We have more power rankings for this new football league. Our check has not bounced from the A.A.F. They must have lost ours in the mail. No worries, the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes opened his wallet with a 250 million dollar donation to the league to pay off the players’ salaries. So we still have football and power rankings for this football league. At least another week.  If the league finds themselves in more trouble again, they can ask Manny Machado for help as he just came into some money. Have a few six packs of beer which is recommended when you read these power rankings.  ENJOY!!! CHEERS!!!

#1.ORLANDO APOLLOS (2-0) Ranking: Same

Another strong performance by the Apollos in week two. They are the top scoring team in the league. They look like they have the best aerial game in the league. The Gilbert Johnson to Charles Johnson has been lethal to opposing defenses. Perhaps both Johnson & Johnson have the asbestos oozing off them to stop defenders in their tracks.

They had no problem racking up points against a strong defensive unit in the Commanders. On defense, the Apollos continue to be impressive as they score more touch downs than some of these offensive teams in this league. They have the top corner back in the league in Keith Reaser. Keith had the pick six to seal the deal versus the Commanders last week.

#2. ARIZONA HOT SHOTS (2-0) Ranking: Same

The Hot Shots were not so hot facing the Memphis Express. John Wolford and the Hot Shots were flat most of the game in week two. Memphis’ defense played well and made the Hot Shot quarterback uncomfortable all day long. Good teams always find a way to win it at the very end. Good teams like the Hot Shots probably deserve the loss in week two with how ugly they were playing. They fought back late in the game to be a few scores down and came out with a big win on the road. Which seems hard to come by in this league so far after two weeks with the home team prevailing in many of the games. The running game bust out a few big plays in the second half. John Wolford converted on a few key passes to help the Hot Shots overcome and prevail to 2-0 on this young season.

#3. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-1) Ranking: Up one spot

Even though San Antonio lost last week to the top team in the league, in my book the Apollos I did move them up one spot. In two games they have shown me they have a solid offense that looks to be getting better.  Running back Kenneth Farrow to me has been impressive. The shifty moves. The way he changes gears. He throws himself over the pile and gets hit only to land on his head and still held on to the football.

He’s a small explosive back that can catch the ball out of the back field. He’ll do anything for the extra yard and take a hit and get it. The Commanders’ quarterback, Logan Woodside, looks solid. Only problem with him is he makes one mistake a game. Last week the pick six cost his team the game. His receivers sometimes have the dropsies which does not help. But Logan is always chucking and leading his team down field. The defense of the Commanders has been solid. They can go after the quarterback. They had a strip sack touchdown to their credit last week versus a very good Apollo team.

#4.BIRMINGHAM IRON (2-0) Ranking: Down one spot

The Iron are very lucky Salt Lake City has a bad kicker. If the Iron did not make the one play on special teams forcing the fumble with the touchdown, they would be 1-1. Luis Perez, the great bowler quarterback who was impressive in week one, looked like Roy Munson in week two.

Like Luis, he had a hook for a hand in week two. Trent Richardson was reborn last week and nothing special in week two. Maybe he will be reborn again in week three.

He’ll be motivated by the Jack Handy quotes where the ball is his friend. He comes out inspired and runs people over DAMNITT !! According to the gospels.

#5. SAN DIEGO FLEET (1-1) Ranking: Up one spot

Mike Martz has the greatest show on surf in San Diego rather than turf from his days in St. Louis. In the sloppiest game of the year in which the rain did not help the Fleet passing game, nothing to write home to mom about from the carrier. They probably played the worst team in the league and it was the running game that came alive to give the Fleet its first victory of the year. However Phillip Nelson had a backwards pass.

His back was to the receiver and he chucked the ball behind him and it was caught by his own receiver. Lets see Patrick Mahomes complete something like that. Defense looks decent on the Fleet. I like the running game. The Fleet passing game is not very good. Jury is still out with this team. Maybe the game plan is too complex. We do know they have the best uniforms in the league so they can dress the part.

#6.SALT LAKE CITY Stallions (0-2) Ranking: Down one spot

 

Salt Lake City has been trying out some really impressive talent. All of them know how to ring a bell. The Stallions are in need of a quarterback and have kicking issues. They are trying to bring in local talent to fullfill their book. The Stallions have too many injuries. They should have won last week versus the Iron. But the kicking game failed. The big play on special teams cost them the game. They need to get healthy and quick before they let their season slip away. Karter Schult on that defense can definitely ring a bell.

Karter Schult has to be the best edge rusher in the league. Lots of sacks and pressures in only two weeks of the season.

#7.MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-2) Ranking: Same

The Express defense is one of the best in the league. It’s the offense that has struggled so far in two weeks. The first week they scored nothing. In week two they had signs of life establishing the running game. The Express defense set up their offense in easy situations. They were able to feed off those opportunities and get the ball in the end zone. However they could not convert on any of the two point conversions. Christian Hackenberg is a bust in the AAF like he was in the NFL. Next season he can earn the hat trick in the XFL. With no passing attack and the defense could not serve them up with primo seating in field position. The Hot Shots came back and stole one away from the Express.

