All Access Football Report: Week 13

AAF delivers an open letter to UFL leadership in regards to expansion and the business of football. Plus, our weekly rankings, which now includes NFL general managers.

Volume XXIV Edition LXXIV | All Access Football Report: Week 13

Welcome to the November 27, 2024, Happy Thanksgiving Eve edition of the All Access Football Newsletter, Presented by SMWW.

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UFL TONE DEAF AT MISSION ON HAND

It was announced that the United Football League (UFL) will seek to expand, possibly for the 2026 season. If there is one. 

The UFL spring football league is what came from a merger of two previous unsustainable leagues known as the XFL and USFL. Combined, the two leagues burned through hundreds of millions of dollars before concluding that the only way to survive would be to join forces.

This was s sentiment that was shared by many experts and media alike, prior to the two leagues ever launching. Despite this option being the clear and obvious best path forward, ego-driven leadership was unable to see through their own foggy concept. Now, some of those very same individuals who are still in league executive roles, have decided that expansion is a major area of interest that they would like to focus on.

Maybe someone should tell them. Or, as ‘The Rock’ himself once proclaimed, ‘Become the leadership you seek.’

Consider this our open letter to Fox Corporation and Redbird Capital Partners, the joint venture who owns the UFL.

How about mastering your own domain first? 

Let's be clear. There is no one who enjoys, appreciates and wants the UFL to succeed more than the publisher of this platform. It’s part of the reason why we feel compelled to inform ownership about their league.

Just because we are fans of the league, doesn’t mean we should sit back and quietly watch another train wreck from a distance. Awareness needs to be created in regards to what needs to be fixed right now, in the short term, in order to have a profitable 2025 season and ensure that the league will even be able to see the sun come up in 2026.

This past offseason, the UFL acknowledged that they needed to slash salaries significantly. It reduced most staff as seasonal employees. History has proven that running a [successful] professional football organization requires year-round dedication and commitment.

For example, despite being paid for just six months of the calendar, head coaches must work year-round on player recruitment, coach retention, ticket sales, community relations and more (if they intend to be competitive).

It doesn’t take a business major to figure out that this philosophy will not breed success.

During its inaugural season, the UFL generated an average league attendance of 13,512 during the 43 games played. Considering they play in venues that hold 50,000 or more, there is plenty of opportunity to scale up attendance. Upon attending a game in Arlington earlier this year, a few things stood out.

While the announced attendance was 14,000, the venue realistically had about 5,000 fans in attendance. However, every section of the stadium appeared to be open. You had fans in the upper deck, back end zone, lower bowl and spread out periodically throughout the venue. It made for very poor optics from a fan experience. The upper deck bowls should be closed and seating should be sold in sections, starting with sidelines and back end zone at the lower levels. 

This will create much better logistics for fans and help enhance television broadcast shots. While in Texas, we ventured to the Frisco Fighters game of the Indoor Football League (IFL) later that evening. The arena was rocking with just 2,000 fans in attendance! There were plenty of kids on hand, something noticeably non-existent when we attended the UFL game and the ambience was welcoming. After the game, fans were allowed onto the field to seek autographs, take pictures and meet players.

The IFL game was fun and we departed the venue wanting to go back to another indoor game. For the particular UFL game we attended, it felt like Ghost Town USA. For a league whose byline on ‘X’ states that they are a ‘fan'-first’ league, there was nothing fan friendly about the experience at all. Talk is cheap, actions speak.

The UFL has failed to connect within their communities and have made minimal-to-zero effort to work with local youth leagues, high school teams, military veterans and have seemed to ignored all grassroots marketing entirely. This is a vital component for any ‘startup’ league. Without more consistent volume at the gate attendance, the UFL will struggle mightily to generate revenue.

Please don’t take it as if we are dumping on the UFL. It’s enjoyable. Everyone who tunes-in wants it to last. Some items just need to be blatantly addressed, in order to survive. It seems so obvious, yet no action transpires. What gives? Ok, we said the silent part out loud, or in the case, typed it.

With so much room for improvement in various other areas, which need to be strengthened for long-term stability, it seems hard to fathom that the UFL will now look to expand. The intent has been to eventually find privately owned investors for each franchise. The problem with this logic is that it would be hard for any smart businessman to invest in the current model that has been outlined.

