SFL Weekly - Get Your Popcorn ReadyBy Spring Football League News Wire
Posted November 06, 2011
SFLUpdate
Your Regular Round-Up of All Things Spring (Football)
2,000-plus words about the volatile SFL Offseason, from the Dispersal Draft, the Free Agency Period, and Everything In Between.
Storylines:
Cold, Hard Dispersal Draft
What more could one ask for in an offseason? The financial struggles and lack of a feasible financial partner in both the San Diego and Birmingham markets added the excitement of a Dispersal Draft (DD) to mix of Free Agency, Trades, and the annual College Draft. The DD (the second in SFL history and first under Commissioner Dallas Hartwell) allowed SFL Front Offices to pick over the scrap heap of two teams with a combined record of 12 wins and 2,543 losses* in the past three seasons. The two teams were basically a who’s who of washed up overpaid NFL guys (San Diego) and Canadian football players you have never heard of for a reason (Birmingham). Still, SFL teams were able to find a few diamonds (or something of slightly lesser value than diamonds) in the rough:
Best Pick – WR Mario Manningham (Round 1, Pick 8), Michigan Stags
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Manningham, seen here during his college days as a Michigan Wolverine, returns to the Great Lakes State as a Michigan Stag in 2012
Manningham was arguably the best offensive skilled position player available in the DD. He has been hugely productive in systems with less than competent QBs throwing him the ball. Not only that, he is relatively cheap, and now becomes Dennis Dixon’s shiny new toy in D-Town.
Biggest Steal – LB Zeke Moreno (Round 4, Pick 1), Philadelphia Bulldogs
Moreno is on his last legs, but he somehow went unselected through three full rounds of the draft. The quietly productive linebacker (70 tackles and 5 sacks in 2011) will probably make the roster and get some playing team with the defending champs.
Biggest Risk – QB Kevin Glenn (Round 1, Pick 1), New York/New Jersey Marauders
Of all the offensive positions, quarterback has got to be the spot where NY/NJ needed the least help. Chase Daniels is an up and coming QB who was basically treated as a punching bag by the league in 2011. Instead of picking up a tackle to protect him or a playmaking wide-out for him to throw to, NY/NJ went with an older, less talented quarterback to compete with him.
Blockbuster Deals
What is an SFL offseason if Ryan Clark doesn’t make at least one headscratcher of a trade? What is an SFL offseason if Chris Dunn didn’t trade away a franchise quarterback for a boatload of draft picks? Each of these are a vital part of your Spring Football League Fall Meetings…and each of these happened as the SFL gradually closed the books on 2011, and opened the books on 2012.
Dixon to a Division Rival
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Dixon performed for reporters during an exclusive workout after his arrival in Michigan
Philadelphia sends QB Dennis Dixon to Michigan in exchange for the Stags 1st and 3rd Round Draft Picks in the 2011 SFL Fall Common Draft.
No deal took the World O’ Spring Football by more surprise than Chris Dunn shipping SFL Grand Finale MVP Dennis Dixon to Michigan in exchange for a pair of (high) draft picks. The deal made sense for Michigan. The Stags feel like they have come so close to that elusive title and they didn’t want to have to go through a complete overhaul in order to stay competitive in the post-Romo era. On Philadelphia’s end things get a little more cloudy. It was little secret that Billick, Lofton, and Co. had grown tired of Dixon’s boom or bust results and wanted a more steady hand to guide the Bulldog offense. One would think that an SFL Cup would quell some of these debates…I guess not.
Moore Matt In Philly
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Moore participating in a team sponsored promotional event last week in Philadelphia
Oklahoma sends QB Matt Moore and Dominique Franks to Philadelphia in exchange for TE Garrett Mills, the Bulldogs 2nd and 5th Round Draft Selections in the 2011 SFL Fall Common Draft, and “the rights to sign” WR Antonio Bryant.
The Bulldogs did not sit on their haunches after the Dix jetted off to Michigan. In a grand bargain that was deeply controversial, but reluctantly approved by the league office, the Bulldogs picked up young Matt Moore from the Oklahoma Roughnecks. Moore was firmly supplanted by Leinart in the Battle of the Matts in OKC and he never really seemed to jive with Heupal and the Oklahoma coaching staff. In return for Leinart and an emerging cornerback in Dominique Franks, Oklahoma grabbed a reliable TE (though Mills has never become the SFL star he was pegged to be in 2006), a couple of picks, and the always entertaining (though aged) Antonio Bryant. Odds are that Moore will emerge the starter in Philly, and expectations will be sky high for the young gun.
Hollywood goes to Tennessee
Oklahoma sends Matt Leinart to Nashville in exchange for Nashville’s 2nd and 4th Round Draft Picks in the 2011 SFL Fall Common Draft and 1st Round Draft Pick in the 2012 SFL Fall Common Draft.
Perhaps it was the fact that Matt Leinart was consistently inconsistent for the R’Necks during the 2011 campaign. Perhaps the rumors were true that Heupel and Applewhite were unhappy with Leinart’s leadership in the huddle and in the locker room. Perhaps it was these photos that emerged ([url="http://deadspin.com/matt-leinart">Matt Leinart stories - Deadspin[/url]). Perhaps it was the fact that a trip to the Western Conference Championships (a first for Ryan Clark) was just not enough for Ryan Clark. Perhaps it was the idea of grabbing three picks for one player (even if it was a franchise QB) was just too tempting for the always-willing-to-deal Clark. Perhaps Oklahoma sees Jamaal Charles, and not Leinart, as their vehicle back to the conference championships and beyond. Perhaps it was just the SFL’s Maverick being the SFL’s Maverick. Regardless, Nashville missed out on a number of veteran free agent arms (Grieb, McCown, etc.) but managed to grab a QB who is slowly restoring his reputation while tossing the pigskin in the spring.
