DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum AAF - what are your thoughts?

I am curious to see what the league is going to be like.

I like the team they have running it in Ebersol and Polian. They are looking to aim for 2.5 hour games, by limiting commercials, no extra points or kickoffs (only 2pt conversions), a 30 sec play clock, and 0 TV timeouts.

One of the new rules, I think is actually pretty cool - and could make things a little more interesting.



It kicks off this weekend.

And it’s backed by the NFL. The games will be on NFL Network.

Yes, I thought I read somewhere that teams will be linked to AAF teams and they use them as a developmental league. I believe they said he Browns are linked with Birmingham (who ironically has Trent Richardson listed as their RB).

I can't get enough football and hope this will feed my Jones during part of the off season. On the surface it certainly has my curiosity peaked. I'm not trying to fool myself that the product will be NFL quality.

I've advocated that the NFL step up and work to establish some sort of developmental league. I'm not sure if this is the goal or what will be achieved here but at least I see it as a step in the right direction.

I am curious if the NFL is getting behind it because they see a few of these leagues gaining and peaking interest in fans - and although not "worried" (because lets face it, nothing will challenge the NFL), are concerned about possibly losing some viewership.

Fans are getting tired of the rule changes, the timeouts, the constant stops in play, the ever changing explanations on why teams got screwed, etc. etc.

I think this and the XFL will be great to watch. I just hope that enough die hard football fans out there will watch. I have a few games set to record this weekend.

The XFL is also starting back up in 2020. Oliver Luck is the commissioner.

I wonder if 2 spring leagues might not create football overload.

Sounds like a place for the NFL to test rule changes.

Blasphemy!!

Very possible.

No star power in this league to attract any substantial audience.

Might be fun to go if you have a local team, but for the tv audience, I expect this to be bad football being played NFL washouts (ex. Trent Richardson!).

It reminds me of NFL Europe which the NFL backed as well and was reportedly losing money to the tune of $30M per year.

I do not see this being successful.

The same thing happens with the WNBA but it's still funded.

Funded, yes. Successful, no.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out over the long term.

No, you mean it "takes possession on the 25" this weekend.

There's nothing quite like the opening taking of possession at a football game. Oh, the pageantry. I also wonder if they'll huddle up before the first play, because couldn't you have already done that on the sideline?

I think they should have a kickoff from the kicking team's own 10 .... with no cover or return team. The receiving team gets the ball wherever it rolls dead. If it goes into the end zone, it comes out to the 30. If it goes out of bounds, it is either the spot of the ball, or the receiving team's 40, whichever is better for the receiving team.

Obviously this could be tweaked a bit..... but it would be better than just "taking possession".

That's something I've never thought of. Great idea - that would be really cool!

Or the day before perhaps.

Hard enough to maintain my aggravation with the NFL and some of their ongoing silliness. Not sure that I am up to or up for being upset in all new directions. This SB almost wore me out.

I love football, so the Super Bowl is always bittersweet. It marks the last game for 7 months or so. So I am excited to get more football. I will watch, that's for sure.

That rule you point out is very interesting. I give them props for coming up with a replacement for the onside kick since there are no kickoffs. And with the new NFL rules, this approach may even have a better success rate.

j/c:

Some people just love the game of football. Some don't and rather just root for a team.

I love football and actually enjoy high school and college games. I really enjoyed the replacement players when there was a lockout by the NFL owners.

I don't watch regular TV except for The Game of Thrones and it isn't on much. I watch sports. I will probably catch a few games, but I'm more likely to be listening to music.

I really wish there was a place to see my ideas of a gimmicky football league.

Only a couple teams, maybe 8 max, more like 4, 5 or 6 total.

Each team gets a super power, or a random one is assigned to them perhaps.

Super Powers could be, Pass Interference is non existent,

One team plays with extra men on the field for a whole quarter, not the fourth, to be decided at the games start.

One team gets extra time outs if behind, and takes timeouts away from you if they are in the lead.

Then there are other gimmick games,

What if, there was an every down was 4th down game, ... not necessarily a kick scrimmage,

Every down is a 4th down, if you get a (first), then it's 4th and 10, or 4th and goal, again, every time.

if you don't get it, it's a turnover on downs, and kickoffs, kicks and punts are like normal.

But if you turn it over on downs, the others start out 4th and 10 anyway, so there's that,

4th down, 4th down, 4th and 10, defensive pass interference? spot foul, automatic 4th down!

miss a field goal, other team gets it 4th and 10 from the spot of the kick.


