Alliance of American Football

The second week of competition in the Alliance of American Football will try to bank off the excitement Week 1's games generated. 

The AAF filled the football void that usually lasts from February to August, but now the league has to prove it can produce some quality and exciting highlights for the duration of the regular season. 

Orlando, Birmingham, Arizona and San Antonio enter Week 2 at 1-0 and two of the undefeated teams are set to square off in the marquee contest of the weekend. 

The Week 2 slate begins with a clash between one of Week 1's top performers against a struggling defense and it ends with a meeting of teams in search of their first victory. 

                               

Week 2 Schedule

All Times ET.

Saturday, February 16

Salt Lake at Birmingham (-7) (2 p.m. ET, TNT, Fubo TV) 

Arizona (-11.5) at Memphis (8 p.m. ET, NFL Network, Fubo TV) 

             

Sunday, February 17

Orlando (-6) at San Antonio (4 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports app) 

Atlanta at San Diego (-9.5) (8 p.m. ET, NFL Network, Fubo TV) 

Odds obtained from Covers.com.

                       

Can Perez Thrive Once Again For Birmingham? 

Birmingham Iron quarterback Luis Perez was one of the top individual winners in Week 1, as he threw for 252 yards in his team's 26-0 win over the Memphis Express. 

Perez, who was on the Los Angeles Rams' preseason roster, could be one of the few players from the Alliance of American Football to work his way on to an NFL squad by the time the season ends. 

While Perez's success is a surprise to some, he has plenty of experience in pressure-packed situations, as he won the NCAA Division II championship with Texas A&M-Commerce in 2017. 

Perez's success at Division II, which culminated with winning the Harlon Hill Trophy, put him on NFL radars and made him a viable option at quarterback in the AAF. 

Of course, Perez needs to replicate his Week 1 showing in order to gain more attention from NFL front offices. 

In Week 2, Perez and the Iron face the Salt Lake Stallions, who conceded 38 points in their Week 1 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Hotshots. 

Based off what we saw out of both teams in the first week of action, Perez is in line for another successful performance to push the Iron to 2-0.

In fact, Perez could achieve more success in Week 3 against Atlanta before Birmingham hits the difficult part of its schedule, with San Antonio and Orlando awaiting in Weeks 4 and 5. 

                          

Orlando-San Antonio Should Be Best Game of the Week 

Speaking of Orlando and San Antonio, they oppose each other in Week 2's marquee clash at the Alamodome. 

Steve Spurrier's Apollos moved to the top of the Eastern Conference with a commanding 40-6 win over Atlanta, while Mike Riley's Commanders used defense to pull out a 15-6 Week 1 victory. 

The clash of Orlando's high-powered offense and San Antonio's stingy defense should be a battle to watch over all four quarters. 

In Week 1, the Apollos had eight different players catch a pass, including quarterback Garrett Gilbert, and if they're able to spread the ball out once again, they'll stretch San Antonio's defense thin. 

Gilbert is the one who controls the show for Orlando, as he completed 15 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. 

San Antonio presents the perfect test for Gilbert and Co. since its secondary was one of its top positional units in Week 1. 

Orion Stewart and De'Vante Bausby both recorded interceptions, while Derron Smith was one of the team's leaders in tackles with three. 

The Commanders also put together a strong pass rush, with linebacker Shaan Washington leading the charge with two sacks. 

If San Antonio is successful in its quest to silence Orlando's offense, it'll allow Logan Woodside to lead the offense down the field to open up a multiple-possession advantage. 

While Perez basked in the AAF spotlight in Week 1, Woodside also thrived in the pocket, as he tossed for 255 yards and a pair of scores. 

                         

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from AAF.com

The Alliance of American Football reached out to Colin Kaepernick about the quarterback suiting up for one of its teams, but the former San Francisco 49ers star was seeking a salary of at least $20 million to play in the developmental league, according to the Associated Press' Barry Wilner. 

Wilner notes that the AAF also gauged Tim Tebow's interest. However, the former Denver Broncos quarterback opted to continue pursuing his MLB dreams with the New York Mets organization.

