Arena Football League

Jason Willis had seen this before.

CONSOL Energy Center. San Jose SaberCats. Seconds to spare. The game on the line. The ball sailing perilously toward the back of the end zone, capping a calamitous comeback once it reached the hands of its intended target.

The Pittsburgh Power had also seen this before.

Not since Willis wore their own colors had they seen it end well.

With coverage provided by Brandon Freeman, and a desperate assist from fellow defensive back Sergio Gilliam, the ball sailed over the latter's head, through those waiting hands of Willis, and over the back wall.

"We wanted to give them something simple, like man-to-man, and stick with our guys," said Gilliam, who had thwarted an earlier San Jose drive with an end-zone interception, of the pivotal play.

Willis, who caught a game-winning score in Pittsburgh against San Jose in 2011, this time couldn't seize the moment before Freeman's free hand sabotaged it.

Maybe what new head coach Ron James said next wasn't as poetic as the rebellious anthem of the Beastie Boys (or maybe he just needed visibly giddy co-owner Lynn Swann to spruce up the press conference with some electric guitar), but it should resonate just as well.

"You have to earn the right to win," James said after his Power evened their record in a 48-47 nail-biter over the Pacific Division-leading SaberCats Saturday. "That's what I tell the team every week."

Until Nathan Stanley's two-point pass fell incomplete, the Power hadn't earned much besides sardonic Facebook posts on a weekly basis. For at least this week, it should feel good to say they reaped what they sowed on the field.

"What you do during the week directly reflects how you're able to perform during the game, and we earned the right to win this week," James repeated. "The players were attentive. They worked hard."

Quarterback Tommy Grady followed Gilliam's pick with a 40-yard drive that included a gutsy 4th-and-10 heave to Aaron Lesue down the sideline.

With just over three minutes left in regulation, and Pittsburgh in front, 48-34, Lesue appeared to pull in a blood-pressure-reducing first TD in a Power uniform on another fourth down play. Despite a judicious challenge by James, officials deemed Lesue did not maintain enough control of the ball before it was ripped away after he hit the turf.

That the score was not allowed to stand was a travesty, and the league should be grateful it didn't matter. That's because, through all the bad things that have happened, could have happened, and did happen to the Pittsburgh Power, James did indeed stick with his guys, and those guys stuck together. 

"Part of the [responsibility] of a new coach is making sure players understand the new system, and play the way you want them to play."

The Power began by playing that way—way better than anyone imagined. They stunned the crowd and the 'Cats by building first-half leads of 21-0 and 35-7, scoring off two other Stanley interceptions, not to mention a bad snap fumbled away by the rookie signal-caller. Offensively, they only yielded one turnover on downs in each half.

"With San Jose having a young quarterback, and knowing some of the situations he would be in, we were able to make the most of it—not so much disguising anything, but just anticipating," James said.

Grady threw for 94 yards and four touchdowns, running for another, before the break.

"We got them into situations where we knew what they were doing," he affirmed. "We just kept on hammering. Everyone came out focused, and we executed pretty well."

But right before the break came exactly the kind of bad break that always seemed inevitable when the Power play. A net recovery TD by David Hyland, who took advantage of the puzzling temporary absence of Lesue, Pittsburgh's regular kick returner, gave life to San Jose.

The Power then had to withstand the massive push-back James expected from a team that seems to have the material to play for a championship this season.

Just as Prechae Rodriguez, who now has seven TDs in two games, dominated the first two quarters, the veteran receiving tandem of Huey Whittaker and Reggie Gray took over the game for the SaberCats in the second half while the Power offense tried to shorten it. An acrobatic leaning catch by Gray beyond the wall provided the final margin.

Champions overcome. The Power are far from champions, but that's what they did in their Week 3 upset.

They overcame injuries to Rodriguez, who returned from a leg ailment, and to star defensive back Virgil Gray, who also returned from an injury that followed his second INT in as many games.

