Playoffs? Playoffs?!! Are you kidding me? Actual Season NOT HAPPENING?!

With only seven months left until the AAFL's inaugural season, much preparation still needs to be done. Yet, it appears that from several of my sources, the AAFL may have to postpone its se It's unknown what problems the league may be encountering but here are a few possibilities:

• Communication problems- Apparently, not even the individual team franchises are aware of the league's activities
• The $1 Million question- The AAFL has paid universities up to $1 million per game to use their stadiums. How in the world does the AAFL expect to cover a $1 million expense from every game?! Advertisements, ticket sales, and TV deals are simply not enough.
• Not enough season ticket commitments-The tickets have been slightly overpriced for such a risky investment. I was told by an AAFL spokesperson that the league expects to sell out every game! This is simply not possible.
• TV?-The AAFL hopes to broadcast its games on television. The question is whether the games will be shown on an AAFL network or another station. The league hopes that by putting the games on their own network, this will take away TV timeouts. The truth is that sports networks tend to be very pricey, which tends scares off alot of cable companies (i.e. NFL network trying to get on Comcast's regular TV package). The AAFL does not have enough money or power to fund such an expensive network. Yet, they do not have many options in terms of signing with another network. The NFL will not allow NBC, ESPN, CBS, and FOX to sign an agreement with another professional football league. The options are limited. There is the Versus Network which has shown some MWC and PAC-10 college football games along with the NHL. TBS and TNT do not carry the NFL and College Football anymore. However, TNT broadcasts the NBA playoffs in the midst of the AAFL's projected season. Local networks such as SUN sports would be a good alternative. At any rate, the league needs to find a credible TV source who can provide enough funds to cover these $1 million per game costs.
• TV and tickets- Of course, the Networks are going to be skeptical about broadcasting a game in a 90,000-100,000 stadium in which only 3,000 fans show up. The league needs to lower ticket costs and provide free tickets to college students. A committed fanbase needs to be established.
• 3 year investment- This is the AAFL's surname. If the league opens its season as planned in April, the AAFL will be running in the red for the next 3 years at least. At the end of the 2010 season, the league will need to reevaluate itself to see if they are A) establishing a consistent ROE, B) bringing in new fans, and C) providing a long term forecast. If the league can accomplish these three points, they should be able succeed. However, for now, the league remains an extremely risky investment.

Last Month's Poll

What former Florida Gator should Team Florida seek?

G Zach Piller
0 (0%)

WR Jacquez Green
7 (77%)

DT Reggie McGrew
0 (0%)

P Eric Wilbur
1 (11%)

LB Mike Nattiel
1 (11%)

It wouldn't be a suprise for Team Florida to pursue Quezzie. Jacquez Green went back to school to complete his degree just a few years ago. He still has the talent and speed to excel for Team Florida.

Team Florida Notes

This section of Team Florida notes points out some of the players that have been showing up at the workouts.

C Zac Zedalis (1996-2001) UF
-Tough player whose career was sidelined for two straight years. The first injury was a torn knee ligament, but the second injury turned out to be a rare bone illness that ended his career. Yet, despite the injuries, Zedalis is an excellent center and he has been trying to rebound his playing career with Team Florida

S Zephrin Augustine (2002-2004) UF
-Regarded as more as a special teams ace rather than a safety. Augustine was known for his quickness and ability to deliver big hits while being on the kickoff team. Definitely a game changer on kickoffs.

DB Cory Bailey (2000-2004) UF
-Known for playing multiple roles in the secondary. Bailey can play either the nickel slot or strong safety. As a starter at strong safety during the 04' season, Bailey established himself as a tackling machine.

CB Johnny Lamar (2001-2003) UF
-Started out on special teams, but quickly moved into the cornerback spot. Lamar was named a starter at the beginning of the 03' campaign in which he was 4th on defense in number of tackles.

