Tulsa Talons News Today

The playoff teams are all set. Chicago and Cleveland won their respective divisions, while Georgia, Orlando and Spokane clinched playoff berths. Jacksonville has dropped three straight and San Jose failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 1999. The defending champion Shock pulled off a miracle last-second play to sneak into the playoffs after starting the season 4-7. There's a lot to cover in the first Week 19 in AFL history so buckle up.

The last AFL regular season game of the year could easily be a preview of ArenaBowl XXV when the Philadelphia Soul hosts the Utah Blaze this Sunday evening. Not only does this game feature the top two scoring teams in the league, it also has the top two quarterbacks in each conference in Utah's Tommy Grady and Philadelphia's Dan Raudabaugh.

You know, I sat here and bashed my Preds all season long for being mediocre, so I think it's time to bash myself for being nothing more than the exact same thing. After a dismal 2-5 week, the Guru has slipped to an even .500 on the season and is in dire need of some revenge to get back above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Monday, May 7th, 2012 marks the continuation of another long era for the Arena Football League. Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz has had his contract extended for five years, making him the commissioner of the AFL through 2017.

The 2011 Chicago Rush set a new team record by going 13-5 last season and fell one game, some could say one play, short of reaching the ArenaBowl. As we come up on the 2012 season, some things have changed in the front office for the AFL team out of Chicago. The team is now owned by the league and Gene Nudo has resigned as President and General Manager and is no longer involved with the organization.

What a wild week of Arena Football action we had in Week 7! Two major underdogs (Orlando and Iowa) found ways to win their games and win them outright by huge numbers, while several teams were left trying to pick up the pieces from a disappointing and unexpected effort.

There was a quote in a story on the official league website after the Chicago Rush lost an inter-division game to the Tulsa Talons this past weekend that intrigued me. That quote came from Rush first year head coach Bob McMillen.

I'm not saying that the Spokane Shock are anywhere near like the New York Jets of 1969. It is pretty clear that QB Kyle Rowley is one of the best indoor quarterbacks in the AFL or any other alphabet league, and the Shock are clearly a fantastic squad that took it to the best in the league all season long. This clearly wouldn't be an upset at all.

A few days before the Chicago Rush took on the Kansas City Command last weekend, they made a move that further changes the dynamic of their defense. The team made a trade with the Orlando Predators to obtain mac linebacker Nekos Brown.

Unfortunately for Dallas fans, the game quickly proved to be mimic week two. Yet again, Dallas faced a strong opposing team on the road. Again, they looked promising as they opened the game with an unsuspected touchdown. Again, alas, fundamental errors and turnovers cost the Vigilantes another potential victory.