Upon the relaunch of the USFL in 2022, we were approached by a league representative to gauge our interest in becoming a prospective owner of a USFL franchise. The price tag? A cool $20M.

We don’t know what the current price tag is that the UFL would attempt seek, or if that is still the goal. We do know that the concept of expansion at this stage, sounds tone deaf.

The latest hoopla that has resulted in the UFL press release feels more like a distraction from the tasks at hand, which is to deliver a second full season of a spring football league from start-to-finish.

The UFL would have been wise to avert their attention and invest in creating an in-house fantasy football platform on their app. This would greatly enhance fan engagement and league interest, while providing the league an additional revenue stream. This type of attainable growth should be rather simple to achieve.

One major positive to draw on were the improved TV ratings. In 2024, the UFL averaged 850,000 total viewers per game, according to Nielsen. It has yet to translate to major sponsorship dollars. Still, it remains the most promising development that can help steer the UFL out of the red.

How about marketing? Is there a department for that? The next time a UFL ad pops up on my web browser, it will be the first time.

Another strategy the league should have considered would have been to invest in quarterbacks, not coaches. No one tunes into the game to watch the head coach, sorry fellas, they don’t. Marquee quarterback names draw fans and sell merch.

We have seen the likes of PJ Walker (Calgary) head north of the border, with other prominent spring league signal-callers expected to follow. That’s due to the CFL model of allowing organizations to spend more money on the quarterback position. In Canada, quarterback earn upwards to $750,000 per season.

The quarterbacks in the UFL play for the same $73,000 annual salary as every other player, while head coaches are making nearly four times that amount. It doesn’t add up—quarterback is the most important position in sports. You must pay accordingly, in order to attract top talent.

We don’t expect the UFL to be able to go out and sign the recently released Daniel Jones, although that is what expectations could be. But how about being able to pony up the dough to attract Ryan Tannehill or Cam Newton? That’s how crossover fans are born.

We emphasis that this column should not be taken as a tear down job. We didn’t start the fire. Rather, we would like to see the UFL be great, before we water down a product whose flaws are out in the public for us all to see.

That way, we can continue to watch, scout, write and engage. So lets buckle up and get going.

The 2025 UFL season will start on March 28 and conclude on June 14.

SPORTS RAGE WITH MORENCY & SERRITELLA

Tune-in for REAL football talk, as AAF founder Ric Serritella joins Sports Rage host Gabriel Morency to discuss the latest look at the NFL Draft order, Class of 2025 quarterback class, Heisman Trophy race, plus CFL offseason heats up. Be sure to catch the livestream every Tuesday night on SIRIUSXM 159 or Sports Grid TV.

NFL POWER RANKINGS

RK | TEAM | RECORD

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

7. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

8. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)

9. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

10. Washington Commanders (7-5)

11. Houston Texans (7-5)

12. Miami Dolphins (5-6)

13. Denver Broncos (7-5)

14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)

15. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)

16. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)

18. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)

19. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

20. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

21. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

22. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)

23. Dallas Cowboys (4-7)

24. New England Patriots (3-9)

25. New York Jets (3-8)

26. Chicago Bears (4-7)

27. Cleveland Browns (3-8)

28. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

29. Tennessee Titans (3-8)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

32. New York Giants (2-9)

NCAA TOP 25 RANKINGS

RK | SCHOOL | RECORD | CONFERENCE

1. Oregon Ducks (11-0) [B1G]

2. Texas Longhorns (10-1) [SEC]

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) [B1G]

4. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) [SEC]

5. Miami Hurricanes (10-1) [ACC]

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1) [B1G]

7. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2) [SEC]

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) [IND]

9. South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3) [SEC]

10. Clemson Tigers (9-2) [ACC]

11. Indiana Hoosiers (10-1) [B1G]

12. Boise State (10-1) [MWEST]

13. SMU Mustangs (10-1) [ACC]

14. Oklahoma Sooners (6-5) [SEC]

15. Florida Gators (6-5) [SEC]

16. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3) [SEC]

17. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3) [SEC]

18. Kansas Jayhawks (5-6) [Big 12]

19. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2) [Big 12]