#8. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-2) Ranking: Same

The Legends looked better in week two than in week one. Even though their play was sloppy against the Fleet. You could “Blame it on the Rain” but they were able to get a lead. They eventually gave up that lead and now fall to 0-2 for the year. The coaching carousel this team experienced right before week one will take some time to completely fix. Legends quarterback Matt Simms looked pretty good. No Peyton Manning or Eli. Phil Simms is still looking for that one son to be like their dear ole dad. What’s the secret Archie Manning ?

Everyone knows it’s all about the right DNA or wiring the subject the right way is the recipe for the elite quarterback.

Football in February is fine by me. Especially this weekend with the dullness of the all-star festivities of the NBA. This is our first ever AAF power rankings. I can honestly say we did not pick the order out of a hat. I will admit we might have had too many beers. Which is a good thing. Don’t know all the  players’ names in the first week of this new league. We may only recognize helmets for quite awhile. I promise you we will not learn everyone’s name. I do promise you an entertaining read when it comes to our power rankings. We will not hold back in weeks to come. I think we will be on our best behavior in week one.

#1.ORLANDO APOLLOS (1-0)        

It was show time for the Apollos in week one as they put up a 40 burger on the legends.  Head coach Steve Spurrier, known for his razzle and dazzle play calling, as the Apollos did that with the Philly special. The two X factors that I can say about Stev Spurrier. The first, coaching in Florida he wins down there. One of the best college coaches of all-time. Many years of success coaching the Florida Gators. Then, in new leagues like the AAF, he does very well. He did very well in the USFL in the early 1980’s. The USFL was his first head coaching job. He coached the Tampa Bay Bandits and went 35-21with them until the league folded. Put Steve Spurrier in Florida and good things will happen. Apollos, I have a feeling, will be one of the top teams in the league this season.

#2. ARIZONA HOT SHOTS (1-0) The Hot Shots look like one of the best teams in the league as they might have the best quarterback in the entire league, John Wolford, who was throwing darts all over the field. They put up 38 points. The defense looked solid with guys like Will Sutton clogging the middle. Former Arizona State and former Chicago Bear. The Hot shot defense has some pretty good NFL talent on that unit, if they hold up all year this team could be a contender. Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Chiefs have the tomahawk chop. Hot Shots have two axes on their helmet. A few fans had the look of the chopping wood style of the tomahawk chop.

#3. BIRMINGHAM IRON (1-0) Iron have Trent Richardson reborn. At least for game one. He had a big day with a few touchdowns, running through people like he was a snow plow and defenders were zombies. He had a powerful spike after one of touchdowns. The ball went into the seats. Lots of emotions pimped up. Iron has a quarterback I thought had a whale of a ball game. Luis Perez was zipping the ball down the field, moving the chains. He has an interesting back story. Never played high school football. They say he is a better bowler than a football player. Perhaps the next Bo Jackson. Kyler Murray seems to be wanting to do only football as he walks away from baseball. Iron defense looked solid. This might be one of those teams that have a chance to get to the playoffs from a good start.

#4. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-0) Defense they have. They are the team that rang the bell of San Diego Fleets quarterback, Mike Bercovici. The biggest hit in week one. They forced a lot of turn-overs as well. Probably should have won the game by a bigger margin. Either their offense needs to get better, or is the Fleet defense stronger than we think?  Good to see football in the Alamo dome. A place they built because they thought football would come to them. Field of Dreams is what they were watching when they made their decision to build the Alamo dome. Only time they get professional football is if New Orleans has a hurricane.

#5.SALT LAKE CITY STALLIONS (0-1) Stallions have a lot of good things going on even though they lost.  I think this team has enough talent to be in the top tier. They played a good team in Arizona. The managed to score 22 points against a pretty good defense. They have a running back with some NFL experience in Matt Asiata. The former Viking knows how to get in the end zone. He did score a touchdown in his first AAF game. Overall he had a good game.  I like the former Northern Iowa defensive end, Karter Schult, who put some nice pressure on the Hot Shot quarterback. I see the Stallions getting their first win, sooner rather than later.

#6.SAN DIEGO FLEET (0-1) Best uniforms in the league. The Fleet looked like they have a pretty good defense that kept them in their first game last weekend. Is Mike Martz’s offense just too difficult to run? All the teams only had a month to get ready for the season. You have to get into game shape. Plus a playbook. A difficult playbook by Martz can take a very long time to get everyone on the same page. Looked like Martz did not like his first quarterback, Mike Bercovici, who got his bell run in the first half of the game. Originally the Fleet had Josh Johnson, however the  Redskins took him away late in the NFL season. He took Bercovici out and the second guy did not do well. Then he put Bercovici back in.  Rotating quarterbacks in week one. Maybe they can split time, one QB remembers half of the difficult play book while the other remembers the other half.

#7.MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-1) If you asked any player from the 1985 Bears, they probably would say, “We did not need no stinking offense to win games. Yes, we were that good on the defensive side of the ball.” Mike Singletary, Hall of Fame linebacker from the ’85 Bears, is head coach of the Express. They have a pretty good defense. Offense is what is going to kill this team. Like so many Bears teams, same thing, shot themselves in the foot with the lack of. I feel bad for the Jets who drafted this kid, Christian Hackenberg. Or it explains the New York Jets’ failures better from drafting Hackenberg. His footwork is messy. Panics in the pocket. Takes too long to make a decision. Not very accurate.

