The Real Buffalo Joe Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 Any chance this league eventually gets a partnership with the NFL that allows younger players with NFL contracts play to develop skills, while still being on their NFL roster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 7 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said: Any chance this league eventually gets a partnership with the NFL that allows younger players with NFL contracts play to develop skills, while still being on their NFL roster? And risk catastrophic injury? I don’t see it but that’s the only prayer of seeing year 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logic Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 The thing I'll be keeping my eye on is the fact that THREE DIFFERENT football leagues are getting set to kick off. The AAF, kicking off this weekend, has the advantage of starting first. In the months to follow, the XFL and Pacific Pro League will also be starting. That's a lot of competition for potential non-NFL football players. The AAF wants to become a minor league to the NFL. The XFL DOESN'T want that, they want to compete with the NFL. The Pacific Pro League wants to give college-aged kids an alternative to the NCAA where they can actually get paid for their services. Three different "mission statements", but all non-NFL football starting up around the same time. Will be interesting to see who sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 23 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said: That’s the league with Brady’s agent? That’s at least a novel idea but it has no prayer. The Big 10 Media Deal is worth $2.64B over 6 years. How can some minor league EVER compete with that? These minor leagues generate 1/1000th of a percent. It’s just never going to happen. I’d bet every dime that I have that all of these league’s fail. In 3-5 years some other former league exec will start the next one, rinse, wash, repeat. Not a replacement and not within 37,000,000,000 miles are not the same though. It’s like saying, “I’m not Josh Allen’s replacement, yet.” I never will be and none of these leagues will ever touch college sports (or come within 37,000,000,000 miles). International ale is a chance at a functioning minor league (and that’s already failed a few times). I dont disagree with you. These leagues usually dont have much of a shot. However, with this one allowing players to go straight from High School we will at the very least see if College can survive without recruits, or if the recruits finally figure out they arent the ones driving college football. My guess is CFB will just find other players and move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 1 minute ago, thenorthremembers said: I dont disagree with you. These leagues usually dont have much of a shot. However, with this one allowing players to go straight from High School we will at the very least see if College can survive without recruits, or if the recruits finally figure out they arent the ones driving college football. My guess is CFB will just find other players and move on. The weird thing is that’s been an option in basketball for a long-time and hasn’t put a dent in the game. At the same time basketball players only have to stay a year at this point. Maybe if it was like football and 3 years we’d see more players go the LaMelo Ball, Brandon Jennings route? I just don’t see them ever getting the top guys. Even if they get a guy like Tua or Trevor Lawrence the Birmingham Irons don’t have the same rabid following as Alabama or Clemson. That’s how these guys become an entity. They become and entity by people knowing them and caring about them. Zion is going to be filthy rich in a couple of months. He’s a brand now. That wouldn’t be the same if he was playing for the Maine Red Claws instead of the Duke Blue Devils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 4 hours ago, LeGOATski said: Definitely. I really want a minor football league to succeed and this seems like the best one so far. ...pretty sad commentary that the cash flush, omnipotent and arrogant NFL has no minor league system, relying solely on the NCAA....and the NCAA no longer grooms to fit the NFL mold, versus doing what puts butts in the seats, grabs mega Bowl dollars and keep boosters happy happy....MLB, NHL and even NBA to some extent all have minor league systems....ANY similar semblance in the NFL would certainly cast all 32 Owners into Chapter 11..........just not affordable.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 9 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ...pretty sad commentary that the cash flush, omnipotent and arrogant NFL has no minor league system, relying solely on the NCAA....and the NCAA no longer grooms to fit the NFL mold, versus doing what puts butts in the seats, grabs mega Bowl dollars and keep boosters happy happy....MLB, NHL and even NBA to some extent all have minor league systems....ANY similar semblance in the NFL would certainly cast all 32 Owners into Chapter 11..........just not affordable.... I think it's really on the NCAA, actually. There's so much money being made with college football. Can you imagine if blue chip prospects skipped college to go pro right away?? How dare they... Seriously, though, that is why this minor league has to succeed. The NCAA's exploitation of these kids needs to stop. They should have a legitimate option to go pro right out of high school. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 1 minute ago, LeGOATski said: I think it's really on the NCAA, actually. There's so much money being made with college football. Can you imagine if blue chip prospects skipped college to go pro right away?? How dare they... Seriously, though, that is why this minor league has to succeed. The NCAA's exploitation of these kids needs to stop. They should have a legitimate option to go pro right out of high school. ...as Barry Switzer once said....." the only difference between coaching the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma was I didn't have a salary cap at Oklahoma".....hmmmm..