It Finally Became Official On Wednesday

The AFL finally called it quits.

The AFL

Is it about to go the way of the recently-deceased AAF (and WFL, USFL, original XFL, NFL Europa)?

Could It Be Finis......

For the AFL?

From The "WTF" Department

Only in a league that has shrunk to four teams can you find a team that went 2-10 during the regular season, lose its' first playoff game, then win the championship.

The Portland Steel May Be Gone

And yet, the unpaid bills remain.

Arena Football League: Beltway Monopoly

Looks like Baltimore is getting an expansion club which starts play next season.

The new club will be owned by the same guy who was recently awarded an expansion franchise in the nation's capital.

This looks like a conflict of interest.

Can you say "Syndicate Arena Football," boys and girls?

This leaves the AFL, which lost four teams since the end of the 2016 season with five clubs.

AFL's Woes: In The Footsteps Of The Iowa Barnstormers And Spokane Shock

The Jacksonville Sharks are set to move to another indoor gridiron league.

AFL's Woes, Continued

Here's an article on this week's decision by the Orlando Predators to suspend operations.

It's nice way to say that this long-running Arena Football institution has gone under.

More On AFL's Woes

Can a four-team league make it work?

Unlikely.

The Amazingly Shrinking League

With Portland and Los Angeles apparently out of business and Orlando quitting or possibly defecting and Jacksonville itself jumping ship (perhaps along with Arizona), the Arena Football League is taking on the appearence of the original North American Soccer League on its' death rattle.

The Arena Football League

Is it toast?

The AFL, even with a new Washington franchise set to begin play next year, is acting more and more like the original North American Soccer League (1968-84) in its' final years with a shrinking number of franchises.

Any bets the Portland Steel will be around in 2017?  Or Los Angeles KISS or Philadelphia Soul, who moved their respective playoff games from last weekend moved out of town (San Diego and Allentown, Pennsylvania respectively)?

Last-Second Rally Pushes Steel Past KISS In Regular-Season Finale

At Portland, Oregon:

Quarterback Shane Austin completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jared Perry with seven seconds remaining on Monday night as the Portland Steel (3-13) upended the visiting Los Angeles KISS (7-9) 48-46 in the final Arena Football League regular-season contest for both clubs in front of 5,236 fans, the second largest home crowd of the season at Portland's Moda Center.

The Steel will travel to Phoenix for a Saturday night National Conference semifinal playoff game against the Arizona Rattlers (who finished the regular season at 13-3)  at 7:00 PM Pacific Time (CBS Sports Network).

Storm Foil Steel Victory Bid

At Tampa, Florida:

Defensive lineman Everett Hawkins blocked Ernesto Lacayo's 23-yard game-winning field-goal attempt as time expired on Saturday as the Tampa Bay Storm (2-13) held off the visiting Portland Steel (2-13) 41-40 in Arena Football League play.

Steel Knock Off Sharks

At Portland, Oregon:

In what may have been their most complete performance of the Arena Football League season, the Portland Steel (2-12) upended the visiting Jacksonville Sharks (5-9) 55-53 on Saturday night in front of a Moda Center crowd of 4,793 fans.

Another Defeat---And Another Rose City AFL Record-Low Home Crowd---For The Steel

At Portland, Oregon:

In a tightly-contested Saturday night Arena Football League contest, the Orlando Predators (12-2) defeated the Portland Steel (1-12) 47-41 in front of another Rose City AFL record-low crowd---4.458 at the Moda Center.

The defeat assured Portland of traveling to Phoenix to face the Arizona Rattlers in a Western Conference playoff semifinal match (all AFL teams will make the playoffs this season).

Chalk Up Another Defeat For The Steel And In Front Of Another Record Low Home Crowd)

At Portland, Oregon:

The Philadelphia Soul (10-3) assured themselves of hosting an American Conference opening-round playoff game after they erupted in the second half in their 59-38 Monday night Arena Football League road victory over the still feckless Portland Steel (1-11) before a crowd of 4,468, another new record low for an AFL game played in the Rose City.

Gladiators Slay Steel In Portland Before Smallest-Ever Rose City AFL Attendance

At Portland:

In Saturday night Arena Football League action, Arvell Nelson threw for seven touchdown passes as the Cleveland Gladiators (6-6) knocked off the Portland Steel (1-10) 58-49 on the road.

The announced crowd of 4,516 at the Moda Center was the smallest home crowd not only in the three-year history of Portland's current AFL franchise, but for any Rose City league franchise---the 1997-99 Portland Forest Dragons included.

Rattlers Complete Three-Game Regular-Season Series Sweep Of Steel

At Phoenix:

Quarterback Nick Davila completed 24 of 33 passes for 270 yards and eight touchdowns while fullback Mykel Benson ran for two scores on Saturday night as the Arizona Rattlers (8-3) completed a three-game regular-season sweep of the Portland Steel (1-9) with a 76-49 Arena Football League home triumph.

Steel Still Storm, Pick Up First Win

At Portland, Oregon:

Quarterback Shane Austin completed 19 of 26 passes for 139 yards and five touchdowns on Friday night as the Portland Steel (1-8) picked up their first Arena Football League victory of the season by throttling the visiting Tampa Bay Storm (1-8) 68-35.

Broken Record: Steel Complete 0-7 Road Swing With Loss To KISS

At Anaheim, California:

The Los Angeles KISS (4-4) defeated the visiting----and winless---Portland Steel (0-8) 55-42 in Saturday Arena Football League action as Portland completed an 0-7 road trip.