A second-round pick in 2011, Kaepernick quickly rose to stardom in the NFL. After being used sparingly as a rookie, he filled in for starter Alex Smith (who suffered a concussion in Week 10) in 2012 and subsequently led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance.

From that moment forward, Kaepernick was the face of the franchise for the next few years.

Kaepernick led San Francisco to the playoffs once again in 2013, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. After that strong start to his career, he would bag a six-year, $126-million extension during the 2014 offseason.

Unfortunately for him, his NFL career soon unraveled. 

By the middle of the 2015 season, Kaepernick was benched in favor of former Jacksonville Jaguars bust Blaine Gabbert. However, he was ultimately able to work his way back onto the field, albeit with a transformed Niners team.

Kaepernick completed just 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2016. He added 468 yards and two scores on the ground but recorded nine fumbles in 12 games.

While Kaepernick was hardly the only one responsible for his 1-10 record that season, he wound up being the scapegoat. That was the same season in which he started the protest against racial injustice and police violence by taking a knee during the national anthem.

Kaepernick opted out of the final year of his contract following the 2016 season and has not been on an NFL roster since then.

Having Kaepernick in uniform certainly would have brought the AAF plenty of attention. However, a $20 million salary may have been more than the startup league could afford.

AAF co-founder Bill Polian revealed to Darren Rovell, then of ESPN, in July 2018 that players would receive three-year, non-guaranteed contracts worth $250,000. The pacts include health insurance and an education stipend for any player who registers one year of service time.

Executives of the Alliance of American Football reportedly reached out to two high-profile quarterbacks to gauge their interest in playing in the league.

League co-founder Bill Polian told Lindsay Jones of The Athletic that CEO Charlie Ebersol contacted Colin Kaepernick to see if he was interested. "I don't know what transpired, but he's obviously not playing," Polian said of Kaepernick.

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press reported Kaepernick wanted at least $20 million to suit up for the new league.

Polian also said he talked with Tim Tebow, although the former Denver Broncos signal-caller declined his offer to play in the league.

Tebow won two national titles and a Heisman Trophy at Florida and played 35 games with 16 starts between the Broncos and New York Jets. However, he completed just 47.9 percent of his passes and hasn't played a regular-season game since 2012.

He is now focused on a baseball career and in spring training with New York Mets.

As for Kaepernick, he most recently played in 2016 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. While he has a Super Bowl appearance on his resume and threw for 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in his last season, no team has signed him since he opted out of his deal with the NFC West club.

Kaepernick famously protested racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem of San Francisco's 2016 games and filed a collusion grievance against the league's owners in October 2017. 

It makes sense from the AAF's perspective to reach out to both, as they bring NFL experience and would be a significant draw for ticket sales and television ratings. Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk noted Kaepernick, 31, still hopes to play at the NFL level.

The inaugural Alliance of American Football season kicked off with thrilling plays and impressive ratings from Week 1. But there's still plenty of weeks ahead with the league set to continue through the end of April.

The AAF has many former college football stars and NFL players competing for teams across eight cities: Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express, Orlando Apollos, Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders and San Diego Fleet.

Check out the complete 2019 season schedule below, including how to watch the AAF and full TV information.

    

How to watch AAF games online

Football fans can watch one game each week on B/R Live starting February 23.

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

• Arizona Hotshots at Salt Lake Stallions | 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 | Watch
• Orlando Apollos at Salt Lake Stallions | 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

The NFL season may be over...but @TheAAF is making sure football isn't. https://t.co/bd1BK28fMj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2019

Fans can also watch AAF games online through CBS All Access, CBSSN and NFL Network.

    

Complete Alliance of American Football TV schedule

TNT will televise the Salt Lake Stallions vs. Birmingham Iron game at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 16, leading up to NBA All-Star Game coverage. TNT will also air one AAF playoff game in April.