Bear Market
The slow recovery of the country as a whole from the Great Recession has touched all sectors of the economy, and the need for fiscal discipline has even made its way to the SFL. SFL teams were scraping the $40 million salary cap, and Commissioner Hartwell’s austerity measures, specifically a 10% reduction in the salary cap, caused a fervor among SFL players. While whispers of a strike lingered longer than Hartwell would have hoped, SFLPA President Rod Davis stated that talk of a strike was never on the table. “Not one player was happy about the reduction in compensation. At the same time, we understand the adverse effect forces well outside our control have had on our league. When the future of the league is on the line, we are willing to compromise in the name of shared sacrifice.”
The reduction in the cap led to a mass exodus of SFL players for the brighter lights and continued big paychecks of the NFL. Players who had been dominant in the spring had their contracts purchased for massive sums by NFL Franchises. Among the most notable? Brandon Marshall jettisoned the Rockets and moved across south Florida to the Dolphins of Miami. Miles Austin had another incredible year in the S, this time for the Seattle Orcas, and then jumped ship to become Tony Romo’s top target in Dallas with the Cowboys.
The austerity measures not only led to a departure of some of the top players in the league, but caused SFL teams to guard their cash with unheralded levels of self-control. The result? An odd Free Agency period full of storylines:
T.O. takes his talents to the Northwest
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Owens during the press conference upon his arrival in Seattle
There will not be a dull moment in Seattle this season. Consider the move to grab T.O. a stroke of genius by Chuck McBreaty. The Orca Fans, at one point, did not understand this concept of “losing.” As the team limped to a 4-12 finish in 2011 attendance dwindled. The solution? A headlining grabbing Free Agent signing which guarantees an increase in media coverage, a huge uptick in ticket sales, and plenty of #81 Orcas Jerseys flying off the shelves. Whether Owens produces on the field, and does anything to fill the void left by the departure of Miles Austin, remains to be seen, but really, it is somewhat of a non-issue.
QB Josh McCown re-signs with Seattle after testing the market
During the Restricted Free Agency period, McCown and his agent reportedly asked for a deal worth $4 million a year. After testing the market, and realizing the teams with the highest needs at QB (Nashville, Las Vegas, Columbus) were sitting the signing period out…Seattle scooped him back up again…for 600k…$3.4 million less than McCown initially demanded to continue to Swim With The Pod. The result is actually a win-win for both parties. The Orcas get one of the SFLs elite QBs on the cheap, at least for another season until they find a long-term solution. Meanwhile, McCown gets a shot to make up for a lackluster 2011 campaign, while mentoring the youth movement in Seattle.
Garrard’s Return, Herniated Disk N’ All
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Garrard answers questions about his recent behavior at Roughnecks Headquarters
In 2003, a rookie named David Garrard led the Ryan Clark-owned Orlando Rockets. In 2011, a veteran named David Garrard was signed to lead the Ryan Clark-owned Oklahoma Roughnecks. It is a reunion nine years in the making that may never be realized. The deal made sense, and explained Clark’s willingness to part ways with Leinart and Moore. But since the dotted line was signed things have turned rocky with Garrard claiming he needs surgery, and others questioning his desire to play football. Garrard’s SFL stat line (from ’03 to ’07 with five different teams) is mediocre (57% completion, near 8,000 yards, 45 TDs-44 Ints) and Oklahoma may question whether he is even worth all of this trouble.
Speculations:
The SFL is but four months from kicking off the 2012 campaign, here are a few emerging storylines to follow:
Columbus for Sale
In the storied history of the SFL there is only one franchise that has withstood the test of time. There is only one franchise has had the same leadership from the Opening Kickoff through 2011. As Bob Dylan so rightfully said, “The times they are a’ changin.’” Rumor has it that the Spring Football League Office has ceased command of the wayward Columbus Explorers as Owner/GM Eric Hatton is largely distracted by other business pursuits. Mark Cuban has reportedly expressed interest in the storied franchise, Paul Pelosi , amid the failing venture of the UFL, has also held meetings with Commissioner Hartwell about purchasing a team in the spring league.
Mini-Cam?
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Could Tyrod Taylor become the SFL's version of Cam Newton?
The first quarterback off the board in the 2011 SFL Fall Common Draft was Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech, selected at the end of the second round by the Oklahoma Roughnecks. With David Garrard doing his best to appear less than sane, could Tyrod Taylor earn the starting nod in OKC? There is a reason the R’Necks drafted this guy. Plus, their next best option is Zac Robinson or signing a never-was like Ken Dorsey. Taylor for ROY!
A Full House in Sin City
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After a brief hiatus, Sam Boyd Stadium will be rocking once again in 2012
The Banditos have 5 QBs on their roster right now. On paper, none of the QBs seem to differentiate themselves from the others. Grieb was acquired via Free Agency and the SFL Legend has piqued the interest of a recently scorned fan base. John Skelton was acquired via the Dispersal Draft and is an option but is probably a year or two out from being a legit starter in this league. Trent Edwards has never become the player people thought he was going to be…but another former Buffalo Bill has had success in the spring (see Losman, Jonathan Paul). Ramsey and Walter most likely played themselves out of professional football during the 2011 season and should be catching a Greyhound out of town ASAP. Regardless, it is going to be a wild training camp in LV.
ONWARD TO 2012 and MANY MORE!
* this number is clearly made up