They overcame the odds.

They overcame themselves.

"Maybe it comes as a surprise to them," Gilliam said of the SaberCats. "But not to the guys in our locker room. This is what we can do when we all do our jobs."

"There were some instances where we didn't play the way we will play in the future," James said. "There were some bad mental errors, and we have to correct that moving on to next week."

Again, that reads not "the way we want to," but rather, "the way we will."

Again, the Power are far from champions. They have to avoid plummeting back to the level of their competition when they meet the winless San Antonio Talons in the Alamodome Friday at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN3 to even be called the second-place team in their own division. Grady, to wit, has to improve upon that modest 50 percent completion rate from Week 3.

James, however, could be a champion of change. He is committed to giving Pittsburgh a product worth watching and a product that more than the 4,309 guarded optimists in the building last weekend will want to watch.

His first victory proves the Steel City might finally have an AFL team that can match his steel resolve.

Statistics courtesy of Pittsburgh Power Football. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Ron James knows he and the rest of the Utah contingent in town had nothing to do with the misfortunes of the Pittsburgh Power through the first three years of the Power's existence. These problems were followed by a setback at home to open the Power's fourth season, a loss courtesy of the rival Cleveland Gladiators.

The new head coach of the Power, who was named the Arena Football League's Coach of the Year while at the helm of the now-defunct Blaze in 2012, also knows that doesn't prohibit them from doing something about it.

"It's been an unexpected journey, but one I'm embracing fully," James said after practice at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on Pittsburgh's South Side Thursday night. "It's about building teamwork, continuity, and consistency, and making sure the players understand every facet of the game."

The Power (0-1) could use more consistency when they host the San Jose SaberCats (2-0) at CONSOL Energy Center Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN3 in Week 3 AFL action.

They could also stand to better understand every facet of the game after (to put it bluntly) stinking in every facet of it for much of 2013, especially in the last meeting between these two teams.

"Coach James has repeatedly shown the ability to lead players and coach successful teams," Power co-owner Lynn Swann stated in a Mar. 21 press release. "Our goal is to bring a championship to Pittsburgh."

It's a good time for the Power to welcome new leadership after exiled coach Derek Stingley, who won only seven games in two-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, watched his team blow a divisional contest it controlled for the first 40 minutes. Furthermore, with the first of its two bye weeks in the books, Pittsburgh has had more time to integrate its third head coach in four years—as many coaches as Swann's Steelers have had in 44 years.

It's not necessarily a good time for the Power to welcome the SaberCats, a perennial powerhouse that just humiliated the two-time American Conference champion Philadelphia Soul and did the same to the Power on July 13, 2013, in the most lopsided win (58 points) by a visiting team in league history.

"They're probably one of the most, if not the most, physical teams we're going to line up against. It's difficult for our team, because we're trying to gain confidence against a very confident club," James said. "But it will allow us to see what kind of chinks there are in the armor right away, and that could be of great benefit to us in the weeks to come."

Power quarterback and fellow Utah refugee Tommy Grady initially dazzled in his Pittsburgh debut. But he fizzled down the stretch, losing his accuracy, losing the turnover battle, and losing his pocket as well, finishing 28-of-44 passing for 271 yards, five TDs and two picks.

"The protection was a little bit problematic for him, which didn't allow him to set his feet the way he normally would," James explained, "and he pressed a little bit in the second half when his team got behind, which is natural for a competitor [like him]. We just want to settle things down a little bit, and I just want to help with the play-calling and selection. Those two things should help him play a lot better."

To mitigate that physical advantage held by San Jose, which leads the league in scoring defense, James assigned former Utah center Antonio Narcisse (6'2", 340 lbs.) to line up in front of Grady this week.

"It's all about a fit. You can throw all the talent you want out there, but you've still got to play together. I mesh real well with Tommy, I love protecting him, and I feel that's my job," Narcisse said. "I'd give my right leg to Tommy."

