The new league is made up of eight teams in two divisions.
Eastern Division
Atlanta Legends
Birmingham Iron
Memphis Express
Orlando Apollos
Western Division
Arizona Hotshots
San Diego Fleet
Salt Lake Stallions
San Antonio Commanders
The 10-week season begins this weekend:
Saturday
San Diego @ San Antonio
Atlanta @ Orlando
Sunday
Memphis @ Birmingham
Salt Lake @ Arizona
The coaches:
Atlanta Legends: Kevin Coyle
Birmingham Iron: Tim Lewis
Memphis Express: Mike Singletary
Orlando Apollos: Steve Spurrier
Arizona Hotshots: Rick Neuheisel
San Diego Fleet: Mike Martz
Salt Lake Stallions: Dennis Erickson
San Antonio Commanders: Mike Riley
There's some very familiar names. Kevin Coyle is probably the least known but he's not lacking in experience. He's been in the coaching game for forty years at both the college and pro level. He's been a defensive coordinator in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. He was supposed to be the defensive coordinator for the Legends but was promoted to head coach when Brad Childress resigned. Perhaps the most interesting coach in the AAF is Coyle's offensive coordinator. Michael Vick.
The AAF will be populated by players of nearly every level of skill or place in their football career. From borderline NFL talents to players simply loving the game and getting paid for it to players maybe trying to get back to the league (Trent Richardson). Football fans will find AAF players that had a cup of coffee with their favorite NFL team or played for their favorite college team. The league boasts an interesting mix of football players. It should be fun.
The most interesting aspect of the Alliance of American Football is probably some of the rules that they will use. Rules that the NFL will most definitely be watching.
• Possessions that begin a half or follow a score start at the 25-yard line.
• Every touchdown is followed by a two-point conversion attempt. Field goals are allowed only in regulation.
• There are no onside kicks. But teams can attempt a fourth-and-12 play from their 28-yard line when trailing by 17 points or in the last five minutes of a game.
•A ninth official will sit in the press box as a “SkyJudge” to correct “obvious and egregious” errors involving player safety throughout the game and pass interference inside of five minutes left in regulation.
• In overtime, each team gets the ball only once at first-and-goal from the 10. Field goals aren’t allowed. Games can end in a tie.
• The 35-second play clock is five seconds shorter than the NFL’s. There also are no TV timeouts, which should shorten games to 2 ½ hours.
The AAF is more developmental for the NFL than a rival to it. More importantly, there's always room for more football. Fall, winter, spring, summer, whatever. Football is fun.
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