#8. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-1)

The Legends, are not quite so legen-Dary and we will have to WAIT  for it after being destroyed in their first game ever. This team is in disarray. Brad Childress, original head coach of the team, jumped ship before the season started. Perhaps the Legends are destined to hit an iceberg. Offensive coordinator, Mike Vick, had his other job came calling, he jumps ship to resume his dog walking duties.

The NFL off-season is heating up already. Let the musical chair quarterback game begin. Who’s on first and who’s on second? He guided his team to seven post seasons in 11 years behind center for them. He was the MVP of Superbowl XL Vll . He was paid very well after that Superbowl. He has three years remaining on that contract he signed after he won that Superbowl. Joe Flacco is heading to Denver while the Ravens get a fourth round draft pick.

The Ravens brass has to be dancing in the streets with this move. Everyone in the football world had money on it that Joe Flacco would not be coming back to the Ravens. Most thought the Ravens would flat out release him.  The Ravens are ecstatic because they actually got something for the veteran quarterback. Even though it is only a fourth round draft pick, it is something. Plus a big salary comes off the books so hip hip hooray in Baltimore.

John Harbaugh says the Ravens are Lamar Jackson’s team now. Joe Flacco started 9 regular season games last season, as a hip injury derailed him for a few weeks. This led to Lamar Jackson playing full time. Jackson was in on red zone situations doing the wild cat formations. This was his only action he had until Flacco got hurt. Lamar took over and went 6-1 and guided the ravens to the playoffs leaving Joe back from injury watching his Baltimore days end in a whimper. To put all your eggs in the Lamar Jackson basket is scary. The league will catch up to him and figure him out. First round  of the playoffs, the Chargers got off to a big lead. Lamar Jackson and run first quarterbacks have a very hard time coming back from even ten points in a game. His passing needs work. The Ravens have a good defense to keep a lead intact if the team get the early lead. Lamar Jackson’s only regular season loss came versus the Chiefs in overtime. Chiefs knew at the end of the game he was trying to beat them with his arm. They pressured him and he crumpled. Plus, running quarterbacks get hurt and they are never the same. Evidence: Mike Vick and RG III.

John Elway is desperate. It’s like going to the dance and all the great choices are taken already. Even everything that looks half way decent is gone. He has drafted ugly in Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, and Paxton Lynch. Talk about getting stood up. Then he went crazy and gave Case Keenum a diamond ring in a two year deal worth 36 million dollars. Elway could not get Keenum home before midnight and he turned into a pumpkin on the field, is the only explanation. Keenum was a one year wonder for the Vikings. He came to Denver and his performance was nowhere near that type of money he got.  Since Elway’s love of his life, Peyton Manning, left town, things have never been the same.

John Elway could have waited and got Joe Flacco when he was released.  Now he has Case Keenum making 21 million next season. Then you have Joe Flacco making 18.5 million. That is a lot of money to be paying these two guys that are probably about the same. I give Flacco the edge. Then if you part ways with Case Keenum, then you have 10 million dollars in dead money on the salary cap. Elway and the Broncos will try to rework their contracts. They probably will try to trade Keenum.

Joe Flacco has not done anything in my book since he won that Superbowl and got paid the big money. Maybe Joe Flacco needs new scenery. Maybe in Denver, he can find his old self. Have that chip on his shoulder to play better and show the Ravens they made a mistake. He should have the hunger because he is getting a second chance at being a starter once again. Even though it was only a few games where he was in pads and watched someone doing his job he had in that town for 11 seasons. Joe Flacco, since they drafted Lamar Jackson was a sniveling cry baby about the whole situation. He went Jay Cutler ‘tude around Lamar Jackson. He moped on sidelines when he was not playing. One of those Red Zone or goal line plays, in regular season Baltimore had both quarterbacks on the field. Flacco bypassed a wide open Jackson to throw an incomplete pass. If you’re a Denver fan, this is the kind of guy John Elway is bringing in.

I think the Ravens need toaddress a good back up for Lamar Jackson. If they can improve Lamar Jackson’s passing attack on short passes. Rolling him out on the run or even some play action to balance it out especially playing from behind. Ravens now have available money to address needs since they don’t have to pay Joe Flacco to pout. Denver hired Vic Fangio, so I have a feeling that defense will be way better. They have some nice pieces already in place. If that defense performs like the one he had in Chicago or San Francisco, the Broncos will not need a ton of scoring. Obviously if they can dump Keenum, rework Flacco’s deal, and hope Flacco bounces back,  Broncos might be a better team than last season. Lots of ifs though. Especially in a division with two of the best AFC playoff teams from last year. John Elway needs to clone himself. At least look in the mirror and see your own reflection to see what an actual good quarterback looks like. Maybe he might be better at picking an offensive line man to give his mediocrity arms a better chance.