"You traditionally build up the middle in arena football, so to bring in a quality center was important to us," James said. "When you have a quarterback like Tommy, you want to make sure the protection is at a premium. When he's on, he's very accurate, and he's one of the smarter players around the game."

Expectations, intrinsically and externally, remain high for Grady, who is trying to recapture the magic of that 2012 campaign under James. While his coach was earning kudos for his work on the bench that year, Grady was tearing up the turf en route to league MVP honors.

"I don't think they could have brought in a much better head coach," Grady said, having shaken the shock of Stingley's removal. "He knows his stuff, and he knows how to win in this league. [In Utah] he built a structure and held everybody accountable, and made sure everyone was working hard every day."

Indeed, for the Power to have a puncher's chance Saturday, Grady has to take ownership of his mistakes in the lid-lifter. The SaberCats have an AFL-best plus-3 turnover margin through two games.

"We just got away from what we like to do offensively," Grady said of the Power's Week 1 loss. "We had some breakdowns at all positions, and I think we let up a little bit, and the game got away from us."

Cleveland quarterback Chris Dieker gradually stole the spotlight from him by accounting for nine scores in the lid-lifter. The Power, in all probability, won't have to worry about facing another seasoned veteran in Russ Michna, who was concussed in Week 1.

But longtime San Jose coach Darren Arbet might be able to allay any fears after seeing rookie Nathan Stanley complete 64 percent of his passes for 249 yards and six TDs in the win over Philly. Stanley was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week.

He's been spreading the ball around to journeyman Rod Harper, who leads San Jose with 16 catches for 182 yards, and Reggie Gray, a three-time All-Arena selection with Michna's old Chicago Rush teams and a player whose seven touchdowns are tied for the league lead entering Week 3.

Saturday, incidentally, is also a homecoming game for another San Jose receiver, Jason Willis. He was an original member of the Power, caught the first touchdown pass in franchise history and also happened to catch a game-winning pass that same year against the SaberCats.

Despite their ongoing futility, the Power have led the league in total defense each of the past two seasons. After adding pieces in the offseason, they don't want to just trade offensive chances with the SaberCats, but they may have to given all the weapons on San Jose's bench.

Grady will have former Utah receivers Aaron Lesue, Shaun Kauleinamoku and newly added Alvance Robinson to throw to, and he's clicked with former Orlando wideout Prechae Rodriguez, who caught three TD passes in Week 1, including the 400th of Grady's AFL career.

"It's a great opportunity for us to come in and prove we're not a pushover team," Narcisse said.

Timing is everything. Today, fans might just see Ron James as the latest sucker to walk through the doors of CONSOL Energy Center and accept damaged goods. Tomorrow, if he can celebrate a signature win with his new team, that perception will start to change.

Regardless, James has won in this league before. This fanbase should give him and the Power a chance.

"They have a great team," Grady said of the SaberCats, against whom he is 2-3 lifetime. "But we think we have a great team ourselves."

Together they can still prove it to this city and to the rest of the Arena Football League.

As far as Ron James is concerned, it's just a matter of time.

Statistics courtesy of ArenaFootball.com and ArenaFan.com. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

I wanted to believe 2014 would be different for the Pittsburgh Power.

I wanted to believe their franchise quarterback, a rugged refugee who boldly stepped through the same revolving door on Fifth Avenue as others who failed miserably, had finally arrived.

I wanted to believe their ownership, which brought in two other decorated ringers as part of a Michael Jackson-esque makeover on and off of the field, was no longer a rudderless ship.

I wanted to believe their beleaguered coach, equipped with a completely new staff rich in Arena Football League experience and absent the stench of nepotism, would be vindicated.

I wanted to believe them when they said it was their time.

Heck, they even made that into a hashtag.

