Foster Trophy News Today

GLENDALE, AZ - I was wrong. I was absolutely dead wrong, and I didn't think the Philadelphia Soul had the horses to run with the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XXIX. I didn't think they had the mental toughness to overcome when things went wrong in the raucous Snake Pit. And I was wrong.

For the first time in Arena Football League history, a team which has qualified for the postseason won't get the opportunity to play in it. The Las Vegas Outlaws were officially shut down by the AFL on Sunday, creating a massive storm in the National Conference playoff picture. Las Vegas, who rightfully qualified for the second season by finishing 5-12-1, will now cede its position to the Portland Thunder, who finished at 5-13.

It's pretty good company when you can put yourself on an exclusive list that is currently only occupied by the 1995 Tampa Bay Storm. The 2013 Arizona Rattlers have a chance to join the list of squads that finished a three-game sweep against teams with a win in the ArenaBowl when they take on the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday afternoon in Orlando at ArenaBowl XXVI.

STOCKTON - All season long, the Jacksonville Sharks were either really, really good or really, really bad. On this night, they were both. They had the worst individual quarter in ArenaBowl history out of the locker room, taking a 33-27 halftime lead and turning it into a 68-47 defeat.

As has become an annual tradition at ArenaFan, our staff has made its selections for who we all think will win ArenaBowl XXIX between the Arizona Rattlers and the Philadelphia Soul.

Last year, the Jacksonville Sharks and the Arizona Rattlers combined to score 143 points in a 73-70 game. It was the highest scoring ArenaBowl in league history, and it is the second highest scoring playoff game that the AFL has ever seen as well. The Rattlers are back, but this time around, it is the Philadelphia Soul that they are playing for the Foster Trophy this weekend, and the fireworks could be flying if both of these offenses play up to their potential.

It's not that often that you'll see me referencing Drake in any of my articles, but in the case of the Cleveland Gladiators, I feel as though I can safely say that they started from the bottom, now they're here in ArenaBowl XXVII.

The 2013 Chicago Rush have been through things this season that no team should be stuck going through. They have had three different owners, one of which was essentially run out of the league, one of which is a convicted felon, and one of which is now the league itself. They lost the man that was slated to be their starting quarterback before the season started. They played a two home games with absolutely zero amenities. Now, they are stuck essentially playing a full slate of road games.

Any questions? Tired of hearing criticism from a month's worth of lackluster play, the Arizona Rattlers were in championship form during their 72-56 dismantling of the rival San Jose SaberCats in the National Conference title game at US Airways Center.

Prior to the hiatus in 2009, it used to be commonplace for bettors to be able to wager on anything from who is going to win a game to a total in a game to the odds to win the ArenaBowl each and every week. Largely, most of those options have been severely limited. This season though, William Hill in Las Vegas has posted ArenaBowl futures bets, where you can wager on your favorite team to hoist the Foster Trophy this year.