AAF Report: Tom Brady Surfaces As Potential UFL Owner
League intends to expand with 'The GOAT' rumored to be an owner.
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Welcome to the ‘World Famous All Access Football Report,’ published every Wednesday, covering the alternate football universe.
In this edition, we have expanded our power rankings to include the Arena Football 1 (AF1), whose commissioner has hinted on adding new teams, including one outside of The States.
Plus, the CFL ramps up, as the UFL winds down. The IFL saw a new mover and shaker enter the fray this past weekend but first, we begin in with the top story of the week when it comes to ALT football…a potential new ‘Brady Bunch?’
REPORT: TOM BRADY INTERESTED IN UFL OWNERSHIP
A new report that hit UFL News Hub, indicates that the UFL intends to expand for the 2026 season and that Tom Brady (photo: FOX) is rumored to be interested in buying a franchise. This could be the first domino that the league needs to grow beyond the stagnant tv ratings and attendance that has haunted it the past few seasons.
Multiple outlets have confirmed that USFL Enterprises (50% owner of UFL) filed trademarks earlier this month for the Oakland Invaders, Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals and Tampa Bay Bandits, four of the original USFL teams.
Currently, all UFL organizations are ‘league owned’ but the plan has been to sell off franchises to independent owners. Should Brady become the first team owner, others would likely follow suit and be interested in teaming with the football legend. As noted, Brady got his start in broadcasting on UFL games and resides in the Tampa area.
Only time will tell if the blueprint actually comes to fruition but the best news we can gather from this report is that the UFL certainly had plans to return for a third season, which is FAN-tastic!
UFL: J’MAR SMITH LEAPFROGS MVP RACE
The hottest quarterback entering the stretch run of the UFL season is J’Mar Smith of Birmingham. In one of the best stories of the spring season, Smith was working the drive-thru at Dunkin’ Donuts just a few weeks ago. Today, he has the Stallions knocking on the door of a fourth straight spring league title. He completed 71% of his passes this past weekend, for 309 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Smith should be viewed as the leading candidate for MVP, the way he has kept Birmingham atop the standings.
Previously, Michigan signal-caller Bryce Perkins has seemed to be the favorite but an ankle injury has kept him out of action the past two weeks. Hopefully, Perkins is able to return for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the final two weeks of the regular season, will have had zero impact on postseason play. The biggest headline headed into the final week is whether or not this will be the swan song for Luis ‘The Spring King’ Perez.
CFL PRESEASON NOTEBOOK: NEWS & NOTES
The second week of CFL preseason got underway this past weekend with eight teams in action. Below are some updates and observations we were able to gather.
It was announced that Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly will miss the season opener, as he recovers from a right leg injury. The team is deliberating on whether to begin Kelly on the one-game, or six-game IR list to begin the season. In the interim, Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle will start in his place, while Cameron Dukes will back him up. On Tuesday, the Argos signed former Edmonton backup Jarrett Doege, an indication that Kelly could be out longer than one game.
This past weekend, it was former Trinity quarterback Tucker Horn in the saddle for the Argos. Horn, who was picked up after an open workout at the Free Agent Showcase in Texas this offseason, had himself a day. The rocket-armed pocket-passer completed 16-of-21 passes for 172 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Former Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels has found a new home with the Ottawa Redblacks. On his first carry of the day, Samuels rumbled for a 24-yard touchdown run. He would finish with two carries, for 26 yards and a pair of catches, as he joins former NFL signal-caller PJ Walker in hopes of making the squad.
You can watch the final week of CFL preseason action on their website, as the league will play four games on Friday. It’s free to watch all season long on CFL+.
IFL: QB TYLER HUFF MAKES SEASON DEBUT
Jacksonville State Tyler Huff made his season debut for the Jacksonville Sharks, rushing for 72 yards and three scores to upend Fishers Freight. For those who followed him in college, the gutsy Huff was an effective scrambler who led the Gamecocks to several come-from-behind victories. For those CFL teams in seek of a short-yardage runner, Huff is that dude! Keep an eye on him.
On other IFL news, Tulsa scoring machine TJ Edwards accounted for seven more touchdowns this past week, as he out-dueled Iowa gunslinger James Cahoon, who accounted for six scores. Edwards has positioned himself as the frontrunner for IFL MVP, while Cahoon has come on strong during his first indoor season, throwing for 975 passing yards and 22 touchdowns (11 interceptions) over the past five weeks.
Lastly, It should be noted that former San Antonio Gunslingers quarterback Malik Henry departed the IFL, to sign with the Billings Outlaws of AF1.
Week 12 of IFL action has two marquee matchups with playoff ramifications on the line, as Tulsa travels to Bay Area and Arizona visits Jacksonville. All games must be viewed via the IFL Network ($30/season pass).