But as the Cleveland Gladiators reminded the charitably calculated CONSOL Energy Center crowd of 7,472, until they see the Power donning commemorative T-shirts and/or hoisting trophies, they shouldn't rush to suspend disbelief.

"Going into halftime I said, 'You guys control the game,'" head coach Derek Stingley recalled.

Then, as few besides the Power could do, they lost control.

"I think we have guys in that locker room who are accustomed to winning, and they kind of relaxed a little bit," Stingley elaborated after a season-opening 63-53 loss. "We didn't underestimate our opponent, but we thought we were still in control."

That was before they were outscored 28-8 in the fourth quarter.

"Cleveland got some bounces that went their way, and went against us."

Maybe.

The Power held a 31-28 edge when they received Stingley's message. Despite the seesaw nature of this rivalry game, and despite the resilience of fellow veteran quarterback Chris Dieker, the prevailing story of this lid-lifter was how new signal-caller Tommy Grady was living up to the hype surrounding his Power debut.

Grady started 10-of-12 for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter alone. He became the 13th quarterback in AFL history to throw 400 career touchdown passes when he found Prechae Rodriguez for the second of his three scores with 1:35 left in the opening frame.

As only could happen to the Power, he appeared hurt on his first play from scrimmage after narrowly avoiding a sack. What he later described as an aggravation of an old rib injury only kept him out for one play, and he immediately hit Rodriguez for an impressive 47-yard scoring strike on 3rd-and-10 upon his return.

"We came out with a sense of urgency. We were breaking the huddle and getting up to the ball ready to go," Grady explained.

Can we safely say the 2012 version of Grady, the one that rewrote the league record book, is back?

Maybe.

He showered the Gladiators with offense in the first half, using the entire field effectively. But that early poise and excellence didn't stop the 2013 version, the one that got benched for Jason Boltus in Utah, from reappearing.

Rodriguez, whom Cleveland shut down much of the second half, was overthrown twice on key plays. Two puzzling offside penalties involving longtime Grady teammate Aaron Lesue killed an important drive, and his fumble prematurely ended another. A horrible miscommunication led to a LaRoche Jackson interception after the Glads had extended their only lead of the night.

"We didn't have that same sense of urgency as the first half, and that's my fault. We've got to play with that all game long," Grady lamented. "It was everybody. It was me, it was the receivers, it was the linemen, it was everyone put together. The defense played good enough to win the game."

Maybe.

Reassigned defensive back Virgil Gray, who is coming off of another All-Arena campaign in Arizona, was the Power's best player on the other side of the ball.

Can he, like Grady, be the young star and team leader of old?

Maybe.

He was responsible for a diving interception in the end zone that preserved a 31-28 halftime lead for the hosts.

He was also responsible for getting burned twice by Thyron Lewis for a pair of scores, including a critical one that followed Jackson's pick.

The Power, unlike past seasons, did not stage a preseason game or scrimmage of any kind. It was the first live action for a group entirely new to each other except for five returnees.

That means fine-tuning the man coverage the Power lived and died by in this East Division sword fight. It also means a defensive line conditioned to get pressure on the quarterback when it absolutely has to. Four of the nine scores accounted for by Dieker came on the ground.

"I don't think that's an excuse for this. We still should have come up with the win," Gray said. "I felt like I didn't make enough plays, and we didn't win because the defense didn't make enough plays."

Still, the operative word is "enough."

While finishing 24-of-37 for 235 yards and five TDs, Grady brought a greater sense of stability to his position than any quarterback in team history, with the vague exception of charter member Bernard Morris. He helped the Power to a 21-13 first-quarter advantage—more points than they scored in three games last season.

Julian Rauch was sharp all night, netting a franchise-record 49-yard field goal and making a tackle along the wall to stem a long kick return by Dominic Jones. When the Power finally stabilized their kickoff coverage, Arvell Nelson, Grady's backup, secured a loose ball for a net recovery touchdown. It was the kind of splash play this team seldom made last year.

