Alliance of American Football

The Week 4 Alliance of American Football schedule is littered with matchups between teams in the top half of the standings and franchises in the bottom half.

Orlando and Birmingham, who are on top of the Eastern Conference at 3-0, take on the bottom two teams in the Western Conference.

San Diego and Arizona face similar matchups against the pair of teams in the basement of the East.

On paper, the games appear to be lopsided, but only three of the league's 12 games have been decided by 20 points or more.

                         

Week 4 AAF Schedule

Saturday, March 2

San Diego (-6) at Memphis (Over/Under: 41.5) (4 p.m. ET, B/R Live)

Orlando (-4) at Salt Lake (O/U: 43.5) (8 p.m., NFL Network, FuboTV)

                 

Sunday, March 3

San Antonio at Birmingham (-7) (O/U: 39.5) (4 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports app)

Atlanta at Arizona (-13.5) (O/U: 42) (8 p.m. ET, NFL Network, FuboTV)

Odds obtained from The Action Network.

                      

Can Richardson Continue Success With Birmingham?

One of the best stories to come out of the AAF is the resurgence of running back Trent Richardson, who was labeled by many as one of the biggest NFL busts in recent years after he was selected No. 3 overall in the 2012 NFL draft.

The 28-year-old, who played for four NFL teams and a CFL franchise before landing in the AAF, leads the league in rushing touchdowns with six.

Richardson has also carried the ball 59 times, which is 14 more than the second-ranked player in that category.

Richardson's effectiveness in the red zone has helped the Birmingham Iron get off to a 3-0 start.

The Alabama product should achieve more success on Sunday, as the Iron take on the 1-2 San Antonio Commanders, who are on a two-game losing streak.

After giving up six points in Week 1 against the San Diego Fleet, the Commanders have conceded 68 points in the last two contests to Orlando and San Diego.

Birmingham will have one eye on the Week 5 showdown with Orlando, but it should be able to defeat San Antonio through Richardson and quarterback Luis Perez, who has 596 passing yards in three games.

                         

Orlando Starts Difficult Road Stretch in Salt Lake

The Orlando Apollos weren't handed any easy breaks by the AAF schedule-makers, as four of their next five games come on the road.

Starting with Saturday's trip to face the Salt Lake Stallions, the Apollos have to travel to Salt Lake, Birmingham, Atlanta and Memphis over a five-week span, with the only home game being a Week 6 meeting with the Arizona Hotshots.

The undefeated Apollos should learn a lot about themselves during the road stretch in which they will try to keep pace with the Iron atop the Eastern Conference.

Of course, the Week 5 showdown with the Iron is the most important contest in the five-game run, but the Apollos must focus on the clash with the Stallions first.

The Orlando offense, led by quarterback Garrett Gilbert, has earned the most headlines, as it averages 393 total yards per game.

Salt Lake's given up over 200 passing yards in two of its three games, and it could be susceptible to a high total against the Apollos.

If Gilbert and Co. continue to roll on offense, Orlando should leave Utah with a 4-0 record, but if Salt Lake's defense is up for the challenge, we could be in for one of the upsets of the season.

                              

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

One day after being released by the Montreal Alouettes, Johnny Manziel is being pursued for a workout by the Alliance of American Football.

Per USA Today's Kevin Allen and Tom Schad, AAF chairman Tom Dundon said the league has been in contact with Manziel's camp about potentially working out for teams. 

"Right now, it's a decision of the GMs, and they can decide what they want to do," Dundon said. "If talent-wise this is close, the negative of him is that there is drama with him and you are trying to win games and build a team. The positive is that he brings in fans and attention."

The Alouettes announced Wednesday Manziel was being released after "it was found he had contravened the agreement" with the CFL that made him eligible to play. 

After news of Manziel's release broke, the former Heisman Trophy winner tweeted his thanks to the Montreal organization and said he was looking "forward to exploring new options within the United States."

