2012 Arena Football League season

Sports season

2012 Arena Football League season

League| Arena Football League
Sport| Arena football
Duration| March 9, 2012 – August 10, 2012
Regular season
Season champions| Philadelphia Soul
Season MVP| Tommy Grady, UTA
AFL playoffs
American Conference champions| Philadelphia Soul
American Conference runners-up| Jacksonville Sharks
National Conference champions| Arizona Rattlers
National Conference runners-up| Utah Blaze
ArenaBowl XXV
Champions| Arizona Rattlers
Runners-up| Philadelphia Soul
Finals MVP| Nick Davila, ARZ
AFL seasons

← 2011

2013 →

........Gladiators

Mustangs

Power

Soul

Force

Predators

Sharks

Storm

VooDoo

Barnstormers

Command

Rush

Talons

Blaze

Rattlers

SaberCats

Shock

class=notpageimage|

American:  East,  South
National:  West,  Central

The 2012 Arena Football League season was the 25th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 9, 2012 with a game between the Pittsburgh Power and the Orlando Predators and ended on July 22, 2012 with a game between the Utah Blaze and Philadelphia Soul. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Philadelphia Soul by a 72–54 score in ArenaBowl XXV on August 10, 2012 to conclude the playoffs.[1]

## League business

[edit]

### Teams

[edit]

The only franchise that relocated during the offseason was the Tulsa Talons, which became the San Antonio Talons following a move to San Antonio, Texas, where the team announced they would play at the Alamodome.[2]

When the 2012 schedule was announced, the Dallas Vigilantes were left off without any explanation on the status of the franchise. No expansion teams were added for the 2012 season.

### Labor issues

[edit]

On March 9, 2012, the day the AFL was to begin play, the Arena Football League Players Association went on strike, seeking a doubling of their wages. The game between the Pittsburgh Power and Orlando Predators scheduled for that night was played as scheduled with replacement players making up about three-quarters of the roster. However, players began crossing the picket line by the second quarter and the AFL announced the work stoppage ended just two hours after the game ended.[3][4]

For the second game of the 2012 season, the entire roster of the San Antonio Talons voted unanimously not to strike for its first game against the Utah Blaze.[5]

On June 8, the Cleveland Gladiators were forced to forfeit a week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Power when they were unable to field enough players to play as a result of several of their players going on strike. It was the first forfeited game in the history of the league.[6][7] This news came after the NFL Network chose not to air a contest between the Milwaukee Mustangs and Philadelphia Soul in the network's weekly Friday night broadcast, citing a "labor uncertainty."[8] In the following week, after reports of a potential lockout rose,[9][10] the NFL Network chose to air a War on I-4 game between the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators via tape delay on June 16, the day after the game took place.[11]

On June 17, it was announced that the AFL and the AFLPU agreed to a multi-year collective bargaining agreement, to be signed on June 20.[12]

## Regular season standings

[edit]

American Conference

East Division
Team  | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | CON | Home | Away
(1) Philadelphia Soul | 15  | 3  | .833  | 1228  | 919  | 4–2  | 12–2  | 7–2  | 8–1
Cleveland Gladiators | 8  | 10  | .444  | 879  | 875  | 4–2  | 6–8  | 5–4  | 3–6
Milwaukee Mustangs[a] | 5  | 13  | .278  | 960  | 1062  | 3–3  | 4–7  | 2–6  | 3–7
Pittsburgh Power | 5  | 13  | .278  | 827  | 963  | 1–5  | 4–9  | 1–8  | 4–5
South Division
Team  | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | CON | Home | Away
(2) Jacksonville Sharks | 10  | 8  | .556  | 930  | 884  | 4–4  | 8–6  | 6–4  | 4–4
(3) Georgia Force | 9  | 9  | .500  | 812  | 923  | 5–3  | 8–5  | 5–4  | 4–5
(4) New Orleans VooDoo[b] | 8  | 10  | .444  | 979  | 995  | 5–3  | 7–5  | 4–5  | 4–5
Tampa Bay Storm | 8  | 10  | .444  | 1021  | 1108  | 4–4  | 7–7  | 7–2  | 1–8
Orlando Predators | 4  | 14  | .222  | 770  | 902  | 2–6  | 4–11  | 4–5  | 0–9
National Conference
Central Division
Team  | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | CON | Home | Away
(1) San Antonio Talons | 14  | 4  | .778  | 1042  | 949  | 5–1  | 9–4  | 8–1  | 6–3
Chicago Rush | 10  | 8  | .556  | 1047  | 1044  | 4–2  | 5–6  | 7–2  | 3–6
Iowa Barnstormers | 7  | 11  | .389  | 948  | 1032  | 3–3  | 5–9  | 4–5  | 3–6
Kansas City Command | 3  | 15  | .167  | 705  | 938  | 0–6  | 1–12  | 2–7  | 1–8
West Division
Team  | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | DIV | CON | Home | Away
(2) Arizona Rattlers | 13  | 5  | .722  | 1118  | 880  | 3–3  | 8–5  | 7–2  | 6–3
(3) San Jose SaberCats[c] | 12  | 6  | .667  | 1143  | 1027  | 4–2  | 10–4  | 8–1  | 4–5
(4) Utah Blaze | 12  | 6  | .667  | 1128  | 1051  | 4–2  | 8–4  | 6–3  | 6–3
Spokane Shock | 10  | 8  | .556  | 1063  | 1048  | 1–5  | 5–7  | 5–4  | 5–4