Here is the full AAF TV schedule:

Week 2

• Salt Lake Stallions at Birmingham Iron | 2 p.m. Feb. 16 | TNT
• Arizona Hotshots at Memphis Express | 8 p.m. Feb. 16 | NFL Network
• Orlando Apollos at San Antonio Commanders | 4 p.m. Feb. 17 | CBSSN
• Atlanta Legends at San Diego Fleet | 8 p.m. Feb. 17 | NFL Network

Week 3

• Memphis Express at Orlando Apollos | 8 p.m. Feb. 23 | NFL Network
• Birmingham Iron at Atlanta Legends | 4 p.m. Feb. 24 | CBSSN
• San Antonio Commanders at San Diego Fleet | 8 p.m. Feb. 24 | NFL Network

Week 4

• San Diego Fleet at Memphis Express | 8 p.m. March 2 | NFL Network
• San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron | 4 p.m. March 3 | CBSSN
• Atlanta Legends at Arizona Hotshots | 8 p.m. March 3 | NFL Network

"We have an opportunity to make football better.” The Alliance is ready to take the stage.

📰 | https://t.co/LbGw3hvNax pic.twitter.com/aqIFs503ml

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 7, 2019

Week 5

• Salt Lake Stallions at San Diego Fleet | 8 p.m. March 9 | NFL Network
• Memphis Express at Atlanta Legends | 4 p.m. March 10 | CBSSN
• San Antonio Commanders at Arizona Hotshots | 8 p.m. March 10 | NFL Network

Week 6

• Arizona Hotshots at Orlando Apollos | 8 p.m. March 16 | NFL Network
• San Antonio Commanders at Atlanta Legends | 4 p.m. March 17 | CBSSN
• Birmingham Iron at San Diego Fleet | 8 p.m. March 17 | NFL Network

Week 7

• Salt Lake Stallions at San Antonio Commanders | 8 p.m. March 23 | NFL Network
• San Diego Fleet at Arizona Hotshots | 4 p.m. March 24 | CBSSN
• Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express | 8 p.m. March 24 | NFL Network

Week 8

• San Diego Fleet at Salt Lake Stallions | 8 p.m. March 30 | NFL Network
• Atlanta Legends at Birmingham Iron | 4 p.m. March 31 | CBSSN
• Arizona Hotshots at San Antonio Commanders | 8 p.m. March 31 | NFL Network

Week 9

• San Diego Fleet at Orlando Apollos | 8 p.m. April 6 | NFL Network
• Salt Lake Stallions at Atlanta Legends | 4 p.m. April 7 | CBSSN
• Birmingham Iron at Arizona Hotshots | 8 p.m. April 7 | NFL Network

Week 10

• Atlanta Legends at Memphis Express | 8 p.m. April 13 | NFL Network
• Birmingham Iron at Orlando Apollos | 3:30 p.m. April 14 | CBSSN
• Arizona Hotshots at San Diego Fleet | 8 p.m. April 14 | NFL Network

“He is one of the most talented players I have ever met.”@GeorgiaTechFB standout @smooov is already turning heads in the @TheAAF #AllHailATL: https://t.co/5ffzJEn1Ox pic.twitter.com/f3mo4dvfwc

— Atlanta Legends (@AafLegends) February 6, 2019

     

AAF: How it works

The 2019 season marks the first year of the AAF. 

Former college football stars in the eight-team league include ex-Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg (a second-round NFL draft pick) with the Memphis Express, former Georgia QB Aaron Murray with the Atlanta Legends and ex-Alabama star RB Trent Richardson with the Birmingham Iron. Each team will have 52 players, with some of these players assigned to teams through a territorial draft.

There is a 10-week regular season, after which four teams advance to the playoffs. The league's title game will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on April 27.

     

Head coaches, rules

Coaching legend Steve Spurrier and longtime college coaches Rick Neuheisel, Dennis Erickson and Mike Riley will all be coaches in this inaugural season:

Eastern Conference

• Atlanta Legends: Kevin Coyle
• Birmingham Iron: Tim Lewis
• Memphis Express: Mike Singletary
• Orlando Apollos: Steve Spurrier

Western Conference

• Arizona Hotshots: Rick Neuheisel
• Salt Lake Stallions: Dennis Erickson
• San Antonio Commanders: Mike Riley
• San Diego Fleet: Mike Martz

The AAF will also have different rules from the NFL (and the college game).