Dundon noted Manziel hasn't indicated he will take a workout with the league, but in the event he is offered a contract from the AAF, it would be the same three-year, $250,000 deal every player in the league receives.

Three weeks into its inaugural season, the AAF has already experienced financial difficulties. The Athletic's David Glenn reported Dundon, who also owns the Carolina Hurricanes, made a $250 million investment in the league to take over as chairman and help make payroll. 

Manziel appeared in eight games for Montreal during the 2018 season. He had five touchdowns, seven interceptions and 1,290 passing yards. 

It was Manziel's first game action since he was released by the Cleveland Browns in March 2016. The 26-year-old was charged with assault against his ex-girlfriend but it was later dismissed in November 2017. 

 

While the San Diego Fleet try to win their third in a row, the Memphis Express are still looking for the first win in franchise history.

As the inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football continues, San Diego hopes to break out of a tie for first in the Western Conference with the Arizona Hotshots.

In the Eastern Conference, Memphis is one of two 0-3 teams, with the Express tied with the Atlanta Legends.

      

How to watch the San Diego Fleet-Memphis Express Game

Fans can watch one game a week on B/R Live. This week, it's the San Diego-Memphis 4 p.m. ET Saturday, March 2 game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

Here's the full B/R Live live-stream schedule for AAF games (all times ET):

San Diego Fleet at Memphis Express | 4 p.m. Saturday, March 2 | Watch
Orlando Apollos at Birmingham Iron | 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9 | Watch
Memphis Express at Salt Lake Stallions | 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16 | Watch
Orlando Apollos at Atlanta Legends | 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23 | Watch
Orlando Apollos at Memphis Express | 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30 | Watch
Memphis Express at San Antonio Commanders | 4 p.m. Saturday, April 6 | Watch
San Antonio Commanders at Salt Lake Stallions | 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13 | Watch

Find the full TV schedule here.

#MettShow 💣
Coming to the afternoon ☀️

📆 Saturday, March 2nd
⏰ 3:00 p.m. CT
📺 @brlive
📻 @1019KISSFM
🎟 https://t.co/D3IjblRtUK

✈️ | #AllAboard pic.twitter.com/JrUmd2bmk3

— Memphis Express (@aafexpress) February 27, 2019

San Diego Fleet-Memphis Express preview

As the middle of the season nears in the AAF, San Diego is second in the league in points allowed, surrendering 12.7 points per game.

.@_JGWentworth_32 went 83 yards for the longest TD in @TheAAF history!

Week 3 @DrinkAmethyst Play Of The Game | Happiness Is In What You Drink pic.twitter.com/9cpXRw0Z5X

— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) February 27, 2019

Offensively, San Diego QB Philip Nelson has 403 passing yards, ranking sixth in the league. However, instead of the passing game, the Fleet rely on a strong ground attack.

RB Ja'Quan Gardner is first in the AAF with 281 rushing yards on only 35 attempts—averaging 8.03 yards per attempt. His numbers dwarf his leading competitors, as Memphis' Zac Stacy is second in the league with 188 yards, and Stacy has 10 more rushing attempts this season.

Memphis is 0-3 this season, but the Express will have a different look in Week 4. QB Christian Hackenberg, a former second-round NFL draft pick, has lost his starting job to Zach Mettenberger. Hackenberg was only 32-for-62 passing for 277 yards and three interceptions without throwing a touchdown pass.

The top 5️⃣ touchdowns from Week 3! #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/XVBJiS2zHG

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 27, 2019

If San Diego can keep the Express winless, it would put pressure on the Arizona Hotshots to keep pace. The Fleet and the Hotshots are 3-1 going into Week 4 action. Arizona doesn't play this week until Sunday when it hosts the 0-3 Atlanta Legends.

Last week, San Diego avenged a Week 1 loss to the San Antonio Commanders by beating them 31-11, making up for a nine-point defeat in the franchise's first game.

