Stay updated with breaking news from Ryan Vena. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Seven of the eight playoff teams have been decided as well as two division titles. Three total teams clinched playoff berths, while two were eliminated. Jacksonville and Tampa Bay swapped places despite losing AFL all-time leading passer Aaron Garcia and Spokane's road until ArenaBowl XXIII will be at home. This and my top offensive player of the year await you in the Week 16 edition of Breaking it Down.
On Wednesday, the Orlando Predators announced the signing of WR Bobby Sippio. I'm not going to take anything away from the Kissimmee product, as he has put together one of the most illustrious careers that a receiver could have in AFL history. In just four years, Sippio put together an average of 87.5 catches, 1,274.3 yards, and 35.0 touchdowns per season, and he did so in what amounted to be the most talented Arena Football era ever.
Spokane became the first team to win titles in the af2 and AFL in grand fashion by beating the most storied franchise, the Tampa Bay Storm, in Arena Football history in ArenaBowl XXIII. Shock QB Kyle Rowley was responsible for all ten of the team's touchdowns en route to being named MVP. Over twenty ArenaBowl records were either set or tied in the first AFL championship game since 2008. Check out the only breakdown of the stats, history and significance of this game anywhere in the world right in the ArenaBowl XXIII edition of Breaking it Down.
After back-to-back bye weeks, I'm back with more breakdowns, more history and more AFL than anywhere else. Arizona won the West, Jacksonville won a record tying 12th straight, Tommy Grady tossed ten TDs again, Derrick Ross set the single-season rushing record (without apparently anyone knowing about it), Tampa Bay evened the War on I-4 and a few more thousand words to fill the void until Week 16 kicks off. Breaking it Down is back!
Ten weeks down, ten more to go in the longest regular season in AFL history. Nine teams have winning records, last year's ArenaBowl participants are a combined 7-10, Jacksonville is riding an eight-game winning streak and Arizona has lost two games by two combined points. Game recaps, midyear awards, historical nuggets and other notes of interest are featured in this week's edition of Breaking it Down.