2014 Arena Football League season

2014 Arena Football League season
League	Arena Football League
Sport	Arena football
Duration	March 14, 2014 – August 23, 2014
Regular season
Season champions	Cleveland Gladiators
Season MVP	Nick Davila, ARZ
League postseason
American Conference champions	Cleveland Gladiators
American Conference runners-up	Orlando Predators
National Conference champions	Arizona Rattlers
National Conference runners-up	San Jose SaberCats
ArenaBowl XXVII
Champions	Arizona Rattlers
Runners-up	Cleveland Gladiators
Finals MVP	Nick Davila, ARZ
AFL seasons
← 2013 2015 →

Barnstormers

Gladiators

Power

Soul

Predators

Sharks

Storm

VooDoo

SaberCats

Shock

Thunder

Kiss

Rattlers

Talons

class=notpageimage|

American: East, South
National: Pacific, West

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.

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

American Conference East Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (1) Cleveland Gladiators 17 1 .944 991 782 7–1 12–1 9–0 8–1 (3) Pittsburgh Power 15 3 .833 1015 778 6–2 11–2 8–1 7–2 (4) Philadelphia Soul 9 9 .500 1021 949 2–5 7–7 7–2 2–7 Iowa Barnstormers 6 12 .333 848 1046 0–7 2–10 3–6 3–6 South Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (2) Orlando Predators 11 7 .611 1005 957 7–2 8–6 7–2 4–5 Tampa Bay Storm 8 10 .444 904 953 4–3 7–6 5–4 3–6 Jacksonville Sharks 7 11 .389 879 862 2–5 3–8 4–5 3–6 New Orleans VooDoo 3 15 .167 770 1011 2–5 2–12 1–8 2–7

National Conference Pacific Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (2) San Jose SaberCats 13 5 .722 999 723 5–1 9–3 7–2 6–3 (3) Spokane Shock 11 7 .588 957 843 4–2 8–4 6–3 5–4 (4) Portland Thunder 5 13 .278 816 965 0–6 2–11 3–6 2–7 West Division Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away (1) Arizona Rattlers 15 3 .833 1151 905 4–0 11–2 9–0 6–3 San Antonio Talons [a] 3 15 .167 743 1017 1–3 1–5 0–9 3–6 Los Angeles Kiss 3 15 .167 633 957 1–3 3–9 2–7 1–8

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 February 9, 2017. 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.