New year, new innovation. The Alliance will add a sky judge who can instantly correct officiating errors. #JoinTheAlliance

📰 | https://t.co/77ZTh1ig8K pic.twitter.com/x9otIXlmxS

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 7, 2019

Games will start without a kickoff, with the winner of the toss choosing between receiving or deferring. The team that gets the ball first will start at its 25-yard line. The league will have a 35-second play clock, which is different from the NFL's 40, and there will be no television timeouts.

Both teams will also get one chance in overtime. Each team gets first-and-goal from the 10. Teams must attempt to score a touchdown (no field goal attempts) and then go for two points after scores. Games can end in a tie.

See a full breakdown of the differences here.

The Alliance of American Football was created to quench your thirst for football following the Super Bowl, and so far, the product has lived up to expectations. 

The opening weekend received a lot of support, with an overnight rating that beat the NBA, per Darren Rovell of Action Network. With notable players like Trent Richardson and Christian Hackenberg taking the field and coaches like Steve Spurrier and Mike Singletary on the sidelines, there was a lot to like.

Unlike the old version of the XFL, however, this isn't going to be a radical league full of violence. Instead, most of the rules are similar to the NFL to allow players to transition from one to the other.

"Our whole goal is just to be complementary," player relations executive and former Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward said in September, per Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports. "With our league, it's only going to put out a better product for the NFL. We're giving them extra eyes and extra film."

There are still four 15-minute quarters—with a slightly shorter play clock at 35 seconds instead of 40—with teams still trying to march down the field and score touchdowns. For much of the game, you won't notice too much of a difference between AAF and the NFL.

With that said, there are still some notable rule differences that both make the game exciting and could be trial runs for future changes in the NFL. Here are the biggest changes to the AAF.

Note: More info available at the league's official site.

        

No Kickoffs

The start of the AAF game might be the weirdest moment for football fans, as it will begin without a kickoff. There are no kickoffs at all in the league, with teams simply beginning at their own 25-yard line.

Kickoffs have been considered the most dangerous plays in football with the number of head injuries that are created with so many players running full speed. The NFL has considered getting rid of them, but it has instead just made numerous changes to keep things safe.

The AAF has done away with kickoffs altogether, which takes away the chance at a game-changing return, although there were only five kicks returned for touchdowns in the entire 2018 NFL season.

This also removes the possibility of onside kicks, but there is an alternative for a team trailing by 17 or more points in the final five minutes. After a touchdown, a team can attempt a 4th-and-12 play from its own 28-yard line. 

"It was an exciting play in these preseason games," former head of NFL officiating Mike Pereira said, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). "You get one play and if you reach the 40, you keep [the] ball. If not, the ball goes over to the other team. It can be punitive. If you throw an incomplete pass, the receiving team gets the ball at the 28-yard line. At least it gives teams an opportunity."

      

Extra Points

Kickers are also slighted when it comes to extra points as there are no more kicks after a touchdown.

Instead, all touchdowns are followed by two-point conversion attempts. This will help separate teams as a game progresses, especially in overtime.

While field goals are still part of the game, there will be fewer chances for fans to yell at kickers if their team loses.

     

Overtime

Like in college football, both teams will get a chance to score in overtime. Unlike college, overtime will not last forever.

In the AAF rules, each team will get the ball at the 10-yard line with a chance to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion. If the two sides are tied at the end of one session, the game ends in a tie.

After seeing Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense fail to touch the ball in overtime of the AFC Championship Game, it's nice to see a more fair system that doesn't come down to the coin toss. On the other hand, the league is keeping games short without drawn-out overtimes that could last hours.

     

Sky Judge

Sometimes penalties seem more obvious from a distance, which is where the "sky judge" comes into play in the AAF.

The sky judge is a ninth official who is in a press box and has the right to call penalties or tell the referee to pick them up. The official will mostly be used to assess safety-related calls, including helmet-to-helmet hits or blindside shots that are missed by those on the field, although they won't get the benefit of replay, per Gary Myers of the league's official site.

However, the person will also get a chance to rule on pass interference calls in the final five minutes of a game.

Considering how the NFC Championship Game ended between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams, this could be a difference-maker.

      

Stricter Defensive Rules

Among the biggest changes to on-field play are the limitations on rushing the passer.

As outlined by Jason Munz of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, no more than five players can rush on a single play. Players also aren't allowed to blitz from more than two yards outside the defensive line or from five yards back of the line of scrimmage.

