SFL Weekly - Playing for Their LivesBy Spring Football League News Wire
Posted February 27, 2012
2012 Exhibition Week 1 Recap
SFL PRESEASON POWER POLL
1. Nashville Renegades-Arian Foster + the top rated defense in the league. ‘Nuff Said. Now if only Matt Leinart could remove his head from his ass: Matt leinart News, Video and Gossip - Deadspin
2. Orlando Rockets - Stoi continues to out-GM the rest of the league. Could 2012 finally be his, and Frito Ray’s, year?
3. Philadelphia Bulldogs – To be honest they are only given this rating because you have to respect the defending champs. The Bulldogs pulled a Marlins and unloaded key pieces after a championship run – a season of uncertainty is looming in the City of Brotherly Love.
4. Minnesota Freeze - Yeah, I’m biased. But, if Danny Woodhead and Doug Baldwin can emerge as playmakers on the offensive side of the ball things will be rockin’ at TCF.
5. Los Angeles Centurions – An incredible regular season run against mediocre opponents was quickly halted when the going got rough in the playoffs. The Cents brought in veterans to fill some key holes and the rest of the “S” is on notice.
6. Dallas Six-Shooters - The Oklahoma Roughnecks wear new colors but look not to miss a beat after an incredible 2011 campaign. After the schizophrenic David Garrard heralded arrival and quick exit Ryan Clark answered all questions by bringing in Jeff Garcia. After struggling in the UFL (9 TDs – 11 Ints, 51.8% comp pct), Garcia returned to his efficient ways with Nashville. Two big questions remain for the Shooters: At 42, can Garcia do it again? And can Jamaal Charles – in a contract year – stay healthy?
7. San Antonio Marshals – The defending Western Conference champs should probably receive a little more love than this but there are too many questions on both sides of the ball for anyone to see 2011 as anything more than an anomaly.
8. Michigan Stags – The Stags are a solid Dark Horse candidate this season: World Champion Dennis Dixon + Mario “Make Them Go To” Manningham + A GREAT O-Line + Dom Capers.
9. Columbus Explorers – New ownership has elected to simply maintain a steady hand on the tiller during 2012. That is fine – but fans of Columbus have never gained a reputation as a patient bunch.
10. Chicago Crusaders – Jack Pardee + Scott Smith?! Cru Fans hope to party like its 1999 at Soldier Field this season!
11. Seattle Orcas – When Josh McCown was resigned it saved Jim Zorn’s job. Repairing the damage of David Livingston is only known cause of the prematurely graying hair of Chuck McBrearty.
12. Las Vegas Bandits – Inconsistent ownership has yielded consistently mediocre teams in Sin City. The End of the Utah Experiment is a boon to the SFL – hopefully the Austin Collie Roadshow can return the electricity to Sam Boyd this year.
13. New Orleans Nightmare – Terrill Weil finally has his long awaited (second) team in New Orleans. The moniker for the new New Orleans franchise is also the most appropriate prediction for what the 2012 season will bring: a Nightmare for football fans on the Bayou. At least there is always the post-game on Bourbon Street.
14. New York/New Jersey Marauders - Chase Daniels as Sacrificial Lamb: Part II is now playing at a football stadium near you. “This is going to hurt.”
SFL SHORT SHORTS
Although it would be presumptuous to say the league is starting to rebound from a fall over the last four years, the league has already began looking into possible 2013 expansion in Shreveport, Louisiana...................New Orleans head coach Mike Zimmer is two wins away from surpassing John Bunting as 6th all-time in coaching wins......Chicago head coach Jack Pardee is four wins away from surpassing Peter Vaas as 12th all-time in coaching wins.......Columbus head coach Mike Mularkey is two wins away from surpassing Marvin Lewis as 14th all-time in coaching wins.......Tim Rattay and Matt Leinart are neck to neck in a race for who starts for Nashville in 2012......Columbus quarterback Anthony Calvillo is 607 yards away from surpassing Clint Dolzel as 2nd all-time in passing yards.....Seattle's Josh McCown, Las Vegas' Mark Grieb, and Orlando's Ricky Ray all have legitimate chances of surpassing Dolezel as well........Orlando's Ricky Ray is 10 touchdown passes away from surpassing Clint Dolezel for 3rd all-time in passing scores.....Columbus runner Michael Turner is 247 yards away from becoming the second player in SFL history to eclipse 8,000 yards........NFL veteran Randy Moss has expressed interest in playing in the SFL this year, providing the money is right.........the Las Vegas Bandits are currently looking at a four way race for the starting quarterback job........rumors have begin swirling of expansion on the west coast..........Minnesota Freeze wide receiver Joey Galloway has expressed interest in returning to either Dallas or Columbus with Minnesota's current interest in NFL Pro Bowler Randy Moss.
MVP WATCH
1. HB Arian Foster, Nashville Renegades
2. HB Jamaal Charles, Dallas Six-Shooters
3. QB Ricky Ray, Orlando Rockets
4. WR Terrell Owens, Seattle Orcas
5. TE Aaron Hernandez, Orlando Rockets
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH
1. HB Arian Foster, Nashville Renegades
2. HB Jamaal Charles, Dallas Six-Shooters
3. WR Terrell Owens, Seattle Orcas
4. QB Ricky Ray, Orlando Rockets
5. TE Aaron Hernandez, Orlando Rockets
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH
1. CB Darnell Dockett, Orlando Rockets
2. LB Channing Crowder, Nashville Renegades
3. CB Adam Jones, Minnesota Freeze
4. S Dashon Goldson, Seattle Orcas
5. DT Jay Alford, Philadelphia Bulldogs
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WATCH
1. HB Evan Royster, Philadelphia Bulldogs
2. WR Doug Baldwin, Minnesota Freeze
3. WR Denarius Moore, Nashville Renegades
4. HB Kendall Hunter, Orlando Rockets
5. DE Pernell McPhee, Seattle Orcas
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH
1. HB Tiki Barber, Orlando Rockets
2. QB Josh McCown, Seattle Orcas
3. WR Brian Finneran, New York Marauders
4. CB Leigh Bodden, Seattle Orcas
5. HB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Bulldogs
THE HOT SEAT
1. Jim Zorn, Seattle Orcas
- Many were shocked when the Seattle Orcas chose to retain Zorn for a 13th season. It may take a significant turnaround for him to return for a 14th year in Seattle.
POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT: Tim Marcum. Marcum was an addition by ownership, not Zorn. He'll be looking over his back all year.
2. Mike Zimmer, New Orleans Nightmare
- Zimmer is one of the league's most prestigious coaches. However, Nightmare owner TJ Weil may be looking for a new, local face come next year.
POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT: Gary Crowton. Crowton is a former championship coach in the SFL with connections to the state.
RISING STOCK: HB Evan Royster, Bulldogs
- Royster had an amazing scrimmage and looks primed for a big rookie season.
FALLING STOCK: Matt Leinart, Nashville Renegades
Still no word on who will be starting under center week one. But Leinart still appears neck-to-neck with Tim Rattay.