20. Auburn Tigers (5-6) [SEC]

21. Texas A&M Aggies (8-3) [SEC]

22. Missouri Tigers (8-3) [SEC]

23. Michigan Wolverines (6-5) [B1G]

24. Colorado Buffaloes (8-3) [BIG 12]

25. Louisville Cardinals (7-4) [ACC]

HEISMAN TROPHY WATCH

RK | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL 

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado Buffaloes

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Broncos

3. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon Ducks

NFL DRAFT TOP 64 PROSPECTS

RK | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY

1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado, Jr, 6001, 181, 4.52

2. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan, Jr, 6024, 320, 4.95

3. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, Jr, 6020, 202, 4.44

4. Cameron Ward, QB, Miami, Sr, 6020, 220, 4.65

5. Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas, Jr, 6036, 320, 5.21

6. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, Jr, 5082, 217, 4.50

7. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado, Sr, 6012, 198, 4.70

8. James Pearce Jr., ER, Tennessee, Jr., 6036, 242, 4.55

9. Mykel Williams, ER, Georgia, Jr, 6036, 265, Jr, 4.55

10. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri, Jr, 5110, 208, 4.40

11. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, Jr, 6040, 210, 4.45

12. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia, Jr, 6010, 205, 4.48

13. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State, rJr, 6052, 310, 5.15

14. Abdul Carter, ER, Penn State, Jr, 6022, 250, 4.55

15. Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota, rSr, 6060, 325, 5.25

16. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas, Jr, 5106, 182, 4.30

17. Jalon Walker, ER, Georgia, Jr, 6022, 245, 4.56

18. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State, Sr, 6006, 204, 4.50

19. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina, Jr, 6026, 220, 4.52

20. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State, rJr, 6057, 260, 4.64

21. Delane Mansoor, CB, Virginia Tech, Jr, 6010, 187, 4.40

22. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama, Jr, 6032, 244, 4.52

23. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas, rJr, 6020, 195, 4.80

24. Will Campbell, OT, LSU, Jr, 6056, 319, 5.10

25. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Auburn, Sr, 6003, 183, 4.29

26. LT Overton, DT, Alabama, Jr, 6036, 283, 4.67

27. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan, Jr, 6045, 245, 4.65

28. Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State, Jr, 6050, 307, 5.05

29. Tre Harris, WR, Mississippi, Sr, 6015, 212, 4.52

30. Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma, Sr, 5100, 191, 4.48

31. Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State, Sr, 6033, 318, 5.15

32. Harold Perkins, LB, LSU, Jr, 6001, 215, 4.38

33. Bradyn Swinson, ER, LSU, rSr, 6032, 250, 4.76

34. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas, rSr, 5110, 195, 4.50

35. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia, rSr, 6042, 218, 4.80

36. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, ECU, rSr, 6015, 193, 4.40

37. Landon Jackson, ER, Arkansas, Sr, 6053, 271, 4.75

38. Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi, rSr, 6002, 190, 4.45

39. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson, Sr, 5117, 233, 4.45

40. Shemar Stewart, ER, Texas A&M, Jr, 6050, 290, 4.75

41. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama, rJr, 6015, 220, 4.48

42. Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama, Jr, 6044, 348, 5.50

43. Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi, Jr, 6036, 290, 4.92

44. Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona, Jr, 6042, 330, 5.32

45. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State, Sr, 5114, 193, 4.45

46. Nic Scourton, ER, Texas A&M, Jr, 6036, 280, 4.68

47. Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon, Jr, 6040, 305, 5.00

48. Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland, Sr, 6040, 211, 4.50

49. Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia, rJr, 6044, 315, 5.15

50. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma, Sr, 6040, 240, 4.62

51. Howard Cross III, DT, Notre Dame, rSr, 6011, 255, 5.10

52. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State, Jr, 6016, 203, 4.50

53. Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State, rSr, 6055, 348, 4.90

54. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame, Jr, 6000, 186, 4.45

55. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame, rJr, 5116, 203, 4.55