 

 

I think the Cleveland Browns made a bold move striking a deal with free agent Kareem Hunt. The same Kareem Hunt who was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs when a video surfaced of him striking a women in a motel hallway in Cleveland. Then, kicking her while she was down on the ground. This is not a stupid move like the norm we see from the Browns. Passing on potential franchise quarterbacks. Then signing the likes of Johnny Football. Did the organization get rid of all the stupid in the building? Something to the degree of the old legend of St.Patrick ridding Ireland of all the snakes, centuries ago.

The Browns fans not too long ago had a parade for their perfect season. Not the degree of Miami Dolphins in the 1970’s. More like the Washington Generals versus the Harlem Globetrotters perfection. The Dawg pound for years had no bark, as if neutered. Suddenly the worm has taken a turn. The coaches’ Russian Roulette wheel finally settled on a new guy to lead the team. Freddie Kitchens is left standing in the winning circle. Kitchens is the guy that got the most out of the number one draft pick, a quarterback, Baker Mayfield.  The Browns finally got it right at the most important position on the field. Mayfield almost led the Browns to their first winning season since St.Patrick drove the snake out of Ireland. Then the Browns finally did not let Josh Gordon bite them on the ass for the God knows how many times. They even got something for him before it blew up, again this time cake all over the Patriots’ face. Patriots get last laugh as they won the Superbowl. It figures.

With all the positive vibes going on in Cleveland, why take a chance in wrecking that by bringing in a guy like Kareem Hunt? The Detroit Lions passed on Kareem Hunt as their General Manager said he wants good people in their organization.  The Lions have not been relevant since that fat bumble Wayne Fontes was coaching there. This move has a totally different feel about it. The Browns are rolling the hot dice right now. The biggest factor that this move can work, is the relationship Browns GM John Dorsey has with Kareem Hunt, going back to 2016. The Browns GM  has two key factors why they signed him and are taking a chance on the women beater. Number on,e Kareem has taken full responsibility for his actions. He showed remorse. Then Kareem will be getting professional treatment . Which could mean serenity now under the pole of Festivus Day. The day of airing all the grievances and not being a ticking time bomb.

If the Browns dice stay hot. Kareem Hunt becomes a good citizen again. Now the Browns have created a three headed monster in their back field. Think of the New Orleans Saints with their two headed mayhem they have lined up in back of Drew Brees.  Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram Jr. have been electric the last two seasons for the Saints. Adding Kareem Hunt to the Browns mix with Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson, now you form a backfield of weapons of mass destruction. Nick Chubb was rookie last year and runs inbetween the tacklers for 996 yards. Plus ten touchdowns. Then Duke Johnson and his catching ability out of the backfield puts fear in any defense on the field. You can use Duke Johnson and line him up as slot receiver as well. Plus, adding the talents of Kareem Hunt who can run between the tacklers and catch the ball out of the back field. The things you can do with this trio, the options are endless.

We know the league will suspend Kareem Hunt at some point. Not sure how many games he will get for his actions. Having Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson in the fold, they can wait for Kareem Hunt’s suspension and be able to still win games without him.  Having Baker Mayfield behind center is a huge key of this thing working. Obviously Kareem Hunt can’t get into any more trouble for this move to work. Having the leadership of Baker Mayfield on the field and in the locker room, you have to believe this move will work. Plus, I think Baker Mayfield can distribute the ball to all of the weapons including wide outs and tight ends along with this trio of backs, equally to make everyone happy. As long as the Browns don’t go down that dysfunctional path like the Steelers did, they should be fine.

This bold move by Browns is set up perfectly. If this move does not work they can throw Hunt out like last week’s trash, as he only signed for a year. If this move works out, the Browns have him for a year and they still have rights to him the following season. They can match any offer from any other team. I think Kareem Hunt is garbage as a person for doing what he did. People do need second chances in life. Not sure I would want this scum on my team. I get that the Browns have been the laughing stock of the league for so long. Not the first dog Cleveland dealt with. Lebron was a dog who they loved, hated, and then loved again. Sometimes you have to believe in the man you hired to run things. He has the hot hand right now. If the Browns’ bold move pans out most of the Dawg pound, will not care about Kareem Hunts’ past, only what he will do on the football field in the present as long they are winning.

After the Superbowl, the sports landscape hits rock bottom. I find the month of February is the worst. Perhaps it is the sacrifice month you give back to your sweetheart. Pitchers and Catchers reporting to spring training is a yawn. The NBA soap operas and all-star game are nothing to get jacked up about. As teams play “red rover red rover and let so and so come over,” the NBA is not worth my time. The NHL is where I go to. It takes a few weeks to learn what is going on exactly with the league. You forget some names on the teams you follow, like the young guys coming up. The next few weeks instead of just looking at the standings regularly, you catch up on what you have missed throughout the hockey world.  While I caught up last weekend, I gave the AAF a whirl. I have a few takeaways.

THE PRODUCT ON THE FIELD:  I watched three out of the 4 games this weekend. The one I missed was the blowout between Orlando and Atlanta. The league is made up of 81% players that have played in the NFL. They had many players with only a cup of coffee.  I noticed many players that have played in the league for multiple years. All of the players have the same contract. Most of these players want to make it to the NFL, or even get back in the NFL. I noticed many players happy  to be there and playing their hearts out. Just playing the game again, a dream reborn. All the games were interesting because these teams played hard together. They played hungry which makes it a better game to watch. The brand of football they played got my attention.

