OTW Preseason Rankings #1 - #5

Each season fans across the country believe their team is the best team going into the first game. Without a team of my own this season, perhaps an unbiased opinion will be helpful to those who may have a false sense of security in how well their team has stacked up in the preseason.

1. Orlando Predators - The Preds have shown they are one of the elite teams in the AFL with the re-signing of most of the 2010 roster. QB Nick Hill really came around last season with the addition of Bobby Sippio, and once Sip's suspension is over, the Preds will be a tough task for any team. Not to mention T.T. Toliver and Josh Bush also hauling in passes, the Preds look to be elite on offense. Defensively, the Preds bring back Kenny McEntyre, who was surprisingly great last season despite his age. They added Rayshawn Kizer back to the roster as well as newcomer Travis Coleman, who was a starter for the Alabama Vipers last season.

2. Philadelphia Soul - The Soul are returning to the City of Brotherly Love in search of back-to-back Arena Bowl titles. It is likely the Soul will have a quarterback battle in camp, but the winner of the competition will certainly find the season to be much easier. Former Tulsa Talons starter Justin Allgood and former Iowa Barnstormers star Ryan Vena will duke it out to see who has the priviledge of hooking up with the likes of Donovan Morgan, Larry Brackins and anyone else the Soul put on the field at wide receiver.

Defensively, the Soul will have Chris Martin in the backfield, a star for the Chicago Rush last season, and Tanner Varner, one of Iowa's most explosive defensive backfield members.

3. Spokane Shock - It's difficult to ever leave the Shock out of the top three in any kind of ranking. This franchise has seen four championship games in five seasons, including two Arena Cup titles in the af2 and last year's Arena Bowl championship. The Shock will once again be explosive on offense and stingy on defense with a core of last year's title team. QB Kyle Rowley won two of the Shock's three titles under center, and this season he will be back. Khareem Smith will anchor the defensive line and with Alex Teems and Nygel Rogers in the backfield, most teams will find it difficult to score points.

4. San Jose Sabercats - The Cats will be back in the Bay Area once again, and when San Jose is playing Arena Football, you can bet they will be a top notch contender. However, will QB Mark Grieb's age show? Will he be able to successfully return after two seasons off? Will Otis Amey be the force he was in 2008, and who will fill the huge void left by James Roe? Defensively, will the SaberCats be able to fill voids left by All-Ironman Jason Geathers? Will Marquis Floyd playing for former Cats DC Kevin Guy in Arizona be an issue? The questions abound, but with this team's veteran leadership, the likelihood of San Jose being a contender is very good.

5. Arizona Rattlers - The Rattlers were very competitive last season, finishing with a 10-6 record and a playoff berth. Head coach Kevin Guy will have a core of players returning along with a few newcomers from around the league. QB Nick Davila will be the signal caller once again, and will have plenty of options when he drops into the pocket. Nate Forse being the biggest addition to the team at wide receiver. Forse was dominant last season, hauling in 111 catches for 1300+ yards and 26 scores. Defensively, the Rattlers will be surrounded with a few questions but still bolstered with All-AFL performers Marquis Floyd and Jason Geathers.

AFL legend Tim Marcum in trouble over emails

Tampa Bay Storm head coach Tim Marcum finds himself in sticky situation regarding emails found on his work computer.
Photo/TampaBayStorm.com

According to WTSB.com in Tampa, Fla., Tampa Bay Storm head coach Tim Marcum is accused of sharing racist emails along with unusual pornography with his contacts. The content found on his company computer was enough to land him a suspension from the Arena Football League.

The emails came to light after Marcum filed a lawsuit againt the Storm's former owners.

Reports say Marcum's email list shared a "joke" calling Air Force One "Watermelon One" along with other racially motivated nicknames for President Barack Obama and his family. Another email showed Marcum sharing beastiality pornography with a friend.

Marcum told WTSB.com he felt the emails were not inappropriate due to his sharing with a friend.

This is not the first time Marcum has found himself in trouble. As recent as 2004, Marcum was ordered to pay court costs and placed on probation for insurance fraud.

In 2002, Marcum was arrested for a DUI, resulting in his license being suspended.

Wednesday afternoon, a radio personality in Tampa reported Marcum had been fired, but more recent reports say Marcum has not been fired for the offenses.

When contacted yesterday, Marcum told TBO.com he was still the head coach of the Storm as far as he knew.

With the 2011 season less than one month away, Marcum is likely to be the head coach when the season begins, but what should be done about the situation?

In order for the relaunched AFL to become a staple in the country once again, drawing the crowds of 10,000-plus, its coaches and players will need to be held to a higher standard.

Never being a fan of holding athletes to a higher standard, in this instance and for this league it will almost become necessary.

Most of the country looks at the AFL as a joke. Semi-pro football, if you will. What those people do not know is how hard these guys work to support their families as well as play a game they love to play.

The NFL has seen its share of AFL players come through camps, and yet those skeptical fans are unaware of anyone other than Kurt Warner.

Marcum is a legend in this sport, a Hall of Fame inductee in 1998, and winner of seven Arena Bowl titles. However, his actions through the last eight years say he needs a reality check. The league needs to let Marcum know he is not bigger than this game.

If Marcum wants to continue as a part of the AFL and continue leading teams to Arena Bowl games as he did last season, he will have to subdue his passions and once again take on the responsibility of being a coach for the fans.

After all, the AFL is built on a core group of fans, and those fans expect better.

Around the League: Season looms as camps begin

The lights are warming up inside arenas across the nation as the 2011 version of the Arena Football League will soon take the field. With cities returning to the league like Philadelphia (Soul), Atlanta (Georgia Force), San Jose (Sabercats) and Pittsburgh (Power), this season could be a big success for the league.
For a successful season, the AFL will have to strike up more interest than in 2010, however. Last season, the league averaged 8,145 fans across the league. But with teams such as Alabama, Bossier-Shreveport and Oklahoma City no longer in the league, the average could easily increase. Those three teams averaged less than 5,500 fans per contest last season.
As stated earlier, a number of teams returned to the league this season, including Kansas City, who will now be known as the Command, rather than Brigade.
The one glaring change for 2011 is the implementation of an 18-game regular season. The AFL is testing the idea of 18 games, as the league has never had a formal preseason.
Players will still be paid $400 per game with three marketing players earning $1,000 each for each game. Perhaps with a larger league, the owners and league will increase the pay scale in the near future.
Preseason talks are going on around the league, and with training camp aproaching, fans have started discussing who the top teams will be.
Many feel Orlando has vastly improved, and with the way the Preds played toward the end of last season, who can blame them? With the addition of Bobby Sippio, the Preds will make a strong run at another title. Of course anytime Spokane puts a team on the field, they can't be overlooked. The Shock have been playing Arena Football for four years and have been to three title games, winning two including last season's Arena Bowl.
The teams have set camp rosters, but nothing is ever a done deal in the AFL. Anything can happen, and it only takes one bounce off the net.

Sources: http://www.arenafan.com/, http://www.aflfanzone.com/