56. Jonah Monheim, C, USC, rSr, 6050, 296, 5.30

57. Teddye Buchanan, LB, California, Sr, 6020, 237, 4.68

58. Joshua Gray, OG, Oregon State, rSr, 6040, 306, 5.00

59. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan, Jr, 6032, 340, 5.03

60. Princely Umanmielen, ER, Mississippi, Sr, 6036, 258, 4.65

61. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU, rJr, 6015, 205, 4.75

62. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky, Jr, 6045, 348, 5.10

63. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina, Jr, 5116, 219, 4.45

64. Cameron Williams, OT, Texas, Jr, 6051, 335, 5.20

NFL GENERAL MANAGER RANKINGS

RK | GM | TEAM | EXPERIENCE

1. Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs [8]

2. Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams [13]

3. Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles [15]

4. John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks [15]

5. Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals [26]

6. Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers [11]

7. Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions [4]

8. Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints [23]

9. Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens [6]

10. John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers [8]

11. Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers [7]

12. Tom Telesco, Las Vegas Raiders [1]

13. Nick Caserio, Houston Texans [4]

14. Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills [8]

15. Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys [36]

16. George Paton, Denver Broncos [4]

17. Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts [8]

18. Adam Peters, Washington Commanders [1]

19. Chris Grier, Miami Dolphins [9]

20. Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers [3]

21. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota Vikings [3]

22. Joe Hortiz, Los Angeles Chargers [1]

23. Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons [4]

24. Monti Ossenfort, Arizona Cardinals [2]

25. Eliot Wolf, New England Patriots [1]

26. Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns [5]

27. Dan Morgan, Carolina Panthers [1]

28. Ran Carthon, Tennessee Titans [2]

29. Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears [3]

30. Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars [4]

31. Joe Schoen, New York Giants [3]

32. Phil Savage, New York Jets [1]

NFL HEAD COACH RANKINGS

RK | HEAD COACH | TEAM

1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

3. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

4. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

6. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

7. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions

8. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

9. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings

10. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

11. Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

12. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers

13. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

14. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

15. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

16. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

17. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

18. Jonathn Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

19. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

20. Darren Rizzi, New Orleans Saints

21. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

22. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

23. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

24. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys

25. Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars

26. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

27. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

28. Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders

29. Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears

30. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

31. Jeff Ulbrich, New York Jets

32. Brian Daboll, New York Giants

33. Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints [Fired]

34. Robert Saleh, New York Jets [Fired]

NFL QB RANKINGS

RK | PLAYER | TEAM

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

4. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

11. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

12. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

13. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

14. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

15. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

16. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

17. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

18. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

19. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

20. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

21. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

22. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

23. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

24. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

25. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns

26. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

27. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers

29. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

30. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts

31. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

32. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams

33. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

34. Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks

35. Taylor Heinicke, Los Angeles Chargers

36. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders

37. Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders

38. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

39. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

40. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers

41. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

42. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears

43. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots

44. Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys

45. Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans

46. Will Levis Tennessee Titans

47. Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers

48. Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills

49. Davis Mills, Houston Texans

50. Tommy DeVito, New York Giants

ALTERNATE FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

RK | TEAM | LEAGUE

1. Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

2. Birmingham Stallions (UFL)

3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)

4. Montreal Alouettes (CFL)

5. Edmonton Elks (CFL)

6. Michigan Panthers (UFL)

7. St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL)

8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)

9. BC Lions (CFL)

10. Ottawa Redblacks (CFL)

11. San Antonio Brahmas (UFL)

12. DC Defenders (UFL)

13. Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL)

14. Arlington Renegades (UFL)

15. Calgary Stampede (CFL)

16. Memphis Showboats (UFL)

17. Houston Roughnecks (UFL)

ALERT: HS RECRUITS || GRID CAMPS ALABAMA 12.14.24

ALERT — GRID Camps and SCHOOLS are teaming up to launch GRID Camps Powered By CLEARED, a unique program designed to elevate high school athletes’ athletic and academic performance, preparing them for college football recruitment and success. This partnership combines GRID's elite football training with SCHOOLS' proven academic readiness program, creating a pathway for student-athletes to stand out to college scouts nationwide.

The first workout is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at Al Trione Sports Complex in Daphne, AL, for football players aged 14-17. Seniors are welcome to participate and showcase their skills. Athletes must register for both the GRID workout at gridcamps.com and the CLEARED program at schoolstestprep.com. (Enrollment in both programs is required to participate).