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 7 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ...as Barry Switzer once said....." the only difference between coaching the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma was I didn't have a salary cap at Oklahoma".....hmmmm..... Yep... College football is such a huge American pastime. Hard to imagine it sharing the spotlight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 4 hours ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ...MLB, NHL and even NBA to some extent all have minor league systems.... How many levels are there with baseball? I know of at least three. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turk71 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) I have said for many years that the NFL needs a minor league. A lot of guys playing college ball have absolutely no interest in higher learning or getting a degree. Let them focus on what they want to do and make money doing it, and let them pursue their NFL dreams without taking a scholarship away from someone who does want a college degree. Edited February 7, 2019 by Turk71 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 19 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said: I don't think you need one minor team per NFL team. It's not like hockey or baseball, where you have entire rosters of development players. there should be i would definitely go watch the Syracuse Slayers in a spring league if i knew future Bills would be on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/aaf-power-rankings-arizona-hotshots-at-the-top-before-week-1-of-new-alliance-of-american-football/ The Arizona Hotshots are the early favorites. Their strength is defense. The general feeling is that this will be a high scoring league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 I'm very interested if only to scout potential Bills free agents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 20 hours ago, Logic said: The thing I'll be keeping my eye on is the fact that THREE DIFFERENT football leagues are getting set to kick off. The AAF, kicking off this weekend, has the advantage of starting first. In the months to follow, the XFL and Pacific Pro League will also be starting. That's a lot of competition for potential non-NFL football players. The AAF wants to become a minor league to the NFL. The XFL DOESN'T want that, they want to compete with the NFL. The Pacific Pro League wants to give college-aged kids an alternative to the NCAA where they can actually get paid for their services. Three different "mission statements", but all non-NFL football starting up around the same time. Will be interesting to see who sticks. I don't see the Pacific League even starting, or if so, lasting more than one season. First, they're playing in the LA area only. They're the second biggest city in the nation, and can't support either of their top level pro football teams. Second, what kind of talent are they gonna draw? Even with the promise of a salary, they're not gonna get looked at by scouts even as much as they would at a D-II school. The only way it MIGHT work, is if they allowed them to opt out of collecting a salary, therefore they'd still have amateur eligibility to hopefully be picked up by a NCAA team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 On 1/31/2019 at 1:56 PM, End The Drought said: I’ll definitely tune in to a game or two just to see the level of competition. I’m genuinely interested to see if it’s going to be watchable or just a complete **** show I wonder about that myself. I lived n Rochester for a year and got to see, in person, a lot of Amerks games. I was always amazed at the drop in quality between the NHL and the AHL. The AHL is the next league down, but man, the gap is freaking gigantic. It's huge. For me, AHL play is borderline not interesting enough to actually watch. Back then, there was still a ton of rough stuff/fighting in AHL hockey, so that made up for it in spades...but the hockey itself was terrible, for the most part. I feel the same way about this new football league; might be played on a level not worth watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 WIll there be enough AAF interest here for it's own forum? The what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Bills Fan Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 23 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said: And risk catastrophic injury? I don’t see it but that’s the only prayer of seeing year 2. You keep going into the injury risk. If the NFL was that concerned with injuries to younger prospects their wouldn't be 4 preseason games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 41 minutes ago, Southern Bills Fan said: You keep going into the injury risk. If the NFL was that concerned with injuries to younger prospects their wouldn't be 4 preseason games. Sure there would because of the revenue associated with it. The NFL makes TONS of money on preseason games. They have no problem throwing out the bottom of the roster for the money that it brings in. They would certainly have no interest in exposing them to that without $$. It’s all risk and minimal reward for NFL teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Interested to see the "Sky Judge" in action. https://aaf.com/notable-rule-differences-for-the-alliances-inaugural "If you get a helmet-to-helmet spear and it’s not called on the field, it can be picked up by the ninth official,” Mike Pereira, the NFL’s former vice president of officiating who is a consultant to the AAF, told the Associated Press. “He has the ability to do it in real time. It doesn’t go to replay. ... He can call down to the field and say, ‘Hey, spearing on No. 33 of Birmingham, 15-yard penalty, let’s go.’ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 ..uh oh...and here comes the competition....audition for Garrett's job??........Switzer II?.............. XFL announces Bob Stoops will coach Dallas team Posted by Michael David Smith on February 7, 2019, 2:23 PM EST The XFL has its first coach, and he’s a big name. Bob Stoops, the national championship-winning former coach of Oklahoma, has agreed to coach the XFL’s team in Dallas when the upstart league re-launches in 2020. Stoops will be the general manager of the Dallas team as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 (edited) So we just heard that the Arena Football League is returning and Columbus has a team again. Not sure if it will be the Destroyers again but it’s starting back up this spring and will play at nationwide arena where the Jackets play. It seems like so long ago but Chris Spielman was the HC at one point. And current Bears HC Matt Nagy was our QB - he had like 74 TDs and 8 ints in 2008 Edited February 8, 2019 by YoloinOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 21 hours ago, Just Jack said: How many levels are there with baseball? I know of at least three. Seven AAA AA A+ A A- Rookie Summer League Yes the NFL most definitely needs a real development pipeline. NCAA has made a staggering fortune on the NFL's willingness to allow the NCAA to do a sh*t job of developing young talent for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmotionallyUnstable Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said: Seven AAA AA A+ A A- Rookie Summer League Yes the NFL most definitely needs a real development pipeline. NCAA has made a staggering fortune on the NFL's willingness to allow the NCAA to do a sh*t job of developing young talent for them. They also have their foreign farm teams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 4 hours ago, YoloinOhio said: So we just heard that the Arena Football League is returning and Columbus has a team again. Not sure if it will be the Destroyers again but it’s starting back up this spring and will play at nationwide arena where the Jackets play. It seems like so long ago but Chris Spielman was the HC at one point. And current Bears HC Matt Nagy was our QB - he had like 74 TDs and 8 ints in 2008 One of my best friends is the COO!! I tried to talk him out of it. There’s some uncertainty where he is now but I don’t think that the arena league is more stable. These leagues are all worthless. I’m just hoping his check clears. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeGOATski Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 12 hours ago, YoloinOhio said: So we just heard that the Arena Football League is returning and Columbus has a team again. Not sure if it will be the Destroyers again but it’s starting back up this spring and will play at nationwide arena where the Jackets play. It seems like so long ago but Chris Spielman was the HC at one point. And current Bears HC Matt Nagy was our QB - he had like 74 TDs and 8 ints in 2008 Arena/Indoor football is entertaining, but just a little too different. I've gone to a few games, but can't get into it long-term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 San Diego @ San Antonio on CBS Saturday 8:30 pm - EST 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 8 minutes ago, ALF said: San Diego @ San Antonio on CBS Saturday 8:30 pm - EST Are Sunday's games on TV as well? On a cable channel? 2 hours ago, LeGOATski said: Arena/Indoor football is entertaining, but just a little too different. I've gone to a few games, but can't get into it long-term. I can't get into Arena ball either. Scoring TDs like basketball teams score buckets. It's not football 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybe Someday Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 (edited) NFL network is showing Salt Lake Stallions vs. Arizona Hotshots Sunday night at 8 & then re-airing it again @ 10:30. NFL network agreed to air 1 game per week. I'm sure I'll put one of the games on at some point if I can but not too sure how intently I'll actually be watching. I am kind of intrigued by some of these rule changes. Sky Judge that can call/correct penalties without having to go to replay is an interesting idea. Sounds kind of like an extra official in the booth that calls penalties in almost real time. No extra points, you have to go for 2. No FGs in OT. No kickoffs. On side kick replaced with 4th and 12 from the 28 but I believe there are score/time restrictions so you can't just go for it all the time. This league does feel a little different than a lot of the startups from the past, there are a lot of NFL ties to this one, so I can see it hanging around for at least a little while if it's done right and the product is decent. But if they want to truly become a developmental league for the NFL like MiLB is to the MLB, they need to have better talent than UDFAs and guys that have bounced around practice squads. The thing that makes the minor leagues of baseball and hockey interesting is that there is actually blue chip players on their way up. Many of which are international. How much international talent is there for football besides kickers? Will the NFL ever attempt to bypass the NCAA or be associated with a league that would allow guys to skip college? Would the NFL change their 3 years out of high school rule? I'd say probably not but $$$$$ can change everything. Edited February 8, 2019 by Maybe Someday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 12 minutes ago, Maybe Someday said: NFL network is showing Salt Lake Stallions vs. Arizona Hotshots Sunday night at 8 & then re-airing it again @ 10:30. NFL network agreed to air 1 game per week. I'm sure I'll put one of the games on at some point if I can but not too sure how intently I'll actually be watching. I am kind of intrigued by some of these rule changes. Sky Judge that can call/correct penalties without having to go to replay is an interesting idea. Sounds kind of like an extra official in the booth that calls penalties in almost real time. No extra points, you have to go for 2. No FGs in OT. No kickoffs. On side kick replaced with 4th and 12 from the 28 but I believe there are