RULES NOT A FAN OF:   They have punt returns, but no kick offs. The onside kick is obsolete. The kick off is one of the most exciting plays in the game of football. The hits. The run backs. That to me will take some time to get used to.

The defensive rule where only five defenders can only blitz. First thing about rules like this… it ruins the game. Why handicap one side of the ball like that? Throwing the kitchen sink at the offense is something that is not done on every snap. Trying to get pressure on key down to force a turnover is a valuable strategic part of a defensive unit. Plus seeing quarterbacks stand in the pocket and hang on to the ball until the last possible second, finding a receiver crossing over the middle and letting it fly. These plays can result in huge plays for the offense. It’s a gamble now that is taken away. Seems like the Referees have problems calling that penalty. The sky cam is the one that catches defenses blitzing too many players.

RULES I DID ENJOY: I like going for two point conversions instead of kicking extra points. This makes that part of the game really interesting. Kicking extra points is relatively way too easy. Once in a while they shank it. The two point conversion adds more strategic moves by the offense and the defense on how to stop them.

On the plays that were challenged, I did like seeing the guy talk about what he was seeing on all the views in the replay booth. Asking the referees what they saw out there. Felt like when you watch a game with friends and throw your two cents into the ring as you watch the different views of the replay. As you can see and hear, they are trying to get the play on the field right.

GOOD DEFENSE: The whole league only had a certain time frame to get everything installed on their offense and defenses. Plus the same amount of time frame to get in game shape. Defense will obviously be ahead of the offense in those situations like that. I noticed teams were tackling very well which has become a lost art in the game. The San Antonio Commanders  defense looked awesome. The Birmingham squad looked good against a bad offense. We will see when they play a much better offense as the season goes on. Mike Singletary’s defense – the bend and will not break and stopping teams in the red zone. To allow only field goals in those situations is huge. Only if they had an offense. Arizona Hotshots looks legit. Some big NFL names in their unit.

LETTING THEM PLAY: The NFL during regular season were way too flag happy. Then in big moments in the playoffs they forgot how to throw a flag. I noticed the AAF this first week, they let these guys play football. No ticky tack calls were made on every other play like some of the NFL referee teams they had officiating. It was good to see the AAF does not call pass interference call on the slightest contact. However they are not gun shy to  make calls on the total obvious.

SKY CAM GOOD AND BAD: The jury is still out on the AAF sky cam. I think it’s good to have an eye in the sky. Only to help with the big controversial plays I’m in favor of. If it constantly is  interrupting the play on the field for illegal defenses, I’m not a fan.  Most of the time the refs are missing this rule because it is too hard to enforce.

PLAYERS REBORN: Trent Richardson had high hopes in the NFL. He bombed with the Browns and the Colts. He looked awesome in his debut with the Birmingham Iron with a few touchdowns. The way he broke through tacklers. He had some moves as well. If he continues this all season, he will definitely punch his ticket back to the NFL.

THE VULTURE: Matt Asiata used to take all the goal line carries for the Vikings. Adrian Peterson would get the team all the way down to the goal line. Then Matt Asiata would bulldoze his way into the end zone for the score. He racked up many scores like that for the Vikings. He even had three of them in one game. He’s back to his same old tricks with the very first ever score for the Salt Lake City Stallions. He was used on the offense, besides the goal line package. I thought he made a few good runs on Sunday Night. If he becomes the whole package as a running back, he will get offers to come back to the NFL.

Good to see familiar faces in the league. To see them get a second chance playing the game of football. This will probably be their best road back to the NFL.

Week one watching the overall action of the Alliance has me coming back for week two. It earned that. I will have some takeaways again next week and really dissect this league from top to bottom. Find out if it really is something to keep watching.

 

 

 

Are you ready for more football? Not even a week after the Superbowl, a new league is arriving to your television. Perhaps one of the eight teams have invaded your city. A.A.F. stands for Alliance of American Football. It sounds like an insurance company or the Rebels and the Imperial forces making a pact with each other. This is not the first attempt to do a Spring football league, it’s been tried multiple times and has not worked. Are people at this time of year just plain sick of football? Clemson and Alabama are far more superior than any other college program. Then what the NFL shoves down your throat on a regular basis. Could another league be the answer and fix your football needs? Can a new league even be relevant against other sports? The NHL and NBA are gearing up for the playoffs. While March Madness will be in a higher gear. Plus, baseball is getting started. Who will watch a new league of football?  Can this league do well? So many questions, but not enough answers.

The show must go on, as all the investments are in to construct this new league. They had a draft so each team from eight cities has a roster in place with a coaching staff. I imagine tickets and merchandise have been purchased already. It will have people excited, especially in the cities they picked.  Most of the teams are from cities that do not have an NFL team. Only Arizona and Hot Atlanta have NFL teams. All the cities they picked have a stadium already in place for these teams to have their home games at. I love the idea of Turner field that was abandoned by the Atlanta Braves, being used for the Atlanta Legends. I like how the San Diego team will be using the same stadium that the Chargers left. The San Diego Fleet, they call themselves, which is one of the best names in the league. They will have better facilities than their old tenants,  the NFL LA Chargers, because their home games were played at a soccer stadium. Perhaps they might get a bigger following than the Chargers ever did. The Eastern conference is Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, and Orlando. While the Western Conference consists of Arizona, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and of course San Diego. Some of these cities had other teams once upon a time ago in other football leagues that folded. The league folding does not mean these cities did badly with the fan bases at the time.