Is it a sign post toward a different era for the Pittsburgh Power?

Maybe.

Or is it just another sad reminder they are their own worst enemy?

Maybe.

Between bad signings, bad hires and bad politics, people still distrust the organization. Frittering away a 17-point lead on a night when, through two-and-a-half quarters, it was the better team, not just the better hyped team, is no way to tear down that distrust.

The Power have two weeks to prepare to host a San Jose SaberCats club, led by former Chicago gunslinger Russ Michna, that flattened the in-over-their-head Portland Thunder in the latter's first-ever AFL game.

Stingley, who is stuck on seven wins in two-and-a-half years at the helm of his current team, has to be the one to lead that crusade. He's been outfoxed on a pretty regular basis, and he has to bear the brunt of at least some of the criticism for the way his counterpart, Steve Thonn, figured out his offense.

"I told those guys I don't know what team has ever won a championship in Week 1. At the same time, we expected a better performance," Stingley said.

Maybe, for the Pittsburgh Power, that better, more complete performance will come in Week 3.

Maybe it will be the first of many.

Maybe.

(Statistics courtesy of ArenaFootball.com. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.)

The Arena Football League announced on Tuesday a partnership with Sports Video Innovations, the provider of a product that puts cameras in football helmets. 

The cameras, called Schutt Vision, give viewers an opportunity to see plays from the perspective of players in the game: 

SVI was created with the goal of revolutionizing the way in which sporting events are viewed and experienced. Point-of-view video of athletes has long been desired by coaches, fans and broadcasters. With the introduction of Schutt Vision, that desire has been fulfilled. For the first time, coaches, broadcasters and fans can truly see what the athlete sees, in real time.

With the AFL recently striking a multi-year TV deal with ESPN, there's a good chance you will see these unique angles on your screen soon.

Now if we could only get them on an NFL field...

Thanks to Reddit user DoogieBrowser (h/t Dan Treadway of Extra Mustard) for the find. 

Since being released by the New England Patriots prior to the 2013 NFL regular season, there has been plenty of speculation about where quarterback Tim Tebow could land.

Well, if rock-and-roll legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have it their way, he will be joining their new Arena Football League team. According to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, the L.A. KISS have offered Tebow a three-year contract:

Stanley indicated his excitement about the potential signing in a press release, via Nate Davis of USA Today:

Tim Tebow is one of the most recognized and respected athletes in sport. His joining us would mean great things for his fans and for our team, especially from a business standpoint. His credibility within the sports arena is paramount and with our commitment to bringing football without compromise back to LA, we're excited to see how this offer turns out.

As incredible as Tebow playing for the KISS would be for sports media, it just doesn't seem very likely. Back in May, Mike Garafolo of USA Today reported that Tebow was not prepared to accept an offer from an AFL team—or even a Canadian Football League team, for that matter. 

Tebow all but confirmed that notion upon being cut loose by the Patriots, making it abundantly clear on Twitter that he is not done chasing his dream of being an NFL quarterback.

Based on how poorly Tebow performed during the preseason, though, playing a year in another league may be a viable option. After all, there is little doubt that the KISS would start Tebow and give him every opportunity to succeed. 

After damaging stints with the Patriots and New York Jets, Tebow needs to show talent evaluators that he can still get the job done. The AFL is a far cry from the NFL, but many players—including two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner— have successfully made the jump from the Arena League to the NFL.

Despite that, Tebow appears to be set in his ways. Perhaps that will ultimately prove to be a good thing, though, since he doesn't seem like the type of guy who likes to rock and roll all night.  

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Professional football is returning to Los Angeles, and it is happening courtesy of one of the most iconic rock bands of all time. Founding KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are part of an ownership group along with KISS manager Doc McGhee for the Arena Football League's newest expansion team, the Los Angeles KISS.

Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reported the announcement on Thursday in Orlando, Florida, which is the site of Saturday's ArenaBowl XXVI between the Arizona Rattlers and Philadelphia Soul.

It is no secret that the AFL has struggled to create a buzz in recent years, but perhaps the KISS can help the league turn things around.   

This announcement is arguably the biggest to come from the AFL since the league canceled the 2009 season. The AFL has since returned, and having a high-profile team in L.A. could very well add some stability to the league.

With the Georgia Force and Kansas City Command folding, and the Milwaukee Mustangs currently dormant, there was room to expand the 14-team league. Rather than exploring another second-rate market, the AFL went for the gusto by securing one of the largest sports and media markets in the United States.

This isn't the Arena League's first foray into the City of Angels, either, as the Los Angeles Avengers played in the league from 2000 through 2009. The franchise ultimately folded amid all of the turmoil that occurred within the league in 2009, but it's difficult to imagine the KISS meeting a similar fate.

While the Avengers played their games at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the KISS are scheduled to play at the Honda Center in Anaheim, which is currently the home of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks. Since the KISS won't have to share a building with countless other franchises like the Avengers did, they should be in a better position to be a major player within the market.

There has been no NFL team in Los Angeles since 1994, as the Rams moved to St. Louis and the Raiders moved to Oakland following the season. The AFL will obviously never be able to compete with the NFL, but having a team in Los Angeles should bring some much needed attention to the league.

The band KISS is still popular across the country and the world, so being attached to their brand will be huge for the new Los Angeles-based franchise. It's hard to say how successful the AFL team will be, but the band certainly knows how to create an atmosphere and put on a great show, so the Los Angeles KISS games will be must-see events.

The Soul are another Arena League team with musical roots, as they were originally owned by Jon Bon Jovi. Although he is no longer part of the ownership group due to the pursuit of outside endeavors, the Soul have been one of the league's most successful franchises since their inception in 2004.

If the KISS can achieve similar success, it will be a huge boost to the league. KISS has been making headlines for years, so Simmons and Stanley will ensure that people are talking about their team. It will be up to the league itself to capitalize on that increased interest, though. 

It remains to be seen how good the on-field product will be, but there is no question that the KISS will help raise the level of interest in the AFL. 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow has been offered an opportunity to play in the Arena Football League. If he wants to rehabilitate his career, then Tebow must take this opportunity.

Ron Jaworski, a former NFL quarterback and current NFL analyst, is a part owner of the AFL's Philadelphia Soul. He reached out to Tebow to play for the Soul, according to Fox Sports, but he has not yet heard back. 

''I love the guy,'' Jaworski told Fox Sports. ''I want him here just for his leadership.''

Tebow had a difficult year with the New York Jets and is currently a free agent with no immediate NFL interest. He has yet to prove he can be a consistent, effective quarterback. He was never able to get on the field ahead of Mark Sanchez, who had a disappointing year in his own right. 

Not only would the AFL give Tebow a chance to play and start—something he's unlikely to find in the NFL—it will also give him a chance to improve his craft, according to Jaworski [via Fox Sports]:

''You've got to learn to get rid of the football, quick. You've got to process information, quick,'' he said. ''If those are challenges Tim has, that's it. If you get reps and you're dropping back 40-45 times, with people in your face, you get better. He needs to play. He needs to be on the field.''

''He's a hard worker, that's great,'' he said. ''But you've got to be on the field in live action getting that experience. I think the Arena Football League would give him that opportunity.''

The AFL differs from the NFL in that the field is just 50-yards. It requires even quicker decisions than the NFL entails. However, the level of competition is not as good, and Tebow would enter the AFL as one of the best players.

It's not yet clear if Tebow is interested in joining the AFL. However, he has little choice. No NFL team seemingly wants him. Even if he does sign with a NFL team, he will be relegated to backup duty.

Tebow certainly has skills. He's a terrific runner and has had success in the NFL in a Wildcat scheme. He's a terrific leader and motivator. However, his passing needs work, as he's completed just 47.9 percent of his passes in the NFL.

