# AAF 1 (football) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 10, 2019, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272 "2019-02-10T05:36:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/81 "2019-02-24T20:50:56Z")
> [@CastletonSnob](#): > > Will the AAF last more than one season? It’s probably too early to prognosticate. I seem to remember reading something in which an AAF official said that they felt they could average 20,000 attendance at their games, and that they’d consider that to be a good, solid base to work from. If ElvisLIves’s numbers in the previous post are accurate, they’re missing the mark on that goal in half of their markets. It remains to be seen if attendance will build (if fans’ interest in the league grows), or decline (as we get into March and April, and as sports fans have other options drawing their attention). If it were solely operating as a football league, then, between the attendance and the need for an emergency cash infusion after one week would have me saying, “signs point to no.” But, as DinoR noted earlier in this thread, the league seems to be viewing at least part of their business plan as developing various technologies which can be more broadly used in sports gambling. If that’s the case, then the investors may be willing to keep throwing money at the league for a while longer than they would if it were just a sports league, in hopes that they can recoup their investments when the gambling data technology pans out. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/82 "2019-02-24T22:37:38Z")
[Source.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_AAF_season#Attendance) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/83 "2019-02-24T23:19:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [Source.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_AAF_season#Attendance) I’d also read something suggesting that the announced 20K at San Diego’s first game was on the optimistic side. > **[Sports Betting and DFS News with Analysis | FanDuel Research](https://www.fanduel.com/research)** > > Get the latest sports betting and DFS news from the experts at FanDuel Research. Join our community of sports enthusiasts and take your game to the next level. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/84 "2019-02-25T01:29:34Z")
I just watched some of the Atlanta-Birmingham game (I wouldn’t ordinarily, but was visiting my sister, and they had it on). My general impression was that, at their best, these guys were as good as NFL players, but that where they fell short was in consistency: They’d execute one play perfectly and make it look easy, but then on the next they’d bobble a really easy catch or the like. I’m not yet sure how entertaining I find that. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/85 "2019-02-25T02:50:19Z")
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/rod-woodson-says-what-were-all-quietly-thinking-about-the-aaf-nobodys-watching-nobody-cares/ar-BBTZhvr?ocid=spartandhp](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/rod-woodson-says-what-were-all-quietly-thinking-about-the-aaf-nobodys-watching-nobody-cares/ar-BBTZhvr?ocid=spartandhp) this is going around the net … ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/86 "2019-02-25T06:03:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I just watched some of the Atlanta-Birmingham game (I wouldn’t ordinarily, but was visiting my sister, and they had it on). My general impression was that, at their best, these guys were as good as NFL players, but that where they fell short was in consistency: They’d execute one play perfectly and make it look easy, but then on the next they’d bobble a really easy catch or the like. I’m not yet sure how entertaining I find that. I kind of like it. I think it’s a matter of relativity. In the NFL, most teams will manage a play correctly on both offense and defense and balance each other out, giving up yards at times, at other times causing an incompletion or loss of yards. And every now and then you’ll see an amazing circus catch, or a totally dominant sack, or a runner breaking a half dozen tackles to make it 50 yards to the end zone. A crazy play that makes highlight reels over and over. In the AAF you have guys who generally aren’t at the NFL level. So they make mistakes; miss open receivers, miss tackles, (literally) drop the ball. Every now and then you see a perfectly competent play that makes them look like NFL players. That’s the AAF’s equivalent of an NFL highlight reel play. They’re exciting when they happen for the same reason exceptional NFL plays are exciting. They’re rare, they happen unexpectedly, and they can change a game or a guy’s career. The bar is set lower but it’s the same height for everyone in that league. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/87 "2019-02-25T07:06:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I just watched some of the Atlanta-Birmingham game (I wouldn’t ordinarily, but was visiting my sister, and they had it on). My general impression was that, at their best, these guys were as good as NFL players, but that where they fell short was in consistency: They’d execute one play perfectly and make it look easy, but then on the next they’d bobble a really easy catch or the like. I’m not yet sure how entertaining I find that. I watched portions of both the Memphis / Orlando and San Antonio / San Diego games this weekend, and that’s pretty much my impression, as well. Also, a few of the teams have guys who had more than a cup of coffee in the NFL, and those guys tend to look like men among boys in their levels of execution. (Thirdly, the San Diego quarterback has a really obnoxious-sounding cadence call, and after a quarter or so of hearing it over and over, I very much did not want to hear him again.) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/88 "2019-02-25T15:28:56Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/rod-woodson-says-what-were-all-quietly-thinking-about-the-aaf-nobodys-watching-nobody-cares/ar-BBTZhvr?ocid=spartandhp) > > this is going around the net … Ugh. I’m definitely biased because my hometown team is arguably the best in the league (apologies to coach Spurrior for disagreeing with me), but things like this are just going to torpedo the league before it even has a chance…and of all the leagues that have come up in recent memory _this one actually has a chance_. It definitely won’t happen, but they need the NFL to pump half a billion dollars into it no questions asked and let them grow and be good. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/89 "2019-02-26T15:29:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why wouldn’t weeknights during football season work? When you want some, and it’s a Tuesday or Wednesday, you’re SOL until Thursday Night Football, then Friday HS games and Saturday NCAA, etc. A football league that plays during football season might have a chance, but it just hasn’t been tried. You forget MACtion! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/90 "2019-02-26T15:31:37Z")
