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Johnny Manziel makes comeback in 7v7, 4-team league controlled by fans

Image courtesy of the of Fan Controlled Football press release.

So, Johnny Football is back in a 7v7, four-team league called Fan Controlled Football and I’m not sure how we should feel about this.

The league sounds like the Alliance of American Football — The Alliance, or AAF. You remember the spring alternative to the NFL that started after the Superbowl and didn’t last a season? But oddly, different.

Fans quite literally have decided everything so far, alongside the owners of the teams — from the team names, team logos, and soon will decide what plays the teams run via live stream. The league’s premiere season will feature four teams stacked with “pro-caliber athletes battling it out” over a six-week schedule — starting in February 2021, the season will be live-streamed exclusively on Twitch.

The Fan Controlled Football league aims to combine the passion of live sports, the competitiveness of fantasy sports, the interactivity of video games, and the global reach of esports all into a live-streamed, real-life experience, its website states.

“We could not be more excited to have Johnny Manziel join the FCF,” said Sohrob Farudi, FCF Co-Founder and CEO. “To have one of the most talented and exciting players in the history of college football is a historic moment for the FCF, and for our fans who will have the opportunity to call the plays for Manziel.”   

The FCF has four teams — each with different owners and different ownership groups that work with fans to create the name and logo, and eventually draft players and call the plays — so let’s break it down.

Image courtesy of FCF’s news release.

Zappers

Johnny Football will be QB for the Zappers — I get big Walmart-version Gatorade vibes from the logo. But here’s what Johnny Football had to say:

“Football has always been a huge part of my life, and the opportunity to join the FCF was too good to pass up. FCF is doing something new and original in sports, a league that is truly all about the fans and letting them call all the shots. I can’t wait to get started – this is going to be fun.”

Image courtesy of FCF press release.

Bob Menery, co-owner of the team Manziel plays for, said bringing Johnny Football out of retirement wasn’t an easy task. A press release states Menery has been vocal on social media regarding his support for the quarterback’s return to football … but really, is he? I scrolled through his Twitter briefly.

The team is run by Minnesota Twins pitcher Trevor May and Menery, who is a sports broadcasting personality.


Glacier Boyz

Image courtesy of FCF press release.

The Glacier Boyz is the team run by multi-platform recording artist Quavo, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman and YouTube sensation and former UCF kicker Donald De La Haye, also known as Deestroying.

I mean, Quavo didn’t really miss when he started Migos …whether you’re into it or not, they are rich. What can go wrong?

“We are building a brand and something different in our league – with the fans. They are in control and get to pick the team names, colors, logos, and more,” Quavo said. “I’m really excited because FCF is fast-paced, high-scoring 7v7 football and you are in control. You go from sitting on the couch watching TV and pressing buttons on the remote to actually pressing the buttons on the plays.”


Beasts

Image courtesy of FCF press release.

The Beasts — run by Super Bowl champion running back Marshawn Lynch, boxing legend Mike Tyson and pro wrestler Miro — was named as a nod to Lynch’s Beast Mode nickname.

But like, the logo? It looks like a bearded dragon fucked a wolf, and I don’t think that’s really Beast Mode. But, go off, Lynch.


Wild Aces

Last, but absolutely not least, the Wild Aces. Greg Miller — founder of the Kinda Funny YouTube channel and podcast — owns the team. Ever heard of him? Me neither.

Image courtesy of FCF press release.

The logo looks like the Chad meme, which kind of looks like the owner’s photo in the image above this and now I am scared.


Fans determine everything, literally everything.

From the rules of the game to the live play calling during matchups, the fans work with the owners to determine everything. There’s a smaller field, with less guys on it, so why not … I guess?

“For the first time in football – no – SPORTS history, the fans have designed, curated, and voted on their team logos,” a news release reads. “And we have to say, they did one hell of a job.”

So far, we know one player has been “drafted” and that is Johnny Football.

Manziel hasn’t had the most success since being drafted No. 22 overall by Cleveland in the 2014 NFL draft. In 2014, Manziel started six games, appeared in nine, and threw for 1,500 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 230 rushing yards.

The Texas A&M Heisman Trophy winner — the first freshman to ever win the award — completed 147-of-258 passes for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions, along with 259 rushing yards and one score in 2015.

Manziel appeared in 14 games with eight starts over two seasons at the time the Browns released him in 2016. Then he went to the CFL for a little.

Manziel also was a QB for an AAF team, the Memphis Express, until that league abruptly ended after just months of operation. Manziel tweeted hours before the league warning other AAF players the league won’t payout.

“If you’re an AAF player and the league does dissolve. The last check you got will be the last one that you get. No lawsuit or anything else will get you your bread,” Manziel tweeted.

Don’t forget about the XFL, which kind of died and then relaunched but then rescheduled its relaunch from 2020 to 2022.

I’m excited.

Written by Megan Turner

Meg is in her last semester at the University of Central Florida and writes and tweets about anything related to sports. She replies to comments she shouldn't reply to online and thinks the CFP Rankings are absolutely rigged.

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