Steve Addazio, the Boston College head football coach, notes that Tebow's skill-set matches that of many of the young NFL quarterbacks. Like Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton, he has tremendous running ability. With some passing improvement, Tebow could really succeed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOP0z8JXiNw

If he were to join the AFL, he will get the reps that are needed to improve. He will be able to refine his passing ability to become a more complete quarterback. As Jaworski noted, with more reps, he will get better. He can then take the skills learned from the AFL and apply it to the NFL.

It would not be the first time someone made a successful jump from the AFL to the NFL. Famously, Kurt Warner spent three years in the Arena League before jumping to the NFL and becoming one of the most prolific passers in history.

Tebow's pride might be hurt by going to the AFL. After all, all Tebow has known is success. He was a two-time National Champion in college and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. He won a playoff game with the Denver Broncos, as well.

But right now, Tebow has no other option. He has no other choice. Going to the Philadelphia Soul will give Tebow much needed playing time. It will allow him to rehabilitate his career in a lower-pressure environment. And eventually, it will allow him to earn a starting job in the NFL. 

 

Tim Tebow's best chance to suit up this season is in the Arena Football League.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, also part owner of the Philadelphia Soul, recently pursued Tebow. According to Ed Barkowitz of the Philadelphia Daily News, Jaworski made an offer earlier this week:

Jaworski treats opportunity like a Doberman treats prime rib. So, when Tim Tebow was released by the New York Jets on April 29, Jaworski took a shot by reaching out to the unemployed quarterback and offered him a roster spot with the Soul.

He's still waiting for a reply.

"I haven't heard back from him and I'm not going to push it," said Jaworski, one of the Soul's owners. "If he decides he wants to play Arena Football, we'll make a spot for him."

This is an opportunity that Tebow cannot afford to pass up.

For one, it's a chance to get on a team and put the New York Jets fiasco behind him. Second, the style of play in Arena ball will force him to develop as a quarterback, especially his throwing motion, which ESPN's Sports Science breaks down here:

In a game that is incredibly fast paced, a quarterback must establish consistency to succeed. Given how often the aerial assault is utilized, a move to the Arena League would help Tebow polish his mechanics.

He'll be forced to make quick pre-snap reads on each down, as well as move through his progressions much faster. There's also less room to run because the field is rather narrow compared to the pro football gridiron.

So, defenses will have an easier time containing Tebow's mobility and trapping him behind the line.

On the bright side, the guy still has the strong arm to attack defenses downfield. With an improved throwing technique for better accuracy behind a quicker release, Tebow will then be able to make a return to the NFL.

Interestingly enough, Cleveland Browns general manager Michael Lombardi echoed why Tebow must develop as a passer, according to Will Brinson of CBS Sports:

The Browns GM was pretty harsh, pointing out that Tebow needs to go "somewhere where he can develop as a passer."

“I think Tim Tebow's a great kid. Unfortunately, I think Tim has to get somewhere where he can develop as a passer. It's a passing league," Lombardi said. "Last year there was only one team in the NFL that ran the ball in the first half more than it threw. One."

Well, when it comes to passing leagues, the AFL is an extension of the NFL.

There's less room for error when dropping back simply because of the field dimensions and quicker pace. Tebow's improvisation skills won't ever leave him, and that's his competitive advantage in pro football.

Now, mix that with enhanced passing mechanics, and he will become a complete player. The Arena League is just the answer to buff out the rough spots.

The air in the Mile High City was too crisp for Tim Tebow’s liking, and the Big Apple was unkind to him. A potential transition to the Arena Football League would be no different for the former NFL quarterback and trending celebrity.

ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, a former NFL quarterback and current part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, offered Tebow a roster spot on his team this week. 

So far, there has been no response from Camp Tebow.