Eight teams qualified 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.[13]

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

### Tie-breakers

[edit]

* a Milwaukee finished in third place in the East Division based on a head-to-head sweep over Pittsburgh.
* b New Orleans clinched the American Conference's No. 4 seed based on a greater won-loss percentage among games between New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland. (New Orleans: 2–1, Tampa Bay: 2–2, Cleveland: 1–2)
* c San Jose clinched the National Conference's No. 3 seed based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Utah.

## Playoffs

[edit]

| Conference Semifinals | | | Conference Championship | | | ArenaBowl XXV |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| 1 | Philadelphia | 66 | | |
| 4 | New Orleans | 53 |
| | 1 | Philadelphia | 89 |
| American Conference |
| | | 2 | Jacksonville | 34 |
| 2 | Jacksonville | 58 |

| 3 | Georgia | 56 |
| | A1 | Philadelphia | 54 |
|  |
| | | N2 | Arizona | 72 |
| 1 | San Antonio | 34 | |

| 4 | Utah | 35 |
| | 4 | Utah | 69 |
| National Conference |
| | | 2 | Arizona | 75 |
| 2 | Arizona | 51 |

| 3 | San Jose | 48 |

### Conference semifinals

[edit]

Conference  | Date  | Kickoff  | Away  | Home  | Final score  | Game site  | Recap

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

National  | July 27  | 8:00 p.m. EDT | Utah Blaze | San Antonio Talons | Utah, 35–34  | Alamodome | [14]
American  | July 28  | 7:00 p.m. EDT | Georgia Force | Jacksonville Sharks | Jacksonville, 58–56  | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena | [15]
American  | July 28  | 7:05 p.m. EDT | New Orleans VooDoo | Philadelphia Soul | Philadelphia, 66–53  | Wells Fargo Center | [16]
National  | July 28  | 10:00 p.m. EDT | San Jose SaberCats | Arizona Rattlers | Arizona, 51–48  | US Airways Center | [17]

### Conference championships

[edit]

Conference  | Date  | Kickoff  | Away  | Home  | Final score  | Game site  | Recap

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

American  | August 3  | 8:00 p.m. EDT | Jacksonville Sharks | Philadelphia Soul | Philadelphia, 89–34  | Wells Fargo Center | [18]
National  | August 4  | 10:00 p.m. EDT | Utah Blaze | Arizona Rattlers | Arizona, 75–69  | US Airways Center | [19]

### ArenaBowl XXV

[edit]

Main article: ArenaBowl XXV

Date  | Kickoff  | Away  | Home  | Final score  | Game site  | Recap

|
|
|
|
|
|

August 10  | 10:30 p.m. EDT | Arizona Rattlers | Philadelphia Soul | Arizona, 72–54  | New Orleans Arena | [20]

