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 by Elvis
6 years 1 week ago
 Total posts:   38376  
 Joined:  Mar 28 2015
United States of America   Los Angeles
Administrator

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/spri ... 19-on-cbs/

Spring league Alliance of American Football to launch in 2019 on CBS

The league is the brainchild of the man who directed the '30 for 30' documentary about the XFL

Ryan Wilson
@ryanwilson_07

The XFL, the controversial football league founded by Vince McMahon in 1999 that lasted one season, is set to return in 2020. But it won't be the only new professional football league -- or even the first to begin play.

Charlie Ebersol -- the son of NBC executive Dick Ebersol, McMahon's partner during the XFL's first stint -- announced in a press release that the Alliance of American Football will debut on Feb. 9, 2019 on CBS.

The younger Ebersol, who directed ESPN's "30 for 30" documentary on the XFL, brought in former NFL general manager Bill Polian to help oversee the league. Former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will oversee the player side and former USC standout and executive J.K. McKay will oversee the team side. Advisors include former players Hines Ward and Justin Tuck, and Dick Ebersol.

"The Alliance of American Football represents a fundamental shift in the way we approach professional sports," Charlie Ebersol said. "We believe fans and players are what's most important, so our approach is simple -- we've created an Alliance where fans and players share in the success of their teams."

"Players have our commitment that we will seek the highest degree of safety and our support as we continue to invest in their success off the field with post-football career scholarships and financial wellness programs," he continued. "With the expertise of Bill Polian and a leadership team of respected former All-Pro players and executives, we are committed to putting the best football product possible on the field every weekend, ensuring that 2018 will be the final year fans have to experience a six-month period without football."

The plan, like the XFL, is to stock the league with players who don't make it onto NFL rosters.

"There is a significant amount of football talent looking to begin or extend their professional careers," Polian said. "The Alliance will provide those players with a new opportunity to compete at a high level. Our players and fans are the lifeblood of The Alliance, and we will treat them as such."

"We will give players an opportunity to flourish on the field while establishing plans to support their personal and professional growth, health, safety and financial well-being. This is our commitment to them and will result in an exciting pro football product on the field that fans across the nation and in our markets can rally around."

CBS will air the league's debut game on Feb. 9, 2019, one week after Super Bowl LIII on CBS. The network will also carry the Alliance of American Football's championship game on the final weekend of April 2019. One regular-season Alliance game will air exclusively on CBS Sports Network each week as well.

"As the Alliance of American Football launches next February we are excited to become the official television partner, adding more football to our robust programming line-up with a great package that includes two primetime games on CBS, as well as a full slate of regular-season spring football on CBS Sports Network," said CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus. "With Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian at the helm we are confident that the product they will deliver will be entertaining, exciting, engaging and something that fans will really enjoy."

The league will have eight teams in cities to be announced in the next three months. Rosters will have 50 players each and will be built primarily through a regionally-based draft. To differentiate the Alliance of American Football from its competitors, there will be no TV timeouts and 60 percent fewer commercials. Other differences will include no kickoffs and instead of onside kicks, the trailing team will receive the ball on their own 35-yard line facing fourth down and 10. There will also be a 30-second play clock and mandatory two-point conversion attempts after touchdowns.

 by dieterbrock
6 years 6 days ago
 Total posts:   11512  
 Joined:  Mar 31 2015
United States of America   New Jersey
Hall of Fame

I’m all for another league.
This seems to have all the right components. TV contract, blessing from the NFL.
This does seem to be a right cross on the button of the new XFL though

 by ramsman34
6 years 6 days ago
 Total posts:   8462  
 Joined:  Apr 16 2015
United States of America   Back in LA baby!
Moderator

Bill Polian's involvement cannot be overstated - the man knows football from about every angle.

 by Elvis
5 years 10 months ago
 Total posts:   38376  
 Joined:  Mar 28 2015
United States of America   Los Angeles
Administrator

https://www.upi.com/Neuheisel-Nothing-f ... 523392059/

Neuheisel: Nothing finalized with AAF coaching job

By The Sports Xchange | April 10, 2018 at 4:30 PM

CBS broadcaster Rick Neuheisel downplayed a report that he will be the next coach hired by the Alliance for American Football.

Neuheisel, a head coach for 12 seasons in the college ranks, acknowledged he has been in talks with the fledgling league but told ESPNU SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday that a report by the Sporting News "jumped the gun."

The initial report linked Neuheisel to the head coaching job with the Southern California entry in the eight-team league, which is scheduled to debut in February 2019.

CBS will be the broadcast partner of the AAF, which on Saturday announced former Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier as the league's first coach with the franchise based in Orlando, Fla.

"I'm very happy with CBS, but CBS is going to be part of this league so this looked like this might fit because it's after I'm done with my obligations with them and so forth," Neuheisel said in his radio interview. "So I made some inquiries but nothing has been finalized, nothing has been solidified. Keep your fingers crossed."

Neuheisel compiled an 87-59 record in 12 seasons at Colorado, Washington and UCLA, leading the three schools to a combined eight bowl appearances. He has not coached since he was fired by UCLA at the end of the 2011 season.

The Alliance has big names and funding behind it. Former NFL general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Polian is a founder of the eight-team league with television and film producer Charlie Ebersol, while former NFL players Jared Allen, Troy Polamalu, Justin Tuck and Hines Ward are also involved.

The opening game will be televised in prime time on CBS -- six days after the Super Bowl -- as will the championship game during the weekend of April 26-28, while other games during the season will be telecast on CBS Sports Network.

The league will own the teams with funding from the Founders Fund, Slow Ventures, The Chernin Group, Adrian Fenty and Charles King's M Ventures, Keith Rabois and Allen.

Allen, along with Polamalu and Ward, will be player relations executives, while Tuck will serve on the player engagement board of advisors.

The plan is for each team to have 50 players, and games will have no kickoffs or extra points. After touchdowns, a two-point conversion try will be required. Instead of a kickoff, the next possession will start from the 25-yard line.

Replacing possible onside kicks late in games, the team behind will have one shot on "fourth-and-10" from their own 35-yard line to continue the possession.

 by Hacksaw
5 years 10 months ago
 Total posts:   24523  
 Joined:  Apr 15 2015
United States of America   AT THE BEACH
Moderator

They lost me at the name of the league. Uni's and teams might help.

 by dieterbrock
5 years 10 months ago
 Total posts:   11512  
 Joined:  Mar 31 2015
United States of America   New Jersey
Hall of Fame

actionjack wrote:This will fail like all the others or become an official minor league to the NFL

So you're saying it will fail or it wont...

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57 posts Mar 28 2024