“I haven’t heard back from him and I’m not going to push it,” Jaworski said, courtesy of Philly.com. “If he decides he wants to play Arena Football, we’ll make a spot for him.”

How kind of Jaworski to offer Tebow a gig in one of the NFL’s minor league entitlements. We might as well call it a slap in the face.

The fact of the matter is Tebow is too skilled, too agile, too swift and too athletic to stoop down to the AFL. It isn’t worth his time, energy or commitment. He would tear up the AFL if given the opportunity.

However, Jaworski believes the AFL would serve as a training league for Tebow, according to Philly.com:

“One [criticism] of Tebow is that he is slow and methodical,” Jaworski said. "He would be forced to quicken it up in this league. You can learn a lot in this league. It’s about processing information and getting the ball out … or you get whacked.”

How can Tebow be slow and methodical if a team never fully invested in him? Throughout his short-lived three-year NFL career, Tebow has never had a chance to develop into a legitimate game-changer.

Denver surprisingly selected Tebow 25th overall in the 2010 NFL draft. He played just two seasons—23 games—with the Broncos before being dealt to the New York Jets in exchange for a fourth- and sixth-round pick.

That experiment failed miserably, but it wasn't because Tebow couldn’t play. Rather, it was because Jets head coach Rex Ryan never gave the quarterback a chance to prove himself.

Tim Tebow -- NY Jets RUINED His Career ... Says NY Giants Owner Steve Tisch http://t.co/wENWytbKb2

— TMZ (@TMZ) May 13, 2013

The facts are simple: Tebow played just 77 snaps last season. He never broke a sweat.

Despite all the negative criticism and public lynching thrown his way, Tebow, when given a chance, has shown how effective he can be with the ball in his hands. He threw five touchdowns his rookie year, and he followed suit by tossing 12 the following year. He also rushed for 887 yards and scored 12 times over his first two seasons. 

More importantly, his leadership helped guide the Broncos to the postseason and a surprising win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His numbers are certainly better than those of his former teammate Mark Sanchez, who is as incompetent as they come. Sanchez has thrown more interceptions (69) than touchdowns (68) over his four-year career.

If Tebow signs up for a position in the AFL, it would be a disservice to himself and those who are deserving of a second chance. 

The 2013 Chicago Rush may only have a 1-2 record this year, but they have plenty of star power. One of those stars is new to the team this year, wide receiver Rodney Wright. Wright is in his eighth season in the Arena Football League, 2013 is turning out to be one of the best years of his career.

Just three games into the season, Wright already leads the team with 26 receptions and 326 receiving yards. His five touchdown catches puts him second behind longtime Rush receiver Reggie Gray. He also leads the team in the kick return category as well.

Wright has returned 10 kicks this year for 242 yards. His longest return this year was a 43-yard return in Week 2 against Spokane. Wright has become especially useful in the return game, a category in which the Rush have struggled in the last couple of seasons.

His presence has been felt in the Chicago Rush locker room, and he's on the verge of making his presence felt throughout the league. Wright was brought in during the off season, an off season which saw a lot of chaos for the Rush from the business side of things.

Wright along with Nate Forse, were brought in after Jared Perry and Terrance Turner departed during the winter months. Perry and Turner were the second and third receivers behind Reggie Gray in 2012. Losing the two of them was a significant blow to a team that already had it's fair share of problems.

Wright and Forse were brought in to fill those voids. Wright has definitely lived up to his end of the bargain thus far. This weekend the Rush welcome the Pittsburgh Power to the Allstate Arena. The Power are still looking for their first victory of 2013, winning this Sunday will be easier said than done.

Especially if Wright continues to put up the type of numbers that he's been putting up this year. Pittsburgh will have a hard enough time having to play defense against Reggie Gray. Rodney Wright will make their job that much harder this weekend.

I am really looking forward to Sunday's game, and I look forward to seeing Rodney Wright's continued success in a Rush uniform.