AS long as the WWE is involved...
I still want one team, to score a touchdown, but all the referees have had their backs turned, and the play doesn't count

And!! I want two teams to be playing, and a third team just comes out of the locker room and wails on one of the teams while the announcers just diagram the carnage.

Gimmick football? Ehh why not, at least I might be interested.

Man, they have one heck of a TV deal.

8 teams, and from what I see, 6 play on national TV this weekend.

8:30PM San Diego @ San Antonio CBS

Tomorrow 4PM: Memphis @ Birmingham CBS Sports Network
Tomorrow 8PM: Salt Lake @ Arizona NFL Network

Just in case anyone was interested.

Looking forward to seeing former Browns TE legend, Gavin Escobar, take the field for the Sand Diego Fleet.

need draftkings to let us bet

Thanks for the info ... But with the NFL Network involved I wonder how much the NFL itself is involved ???

I'm a little surprised Johnny Manziel didn't avail himself the opportunity to play for one of these teams. The QB list below is pretty underwhelming, and he could possibly put himself into a backup role in the NFL with a good showing in the AAF. I also think JT Smith would show up pretty well, given the chance.

AAF QB draft:

Round 1
1.San Diego Fleet: Josh Johnson (protected)
2.Atlanta Legends: Aaron Murray (protected)
3.Memphis Express: Troy Cook (protected)
4.San Antonio Commanders: Dustin Vaughan (protected)
5.Birmingham Iron: Luis Perez
6.Arizona Hotshots: Trevor Knight
7.Orlando Apollos: Garrett Gilbert
8.Salt Lake Stallions: Josh Woodrum

Round 2
1.San Diego Fleet: Mike Bercovici
2.Birmingham Iron: Blake Sims
3.Arizona Hotshots: John Wolford
4.Orlando Apollos: Stephen Morris
5.Atlanta Legends: Matt Simms
6.Salt Lake Stallions: B.J. Daniels
7.Memphis Express: Christian Hackenberg
8.San Antonio Commanders: Marquise Williams

Round 3
1.San Antonio Commanders: Logan Woodside
2.Memphis Express: Brandon Silvers
3.Salt Lake Stallions: Austin Allen
4.Atlanta Legends: Peter Pujals
5.Orlando Apollos: Austin Appleby
6.Arizona Hotshots: Quinn McQueary
7.Birmingham Iron: Scott Tolzien
8.San Diego Fleet: Philip Nelson

Round 4
1.San Antonio Commanders: Dalton Sturm
2.Memphis Express: Zach Mettenberger
3.Salt Lake Stallions: Matt Linehan
4.Atlanta Legends: Justin Holman
5.Orlando Apollos: Kevin Anderson
6.Arizona Hotshots: Jack Heneghan
7.Birmingham Iron: Alek Torgersen
8.San Diego Fleet: Alex Ross

This AAF league could be very beneficial to the NFL. This gives the owners a chance to run out a new rule concept before committing it to the NFL officially.

Looks like Whines Hard, after football, never met a cheeseburger he didn’t like.

QB for San Diego just got rocked! Definitely a 15 yard penalty in the NFL! I loved it though!

Are they using a college football?

Hope this league does well... don't know if I will watch much... but there is good rreason as in why this league needs to do well

I was wondering as both could be accurate. But JT is still signed to the Saints practice squad.

I watched some of the games yesterday, it's certainly an interesting league, but it seems to be marred by horrific QB play.

I think I mentally melded JT Barrett and Troy Smith.

I thought it was kind of college average +. It wasn't at the levels of an elite college team, but a slightly above average, mid power team? Sure.

The game I saw was kind of fun. It appeared to be evenly matched, and that always makes for a good game. (though the 2nd half evidently wasn't)

I'll probably watch today.

I watched the San's game last night. San Antonio vs San Diego. It was sans excitement.

Don't worry, my mind has been trying to find a way to meld JT and Troy Smith together ever since JT returned from his injury

Trent Richardson’s Birmingham team plays later today. I’ll watch out of curiosity to see if he’s any better at the AAF level than he was at the NFL level.

good gracious!

Richardson looks similar to how he looked in a Browns uniform. Getting hit behind the line of scrimmage on most of his handoffs.

Some things never change. He simply lacks the vision you need to be a good RB. Jim Brown was right when he said "I don't see special.".