Financier Jeff Lewis, who is launching the American Flag Football League and has gotten playing commitments from former NFLers Michael Vick and Justin Forsett, believes his new football initiative can "spark nationwide interest, not only among many other NFL-caliber athletes but among weekend warrior flag football players," according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. Lewis believes he can "take advantage of the increased popularity of flag football by offering a product that will be a much faster-paced game than the NFL." The plan for the league's debut event next month at Avaya Stadium is to "play a 60-minute game in less than two hours." It is a "seven-on-seven format on a 100-yard field." Additionally, there are "no kicks -- teams punt and kick off by throwing the ball to the other team on fourth down or after touchdowns and extra-point attempts." Lewis has "enlisted the advisory help" of several former NFLers. Former MLB Exec VP/Business Tim Brosnan, currently Exec Chair & CEO at PrimeSport, "also is a part of the group." Lewis "expects to announce additional participants in next month's game." Glauber wrote "combine the participation of flag football teams from around the country with a chance to face some of pro football's most recognizable players, and this could be a sustainable idea." Glauber: "Especially with flag football participation rates increasing in recent years" (NEWSDAY.com, 5/27). THE MMQB's Peter King noted with the "fear of continued head trauma in the tackle game," Lewis believes it is "time to try taking the game national." Lewis: "The analogy is this is a pilot for a TV show. Because this game has never been played by athletes like this, we don't know what we're going to see. We're all gonna see it together for the first time June 27. If I find it's not compelling, I won't bang my head against the wall. But I think it's got a chance to be a fast, great, beautiful game" (MMQB.SI.com, 5/29).
CHANGING THE GAME: In N.Y., Evan Grossman noted Pacific Pro Football, spearheaded by longtime NFL agent Don Yee, "hits the field next summer." The semiprofessional league will "offer college-age athletes a choice they've never had before: either go to school" or "join this new league, earn a salary and benefits, and learn how they really live and play ball at the NFL level." PPF "plans to create a network of internships and academic or vocational programs that will be made available to players." Grossman wrote the "bottom line is they will be treated like adults, will be encouraged to make their own decisions, and forge their own journey from amateurism to professionalism." PPF will "consist of four teams to start play next summer, all based in Southern California and all owned by the league." They will "play an eight-game season through July and August in mid-sized municipal stadiums, capped by a championship game, all before the NCAA and NFL seasons kick off." The league "hopes to eventually expand to other football hotbeds in Texas, Florida, the Midwest, and perhaps internationally." But that may be "years down the line." Yee said that college football and the NFL are "essentially two different games," so when players come out of college, there is a "steep learning curve when they transition to the NFL." PPF "aims to blunt that sharp contrast and better prepare athletes with pro-style coaching and a daily schedule that more closely mimics the NFL lifestyle." Yee: "There's no doubt in my mind they will be better prepared and will know what to expect" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/28).