Fantasy Depth Chart

FOUNDATION OF TEAM FLORIDA

With Team Florida currently being assembled, I have constructed my own roster of what the team could (or should) resemble. By rule, each team is allowed to have only 60 players with 20 of those players coming from that team's respective state. Here, I am using only Florida players to create the roster of 60. Starters in Bold. Players that have already been signed are in italics.

OFFENSE

QB Chris Leak (UF)
QB Brock Berlin (UM)
QB Wyatt Sexton (FSU)

HB Ran Carthon (UF)
HB James Jackson (UM)
HB Jarret Payton (UM)

FB Billy Latsko (UF)
FB William McCray (FSU)

WR Peter Warrick (FSU)
WR Jacquez Green (UF)
WR Reidel Anthony (UF)
WR Doug Gabriel (UCF)
WR Ryan Moore (UM)
WR Travis McGriff (UF)
WR Chris Doering (UF)
WR Willie Jackson (UF)


TE Erron Kinney (UF)
TE Pooh Bear Williams (FSU)
TE Kirk Wells (UF)


LT Kenyatta Walker (UF)
LT Mo Mitchell (UF)
RT Jason Odom (UF)
RT Joaquin Gonzalez (UM)
T Randy Hand

LG Mo Collins (UF)
LG Tony Tella (UM)
RG Zach Pillar (UF)
RG Ryan Yarborough (UF)
G Steve Rissler


C Jeff Mitchell (UF)
C Zac Zedalis (UF)



DEFENSE

LDE Jamal Reynolds (FSU)
LDE Willie Cohens (UF)
RDE Andre Wadsworth (FSU)
RDE Tim Beauchamp (UF)

DT Reggie McGrew (UF)
DT Ed Chester (UF)
DT Andrew Williams (UM)
DT Larry Smith (FSU)

LOLB Mike Nattiel (UF)
LOLB Jeremy Mincey (UF)
ROLB Earl Everett (UF)
ROLB Todd McCullough (UF)

MLB James Bates (UF)
MLB Ben Hanks (UF)
MLB Matt Farrior (UF)

CB Tay Cody (FSU)
CB Fred Weary (UF)
CB Mario Edwards (FSU)
CB Stanford Samuels (FSU)
CB Elijah Williams (UF)
CB Vernell Brown (UF)

FS Lawrence Wright (UF)
FS Kyler Hall (FSU)

SS Tony George (UF)
SS Al Blades (UM)
S Cory Bailey

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Judd Davis

P Eric Wilbur

PR Jacquez Green (UF)
PR Bo Carroll (UF)
KR Bo Carroll (UF)
KR Jacquez Green (UF)

KOS Eric Wilbur

LS Zac Zedalis

So there you have it. Note that even though the WR core may look overcrowded, there is no guarantee that all of those players will be signing with the team. This is just a "Dream Team" drawup.

A NEW GAME

NEW LEAGUE RULES

In this edition of the Team Florida blog, I have made a list of rules that the AAFL should install to improve its game and create a unique style of football. Here are some suggestions for gameplay.

1. The league should use college football rules as a base from which to work on
2. A running clock should be installed. By keeping the clock continuously running throughout the game, the league can cut down on unnecessary pauses such as tv timeouts. A faster game will help offset alot of the inexperience that the players will endure. The clock should stop only on these instances:

• After any point is scored
• At the end of the quarter
• Timeouts (only 2 can be used per half)
• During an injury (injury timeout)

3. No team mascots. Since each team is hodgepodge of its state's former college football stars, it really wouldn't make much sense to create a whole new mascot. Team Florida has the same colors of the Florida Gators and is also destined to be a team full of former UF stars. *(On a side note, Tallahassee will eventually have a team of mostly former Seminoles to rival Team Florida)

4. Players should only be signed to 1 year deals. $100,000 will be given to players who have played the majority of the season as starters, while $50,000, the base salary, will be given to the rest. Teams can not exceed these amounts. Payment will be per game, (the $50,000 starter incentive will be given at the end of the season)

5. Players can be signed, released, or traded at any time. No drafts.

6. Spring games (i.e. Orange & Blue game) will occur in late February

7. Students can attend the games simply by showing up with their university ID.

8. The AAFL should really try to market itself on campuses to appeal to students

Thats all I have for now.