Memphis came close to winning yet again last week, dropping to the Orlando Apollos 21-17. The Express lost to the Arizona Hotshots by only two points the week prior.

The inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football is three weeks in and already some players are statistically starting to distance themselves from their competitors. Below we'll cover the AAF top fives in passing touchdowns, rushing yards, tackles and more.

One AAF game per week streams for free on B/R Live, with the rest of the regular-season games on CBS Sports Network and NFL Network. Here is the full schedule.

    

Passing Touchdowns

1. John Wolford, Arizona Hotshots, 7

2. Garrett Gilbert, Orlando Apollos, 5

3. Logan Woodside, San Antonio Commanders, 2

3. Matt Simms, Atlanta Legends, 2

3. Philip Nelson, San Diego Fleet, 2

3. Zach Mettenberger, Memphis Express, 2

3. Josh Woodrum, Salt Lake Stallions, 2

Wolford and Gilbert are going to the air for scores early and often this season, and it's paying off for their teams. Both the Hotshots and Apollos are tied for the lead in their respective conferences. However, the fact they hold five- and three-touchdown leads in this category over the group of players tied with two passing TDs this season doesn't mean teams have to rely on the arms of their quarterbacks to have success.

    

.@aafhotshots. Deep ball. Six.#SLvsAZ pic.twitter.com/WkQr2vn0Vs

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 11, 2019

Passing Yards

1. Gilbert, 827

2. Woodside, 629

3. Simms, 614

4. Wolford, 596

5. Luis Perez, Birmingham Iron, 596

There's Gilbert again. Wolford's a little further down. And look, the top four players in passing yards are the same as the top four in passing touchdowns, just in different positions. That means these players' touchdown numbers aren't a misrepresentation of the play calls. Their stats come from a commitment from coaching staffs to throw the ball. All that needs to happen for the Commanders and Hotshots is for Woodside (five interceptions) and Simms (six interceptions) to take better care of the ball.

    

Rushing Touchdowns

1. Trent Richardson, Birmingham Iron, 6

2. Ja'Quan Gardner, San Diego Fleet, 3

3. Joel Bouagnon, Salt Lake Stallions, 2

3. Kenneth Farrow, II, San Antonio Commanders, 2

3. De'Veon Smith, Orlando Apollos, 2

Former No. 3 pick Trent Richardson is dominating in the @TheAAF:

- Most TDs
- Sixth in yards
- Undefeated https://t.co/oEFyuNhdV6

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2019

   

Richardson has proven to be a reliable force on the ground this season in the moments it counts the most. He might not have the rushing yards to support the AAF-leading 59 carries he has so far, but his touchdown total shows eventually he does get into the end zone. Gardner has a shot at being the best running back in this league if he can continue to find the end zone.

    

Rushing Yards

1. Gardner, 281

2. Zac Stacy, Memphis Express, 188

3. D'Ernest Johnson, Orlando Apollos, 171

4. Jhurell Pressley, Arizona Hotshots, 155

5. Bouagnon, 154

HE. IS. GONE. 83 yards, touchdown @aaffleet!@_JGWentworth_32 | #SAvsSD pic.twitter.com/l5zXlxalCE

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 25, 2019

Just like with passing yards, the fact a team has someone on this list doesn't mean it's found success. League-leader Gardner and the Fleet might be 2-1 but Stacy and the Express are 0-3. What this does mean is a number of teams have viable options at running back who can shoulder the load if called upon. And if you're the Fleet, Express or Apollos, you're looking at backs in the top three in this category with averages of at least 4.2 yards per carry.

    

Receiving Touchdowns

1. Rashad Ross, Arizona Hotshots, 4

2. Jalin Marshall, Orlando Apollos, 2

3. Nelson Spruce, San Diego Fleet, 2

4. 15 players tied, 1

   

If you throw the ball to Ross, success will follow. The man leads the league in receptions and off that he leads the league in touchdowns. No wonder Wolford leads the AAF in passing touchdowns and the Hotshots are 2-1; this guy is slicing up secondaries. Watch out for the Apollos' duo of Marshall and Charles Johnson, though. It's tough enough to defend one top-flight receiver let alone two. Their numbers will rise.