Finally, players lined up at the line of scrimmage count as rushers, regardless of whether or not they go after the quarterback.

Any violations of these rules will result in a 15-yard penalty for illegal defense.

This will make it safer for quarterbacks and likely give them more time in the pocket, which could create better offensive action. On the other hand, defensive coaches could have a tough time being creative enough to stop top quarterbacks around the league.

Christian Hackenberg had a debut to forget in the Memphis Express' 26-0 defeat to the Birmingham Iron in the opening week of the Alliance of American Football inaugural season.

Hackenberg finished 10-of-23 for 87 yards and an interception and was sacked twice. At one point in the third quarter, he was hit after releasing the ball. His frustration was audible, as the CBS Sports microphones caught him dropping an F-bomb, per the Pick Six Podcast (warning: video contains profanity):

Christian Hackenberg keeps forgetting that he's mic'd up 😂 pic.twitter.com/dYgQKHHh2Z

— Pushing the Pile Podcast (@pushingthepile) February 10, 2019

In keeping with Hackenberg's bad luck Sunday, he threw one touchdown pass—on a trick play no less—that was brought back because of a flag:

HACKENBERG, TRICK PLAY........... but it's coming back pic.twitter.com/kMmO9t9IVr

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

Memphis head coach Mike Singletary stated the obvious with his postgame comments about the former New York Jets quarterback.

"He has to get better," Singletary said, per AL.com's Evan Dudley. "He has to settle down and get better."

The AAF provided Hackenberg with an opportunity to revive his football career after the 2016 second-round draft pick never appeared in a single regular-season game.

Now, the 23-year-old might be out of a starting job after one game. According to the Commercial Appeal's Jason Munz, Singletary wouldn't confirm Hackenberg will start Memphis' Week 2 matchup with the Arizona Hotshots.

The inaugural week of the Alliance of American Football continued Sunday with the Memphis Express visiting the Birmingham Iron and the Arizona Hotshots hosting the Salt Lake Stallions.

The league already scored its first victory Saturday when CBS coverage averaged 2.9 million viewers from 9 to 11 p.m. ET, which SportsTVRatings noted beat ABC's coverage of the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

Notable players such as Trent Richardson (Birmingham), Christian Hackenberg (Memphis) and Zac Stacy (Memphis) took the field Sunday and looked to keep the league's momentum rolling with entertaining games.

           

Sunday Results

Birmingham Iron 26, Memphis Express 0

Arizona Hotshots 38, Salt Lake Stallions 22

          

Birmingham 26, Memphis 0

Hackenberg never played a down in the NFL after the New York Jets selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft, and he made it clear why on Sunday.

Birmingham's stout defense set the tone, intercepting the Penn State product in the first quarter and holding him to a mere three completions in a scoreless first half. The Iron delivered hits, created havoc in the backfield and held Stacy, who played for the St. Louis Rams and Jets in his NFL career, in relative check.

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

Hackenberg takes a SHOT, and Memphis will punt it away on its first possession. pic.twitter.com/OFQlHJsPps

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

That defense passed its stiffest test after Richardson lost a fumble on the first drive of the second half, stopping a 4th-and-1 from its own 6-yard line to preserve the shutout and keep the momentum.

HUGE STOP

The @aafiron live up to their name on this 4th down. pic.twitter.com/omBK4k8C2u

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

The Iron's defense wasn't the only one to pick up Richardson, as Birmingham kicker Nick Novak drilled three field goals in the first half. Perhaps the Chicago Bears should give him a call, as the former member of the Arizona Cardinals, Washington, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans looked the part as the lone source of first-half scoring.

It was just a matter of time before Richardson and Birmingham broke through with more than field goals, and the former Alabama Crimson Tide great found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter to bust things open after quarterback Luis Perez found Quinton Patton for a long completion to set up the first score.

TOUCHDOWN BIRMINGHAM

Trent Richardson scores the first TD in @aafiron history. pic.twitter.com/ekgOtGunDb

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

Perez threw for 252 yards and established a rapport with Patton, who finished with 107 yards.