MY FAVORITE THREE HELMETS

Something about the battle ship and the colors for San Diego Fleet stands out to me. You have to love the axes from the Hot Shots as well. Then the Greek god, I take it, shooting the arrow to make it show time at the Apollos in Orlando.  Usually the cool logos are never the winning teams.

Like Martin Luther King said, “I had a dream,” someone had to have a dream to be the founder of this football league. The founder is Charlie Ebersol. He is the son of Dick Ebersol, one of the brains behind the operations of the one and done XFL league. First thing, wrestling and football do not go together. You don’t need Mean Gene as your side line reporter. I will say, back in the 1980’s I did like seeing William “the Refrigerator” Perry in the battle royale that took place in the wrestling ring.

 

I think Charlie will not be sorry as he handed off the football operations to a very smart man, in Bill Polian. Bill Polian was the architect of some great teams like when he held the General Manger title for the Buffalo Bills. He constructed the Bills that had Jim Kelly leading his team to  4 Superbowls in a row. The Bills had a ton of talent to accomplish getting there that many times. He also built those Indianapolis Colts teams, like the one that beat the Bears in 2006 in that Superbowl. Their words of wisdom for the AAF, “It’s football for football people, by football people.” The backbone of this league is that the product on the field is what matters the most. Good football is what most of the fans want. They have guys like Jeff Fisher and Troy Polamalu inserted in the day to day operations to make sure things are running smoothly and they achieve their goal and make this into football first.

It is a league that has lots of NFL flavor. Each team has a big name guy that has coached at one point in the NFL. Mike Martz took over the greatest show on turf and the Kurt Warner Rams in St. Louis. Plenty of years as the offensive coordinator. When Martz worked with Jay Cutler, that was really genius stuff in Chicago. NOT. Like wrestling and football don’t mix.  Martz is head coach of the San Diego Fleet. Then one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game. Killed more quarterbacks with his deadly stare than tackling them. Mike Singletary from the ’85 Bears is coaching the Memphis Express. He was head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and did  tours as assistant. Then a guy who seems like he’s coached in many of these start up leagues. He was a wonderful college coach with the crazy offensive formations. Steve Spurrier is coaching the Orlando Apollos. He did well in the old USFL league in the early 1980s.  He also was head coach of the Washington Redskins. The Salt Lake City Stallions are being coached by Dennis Erickson. He was head coach for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. I like the idea that each team has an  experienced head coach . Many of these guys have did it done it before.  These guys will not be jumping ship on their first offer they get, if they do well in this league. I think it makes the players better too.

The USFL in the early 1980’s had the talent of young stars. They would have won the arms race versus Russia back then with guys like Jim Kelly, Doug Flutie, Doug Williams, and Steve Young . The AAF have cast off quarterbacks from the NFL. Guys that could not get their feet wet in the NFL. Guys that had some chances, but failed from poor play or injuries. Guys like Christian Hackenberg, Trevor Knight,  Aaron Murray and Zack Mettenberger. The Hershel Walkers of the AAF names are more familiar than the quarterbacks. Zac Stacy, former Ram. Denard Robinson, who was running quarterback at Michigan University. Was drafted in the NFL and used as running back for the Jaguars. Trent Richardson who was a bust with the Browns and Colts.Then Bishop Sankey who did have some good games in the NFL running the ball for the Titans. The AAF has some former defensive players. Throw in some former kickers of the NFL. The Chicago Bears should monitor that. Every player in the AAF is looking to show case what talent they either still have or a coming out kind of talent for the NFL. Each player, no matter who you are, gets a three year non guaranteed contract for 250,000. You can make more money from bonuses. Team based performance bonuses. They can get individual fan engagement incentives if they are really strapped for cash. This should keep the league competitive.

The  AAF has added their own twist on things for how they do things differently from the NFL.  They have no owners of each team. The league runs all the teams.  When it comes to building the teams, they have a quarterback draft. Then they allocate talent regionally.  Players that have played in colleges closest to the city of the team, will likely be playing there. The reason is so you are familiar with your players to draw more interest, rather than not knowing anyone.

The rules of the AAF are interesting as well, as they are doing some of their own things compared to the NFL. No kickoffs, which I don’t like. Taking a wonderful play out of the game, to me the run back is awesome to watch.  They are trying to speed up the games by going to 35 seconds on the play clock. Every sport is trying to speed up the game. Everyone has to be somewhere else all of a sudden. That is one less beer per game in my world. Teams will start on their own 25 yard line. No onside kicks either. They have substituted this play. They have to convert a 4th down and ten, and it depends how much you are down by. No extra points, only two point conversions. This is a rule that I’m in favor of. Overtime is like college. Both teams get the ball. However it’s first and goal from the ten yard line. No field goals. Team has to score a touchdown and then go for two point conversion.