     

Do your dance, @RocketRoss_19 😎 pic.twitter.com/PDIBWiUflM

— Arizona Hotshots (@aafhotshots) February 23, 2019

    

Receiving Yards

1. Charles Johnson, Orlando Apollos, 305

2. Ross, 221

3. Quinton Patton, Birmingham Iron, 209

4. Mekale McKay, San Antonio Commanders, 207

5. Marshall, 150

   

This is more or less a reflection of the touchdowns list, apart from Patton who has yet to score this way this season. These players are being targeted more than most players in the league and the stats reflect that. Their quarterbacks trust them to make plays and they've made them. And unless the percentage of targets they receive drops they'll all stay among the AAF leaders in this category.

     

Solo Tackles

1. Tyson Graham, Jr., Atlanta Legends, 20

2. DeMarquis Gates, Memphis Express, 18

3. Beniquez Brown, Birmingham Iron, 17

4. Steven Johnson, Arizona Hotshots, 14

5. Ed Reynolds, Jr., Atlanta Legends, 13

5. Cody Brown, Salt Lake Stallions, 13

5. Will Davis, Salk Lake Stallions, 13

   

Graham, Gates and Brown may have a slight margin of separation from the pack now but at this point, with how many players are hovering between 11 and 14 tackles, it'd be premature to say they'll be the biggest playmakers by season's end. However, it's clear the Legends, Express and Iron are all lucky to have players of their caliber lining up on defense. Each one has a fumble recovery, too.

      

“The ball loves us at this point." @aafiron defense setting the tone with 9️⃣ takeaways on the season. #JoinTheAlliance

📰 | https://t.co/xFiy8xKSpa pic.twitter.com/o1IweGyBg5

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 25, 2019

Interceptions

1. Terence Garvin, Orlando Apollos, 3

2. Ryan Moeller, San Diego Fleet, 2

3. De'Vante Bausby, San Antonio Commanders, 2

4. Jamar Summers, Birmingham Iron, 2

5. Keith Reaser, Orlando Apollos, 2

5. Carlos Merritt, Atlanta Legends, 2

   

You just shouldn't throw the ball Garvin's way. Don't do it. The Apollos linebacker is not only one of the host of players with double-digit, solo tackles but he leads the league in interceptions. Among those with two interceptions or more, only Moeller has at least 10 solo tackles, too. Players like this are invaluable to a defense. If you can rely on your linebackers in coverage your playbook can allow for more opportunities to mess with quarterbacks.

      

Sacks

1. Karter Schult, Salt Lake Stallions, 4

2. Shaan Washington, San Antonio Commanders, 3

3. Shakir Soto, San Diego Fleet, 2.5

4. Winston Craig, San Antonio Commanders, 2.5

5. Eight players tied, 2

What a sack by @pittboy52! 😳😲💪 #AllHandsOnDeck pic.twitter.com/FByzKejjYK

— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) February 25, 2019

Schult can wreak havoc on an opposing offensive line for the Stallions. The team might not be having the overall success it wants three weeks in, but at least it has a piece to the puzzle on the defensive line who also has double-digit solo tackles. And look at the Commanders with two players with 2.5 sacks or more. The bulk of those came in Week 1 against the Fleet, but as the whole team rebounds from a two-game losing streak you know opposing quarterbacks can't take Washington or Craig lightly.

The Alliance of American Football is only three weeks into its inaugural season but is reportedly already facing a lawsuit.

According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, Robert Vanech, who is the CFO of Trebel Music, filed a suit Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging he came up with the idea for the league. Vanech alleged AAF co-founder Charlie Ebersol had a "handshake agreement" with him that was violated.

As a result, he is seeking 50 percent ownership in the league, financial damages and "public acknowledgment of his co-founding role."

