2014 Arena Football League season

The 2014 Arena Football League season was the 27th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 14, 2014 and ended on July 26, 2014.

2014 Arena Football League season
LeagueArena Football League
SportArena football
DurationMarch 14, 2014 – August 23, 2014
Regular season
Season championsCleveland Gladiators
Season MVPNick Davila, ARZ
League postseason
American Conference championsCleveland Gladiators
  American Conference runners-upOrlando Predators
National Conference championsArizona Rattlers
  National Conference runners-upSan Jose SaberCats
ArenaBowl XXVII
ChampionsArizona Rattlers
  Runners-upCleveland Gladiators
Finals MVPNick Davila, ARZ

League business

Teams

The city of Anaheim, California was awarded an expansion team on August 15, 2013. The team, named the Los Angeles Kiss, was the first AFL team to call Los Angeles home since the Los Angeles Avengers in 2008. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, members of the rock band Kiss, were the owners of the expansion franchise.[1]

Two teams that competed in 2013 suspended operations, (Chicago Rush & Utah Blaze) and their rosters were dispersed throughout the league during a dispersal draft on September 6, 2013.[2]

The Milwaukee Mustangs sold their league membership to Terry Emmert, who then started a new franchise in Portland, Oregon named the Portland Thunder.[3]

Television

On December 17, 2013 it was announced that ESPN had agreed to a multi-year deal in televising several games, including the ArenaBowl. Additionally, at least 75 games during the season were to be aired on ESPN3, the network's online streaming service. ESPN had owned an equity interest in the former league organization prior to its bankruptcy, and had previously aired games as recently as the 2008 season, prior to the league's hiatus that resulted in the canceled 2009 season.[4]

Realignment

With teams expanding, relocating and suspending operations, the AFL announced the divisional alignment for 2014 on October 29, 2013. The two conferences had an even number of teams, and were placed in two divisions.[5]

Conference Division Teams
American East Cleveland Gladiators, Iowa Barnstormers, Philadelphia Soul, Pittsburgh Power
South Jacksonville Sharks, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm
National Pacific Portland Thunder, San Jose SaberCats, Spokane Shock
West Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Kiss, San Antonio Talons

Regular season standings

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining.[6]

  • Green indicates clinched playoff berth
  • Blue indicates division champion
  • Gray indicates division champion and conference's best record

Tie-breakers
  • a San Antonio finished in second place in the West Division based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Los Angeles.

Playoffs
Conference Semifinals Conference Championship ArenaBowl XXVII
         
1 Cleveland 39
4 Philadelphia 37
1 Cleveland 56
American Conference
2 Orlando 46
2 Orlando 56
3 Pittsburgh 48
A1 Cleveland 32
N1 Arizona 72
1 Arizona 52
4 Portland 48
1 Arizona 72
National Conference
2 San Jose 56
2 San Jose 55
3 Spokane 28

Conference semifinals
Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
American August 2 7:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul 37–39 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena [7]
National August 2 10:00 p.m. EDT Spokane Shock 28–55 San Jose SaberCats SAP Center at San Jose [8]
American August 3 2:00 p.m. EDT Pittsburgh Power 48–56 Orlando Predators CFE Arena [9]
National August 3 6:00 p.m. EDT Portland Thunder 48–52 Arizona Rattlers US Airways Center [10]

Conference finals
Conference Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
American August 10 3:00 p.m. EDT Orlando Predators 46–56 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena [11]
National August 10 8:00 p.m. EDT San Jose SaberCats 56–72 Arizona Rattlers US Airways Center [12]

ArenaBowl XXVII
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
August 23 8:00 p.m. EDT Arizona Rattlers 72–32 Cleveland Gladiators Quicken Loans Arena

All-Arena team
Offense
Position First team Second team
Quarterback Nick Davila, Arizona Shane Austin, Cleveland
Fullback Derrick Ross, Philadelphia Mykel Benson, San Antonio
Wide receiver Marco Thomas, Iowa
Rod Windsor, Arizona
Dominick Goodman, Cleveland		 Greg Carr, Orlando
Darius Reynolds, Iowa
Donovan Morgan, Los Angeles
Center Antonio Narcisse, Pittsburgh Shannon Breen, Cleveland
Offensive lineman Rich Ranglin, San Jose
Michael Huey, Arizona		 Colin Madison, Pittsburgh
Wayne Tribue, Philadelphia
Defense
Position First team Second team
Defensive end James Ruffin, Spokane
Ted Jennings, Philadelphia		 Cliff Dukes, Arizona
Mike Lewis, Iowa
Nose guard Jason Stewart, San Jose Willie McGinnis, Cleveland
Middle linebacker Beau Bell, Los Angeles Francis Maka, San Jose
Jack linebacker Tanner Varner, Orlando Bryce Peila, Portland
Defensive back Marquis Floyd, Arizona
Varmah Sonie, Portland
Marrio Norman, Cleveland		 Cameron McGlenn, New Orleans
Kelvin Rodgers, San Antonio
Rayshaun Kizer, Philadelphia
Special teams
Position First team Second team
Kicker Nich Pertuit, San Jose Julian Rauch, Pittsburgh
Kick returner Terrance Sanders, Spokane Larry Beavers, New Orleans

References
  1. "Arena Football League, KISS Bring Pro Football Back to Los Angeles". Arena Football League. August 15, 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-02-09. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  2. Richard Obert (September 7, 2013). "Rattlers bolster pass rush with addition of Alex Magee in dispersal draft Friday". www.azcentral.com. azcentral.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  3. Don Walker (October 2, 2013). "Milwaukee Mustangs bound for Portland". www.jsonline.com. Journal Sentinel, Inc. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  4. "ESPN Acquires Rights to Arena Football Starting in 2014". arenafootball.com. Arena Football League. December 17, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  5. "With Rush gone, AFL sets realignment for 2014 season". www.dailyherald.com. Paddock Publications, Inc. October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  6. "Playoff Qualification, Selection of Teams". Arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  7. "Gladiators Beat Soul on Last Play, Again". Cleveland Gladiators. Arenafan.com. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  8. Aseltine, Griffin (August 3, 2014). "San Jose Shocks Spokane in Playoff Blowout, 55-28". Arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  9. Sims, Jeff (August 4, 2014). "Morris and KEEFENSE Surge Power". Arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  10. Loeschman, Matt (August 4, 2014). "Snakes alive -- Floyd interception saves Rattlers' season". Arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  11. Rosenblum, Jonah (August 10, 2014). "Steady Gladiators Best Orlando, Advance to ArenaBowl". Arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. Loeschman, Matt (August 11, 2014). "Rattlers show championship form in dominating Cats". Arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
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