Manziel became available to the AAF after he was ruled ineligible to play in the CFLGETTY MAGES
The AAF Memphis Express this weekend signed QB Johnny Manziel, who will "almost certainly give the team a shot in the arm at the box office," according to Jason Munz of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. In two home games, the Express have had "announced crowds of 11,980 and 13,621," which is "around the middle of the pack in the AAF." Express President Kosha Irby said, "It's gonna be fun. (Manziel) coming to Memphis will create a lot of buzz. We see it as an opportunity to be a draw for us with a guy of his appeal" (Memphis COMMERICAL APPEAL, 3/18). In Memphis, Mark Giannotto in a front-page piece writes the Manziel "era in Memphis began Sunday, and it's probably going to end poorly." However it will "still be exactly what the Memphis Express needed," and it will "still be a lot of fun." Judging by the "empty seats at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the subpar results on the field, and the total lack of buzz about the product in Memphis, it's not a moment too soon." The "only relevant storyline concerning the team until this week was how long it'd actually last here." Manziel "finally gives this franchise a pulse" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/18).
HAIL MARY ATTEMPT? NBCSN's Mike Florio said he does not know what the Manziel signing means for the Express, but the AAF now has "somebody under contract that we actually want to tune in and watch." Florio: "Johnny Manziel moves the needle" ("PFT," NBCSN, 3/18). ESPN's Jason Fitz said, "It feels to me like a late, desperate attempt to get media attention when things have started to fall." However, ESPN's Mike Golic said, "What's wrong with a start-up league trying to get a star, especially one that fits the mold exactly of what the league is trying to do, and that's giving players another chance" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 3/18).
THE PROCESS OF EXPANSION: USA TODAY's Kevin Allen wrote Birmingham Iron President Tom Ward is "selling the pro game in an area where the college game is king." Ward said, "This is football country, and that's what drew me here." Ward has worked for multiple expansion teams: the Hornets in '88 and Predators in '98. He said, "I've taken a little bit of everything I've done from different places and mixed in here. I've customized it for the Birmingham market." Ward said that "selling football in Birmingham is easier than selling hockey in Nashville." He said, "People in Nashville had heard of the NHL, but it wasn't a brand that people were listing in their top three or four sports. Here in Birmingham, it's a little different animal." Allen noted part of Ward's job is "convincing the public that the AAF is staying," as the city has seen failed franchises from the USFL, XFL and even CFL in the past. Ward: "Birmingham has always supported the teams. It's been the leagues that failed." However, Allen noted the Iron's attendance "has been disappointing." Ward said that all four home games to date have been hurt by rain, and that the four-month lead-in to market the team "just wasn't enough to spread the word" (USATODAY.com, 3/16).