Inaugural Edition: Suggested additions for Team Florida

Hi there, thank you for visiting my blog. Excitement has been building up quickly for the new All American Football League. Recently, a press conference was held in Gainesville, Florida to introduce the new Team Florida. Former UF quarterback Shane Matthews was announced as the head coach. Coach Matthews announced his team's new signings of other former Gator players. Here are my suggestions for Team Florida players from the state of Florida. Feel free to add your own suggestions.

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University of Florida: Top 5: G Zach Piller, WR Jacquez Green, DT Reggie McGrew, P Eric Wilbur, and LB Mike Nattiel

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OL Zac Zedalis, WR Jermalle Cornelius, LB Brian Crum, WR Reidel Anthony, WR Jacquez Green, WR Alex Willis, WR Nafis Karim, WR OJ Small, KR/RB Bo Carroll, FB Billy Latsko, P Alan Rhyne, K Jeff Chandler, S Lawrence Wright, S Shea Showers, DE Derrick Chambers, DE Keith Kelsey, S Guss Scott, S Takeo Brown, C Thomas Moody, C Ryan Yarborough, CB Tremaine McCollum, CB Jermaine McCollum, K Matt Leach, K Bart Edmiston, WR Jack Jackson, QB Terry Dean, LB Mike Nattiel, QB Eric Kresser, TE Kirk Wells, P Eric Wilbur, WR Carlos Perez, G Zach Piller, QB Jesse Palmer, DT Clint Mitchell, DT Reggie McGrew, DT Tron LaFavor, S Jarvis Herring, LB Todd McCollough, RB Wille Green, RB Robert Gillespie, DT Buck Gurley, QB Gavin Dickey, DE Willie Cohens, LB Matt Farrior, OL Jonathan Colon

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University of Miami: Top 5: QB Brock Berlin, QB Gino Torretta, S Al Blades, OL Tony Tella and WR Ryan Moore

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QB Brock Berlin, RB James Jackson, QB Scott Covington, QB Kareem Kelly, WR Andre King, OL Joaquin Gonzalez, WR Kevin Beard, DE Andrew Williams, DE Matt Walters, K Todd Sievers, P Freddie Capshaw, S Al Blades, RB Jarrett Payton, CB Alphonso Marshall, FB Kyle Cobia, OL Tony Tella, WR Ryan Moore, QB Gino Torretta

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Florida State University: Top 5: WR Peter Warrick, QB Danny Kannel, DE Jamal Reynolds, DE Andre Wadsworth, and CB Mario Edwards

WR Snoop Minnis, DE Jamal Reynolds, WR Ron Dugans, WR E.G. Green, CB Stanford Samuels, QB Thad Busby, QB Danny Kannel, OL Charron Dorsey, CB Mario Edwards, DE Tony Bryant, QB Chris Rix, QB Dan Kendra, DT Larry Smith, DE Andre Wadsworth, TE Pooh Bear Williams, WR Peter Warrick, LB Reinard Wilson, RB Davy Ford, WR Talman Gardner, QB Chris Weinke, K Xavier Betia, QB Wyatt Sexton

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University of Central Florida: WR Doug Gabriel, K Javier Beorlegui, QB Ryan Schneider, DE Paul Carrington, WR Jimmy Fryzel

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University of South Florida: K Santiago Gramatica, OL Chris Carothers, QB Marquel Blackwell, DL Lee Roy Selmon Jr., QB Pat Julmiste, WR Huey Whittaker, S J.R. Reed, RB Andre Hall

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Florida Atlantic University:

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Florida International University: LB Antwan Barnes, S Nick Turnbill

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Florida A&M: QB Casey Printers