American Football League - Fictional History

Round 1 1 - Detroit - RB Jesse Brown - Brooklyn College - Dr. Pepper 2 - Cleveland - WR Joey Stanikovski - Brooklyn College - Wallflower 3 - Cincinnati (from TRI) - DL J.J. Worthington - Kentucky Commonwealth - Dr. Pepper 4 - Cincinnati - LB Edgar Abney - Ohio - TheEnigmaticOne 5 - Buffalo - QB Brendan Turnbull - Brooklyn College - Darknes 6 - Chicago - DL Benjamin Walkins, Jr. - New York State - Stickman 7 - Pittsburgh - WR Ron Guy - Ohio - Kingsfan11 8 - Washington - LB Russel Bauer - Cincinnati State - DireBear Before the draft, many had pegged Detroit to take either a RB or a WR with the first overall pick, and trading away RB Jeffery Spears during the offseason made their choice clear. The Knights selected RB Jesse Brown first overall, planning to pair him up with second-year QB Terry Kadlec to revitalize their offense. Brown showed off his immense raw talent while at Brooklyn College, being one of the fastest backs in recent memory and squeezing through holes made for him in the

AACA Top 20 1) Brooklyn College - 10-0 2) Los Angeles State - 10-0 3) Oklahoma - 10-0 4) Chicago Christian - 9-1 5) Navy - 8-2 6) Ohio - 9-1 7) Army - 8-2 8) Calvert - 7-2-1 9) Wisconsin State - 8-2 10) Arkansas - 8-2 11) Miami State - 8-2 12) Monongalia State- 9-1 13) Alabama A&M - 7-3 14) Buchanan - 7-2-1 15) Michigan - 7-3 16) Louisiana  - 7-2-1 17) University of Los Angeles - 7-3 18) Texas - 7-3 19) Delaware - 7-3 20) New York State- 7-3 AACA Bowls: Tournament of Roses Bowl (Los Angeles, CA) - (1) Brooklyn College 33-13 (2) Los Angeles State Palm Bowl (Miami, FL) - (8) Calvert 34-7 (11) Miami State Magnolia Bowl (Houston, TX) - (3) Oklahoma 6-14 (9) Wisconsin State Columbian Bowl (Chicago, IL) -  (4) Chicago Christian 21-0 (20) New York State Gold Bowl (San Francisco, CA) - (6) Ohio 20-7 (17) ULA Cigar Bowl (Tampa, FL) - (13) Alabama A&M 13-9 (18) Texas Syrup Bowl (New Orleans, LA) - (14) Buchanan 19-21 (16) Louisiana Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX) - (10) Arkansas 6-7 (12) Monongal

Retirements: Buffalo QB Don Melton made an impact during his brief two years in the AFL. His first year in the league was his most successful, winning MVP and nearly winning a championship in two leagues before being stopped by the Chicago Hogs. His second season was a massive regression, and the hit he suffered in the East Play-off was enough for him to call it a career after playing 13 years as a pro, winning two championships in the NYPL with the Hammers. OL Cecil Martin also decided to hang up his cleats after 12 years of play between the Detroit Knights and the Tri-Cities Hawks. He won his sole championship in his sophomore season with the Knights in the MWFC, and was one of the top offensive linemen that the league had ever seen. That was enough for Tri-Cities to want him to get back to the championship game, being traded to the Hawks in the infamous “Trade of the Century” that hasn’t seemed to work out for either side just yet. He played two more solid years for the Hawks before

The offseason meetings for the AFL take on some new scenery, joining in on the hustle and bustle of New York City. The 8 AFL owners and NEFL commissioner Robert McNamara were invited by acting NYPL president Peter Stuyvesant to the Warwick Hotel to finalize the merger between the AFL and NEFL, and potentially discuss a merger between the AFL and the NYPL. With some fanfare for introductions, the meetings quickly got underway. THE MANHATTAN PLAN TAKES SHAPE The AFL had been looking at potential options for expansion partners for Boston, even reaching out with prospective owners in Minneapolis, Omaha, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. But when the NYPL came knocking on the AFL’s door with the potential of a merger, Donovan Hasenkamp couldn’t say no to that opportunity. It would quickly become apparent that the New York Dutch Lions would be joining the AFL as its 10th team, and Hasenkamp made the move official on the first day of the meetings. Though the AFL wanted them to join Boston in 1956,