Kurt Warner Special

Doug Plank to the Jets

Doug Plank, former Arena Football coach of the year has signed on with the New York Jets to become their Defensive Back's Coach for 2009. 

Plank, a former NFL player, should be some nice AFL representation - especially for New York Dragons fans. 

For more transactions and moves, visit the transactions page at tracker.f4blog.com.

F4Blog Mentioned in the Daily News!

In an article about the effects of the suspension on the players, media, and fans of the New York Dragons, I was quoted and F4Blog.com was mentioned!

Pick it up in a store or read the article here:
LINK TO STORY

Dolezel to the af2

The af2 got it's first big name Tuesday as Clint Dolezel made his way over to Florida to serve as the Firecat's Offensive Coordinator. Sources are conflicted in their opinions as to how easy both leagues are making it for AFL players to transfer over to the af2. Newer information suggests that it was not going to be as difficult as it was made to seem, but that players under AFL contract will have a tough time making the transition.

Dolezel, one of the best players in Arena history - should bring some enormous talent and name recongition to the Firecats after working as both the quarterback and offensive coordinator for the Dallas Desperados over the past few years.

F4Blog Now

As you may have noticed, there has been a lull in content over the past week. News is quiet of late – and only a few players have switched leagues thus far (none as notable as Cumbie). 

From now through the season off, F4Blog will have a Suspension Tracker on the top right side of the page. There, you can see which players have made there moves and where. Click on the box below it to see the full transactions (or go to tracker.f4blog.com)

Until the general spring seasons do start (mid-February), you’ll be seeing mostly text updates instead of videos. The videos will return (in FULL force) come those spring seasons. Expect the F4Blog Performance and Stats Show to feature player interviews, full coverage of former AFL players, fan coverage (pulse of the community), and more interactive programming.

 That’s update for now – thanks for watching!

Suspension Update

Well according to player sources - the league is not allowing players (or making it easy) to go to the af2. Instead many are being forced toward other indoor/outdoor leagues (IFL, CIFL, UNGL, CFL, etc).

My take: This is absolutely idiotic of those left to make decisions for the Arena League. By blocking AFL players from entering the deuce, they are in a sense blocking those players from remaining in the Arena product. Instead, they are dispersing talent into other leagues and in my opinion pouring salt in their own wound. 

Interesting thing of note:

-Sonny Cumbie has just signed on to be Head Coach of the Stampede Express of the IFL in 2009. This should be the first of many popular AFL players to find themselves working with other 

indoor leagues - as a player or coach.

Launch of the Firebirds Nest!

You may have noticed it has been a little quiet around here the last few days. This is because I have been building the now lauchned, firebirdsnest.com.

In 2009 as well as F4Blog, I will be following the Albany Firebirds as I did the New York Dragons. The Review and Preview Show will find its way over to the Firebirds Nest and although there won't be much content until closer to the af2 season, the viewers of F4Blog will be seeing it first!

Check it out: www.firebirdsnest.com!

Off the Mic: "Not So Happy New Years"

2008 could not have been a worse year. Not only did our economy tank, but it took our league with it.

Personally, it has been nearly impossible to let this go - December has been a massive beatdown on all of us. I finally got my break with the league as the Dragons wanted me on board in 2009, but no such season will exist. But hey, there is still the Broncos right? Well as if things were bad enough, the Broncos absolutely tanked in December, blowing a three game lead over the Chargers with three games to go. The final dagger was last Sunday where the Chargers laid a beatdown and I sat there in disbelief. "There's still baseball coming up!" Well, I am a Washington Nationals fan (worst team in baseball).

Accompanied by a family death, not even Christmas could save this terrible month, and thankfully it is over. What is on the horizon for 09? What do we have to look forward to?

For me, it is a challenge. Following the Firebirds and the af2 with the same ambition and vigor that I had following the Dragons is almost an unreal vision, but I will certainly have to live up to my own expectations if I want to make 2009 work for me. This website will always have its content, but I need a steady following to keep myself going. Getting through this suspended season will be tough on all of us - I can't even imagine what it will be like March 3rd when I am sitting at home, NOT watching the Dragons play the Rattlers. It's incredible how engrossed both me and the rest of the league fan base can get into this football product, only to have it ripped away in a matter of weeks.

Saying, "Well 2009 HAS to be better than 2008" just isn't going to cut it. We need to make this year better. Together as an AFL community, we can withstand the suspension and make it to that amazing day when we WILL have the dispersal draft and WILL have the free agency signing period. Of course, 2010 is looking far away now. Hopefully in 365 days I will be sitting here at my computer on New Years day making a video about the Dragons' newest free agent signings.

Until then, stay strong - and MAKE 2009 better than 2008.