There have been so many attempts at a professional football league that has played their games in the spring time. It is better than trying to go against the NFL at the same time, when the NFL plays in fall.  Ask the great President Trump on that great idea. As he ran the USFL into the ground. Then you have the XFL coming back next season and they can see what the AAF does and try to make their league better in the process. The idea of playing football and having a league that is competitive and not watered down like the NBA, is a good thing. I hate when they mess with the traditional parts of the game. Practically no special teams is annoying. I want to see a well balanced game with defense, not being handicapped. If this is going to arena or flag football it will be garbage. I think they need to keep the league small until they build up the fan bases and not think about expanding to other cities. They need to keep it simple. I do like that they have many football people involved.

I will watch and judge on my own. The chances of this league being a success are slim.  The league will simply fold. Another possibility is the NFL buys it, and makes a minor league system out of it like they did to the World League in the early 1990s. I know the AAF and XFL will not be able to function together at the same time next season and be profitable. Yes, perhaps both  leagues will merge sometime in the years to come. Fat chance of that happening. I do know the month of February is the suckiest sports month of them all. I can see this league will be the bridge to get me into baseball, March Madness, and beyond.

Early in 2018, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. We thought the Philadelphia Eagles ended the Evil Empire’s New England Patriots for good. It was a back up Jedi quarterback that led the assault on the Death Star and prevailed. The Empire did some retooling and showed up to the following regular season. The team was mostly the same. The performance on the field was not that old scary team the Empire likes to bring to the table. It was just good enough against the Rams in the Superbowl.

The defense was allowing big time money at Menards. They could hardly stop anybody. Tom Brady was just a shell of his former self. Gronk was like the tin can from the Wizard of Oz needing much oil. More leaking oil and crying out foul on almost every single play. Then there was the Miami Miracle. With all of the gaping holes in the armor, the Patriots still managed to grab the number two seed in the AFC. Most assumed they would fall hard in the playoffs.

They suddenly found their old ways blowing up the Chargers in the Divisional round.  A ticky tack call on off sides by the Chiefs defensive player saved them from doom in Kansas City. New Orleans gets the shaft on the miss call heard around the world. That resulted in playing a young quarterback instead of a hall-of-famer who’s been there. Who has won the big game once, with Drew Brees and his Saints . The Patriots offense only mustered up 13 points on Sunday. The Patriots defense stopped one of the better offenses in the league and held them to 3 stinking points. The results… another Superbowl title for the New England Patriots.

If you have a weak stomach, these numbers will make you sick.

Patriots have won 6 Superbowls which ties the Steelers for most ever.

The Patriots have been to 8 straight Championship games.

This was the fifth time they made the Superbowl in 8 years.

This is the third year in a row they made the big game.

This is the second time they have went to three straight Superbowls.

The Patriots now have 35 players in their franchise history who have at least three Superbowl rings.

When it really mattered, the Patriots made adjustments. They changed their styles on both sides of the ball. On offense they did not just rely on Tom Brady’s arm to do most of the heavy lifting. They went with more of a run control offense with a three headed monster in the back field splitting the load. Then Brady would use his security blanket over the middle. The Angry Elf, Julian Edelman, for some odd reason teams forgot about him. As he was constantly wide open on every third down play. He was MVP of the Superbowl with ten catches. Tom Brady becomes the oldest quarterback ever to win a Superbowl. With the running game installed, Brady could see a few more years before walking away from the game. A few more years piling up more numbers and more wins. Perhaps another title is not out of the question.

On defense, the Patriots looked very bad at stopping the run in regular season. Bill Belichick is the mastermind when it comes to fixing things that are broken. Especially on defense, his cup of tea. He came up with game plans that turned the defense around in the biggest games of the year. The defense that halted one of the best offenses in the 2018 regular season on the biggest stage of the year. The man under the hooded sweatshirt is now 31-11 in all of post season play. By far, the best winning percentage by any coach in post season history.

Both Brady and Belichick will be back again next season. In pursuit of their 7th title. You have to believe they want the Patriots to be standing by themselves in almost every record in the book that matters to them. To keep the ego and arrogance at an all-time high. They might not come back with the same roster, but you know they will reload. They will draft well. They will make some kind of trade that will look like small potatoes at the time. Then it pans out into a big deal.

A 7th Superbowl title is not impossible. The Patriots have a very easy road to the playoffs playing in the AFC East. Their division opponents are all in rebuilds that have been going on for over a decade. Dolphins will seek out a young quarterback in the draft, in my opinion. That will give each team the Patriots play in their own division a young quarterback to face.  Nothing like feasting on the bottom of the food chain. Most likely these groups will not be able to dethrone the almighty Patriot empire. Practically already cemented in the playoffs before the season begins, they will of course get all the lucky breaks when the playoffs resume after the 2019 regular season.

It was not the Tom Brady tuck rule game this year. I do think one play that helped the Patriots win this years Superbowl happen in another game. It was that no call at the end of the Saints and Rams game. This play prevented the Saints from getting to the Superbowl. I think the Saints would have scored more than 13 points against the Patriots defense. Pressure does not rattle Brees in comparison to Goff. Perhaps even cover Edelman over the middle. Call me crazy, but no defense coordinator thought about covering him.

