Here are some of the rule differences that stick out:
Play clock: The AAF’s play clock will be 35 seconds, five seconds shorter than the NFL’s. Anything less, Ebersol believes, will actually make the games longer due to sloppier play that results in stoppages through incomplete passes, penalties and the like.
Timeouts/challenges: There are no television timeouts during games and an ongoing effort to have fewer commercials to reduce overall game time to roughly 150 minutes instead of 180 minutes in the NFL. Additionally, replays will be limited to two coach’s challenges for either team.
Kickoffs: There are no kickoffs; instead, teams will start drives from their own 25-yard lines. In lieu of an onside kick, each team will have a “fourth-and-10” from their 35-yard line. If the offense converts for a first down, it keeps the ball. These alterations were designed not only with player safety in mind, but as a reaction to what NFL fans find to be among the least interesting parts of the game.
Two-point conversions: There will be no extra point attempts after touchdowns, only two-point conversions.
Overtimes: To help keep games within a two-and-a-half hour time slot, there will be one overtime session. Each team will start an offensive possession from the 10-yard line, and just like in regulation, two-point conversions are required. Games can end in a tie after the overtime period.
The kickoff rule is interesting. I really like the twist in the “onside option” where you can have a “4th and 10” to keep the ball.
I will watch solely because of the no TV timeouts. It’s one thing I love about soccer. Constant content and action. Don’t give people a reason to look away.
I watched the Orlando game last night. The quality of play was better than expected. The rules are going to take some getting used to. Only allowing 5 men to rush the QB is going to take some getting used to. It’s hard to judge players performance after one game.
I didn’t watch,, but I heard it was pretty good. I doubt I’ll sit down to watch a full game but I’ll catch some here and there and see if it grabs my interest.
Didn’t know the channel or time so I missed it but I’m down for offseason football. Was it on a major network?
It was on CBS and the NFL network show a game. I think the CBS All-Access streaming service will carry the games as well.
The XFL is starting next year and I don’t see how these 2 leagues can put out a good product with the talent pool being watered down. My guess is these two leagues will eventually merge.
There appears to be an appetite for a spring league nowaday. I still remember the USFL and enjoyed it. This won’t be good for the CFL.
I cut the DirecTV chord. I cut back my work with my dad sick, and now must trim budget. I’m not sure how I’ll see football in fall. May just have to buy tickets on stubhub and go.
The only way a league like this survives is to become a minor league farm system for the NFL. You can’t compete with the NFL and you aren’t going to grab any sizable market share from them. This would also require it to allow students to choose to go straight from HS to the minor leagues if drafted. The teams would have to pay crappy minor league wages of course. Not sure how viable it is, not sure what impact it would have on the NCAA, but that is the only way I see it working.
Problem with a football minor league is your sports life is much much shorter compared to a sport like baseball or even basketball. It’s very hard on the body. Going through the minors, by the time you make it to the NFL, you’ll be to old and to broken. If you go college to minors to nfl it’s twice as bad.
I agree. That would be best for the new league, but I’m not sure the NFL has an interest in that for the reasons you mentioned. I’m not sure how much of a market there is for it in the spring. There’s football on any night from late August through early January and people dedicate a lot of time, money personal energy etc. for that whole period. I’m not sure that many really want to follow it with any real passion for the whole year.
