?” Year 5 conversation. But we’re still standing. We’ve been through relationships, marriages, kids, job changes, moves, late-night trades that should’ve been vetoed, rule debates that would make our current Congress proud … and yet, when it came time for the milestone draft, we weren’t together. And I don’t want to see that to happen again.
And listen, the buck stops here. I was the first domino to fall … regrettably so. I succumbed to my own personal demons of everything that I thought I left behind in the fiasco that was my bachelor’s weekend in Rio. And one night, out of nowhere, it all came to a head. I called Steve, knowing he would be a listening ear to my thoughts on my newly budding marriage and side with me. Looking back, I should’ve called Tone, who rightfully would’ve told me, “stop being a bitch. It’s the draft weekend. Show up.”
And looking back, I’m sure my decision made it a lot easier for others to back out. “If the commish, who preaches mandatory attendance, isn’t going, I can easily step out this year too.” Maybe you thought this at some point; maybe not. Either way, it sticks with me. And I have to say gentlemen - that was my bad.
And in the aftermath of hardly anyone attending came a lot of unnecessary conversations: Should we move the date? Change the location? Try to accommodate schedules and wallets? I’ll be crystal clear: our fantasy draft weekend will be Labor Day Weekend, every year, no exceptions. It’s not moving. It’s not rotating around a calendar like the Olympics. It’s not “up for debate.” You know when Labor Day is. You’ve known since you were eight years old. Plan around it.
If you work weekends, you need to prepare and take the time off. If you’re worried about costs, start saving now. As Will said in the chat—and he wasn’t wrong—“we all know what we’re working with.” We’re not 23 anymore, scraping together quarters to pay for gas and a $20 bottle of Paul Mason to split with our roommates. We’re in our 40s. Financial management isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. And if anyone wants help with that—budgeting, saving, credit, investments—hit me up. No judgment. I’ve learned some practices that make my life easier, and I’d be happy to share. This league isn’t just about winning fake football trophies; it’s about making sure we’re all set up to win at real life too.
Why It Matters
Here’s the thing: the draft and the draft weekend are the soul of this league. It’s sacred. Once the season starts, life takes over. We’ve got families, careers, kids’ sports schedules, travel, endless group texts that half the time are just memes and trolling each other. Some of us barely see each other outside of this one weekend. Draft weekend is the reset button—it’s when we reconnect, in person, face-to-face.
I’ll be blunt: to be in this league, you must make every effort to attend draft weekend. Because without it, the memories don’t happen. The Steve-on-the-floor stories disappear. The ATV crashes never get told. The legendary steakhouse nights vanish. And then what are we? Just another group of old guys clicking buttons on a fantasy app, trying to get our cameras to work on Zoom. And that’s not the JNIC Fantasy Football League.
The Big Reveal: Draft Weekend 2026
So let’s look forward. I want to give everyone as much runway as possible. Flights booked early, time off secured, no excuses. Which is why I’m announcing right now: Labor Day Weekend 2026, we’re going to Tulum, Mexico.
Why Tulum? Because it checks every box.
You want beaches and white sand? Done.
You want adventure? ATVs, horseback riding, jet skis— done and done.
You want nightlife? Clubs, restaurants, mezcal bars— all day, every day.
You want history? Pyramids and culture — they’ve got it.
Luxury housing at a fraction of the cost - plenty to choose from.
You want affordability? Tulum is shockingly cheap once you get there. Drinks, food, activities—everything costs less than a night out in Hoboken.
Plus, flights are easy. United flies there direct, so the Jersey guys can get back in time for the kids’ first day of school. And just to be sure, I checked the weather. Five years running, no rain on Labor Day Weekend in Tulum. The fantasy gods have spoken.
This is the perfect middle ground. The guys who want to relax can relax. The guys who want to rage can rage. The guys who want to explore can explore. Everyone gets what they need.
Logistics: Start Saving Now
Labor Day Weekend 2026 runs Friday, September 4 – Monday, September 7.
The draft itself will be Sunday, September 6 at 12:00pm sharp.
Flights open in November. Expect $400–$500 depending on where you’re flying from. Do the math—$100 a month from now until then and your flight is covered without breaking a sweat. Put it away. Don’t touch it. Consider it your ticket to Tulum.
Moving Forward
As we continue on, the league champion will choose the location of the draft, per Article III, Section 3 of our newly written Constitution. The announcement of the location will be made live at the draft, ensuring that everyone has a full year to collect their coins, take the vacation days, and make the case to their wives, girlfriends, and families.
Closing Thoughts
Week 1 is here, and everyone’s undefeated. Every single one of us has a chance at the belt. But championships are only part of the story. What makes this league special isn’t the points, the busts, or the waiver-wire miracles. It’s us. The memories, the stories, the brotherhood. And those only happen if we show up.
So let’s make a pact. No more scattered drafts. No more “maybe next year.” Tulum is the line in the sand—literally. Start saving now, book early, and let’s make Year 16 the one we’ll never forget.
Here’s to the new season, fellas. May your lineups stay healthy, may your rivals suffer one-point losses, and may we all be together in Tulum next September.