Patton played for the San Francisco 49ers, while Perez was a member of the Rams practice squad at times this past season. Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports noted Perez was nearly a professional bowler who learned to play football from YouTube.

On the other side, it was fitting that Memphis' lone touchdown on a trick play was called back for a penalty, as head coach Mike Singletary was never able to draw something up to crack Birmingham's defense.

            

Arizona 38, Salt Lake 22

Sometimes an entire game can be boiled down to a five-play span, and that is exactly the number of plays that turned the nightcap between Arizona and Salt Lake from a nailbiter to a blowout in the third quarter.

Plays one and two saw Hotshots quarterback John Wolford find Rashad Ross for a touchdown and convert the two-point attempt. Steven Johnson intercepted Stallions backup quarterback Matt Linehan—who was in after Josh Woodrum left with a hamstring injury—on the third play, and Wolford hit Jhurell Pressley for a long touchdown on the fourth play.

Have a game, @RocketRoss_19! Ross hauls in his second of the game. @aafhotshots | #SLvsAZ pic.twitter.com/bJYYZbKHsP

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 11, 2019

We can watch this all night long 😎 pic.twitter.com/fmNt3zL1Pm

— Arizona Hotshots (@aafhotshots) February 11, 2019

The fifth was a successful two-point conversion, and Arizona turned a 19-16 advantage into a comfortable 35-16 one in the blink of an eye.

Salt Lake was fighting an uphill battle from the start, as CBS Sports noted 49 of Arizona's 52 players had experience with an NFL team. Wolford led the talented group in no-huddle attacks that mixed in read-option looks and quick tempo and finished with 275 passing yards.

Ross, who played for the Bears and Washington, was his favorite target and caught two touchdowns on his way to 103 yards through the air, but it was tight end Gerald Christian, who played for the Buffalo Bills, who hauled in the first touchdown in Hotshots history.

.@aafhotshots strike first! #SLvsAZ pic.twitter.com/NrtYOS4JM3

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 11, 2019

The Stallions kept up with the home team prior to Woodrum's injury, and former Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata was the first to cross the goal line in team history. It was familiar territory for someone who scored 19 touchdowns at the NFL level:

Matt Asiata on the goal line takes it in for 6️⃣! @aafstallions | #SLvsAZ pic.twitter.com/rJXf02iJNL

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 11, 2019

Linehan, who played collegiately at Idaho, closed the gap with a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but Arizona's defense stood strong and clinched its first victory of the season.

             

What's Next?

Week 2 of the AAF schedule features two Saturday games and two Sunday games. Salt Lake plays Birmingham and Arizona plays Memphis on Saturday, while the Orlando Apollos play the San Antonio Commanders and the Atlanta Legends face the San Diego Fleet on Sunday.

Michael Vick will not serve as the Atlanta Legends' offensive coordinator but will instead take on a developmental role in the Alliance of American Football, AAF head of football strategy Jeff Fisher said Sunday. 

"It was an unusual set of circumstances in that Mike had accepted a role with Brad Childress early on as an offensive coach, as an offensive coordinator," Fisher said, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN. "And then with Brad's sudden departure, things, they kind of just, they got hard. I can't thank the Atlanta franchise enough for pulling through the hard times.

"But circling back to Mike, his role is going to change. You can appreciate the difficulty from a place he was put into. His role is going to change and we spoke to Mike over the past couple days and he's going to move over and assume a league role along with Hines Ward in player development. That's the best place for him."

Vick, 38, worked as a coaching intern under Andy Reid with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 but has no formal coaching experience. The Legends hired him in April 2018 as their offensive coordinator under Brad Childress, who resigned his position in January. Kevin Coyle took over as head coach.

Fisher said Childress' resignation caused the AAF to look in a different direction for an offensive coordinator, a position that is currently vacant. 

"Because of the timing thing, it wasn't possible for him to come in and take an active role with respect to the offense," Fisher said. "So Mike and I both agreed in a conversation last night that let's just take a deep breath and let's kind of embrace the league, embrace the experience and we'll see where the coaching opportunities are down the road."

Vick will instead work as an adviser to the Legends while being in the AAF's player development department with Hines Ward. The four-time Pro Bowler has expressed an interest in coaching since his playing career ended, so it's unclear if Vick will wind up exploring other opportunities. 