Plus, to escape Kansas City after throwing an interception late in that game. The offside call. Yes, that is the way the cookie crumbles for teams other than the Patriots. Patriots have more lives than any cat. More scandals caught on tape than J. Edgar Hoover. Can the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets combine their rosters and see if they can prevent the Evil Empire from winning yet another division?  Hopefully some team in the AFC has a Jedi quarterback that can take down the Evil Empire next season, to end their tyranny for good.

Life in St.Louis is not fair these days. The Midwest is experiencing arctic temperatures which is not enjoyable for any city. It’s the sports landscape that has been very depressing. The Hockey team is actually singing the blues, playing 500 hockey. It was another season that your baseball team did not make the playoffs. Two teams in the Cardinals division made the playoffs. Then to rub salt in the wounds, you have Cub players making fun of your city in the off-season. Then your football stadium remains empty. Country bands have been using the stadium since your ex-girlfriend left town.Then to make you full of Cardinal red rage, your X bitch the Rams, who broke your heart, are in the Superbowl. Then you realize what did you see in that bitch the Rams as they cheated the Saints out of the Superbowl. She is up to her old tricks again as she got away with a pass interference call and broke the heart of others, just like she did to you when she moved out of town. There goes my old football team with another diamond ring. Tell me what it takes to let her go.

It’s been three years since the Rams left the city of St.Louis and headed for LA. The Rams came from LA and stayed in St.Louis for 21 years. They made it to two Superbowls, winning one of them. The owner of the Rams was not up front with the people of St.Louis. In 2014 he quietly purchased land in California to set things in motion. Even though the dome in St.Louis is not even 20 years old.The city and state are still paying for the dome as roughly 60 million is still owed. St.Louis even offered to build the Rams another brand spanking new stadium on the river front which would of cost 1.1 billion. Again, the dome they originally built for the Rams is not even 20 years old. Stan Kronenke, the owner of the Rams, did not move his team like Art Modell did when he was the owner of the Browns. Sneaking them out of town in the wee hours of the night. Stan Kronenke found a small clause in the contract. The Rams had the right to leave St.Louis’ dome if it was among the top 25% of all NFL stadiums. Stan had a plan from the get go. He was not listening to anybody in the city of St.Louis. He strung them along while he got what he wanted from the relationship. It was wham bam thank you mam. Just like that, St.Louis lost their second NFL team. Once upon a time, they had the Cardinals who moved to Arizona.

Most former St.Louis Ram fans these days have gravitated to the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s a team in the same state. It’s a team with red uniforms which St.Louis likes due to the Cardinals. Which team should people of St.Louis root for in the upcoming Superbowl? The team that you bought a home with and then left you paying all the bills? The other choice is go with one of the most hated teams in the NFL, the Evil Empire New England Patriots. The same Patriots who cheated you out of a Superbowl title in 2002 according to former Rams players at that time, that includes the great Kurt Warner. Both backstabbers. If you got back together with either one, they’d leave you a second time at the altar or with a knife in your back.

Almost everyone in the world probably wants to see the Evil Empire crumble. Everyone is clearly sick of Tom Brady and the Bill Belichick show. They are sick of their egos and their arrogance which would make a goat upchuck as it comes on so strong you can not digest it. Then you’ve got actual cities that have a dislike for the Rams. They have a list on which they have earned a spot. Not the Santa Clause Naughty and Evil Patriot list. Definitely the Patriots deserved. Dam that Drew Bledsoe for getting injured that year that led to this demon seed being born. The Rams have St.Louis hating them for moving out.Then the Rams cheated the Saints out of a Superbowl appearance. Sure you can blame it on the refs in that contest. However you better believe Saints fans are sticking huge epidermic needles through both Patriots and Rams voodoo dolls. I’m sure the Rams have haters from other towns where their football team have left them. San Diego fans could be rooting on the Rams even though they are a team that did the same thing as the Chargers. Perhaps the San Diego agenda would be Chargers do not draw a lot of fans in LA. It puts them in a worse position than they left.

It is the Superbowl so you have to declare a winner. How do you satisfy the people that want retribution? I think you have to think outside of the box. You have to go Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome. Let both of these teams kill each other off in the Thunder Dome. Since it is in Atlanta, Georgia they have their own version of a gladiator fight. Their Governor.

They throw their fighters in the zombie ring. I think most would like to see Tom Brady and Stan Koronenke kill each other or get chewed up by zombies.

Make a whole evening out of it. You could even play football with the field packed with zombies just eating away Patriot players, coaches, upper management, and definitely throw Roger Kraft in the mix. Kraft would fold like a wet macaroni noodle. Then the same thing with the Rams. We do not need two LA teams. I was happy when they had none. It’s one less California team to worry about. At the end of the football zombie feast, Stan Kroenke will get the trophy as St.Louis people can walk him off the Buccaneer ship’s plank into a hoard of zombies. Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let them borrow their pirate ship because it is the Superbowl and anything can happen. Throw in the football commissioner and we dotted our I’s and crossed all our T’s. Then St. Louis would feel like they have their closure and they could welcome their new football team from the XFL in 2020, and “He hate me.”