Albany Firebirds reach out to New York Dragons fans...

Without the AFL in 2009, what can Dragons fans do to get their football fix? Well, after talking with Vice President of Marketing for the Firebirds, Jonathan Scherzer, there may be some hope!

Basically what we need is a scale of interest from Dragons fans: is something like a bus trip for Firebirds games out of Long Island viable for you? Dragons fans would get discounted ticket prices and possibly other incentives for these trips, and it would be an official transportation source from the Firebirds, to stranded AFL fans. 

If you are interested or think this is a good idea, spread the word and e-mail either me (ben@f4blog.com) or Jonathan Scherzer at: jonica@albanyriverrats.com.

Let us know!

Cowboys Article on the league's return...

At this stage of the spring the talk would be of the Dallas
Desperados and the Arena Football League. But the AFL took a year off to fix its
financial model. Shy Anderson, who runs the Desperados, said the league will be
back in 2010. The Desperados should play downtown at the American Airlines
Center but don't rule out a possible move to the new stadium in Arlington or to
a new 8,000 to 9,000 seat arena in Allen.

The league has made some
changes in order to come back.

Some of the highlights:

1) The AFL will retain all of its teams.

2) A Chief Operating Officer will run the league instead of the
individual owners.

3) Rosters will be reduced from 24 to 20.

4)
The minimum salary will be slightly reduced as well.

5) Every player in
the league becomes a free agent starting in mid-May. Teams can begin signing
players June 1.

6) Ironman Football is back. Over the last two years,
the league got away from using two-way players. Now, because of the reduced
rosters, two-way players such as the Desperados Will Pettis will get to play
both ways again, full-time.

7) The union and the board will sign off on
the new deal today and the league should begin play in either February or March.

8) ESPN is interested in broadcasting the games again.

9)
Anderson said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was a strong influence in getting the
league to change its financial model.

I'll reply to his bullet points in order.

1. This is obviously a positive, although it may not hold true closer to the season. While we may lose a couple, we also have two more on the way - including a possible VooDoo return.

2. This is kind of socialist, but the teams simple could not survive by themselves so this may not be a bad thing.

2. This is the way things use to be, and it worked then. This will lower team salaries and put less financial strain on the franchises. If you think about it, this could save a few teams a quarter-million dollars.

3. Goes with 2, teams will save more money.

4. Why separate the free agency period's start and the signing period? Seems pointless. The great thing is that players will become free agents in almost exactly two months - that isn't too far away!

5. I remember when I was uncertain as to how we would survive without ironman football, now I am unsure how some facets of the game will survive with it. The league got some sick defensive linemen over the past few years that may not be able to protect a QB. Some GREAT corner backs and defensive players may not be able to catch a pass (this could be a problem for New York Dragons fans, some of our best defensive talent probably couldn't play offense). Other than that I am glad to have it back!

6. Looks to be on schedule at least.

7. I loved the ESPN AFL broadcasts. Just relaxing late on a Monday night and watching the AFL until my eyes couldn't stay open anymore was a great part of my week. It also made following some other teams far easier.

8. I have a hard time believing that, but if it is true then that is great news!

AFL TO RETURN IN 2010! (Plus two new teams)...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP)—The Arena Football League and its players reached a collective bargaining agreement that could clear the way for play to resume in 2010.

Jim Renacci, the vice chairman of the AFL executive committee, told The Associated Press the agreement was to be announced Monday.

“That was an integral part of getting us back for 2010,” Renacci said Saturday at a sports law conference at the Harvard Law School, adding an announcement on resuming play could come in the next 30 days. “We really need to if we’re going to get back into the boat for 2010.”

Renacci said the new labor agreement is just one step toward getting back on the field next year. The league also plans to restructure into a single entity ownership model and work out a deal with ESPN, which invested in the league and owned broadcast and internet rights.

A spokesman from the NFLPA, which represents the indoor league’s players, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Renacci, a partner and managing board member of the Columbus Destroyers, said the agreement with the players was the first major hurdle for the 22-year-old league.

The AFL’s possible return bucks a trend of cutbacks in sports as leagues and teams try to adjust to the deepening recession. College programs are cutting expenses, pro leagues have been laying off workers and even blue-chip teams like the New York Yankees are finding it harder to sell once-coveted tickets.

“These are trying economic times,” rocker Jon Bon Jovi, co-owner of the ArenaBowl champion Philadelphia Soul, said in December, when the league’s owners voted not to play in ’09. “The revamping will ensure that the AFL continues to provide value to its fans and not only survives but thrives in the years to come.”

Arena football features eight-on-eight play on a 50-yard, indoor field. The AFL’s 25-team minor league, af2, was not affected by the shutdown.

Renacci said the league plans to resume play with 18 teams—the original 16 plus two in cities he would not identify.

“We’ve had a couple of teams that want to join,” he said.

IFL Opening in Two Days

The Indoor Football League, home of MANY former-AFL players, kicks off on Friday. To find all of the players who have gone to the IFL from the AFL, go to tracker.f4blog.com. For many, this will be a place to see your favorite players in action. For others, it is the last resort for spring football with the AFL in suspension.

Either way, it should be fun to follow some of the guys we knew and loved to watch!

For the full schedule, click here.

Slaughter Live Up to their Name

CIFL.com

The Slaughter (1-0) dominated on both sides of the ball in the season debut for both teams; a performance that included six offensive touchdowns and four defensive scores in an 84-24 victory.

Russ Michna threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns in his CIFL debut. His scoring tosses included a 40-yarder to Donovan Morgan, a 28-yard scoring strike to Dontrell Jackson, a four-yarder to Morgan and a nine-yard aerial to Jason Baksas.

DeJuan Alfonzo scored four times for Chicago, including two on offense, one on defense and one on special teams. The Indiana State product pounded in from three yards out at the end of the first and added his second score on a fumble recovery in the endzone with 12:56 left in the first half.

He also scored on a one-yard run with 9:17 left in the opening half and added his fourth score by recovering a blocked field goal attempt by the Bonecrushers.

Chicago Slaughter (CIFL) to Open Tomorrow

The Chicago Slaughter of the CIFL will be hosting their first game of 2009 tomorrow night. Why you may ask is this so significant?

Well, more so than any other team in any indoor or outdoor league, the Slaughter truly capitalized on the AFL's suspended season. Since the suspension, they signed former Rush players such as starting QB Russ Michna, star LB/Ironman DeJuan Alfonzo, 2008 ADT Defensive Player of the Year Dennison Robinson, former Rookie of the Year Donovan Morgan, and former All-Rookie and second team All-Defensive player Khreem Smith. 

Here on F4Blog we will be following the Slaughter's 2009 season very closely, as they offer an exciting replication of the AFL's Chicago Rush.