The inaugural season of the Alliance of American Football officially kicked off with a pair of games Saturday night.

The Week 1 slate got underway with a tilt between the Atlanta Legends and the Orlando Apollos as well as one featuring the San Diego Fleet and the San Antonio Commanders. Among the notable players who took the field were former NFLers Denard Robinson (Atlanta) and Jalin Marshall (Orlando).

Below is a look at the first-ever AAF action.

          

Week 1 Results — Feb. 9

San Antonio Commanders (1-0) 15, San Diego Fleet (0-1) 6

Orlando Apollos (1-0) 40, Atlanta Legends (0-1) 6 

                    

San Antonio Commanders 15, San Diego Fleet 6

It was a night of firsts for the AAF, and a number of those historic moments came during the Fleet-Commanders tilt.

The San Antonio offense is responsible for the first play in AAF history, as quarterback Logan Woodside (a 2018 seventh-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals) connected with wideout Mekale McKay for a big gain:

Let's get the party started. pic.twitter.com/FusbYTNTHu

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

On San Diego's first possession, Commanders linebacker Shaan Washington introduced himself to Fleet quarterback Mike Bercovici in jaw-dropping fashion:

What. A. Hit. 💥@aafcommanders | #SDvsSA pic.twitter.com/cZIyt91mTz

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 10, 2019

Perhaps the most notable part of that helmet-popping hit was that it did not draw a flag from the officials.

That sack set the tone for the first half, as the teams could only muster a pair of field goals apiece through the first two quarters.

While it was a defensive struggle for most of the first three quarters, Woodside put the Commanders on the doorstep with a 46-yard pass to Alonzo Moore on the final play of the third:

Woodside launches it to Moore! The @aafcommanders are in business. #SDvsSA pic.twitter.com/IYIufVfxBQ

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 10, 2019

That set the table for the game's first touchdown:

It's the first touchdown in @aafcommanders history and it's a big one. pic.twitter.com/iJPs1BhJk8

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

The ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving San Antonio with a 12-6 lead.

After his team failed to find the end zone through the first 45 minutes, San Diego coach Mike Martz (led the then-St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV title) opted to make a change under center, replacing Bercovici with Philip Nelson. That move did not make much of a difference, though.

San Antonio gained breathing room with a field goal later in the quarter. It was only fitting that a play by the Commanders defense helped put the game on ice:

The biggest interception in @aafcommanders history!

What a play by Zack Sanchez! pic.twitter.com/h0OYbyOtPk

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

That all but sealed the victory, as San Diego couldn't score in the final moments.

                   

Orlando Apollos 40, Atlanta Legends 6

Orlando got its inaugural campaign off to a strong start thanks to a balanced effort.

Like the San Antonio-San Diego matchup, this game was also responsible for some historic moments. Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo (formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers) put a 38-yard field-goal attempt through the uprights just past the midway point of the first quarter for the first points in AAF history:

Boom.

The first points in the history of @TheAAF belong to the @AafLegends. pic.twitter.com/SJAyWiU40v

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

Unfortunately for the Legends, though, it would be nearly all Apollos for the rest of the first half.

Orlando got on the board in the opening minute of the second quarter, thanks to a replay reversal:

"We've got a score."

After some careful consideration, @aafAPOLLOS get the first touchdown in the history of @TheAAF. pic.twitter.com/dCTBYvCEMF

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

The pass-and-catch from Garrett Gilbert (Texas) and Marshall (Ohio State) became the first touchdown in league history. That would not be the only time that duo connected on the night, though.

After a De'Veon Smith touchdown extended their lead to 13, the Apollos channeled their inner Philadelphia Eagles with a trick play near the goal line.

The “Orlando Special” ‼️

🏹#TakeAim | #ORLvsATL pic.twitter.com/AiDcvILBF7

— Orlando Apollos (@aafAPOLLOS) February 10, 2019

Just like that, Gilbert and Marshall each had recorded a passing and a receiving touchdown in the first half.

That scoring drive was aided by sound advice from Apollos coach Steve Spurrier:

"Tell him to catch it this time."