The MAC expelled UMass. They’re dead to me. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/91 "2019-02-26T17:02:51Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > It definitely won’t happen, but they need the NFL to pump half a billion dollars into it no questions asked and let them grow and be good. You’re right on both counts. It definitely won’t happen, because there’s zero incentive for the NFL to donate money to such a league. And make no mistake, it would basically be a donation. But they’ve got a minor league already and it costs them nothing. It’s the NCAA. On the other hand, a lower level pro football league has never been able to operate long term without the clout of the NFL behind it. As long as NCAA football exists as it does today, the AAF or whatever other pro football wannabe league comes around will always be 3rd rate _at best_. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/92 "2019-02-26T17:42:28Z")
The Memphis Express has benched starting QB Christian Hackenberg, whose play had been fairly underwhelming. They’d replaced him at halftime of their last game with Zach Mettenberger, who played well in relief, and who is now the starter. [https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/25/christian-hackenberg-benched-aaf-memphis-express](https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/25/christian-hackenberg-benched-aaf-memphis-express) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/93 "2019-02-26T19:24:48Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > You’re right on both counts. It definitely won’t happen, because there’s zero incentive for the NFL to donate money to such a league. And make no mistake, it would basically be a donation. But they’ve got a minor league already and it costs them nothing. It’s the NCAA. On the other hand, a lower level pro football league has never been able to operate long term without the clout of the NFL behind it. As long as NCAA football exists as it does today, the AAF or whatever other pro football wannabe league comes around will always be 3rd rate _at best_. The NCAA sucks. The NFL drafts players then has to teach them how to play NFL football, while trying to get them to unlearn NCAA techniques. That’s why you can’t draft a decent offensive lineman anymore. Why doesn’t MLB draft from NCAA? It’s because they don’t need to, they have minor leagues and don’t have to settle. It’s all about priorities I guess. If the NFL thought it was worth it they’d do what MLB does. Since they don’t I guess they’re not seeing the issues to be bad enough to warrant the investment into a minor league. But don’t pretend the problems aren’t there. You hear about them constantly. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/94 "2019-02-26T19:39:16Z")
MLB certainly does draft college players. They are often preferred, since they are closer to physical maturity and their eventual value is far more predictable. The AAF guys who are standing out were fringe backups or practice squad guys in the NFL, and eventually got cut there. Obviously they have some talent and did pay attention when they were there, but that’s where they top out. The few best of this league’s players do have some hope of getting notice and making a practice squad this summer, but that’s its level. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/95 "2019-02-26T19:44:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > MLB certainly does draft college players. They are often preferred, since they are closer to physical maturity and their eventual value is far more predictable. But they usually spend time in the minors before being ready for the majors. The NFL has no minors. The closest would be a practice squad but that’s a tiny group; 10 players and you only get to keep a player there for a couple of years. There’s no minor league to send guys down to for training and experience. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/96 "2019-02-26T20:49:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Memphis Express has benched starting QB Christian Hackenberg, whose play had been fairly underwhelming. They’d replaced him at halftime of their last game with Zach Mettenberger, who played well in relief, and who is now the starter. > > [https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/25/christian-hackenberg-benched-aaf-memphis-express](https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/25/christian-hackenberg-benched-aaf-memphis-express) Jeez…talk about a fall from grace. He was absolutely the next big thing in the Big Ten and just…died. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/97 "2019-02-27T20:20:54Z")
It seem that Johnny Manziel [burned his CFL bridge](http://www.espn.com/cfl/story/_/id/26094839/manziel-released-barred-other-cfl-teams). Maybe the AAF will take a flyer on him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/98 "2019-02-27T20:33:33Z")
What happened - did he piss hot? The AAF is really for guys who are hoping to get noticed by NFL scouts. The NFL \*already \*knows about Manziel, and Josh Gordon too for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/99 "2019-02-27T21:00:51Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > What happened - did he piss hot? The article doesn’t specify (nor did the Alouettes or the league), but he apparently had to sign an agreement with the CFL, which had “extensive and exacting” terms, before the league would approve his signing (originally with Hamilton). ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272/100 "2019-02-27T21:46:55Z")
The prevailing theory is that he did something to open his window to the NFL either by direct NFL stuff or AAF stuff and that violated his contract. I’ve not heard it was drug/alcohol/party related [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaf-1-football/829272.md?page=6)