Now is the time where teams are identifying their strengths and weaknesses.  The trade talk really begins heating up about now.  Chances are, your league has seen a trade or two.  If not, get ready - some trades will happen soon.

I was approached this past week with three trade opportunities in my three leagues.  Each trade offer came in differently.  For the most part, they were fair trade offers, but what I find most interestingly is how I was approached.

Trade offer 1: Came in through the trade management feature of my league's site.  The other team and I had not had any conversations regarding a trade.  I opened up my e-mail and there was the offer.

Trade offer 2: I got an e-mail from a team in one of my leagues stating that they saw I had a lot of RB's, but weak at QB.  He mentioned he wanted to work out a deal with me, but requested I threw out some ideas.

Trade offer 3: A co-worker in my work league personally approached me about a trade.  He came by my desk a few times this past week to discuss possible opportunities for us to work out a deal.

Trade offer 2 was the only deal right now that worked out this week.  To me, that's not the story though. The real deal here is networking. Trade offer 1 was cold and impersonable. Trade offer 2 was warmer and created an e-mail dialogue, but Trade offer 3 was the best for networking.

The team for Trade offer 3 and I got to negotiate and work through the challenge of trying to both better our teams through a trade.  A trade didn't materialize, but a new level of respect and familiarity with each other was created.  I'm sure I'll be working with the team from Trade offer 3 for work-related projects in the near-future.  Just having that interaction could help our current and future networking efforts.

Stay tuned. I'll keep you posted on my future trades.  I'm going to need them - especially in my work league.  It's a 16 team league and I'm 0-4!!!  (I put too much stock in the Miami Dolphins this season)

-Michael