Some sound advice from Steve Spurrier. 😂 pic.twitter.com/sNI09aadlW

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019

And that's why the Ol' Ball Coach is in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

While the other three teams managed just six first-half points apiece in their AAF debuts, Orlando's offense proved it was more than ready to play.

The blowout continued into the fourth:

.@aafapollos are piling on the points! 🏹#ATLvsORL pic.twitter.com/lanDmmi1Zo

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 10, 2019

The defense even got in on the action with a pick-six.

Gilbert led his team to victory by completing 15 of 25 pass attempts for 227 yards and three total touchdowns, per Apollos reporter Tom Alexander. 

           

What's Next

Week 1 of the Alliance of American Football schedule continues Sunday, as the Memphis Express and the Birmingham Iron will square off at 4 p.m. ET and the Arizona Hotshots will host the Salt Lake Stallions at 8 p.m. ET.       

The NFL season is finished, but unlike past years, there will still be football to watch over the next 12 weeks with the new Alliance of American Football.

The eight-team league features a 10-week regular season followed by a four-team playoff that will take place over two weekends in April. The championship game will be April 27 in Las Vegas.

Here's a look at more information to know prior to kickoff.

        

Week 1 Schedule

Saturday, Feb. 9

San Diego Fleet at San Antonio Commanders, 8 p.m. ET, CBS and CBS All-Access or fuboTV
Odds: San Antonio -5.5

Atlanta Legends at Orlando Apollos, 8 p.m. ET, CBS and CBS All-Access or fuboTV
Odds: Orlando -4.5

      

Sunday, Feb. 10

Memphis Express at Birmingham Iron, 4 p.m. ET, CBS and CBS All-Access or fuboTV
Odds: Even

Salt Lake Stallions at Arizona Hotshots, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network or fuboTV
Odds: Arizona -5

        

Team Information

Arizona Hotshots
Coach: Rick Neuheisel
Notable Players: Trevor Knight, QB; Rahim Moore, DB; Will Sutton, DT

Atlanta Legends
Coach: Kevin Coyle
Notable Players: Aaron Murray, QB; Denard Robinson, RB; Justin Thomas, WR

Birmingham Iron
Coach: Tim Lewis
Notable Players: Luis Perez, QB; Trent Richardson, RB

Memphis Express
Coach: Mike Singletary
Notable Players: Justin Martin, CB; Julius Warmsley, DE

Orlando Apollos
Coach: Steve Spurrier
Notable Players: Terence Garvin, LB; Garrett Gilbert, QB; Akeem Hunt, RB

Salt Lake Stallions
Coach: Dennis Erickson
Notable Players: Josh Banderas, LB; Kaelin Clay, WR

San Antonio Commanders
Coach: Mike Riley
Notable Players: Jayrone Elliott, LB; Evan Rodriguez, TE; Dustin Vaughan, QB

San Diego Fleet
Coach: Mike Martz
Notable Players: Mike Bercovici, QB; Gavin Escobar, TE; Kameron Kelly, WR

       

How Does the AAF Differ From the NFL?

Although the AAF will feature some former NFL players, the games won't be exactly what football fans are used to seeing on Sundays.

The play clock will be 35 seconds, five seconds shorter than the NFL's clock. There will also be no television timeouts and only two challenges for each team. There will be no kickoffs, as teams will begin drives at their own 25-yard line.

There also won't be any onside kicks, which have been replaced by a "4th-and-12" from teams' own 28-yard line. These can only take place if a team is trailing by at least 17 or if there's five minutes or less remaining.

Teams will have to attempt two-point conversions following touchdowns, as there are no extra points.

Also, there are different rules for overtime. Each team will get the ball once for a 1st-and-goal at the opponent's 10-yard line. Teams must go for a touchdown and a two-point attempt, as field goals won't be allowed in overtime.

"We're not afraid of ties. It creates some excitement," AAF consultant Mike Pereira told the AP.

As the AP noted: "[There] will be a ninth member of the officiating crew, called a SkyJudge, who will be in the press box and can instantly correct 'obvious and egregious' officiating errors."

New Orleans Saints fans will surely love that rule.

       

Odds via The Action Network.