http://www.arenafan.com Wed, 23 May 2012 21:04:01 -0500 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.arenafan.com/graphics/afanlogos//afan-small-white.gif http://www.arenafan.com http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3268 It was just another normal Wednesday morning for the Tampa Bay Storm, as they were out on the practice field preparing for Saturday night's crucial tilt with the Milwaukee Mustangs. However, news that transpired some 1,400 miles away might have changed the team's entire season without it even knowing it. The Green Bay Packers have released QB Nick Hill from their roster, which could pave the way for the return of the man that was supposed to be the leader of the Storm in 2012. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3267 Frustrating is a word that describes the feeling of losing yet another game in the final seconds. Aggravating is knowing that your mistakes cost you the win. Jeff Sawatzke http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3266 The 2012 Orlando Predators, who were already the first team in the history of the AFL to blow two leads in a season of 20+ points are now the first team in the history of the AFL to blow three leads in a season of 20+ points. After holding a 47-27 advantage right at the end of the first half, the Preds went on to drop to the New Orleans VooDoo 68-61 on Friday night at New Orleans Arena. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3265 More so than even the NFL, the Arena Football League is all about the quarterback. Saturday night two of the league's greatest gunslingers will dual in south central Texas when the San Antonio Talons (6-3) host the San Jose SaberCats (7-2). Andy Lopusnak http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3264 Apparently, math was the worst subject in school for members of the Arena Football League's Silver Anniversary Committee (they didn't do much better in history either). As evident in the committee's lists of the top 25 quarterbacks and players all-time, a refresher in math and a touch-up class in history are in great need. The teacher is in. Andy Lopusnak http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3263 A source from the Chicago Rush has confirmed that starting quarterback Russ Michna has not made the trip to Arizona for the team’s match-up against the Rattlers this evening. Jeff Sims http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3262 Almost halfway through the 2012 AFL season, the Chicago Rush find themselves in a good position. They have a record of 6-2 after defeating the Iowa Barnstormers last weekend at home 61-50, which ties them with three other teams (San Jose, Utah, and Philadelphia) for best in the league. Jeff Sims http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3261 Mistakes and missed opportunities are the best way to describe the play of the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-5) as they were defeated by the Cleveland Gladiators (5-3) 69-48. Jeff Sawatzke http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3260 As the AFL reaches the midway point this weekend in it's 20-week schedule, the West Division is the only division with three teams with winning records (San Jose, Utah and Arizona). Friday night, the West's top two teams meet in Silicon Valley for supremacy in the National Conference. Andy Lopusnak http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3259 Monday, May 7th, 2012 marks the continuation of another long era for the Arena Football League. Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz has had his contract extended for five years, making him the commissioner of the AFL through 2017. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3258 Back in the day of the AFL, there were four games (and often as many as six) that you never wanted to miss. You knew when the Tampa Bay Storm played the Orlando Predators that the game was going to be bloody and that both squads were going to give it their all to beat the snot out of the other. You also knew that when the Arizona Rattlers played the San Jose SaberCats that there would be fireworks. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3257 There are just no two ways around it. The 2012 Orlando Predators have given up on Head Coach Brett Munsey. When the Preds hired Munsey to coach them for this season, I thought that it was a great signing. He is an ArenaBowl winning coach, and I still contend that he is one of the best X's and O's coaches that this league has to offer. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3256 In front of a crowd of 6,689 the Milwaukee Mustangs (2-4) returned home for their second home game of the year and lost a back and forth game with the Utah Blaze (5-2) with a final score of 61-58. Jeff Sawatzke http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3254 When you have been a part of history, it is something that will never be forgotten. You are now part of a special group of people that can say, I was here, on this date, at this location, at this time, witnessing this event. However, ArenaFan.com has discovered that the anniversary of the league's "Test Game" has been wrong for 25 years. Tim Capper http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3255 The Tampa Bay Storm (4-3) took the Southern Division lead in Week 8 in the league's version of Monday Night Football over the hapless Kansas City Command (0-6) 63-46. But of course, a comedy of errors, a few utterly hilarious comments, and a shameless promotion gone bad later, all that was left from this one was a bunch of things to laugh about a league that is getting worse and worse with each passing week. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3253 Aaron LeSue was really the one of the only good things to come out of the 2010 Utah Blaze season. LeSue made his mark with his backflips off of the Maverick Center wall and with his high flying over the wall touchdown catch. He was an energetic, highlight generating receiver in a year where there was no energy or highlights on the Blaze. Don Eisenbarth http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3252 Picture having to make a game winning kick with few seconds or no time left on the clock and having to kick the ball through these more condensed uprights for a victory. Sometimes, depending on the head coach, this kick can even mean if a guy remains on the team the following week. Jeff Sims http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3250 The Orlando Predators are set to take on the Georgia Force at the Amway Center on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. (ET) in a crucial Week 7 Southern Division Arena Football League tilt. The Preds will be showcasing their new quarterback, Justin Roper at home for the first time, as they look for their first victory of the year against a Georgia team that is coming off of a big upset of the previously unbeaten Chicago Rush. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3251 ORLANDO – Every now and again, you remember a quote that you heard a long time ago that sticks in the old memory bank. After watching the Orlando Predators take down the Georgia Force 27-24 on Friday night, a quote from the legendary Head Coach Tim Marcum comes to mind. "She wasn't pretty, but we danced with her anyway." Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3249 The signing of Bryan Randall by the Pittsburgh Power was seemingly a quiet transaction announced on Wednesday. Or was it? Taking a player out of the IFL might be yet another signal that the AFL is in trouble and is going the wrong direction. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3248 When the Pittsburgh Power beat the Orlando Predators at the Amway Center in the first game of the 2012 Arena Football League season, several players, including QB Kyle Rowley were forced to bus back to the Steel City. The Predators should be forced to walk back to Orlando after coughing up a 31-point lead and losing at Consol Energy Arena 57-54 on Saturday night in overtime. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3246 A few days before the Chicago Rush took on the Kansas City Command last weekend, they made a move that further changes the dynamic of their defense. The team made a trade with the Orlando Predators to obtain mac linebacker Nekos Brown. Jeff Sims http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3247 Anyone who has followed my writing over the years knows how much of a fan I am of clock management. I harped on Jay Gruden about it seemingly each and every week when he was coaching the Orlando Predators, and I have written articles about how to manage the clock in the past. On Friday night though, my ire is with Steve Thonn of the Cleveland Gladiators, who watched his team get demolished 69-48 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in front of 8,686 fans. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3245 The Pittsburgh Power and the Orlando Predators are set to play for the second time this season in Week 6 of the Arena Football League season, and the circumstances that they are going to be playing under aren't anywhere near the same as their meeting on the opening night of the season on March 9th. Adam Markowitz http://www.arenafan.com/rss/afrssredir_bottom.php?article=3244 Has it really been a decade? Ten years ago tonight, the San Diego Riptide kicked off its four-year run as an arenafootball2 franchise. I was there as its Vice President of Communications for the first two seasons before leaving for the Grand Rapids Rampage. Andy Lopusnak