score/time restrictions so you can't just go for it all the time. This league does feel a little different than a lot of the startups from the past, there are a lot of NFL ties to this one, so I can see it hanging around for at least a little while if it's done right and the product is decent. But if they want to truly become a developmental league for the NFL like MiLB is to the MLB, they need to have better talent than UDFAs and guys that have bounced around practice squads. The thing that makes the minor leagues of baseball and hockey interesting is that there is actually blue chip players on their way up. Many of which are international. How much international talent is there for football besides kickers? Will the NFL ever attempt to bypass the NCAA or be associated with a league that would allow guys to skip college? Would the NFL change their 3 years out of high school rule? I'd say probably not but $$$$$ can change everything. The are a lot of players that have NFL potential out of college but need seasoning. That's the sweet spot for the AAF. In fact this league could be the perfect antidote for QBs that need to transition from the college to pro game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 1 hour ago, ALF said: San Diego @ San Antonio on CBS Saturday 8:30 pm - EST 53 minutes ago, Maybe Someday said: NFL network is showing Salt Lake Stallions vs. Arizona Hotshots Sunday night at 8 & then re-airing it again @ 10:30. Plus Memphis @ Birmingham on CBSSN Sunday 4pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said: Are Sunday's games on TV as well? On a cable channel? Atlanta Legends at Orlando Apollos Date: Saturday, Feb. 9 | Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Spectrum Stadium -- Orlando, Florida TV: CBS | Live stream: CBS All Access San Diego Fleet at San Antonio Commanders Date: Saturday, Feb. 9 | Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Alamo Dome -- San Antonio, Texas TV: CBS | Live stream: CBS All Access Memphis Express at " Birmingham Iron " (Bills interest)Date: Sunday, Feb. 10 | Time: 4 p.m. ET Location: Legion Field -- Birmingham, Alabama TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream: CBS All Access Salt Lake Stallions at Arizona Hotshots Date: Sunday, Feb. 10 | Time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Sun Devil Stadium -- Tempe, Arizona TV: NFL Network | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) https://www.cbssports.com/aaf/news/aaf-week-1-how-to-watch-tv-channel-live-stream-odds-picks-prediction-line-watch-online/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasovon Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 you can stream all AAF games on their website too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybe Someday Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 52 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said: The are a lot of players that have NFL potential out of college but need seasoning. That's the sweet spot for the AAF. In fact this league could be the perfect antidote for QBs that need to transition from the college to pro game. That is true but I'd think most of that unseasoned talent is currently on an NFL roster, even if only signed to a reserve/futures contract, which would include a large number of guys that were on a PS last season. So unless the NFL actually partners up with the AAF, we'll never see those unseasoned players until all 32 teams deem they are not talented enough to even invite to camp. IMO, if the top talent in the league remains lower level PS players and older guys hanging on/trying to make a comeback, it won't last. They have to figure out how to bring in a higher level of talent. Even if NFL teams were to allow/assign some of there own PS type players to the AAF team, that would be a huge influx of talent and would make it much more interesting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said: Are Sunday's games on TV as well? On a cable channel? I can't get into Arena ball either. Scoring TDs like basketball teams score buckets. It's not football Every year I give it a chance because nothing else is on TV on a Saturday afternoon. Every year it seems like it's a game of hot potato, as neither team has any defense and almost every drive ends in a TD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetermansRedemption Posted February 8, 2019 Share Posted February 8, 2019 I desperately hope this forces the NFL to adapt some of the AAF changes. Much like the NFL adopted some of the XFL concepts. The three I would love the see in the NFL. 1) The official in the booth. This has to happen, put a referee overhead who can make calls in real time. 2) No extra points. The extra point is old and boring, and a lot of games this season went to OT. Make every team go for two points. 3) Eliminating the onside kick. The NFL has to come up with an onside kick alternative. Their new safety rules absolutely eliminated it from the game this year. I think the success rate hovered around 5% this year, down from 15% before the rule changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 8, 2019 Author Share Posted February 8, 2019 UB basketball is at 7pm Saturday. I'll put the AAF on after. I'll watch some of both Sunday games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianmoorman4jesus Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 There has never been an idea more arcade like then no kickoffs and a 4th down for an onside kick. It’s football for Christ sakes. Kick the ball. Every time the nfl tries to act like they want to do away with kickoffs it makes me cringe. I hate that onside kick rule. At some point let’s play Football. Stop trying to make it something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianmoorman4jesus Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Only 4 games a weekend and on the opening night these guys are putting both games on at the same time...Seems smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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