Vanech’s lawsuit also states Ebersol attempted but failed to garner licensing from the WWE and NBC that would have allowed the league to use the XFL name.

The lawsuit provides details about a 2017 meeting Ebersol and his father, television executive Dick Ebersol, had with WWE CEO Vince McMahon in which they attempted to reach a deal regarding the XFL name. There was no deal reached, and McMahon is scheduled to debut a new XFL in 2020.

Vanech’s lawsuit says he approached the younger Ebersol about the league in February 2017, although Ebersol said he was the one who came up with the idea while working on an XFL documentary. Ebersol also said he and co-founder Bill Polian, who is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, then spent months coming up with plans for the league.

"Mr. Vanech's claim is without merit," the AAF said in a statement, per Rothstein. "There was never any agreement, oral or written, between Mr. Vanech and Mr. Ebersol relating to the Alliance. We remained solely focused on our historic, inaugural season when each weekend over 400 players get an opportunity to showcase their talents and fulfill their dreams of playing professional football."

This comes after Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal reported the $250 million new AAF chair and Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon put into the league is actually only "committed" and not fully invested.

Sources told Kaplan that Dundon has the right to stop funding the league at any time since the deal is on a week-to-week basis.

It wasn't long ago Christian Hackenberg was a New York Jets quarterback with a bright future after the AFC East team picked him in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, but he has now been benched in the Alliance of American Football.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Memphis Express head coach Mike Singletary announced former LSU signal-caller Zach Mettenberger will start Saturday’s contest against the San Diego Fleet.

Cimini noted Hackenberg lost all three games he started and had zero touchdown passes and three interceptions.

While Hackenberg made a name for himself while playing at Penn State, he never played a regular-season down at the NFL level and has struggled in the AAF. Singletary had already taken him out at halftime of Saturday's loss to the Orlando Apollos.

IRON FOOTBALL

Christian Hackenberg is picked off, and the @aafiron get great field position. pic.twitter.com/Lt3xfA96BO

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 10, 2019

Mettenberger threw for 120 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in the second half and demonstrated much more consistency than Hackenberg.

"The lift Zach gave the team last week, it was a great feeling," Singletary said, per Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "To see a young man go out and make plays and really change the momentum in the game. We just have to put a whole game together."

Mettenberger played 14 games for the Tennessee Titans in 2014 and 2015, completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,347 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 picks.

Trent Richardson is making his return to football with the Birmingham Iron of the AAF. The running back is making a splash and leading the new league with six rushing touchdowns. Watch the video above for more about Richardson's career redemption.

   

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The third week of the 2019 Alliance of American Football season is officially in the books.

The Birmingham Iron opened Sunday with a comfortable win over the Atlanta Legends, while the San Diego Fleet handed the San Antonio Commanders their second straight defeat.

Sunday represented a stark contrast from the previous day, when 12 combined points were the difference in Saturday's two games.

     

Week 3 Results—Feb. 24

Birmingham Iron (3-0) def. Atlanta Legends (0-3), 28-12

San Diego Fleet (2-1) def. San Antonio Commanders (1-2), 31-11

      

Birmingham Iron 28, Atlanta Legends 12

Birmingham pulled away from Atlanta in the second half on the strength of an 11-point third quarter.

Although he threw for 328 yards, Legends quarterback Matt Simms had a day to forget. His three interceptions proved costly as Atlanta's offense struggled to find a groove. The Legends ran for 43 yards as a team, with Simms responsible for 27 of those.

Atlanta's inability to establish the run differed slightly from Birmingham. Trent Richardson led the Iron with 46 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, and Ladarius Perkins chipped in with 26 yards on the ground.

Richardson's first score came on a five-yard run with 2:39 left in the second quarter to put Birmingham ahead 9-3.

Trent Richardson finds the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. pic.twitter.com/5pxlh1KktH

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 24, 2019

Richardson punched it in again from one yard out in the final seconds of the third quarter to make it an 18-6 game.

