I’m sure my friends have heard about the dissolution of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), that upstart, short-lived professional league that had big ambitions despite its tiny footprint. But I’ve had the same question on my mind: I’m wondering if the NFL can use AAF players? It’s an intriguing idea, and one that speaks to the ambitions of the players themselves.
I’m sure some of us have seen the videos of AAF players who have signed or were recently picked up by the NFL. It’s an inspiring thing to see these guys make the jump from a league that didn’t pay them much to one that can give them a financial windfall. But what I’m curious to explore is the possibility that a larger exodus of AAF players could happen, and how they would fare in the NFL.
Now, the AAF was an eight-team league that had six weeks of play before it folded. While it initially paid no salaries, the league quickly decided to dispense about $3,500 a game to its players. And though it was small by NFL standards, the league was often praised for the quality of its game-play.
In terms of skill levels, the AAF gave its players a solid platform to show their stuff. A couple of QB’s, for instance, had impressive performances that got them signed on the NFL. One of them was Logan Woodside, who now plays for the New York Jets. There’s also Trent Richardson, the former Alabama player who got signed by the Raiders.
These two instances show that the AAF had a stockpile of talented players who had the caliber to get signed by a NFL team. In fact, some teams are reportedly looking into AAF rosters for potential recruits, namely for their specialized skills. During its heyday, specialized positions in the AAF were highly competitive and one of its selling points.
What’s more, the AAF provided a much-needed workplace for rookies who may not have gotten a chance to play elsewhere. By playing a few games and proving themselves, these many of these players could suddenly hear from the NFL. Indeed, many of them did get picked up and are now enrolled in NFL teams.
To be sure, the NFL is a much bigger, higher-stakes league and players would have to prove themselves all over again if they get picked up. But at least the AAF showed them the platform and gave them the chance to show their skills and reach a much higher level.
Speaking of the NFL’s higher level of play, this makes me wonder what type of ability would be required for AAF players to make the leap. We can assume that the level of skill must at least match that of the NFL, since the league has to compete with college graduates. Yet, as mentioned previously, there were talented AAF players who got picked up by NFL teams after their showing in the league.
Furthermore, the NFL has already signed some prominent names from the AAF. One of them is the former Jacksonville Jaguar Blake Bortles, who went to the Los Angeles Rams. This shows that the NFL is willing to take a chance on AAF players and give them a chance to show their stuff on the highest stage.
So the answer to my question of if the NFL can get AAF players is a resounding “yes”. Though it remains to be seen what sort of talent pool they’ll get from the AAF, the fact that NFL teams have already signed some players shows that the league is more than willing to integrate them into their teams.
All in all, this is an exciting opportunity for AAF players, who can now reach their dream of playing in the NFL. It’s also an encouraging sign for those of us aspiring to play professional sports, as it proves that any talented player who strives to reach higher has the potential to get noticed and grabbed up by a NFL team.