AF1: COMMISSIONER JEFF FISHER EYES GROWTH
We have been a bit reluctant to provide coverage of the AF1 due to some of the financial problems the league endured earlier this year. They have since seemed to steady the ship (somewhat) and are on the verge of completing their inaugural season. The league recently brought on former NFL head coach Jon Gruden as a part-owner.
In an interview this past week on WKRN in Nashville, Fisher stated that the AF1 has a strategic five-year plan in tact, which includes games being broadcast on a bigger network, wagering and of course, expansion but here’s the kicker: Fisher stated that those plans include an international team! In indoor football! Buckle up. While it sounds a bit far-fetched, we would love to see it happen.
NFL POWER RANKINGS
RANK || TEAM
Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens
Los Angeles Rams
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
Washington Commanders
Los Angeles Chargers
Denver Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals
NFL QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Josh Allen, Bills
Joe Burrow, Bengals
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Jayden Daniels, Commanders
Justin Herbert, Chargers
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
UFL POWER RANKINGS
RANK || TEAM || RECORD
St. Louis Battlehawks (7-2)
Birmingham Stallions (6-3)
Michigan Panthers (6-3)
DC Defenders (6-3)
Arlington Renegades (4-5)
Houston Roughnecks (4-5)
Memphis Showboats (2-7)
San Antonio Brahmas (1-8)
UFL QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
Luis Perez, Arlington
J’Mar Smith, Birmingham
Bryce Perkins, Michigan
Jordan Ta’amu, DC
Jalan McClendon, Houston
Max Duggan, St. Louis
Dresser Winn, Memphis
Danny Etling, Michigan
Kellen Mond, San Antonio
Alex McGough, Birmingham
CFL POWER RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
Toronto Argonauts (0-0)
Montreal Alouettes (0-0)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-0)
Hamilton Tiger Cats (0-0)
BC Lions (0-0)
Ottawa Redblacks (0-0)
Calgary Stampeders (0-0)
Edmonton Elks (0-0)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-0)
Atlantic Schooners (0-0)
CFL QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
Chad Kelly, Toronto
Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary
Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton
Nathan Rourke, BC
Zach Collaros, Winnipeg
McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Montreal
Davis Alexander, Montreal
Tre Ford, Edmonton
Cody Fajardo, Edmonton
Dru Brown, Ottawa
ELF POWER RANKINGS
Vienna Vikings (2-0)
Munich Ravens (2-0)
Nordic Storm (2-0)
Rhein Fire (1-0)
Wroclaw Panthers (1-1)
Madrid Bravos (1-1)
Frankfurt Galaxy (1-1)
Berlin Thunder (1-1)
Hamburg Sea Devils (1-1)
Stutgart Surge (1-1)
ELF QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
Jakeb Sullivan, Berlin
Reid Sinnett, Madrid
Jadrian Clark, Nordic
Ben Holmes, Vienna
Matthew McKay, Frankfurt
Reilly Hennessey, Stuttgart
Isaiah Weed, Helvetic
Chad Jefferies, Rhein
Conor Miller, Raiders
Javarian Smith, Prague
IFL POWER RANKINGS
RANK || TEAM || RECORD
Tulsa Oilers (6-2)
Quad City Steamwheelers (6-2)
Arizona Rattlers (7-1)
Bay Area Panthers (6-2)
Jacksonville Sharks (6-2)
Green Bay Blizzard (5-3)
San Diego Strike Force (4-4)
Vegas Knight Hawks (4-4)
Tucson Sugar Skulls (3-4)
Massachusetts Pirates (2-5)
IFL QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
TJ Edwards, Tulsa
Max Meylor, Green Bay
James Cahoon, Iowa
Dalton Sneed, Arizona
Josh Jones, Bay Area
Kaleb Barker, Jacksonville
Jorge Reyna, Tuscan
Daquan Neal, Quad City
Nate Davis, San Diego
Kenji Bahar, Massachusetts
AF1 POWER RANKINGS
RANK || TEAM || RECORD
Albany Firebirds (9-0)
SW Kansas Storm (7-3)
Nashville Kats (4-3)
Billings Outlaws (3-6)
Oregon Lightning (4-6)
Corpus Christi Tritons (3-4)
Salina Liberty (3-5)
Washington Wolfpack (2-8)
AF1 QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
RANK || PLAYER || TEAM
Sam Castranova, Albany
Jalen Morten, SW Kansas
Malik Henry, Billings
Rakeem Cato, Salina
Fred Payton, Corpus Christi
Dalton Cole, Oregon
Tyler Kulka, Nashville
Adam Kruse, Washington
Robert McCoy, Albany
Jarius Grissom, SW Kansas