That's TD number TWO today for Trent Richardson. pic.twitter.com/n0x1OS4ANz

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 24, 2019

Having settled for a pair of field goals in the second quarter, Atlanta got its first touchdown in the fourth quarter. It came too late to make any real impact on the game, though. Simms hit Montay Crockett for a 23-yard touchdown with 1:41 left in regulation, but the Legends failed on their two-point conversion.

Seantavius Jones kept the comeback attempt alive when he made a juggling catch on Atlanta's onside attempt, which requires the offensive team to convert on 4th-and-12.

Onside kick? Won't happen here.

Behold, the first successful onside conversion attempt! #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/a0EavE658N

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 24, 2019

Simms threw an interception on the Legends' next play, which erased any doubt about the outcome.

The Legends will hope to get their first win in Week 4 when they play the Arizona Hotshots. The Iron, on the other hand, will put their perfect record on the line against the Commanders.

     

San Diego Fleet 31, San Antonio Commanders 11

Ja'Quan Gardner played a starring role as the Fleet suffocated the Commanders with their running game en route to a win. 

Gardner only carried the ball 12 times but gained 122 yards and found the end zone on one occasion. He showed off his speed in the third quarter when he found a hole up the middle and exploded through the San Antonio defense for an 83-yard scamper.

HE. IS. GONE. 83 yards, touchdown @aaffleet!@_JGWentworth_32 | #SAvsSD pic.twitter.com/l5zXlxalCE

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 25, 2019

That's the longest play in AAF history to date. NBC San Diego's Fernando Ramirez shared Gardner's reaction upon hearing that fact:

Fleet RB Ja’Quan Gardner has the longest play, so far, in AAF. He had a. 83-yard TD run. This was his reaction. #AAF pic.twitter.com/3otHie8hO5

— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) February 25, 2019

The Commanders ultimately came out on the losing end, but they couldn't have envisaged a better start to the game. 

De'Vante Bausby intercepted a Philip Nelson pass on the first play from scrimmage. On the very next play, Logan Woodside connected with Mekale McKay for a 47-yard touchdown.

First play, INT.
Second play, touchdown! @aafcommanders | #SAvsSD pic.twitter.com/001Tb8oJ5o

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 25, 2019

The offense quickly dried up for the Commanders, who finished with 291 yards but had two costly turnovers. San Diego took a 12-8 lead at the 10:56 mark of the second quarter on an A.J. Tarpley pick-six.

Take it to the house, @AJTarpley! 6⃣🙌#SDFleet lead the @aafcommanders 14-8 in the 2nd quarter. #AllHandsOnDeck pic.twitter.com/aRKmTt1tVh

— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) February 25, 2019

San Antonio's defense didn't have an answer for the Fleet offense, either. After his interception, Nelson settled down and went 17-of-25 for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Terrell Watson also gave San Diego a dynamic threat on the ground, going for 73 yards on 13 carries.

The Fleet will play the 0-3 Memphis on Saturday.

      

Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of the league's official site.

Hollywood is rebooting everything else. Why not bring back Air Bud?

The casting director would already have its star.

During halftime of the Orlando Apollos' 21-17 victory over the Memphis Express on Saturday in the Alliance of American Football, a dog ran 83 yards before snatching a frisbee out of the air. The Orlando Sentinel's J.C. Carnahan shared a video of the spectacle:

This dog caught an 83-yard frisbee toss during halftime of the Orlando Apollos football game Saturday night. The PA announcer claims it’s an all-time record. Pretty impressive. pic.twitter.com/bLwCbFEzbG

— J.C. Carnahan (@JCCarnz) February 24, 2019

Of course, a receiver is often only as good as his quarterback. The frisbee-thrower deserves some credit for putting the disc right on the money.

The public address announcer said the 83-yard heave was a record. Regardless of whether that's true, it was three yards farther than the longest completion for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2018 season.