## All-Arena team

[edit]

| Offense

Position  | First team  | Second team
Quarterback | Tommy Grady, Utah | Nick Davila, Arizona
Fullback | Derrick Ross, Philadelphia | Odie Armstrong, Arizona
Center | Kyle Young, Arizona | Billy Eisenhardt, Chicago
Offensive lineman | Rich Ranglin, San Jose
Michael Huey, Arizona | George Bussey, Tampa Bay
Emmanuel Akah, San Jose
Wide receiver | Jesse Schmidt, Iowa
Maurice Purify, Arizona
Aaron Lesué, Utah | Reggie Gray, Chicago
Tiger Jones, Philadelphia
Dominick Goodman, Cleveland
| Defense

Position  | First team  | Second team
Defensive lineman | Joe Sykes, San Jose
Mike Lewis, Utah
Victor DeGrate, San Antonio | Bryan Robinson, Philadelphia
Scooter Berry, Jacksonville
Luis Vasquez, Milwaukee
Middle linebacker | Aaron Robbins, Jacksonville | Francis Maka, San Jose
Jack linebacker | Alvin Ray Jackson, New Orleans | Marcus Everett, Milwaukee
Defensive back | Kent Richardson, Philadelphia
Jason Simpson, Iowa
Terrance Sanders, Spokane | Jeremy Kellem, New Orleans
Arkeith Brown, Arizona
Tracy Belton, Georgia
| Special teams

Position  | First team  | Second team
Kicker | Kenny Spencer, Spokane | Nich Pertuit, San Jose
Kick returner | PJ Berry, Pittsburgh | Terrance Sanders, Spokane

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2012 AFL Schedule Announced". San Antonio Talons. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
2. ^ "Pro Football Has Finally Arrived in San Antonio". San Antonio Talons (Press release). September 27, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
3. ^ Arena Football League officials prepared for work stoppage[permanent dead link]. Des Moines Register.
4. ^ [1] Archived 2012-03-10 at the Wayback Machine. Bright House Sports Network (March 9, 2012). Retrieved March 10, 2012.
5. ^ Oliver, Richard (March 10, 2012). Players' strike loses momentum. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
6. ^ "Cleveland forfeits matchup against Pittsburgh". ArenaFan.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
7. ^ Manoloff, Dennis (June 8, 2012). "Cleveland Gladiators players' strike causes forfeit loss to Pittsburgh Power". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
8. ^ "AFL broadcast will not air nationally". ArenaFan.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
9. ^ DiPoala, Jerry (June 12, 2012). "Union: Arena League threatens lockout". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
10. ^ Obert, Richard (June 14, 2012). "Arena Football League threatening lock out". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
11. ^ Markowitz, Adam (June 12, 2012). "Labor Dispute Rages On, NFL Network Pulls Plug On Live Broadcasts". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
12. ^ "AFL, AFLPU Agree to Terms on Multi-Year CBA". ArenaFan.com. June 17, 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
13. ^ "AFL Playoff Qualification, Selection of Teams". Arenafan.com. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
14. ^ "Utah Holds on, Advance to Conference Championship". Arena Football League. July 28, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.[dead link]
15. ^ "Sharks Defeat Force in Nail-Biter, 58–56". Arena Football League. July 29, 2012. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
16. ^ "Soul Top VooDoo, 66–53". Arena Football League. July 28, 2012. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
17. ^ "Rattlers Eliminate SaberCats in 51–48 win". Arena Football League. July 29, 2012. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
18. ^ "Soul Eliminate Sharks 89–34". Arena Football League. August 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
19. ^ "Rattlers Defeat Blaze, 75–69, in Exciting Finish". Arena Football League. August 5, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
20. ^ AFL Communications (August 11, 2012). "Arizona Rattlers Win Avitae ArenaBowl XXV". Arena Football League. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

Arena Football League seasons

* 1987
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* 1995
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* ~~2009~~ (season cancelled)
* 2010
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* 2019

* v
* t
* e

2012 AFL season

| American Conference| National Conference

|

| East Division| South Division

|

* Cleveland Gladiators
* Milwaukee Mustangs
* Philadelphia Soul
* Pittsburgh Power

* Georgia Force
* Jacksonville Sharks
* New Orleans VooDoo
* Orlando Predators
* Tampa Bay Storm

| Central Division| West Division

|

* Chicago Rush
* Iowa Barnstormers
* Kansas City Command
* San Antonio Talons

* Arizona Rattlers
* San Jose SaberCats
* Spokane Shock
* Utah Blaze

Related articles
2012 Arena Football League season
ArenaBowl XXV
Arenas
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