RIP, the AAF. We hardly knew ye.
Per reports, The Alliance of American Football will suspend its operations in the middle of its first year. The league founded by Charie Ebersol and Bill Polian was always doomed to fail, as our Chris Korman wrote, but Tuesday’s news is still surprising despite rumblings this was imminent. There’s a lot to learn here for the other leagues looking to challenge the NFL (we’re looking at you, new XFL).
All of that said, some football was actually played. So cue up the Sarah McLachlan and let’s see what we’ll remember from the league that lasted all of eight weeks of game play.
1. QB Mike Bercovici got leveled
This was the highlight that was everywhere … and it didn’t result in a flag.
2. Fans could hear replay officials talk through their decisions
Can the NFL adopt this please?
3. Steve Spurrier used the Philly Special
If it was good enough for the NFL, it’s good enough for the Orlando Apollos.
4. Trent Richardson was really good
He found paydirt 11 times! He only scored 17 rushing TDs in his short and not good NFL career!
5. Christian Hackenberg was not
Mics picked up some NSFW language from the ex-Jets QB who was eventually benched by the Memphis Express.
6. The league reportedly needed a huge investment of cash to make payroll … in its second week
Yikes.
7. Johnny Manziel played for Memphis
He completed passes to Pig Howard, mics picked up some trash talk from the Heisman Trophy winner and he suffered a head injury. He was spotted eating some food later in the broadcast of a late March contest.
8. Eminem seemed to be a fan and had some ideas
It inspired Ebersol to consider an AAF franchise in Detroit.
