A Few Thoughts on the Alliance of American Football

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Normally, this time of year is a sad time for football fans everywhere. Because the Super Bowl and the season have come to a close, meaning it is a time grounded in reflection as fans ponder upon the season that was and what their favorite team will look like in the fall as the days and weeks close in upon Free Agency and the Draft and eventually, those all-important preseason snaps. But apparently, the times they are-a-changing, and the void between important moments in the NFL postseason is going to be filled going forward with football after all because this past weekend saw the humble beginnings of a new football league.
 
For the Alliance of American Football kicked off its inaugural season this past Saturday and well, I have to admit that this was quite the pleasant and thrilling surprise. Because as I was flipping channels on Saturday, I stumbled upon this, and immediately texted others that I knew were hungry for a football fix like me, because I was genuinely surprised at how good the product on the field turned out to be. These were some quality games, the kind that featured some fun and risky plays that you don’t see in the NFL and I have to admit that I’m downright hooked on this new league and everything it has to offer going forward.
 
Because this league has a special feel to it, a certain hunger that you simply don’t see in the NFL since it is such a polished product, and that comes courtesy of the fact that a lot of players in AAF, just so happen to be NFL castaways. Which means they fully understand that this is their proverbial second chance to put some quality tape together and be noticed by the league once again and that brought out some serious effort come game time and it was just a blast to see a guy like Trent Richardson, who was labeled an NFL bust and now plays for the Birmingham Iron, play like a man with nothing to lose and dominate on the field as well, and while seeing players get a second chance is enough to warrant a viewing on its own, there are more wonders that this league has to offer.
 
For example, there are no kickoffs or PAT’s in this league. The ball is simply placed on the 25-yard line at the beginning of each half or after a scoring drive, and every team that does score is required to attempt a 2-point conversion, adding a new layer of excitement to the game that I’ve never seen before. And as an added bonus, we are also privy to parts of the sport that have traditionally been off limits since coaches, quarterbacks and referees are all wearing microphones, giving us inside access to the huddle, the sidelines and even replay for that matter and that makes for one incredibly immersive experience.
 
If anything, I have to admit that I am quite impressed with what this new league has to offer. But what truly has me excited about the AAF is its raw potential down the line. Because this league, could serve as a developmental league for the NFL, something that is desperately needed quite frankly, because some guys simply need the live reps and they don’t get them because they’re a second or third stringer and having them play here, might finally allow for better, long term quality play in the NFL. But all potential aside, in the here and the now, the AAF is a lot of fun to watch, and a fine way to ease into the NFL offseason and I know I’ll definitely be carving out time to watch whatever the AAF has to offer in the weeks to come, so I can partake in a little football history and see this league prosper and grow.

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