Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning Purchase the Memphis Express
Manning Family Join Alliance as Owners
November 23, 2020
Memphis, TN - Archie Manning, the former New Orleans Saints QB, along with sons, Peyton, the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos QB and Eli, the former New York Giants QB, and Manning Sports LLC have purchased the Memphis Express from Frederick Smith and FedEx Sports LLC. Manning Sports LLC outbid Robert Pera, the Memphis Grizzlies owner for the team.
Manning Sports LLC also announced the signing of North Dakota State's QB Trey Lance. Lance is projected to be a top five selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lance was currently preparing for that draft as his NDSU Bison had their 2020 season cancelled due to the Covid-19 virus. Lance signed a one year $2.3M contract with the Express. He intends to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lance became the starting QB for the Bison as a redshirt freshmen in 2019 and then proceeded to lead them to FCS National Championship.
Manning Sports LLC lastly announced that the franchise would be removing Greg Schiano as the Head Coach and Steve Logan as the Offensive Coordinator. The former Philadelphia Eagles RBs Coach Duce Staley will serve as the new Head Coach while former Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone will be the new Offensive Coordinator.
Alliance League Enters Free Agency
December 1, 2020
Stamford, CT - After the busy and truncated offseason, a lot of the Alliance teams had holes to fill on their roster and this is the updated list on the free agent moves each team made prior to them entering training camp this month.
- New York Guardians hired former New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin to be the new Head Coach, demoted Head Coach Kevin Gilbride back to Offensive Coordinator, WR Hakeem Nicks retired
- Miami Blues hired former Columbus Generals OC Graham Harrell for Offensive Coordinator, LB Austin Spitler retired, signed RB Byron Marshall, WR George Campbell, OL Darrion Weems and LB Eli Harold
- Atlanta Defenders' DC Charlie Strong was hired by the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars to be the new DC under new HC Urban Meyer, former Columbus Generals DC David Gibbs was hired as his replacement, signed RB Jordan Scarlett, WR Quincy Enunwa, OL Sean McEwen, DL Terry Beckner and Clinton McDonald, and LBs Jayrone Elliott and Eric Wilson - Dallas Renegades signed RB Bo Scarborough
- Memphis Express' WRs Jon Baldwin and Justin Hunter along with OL Jim Cordle retired, signed RB Dexter Williams and WR Saeed Blacknall
- Houston Roughnecks' WRs Cobi Hamilton and Danario Alexander retired, signed RB LJ Scott, WRs Jaelen Strong, Daimion Willis and DeMarkus Lodge and DL Marcell Dareus
- Los Angeles Wildcats' QB Jimmy Clausen, RB Kendall Hunter, OL Justin Britt, DL Joe Kruger and LB Dontay Moch retired, signed RB Spencer Ware, WR Dontez Byrd, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, OL Evan Boehm and LaAdrian Waddle, DL Shawn Oakman and Christian Ringo and LB Marcus Smith
- Baltimore Brigade HC Brian Billick, QB Tom Savage, RBs Eddie Lacy and Alfred Morris, and DB Nolan Carroll retired, OC Kellen Moore promoted to Head Coach, signed QB Brett Hundley, RB CJ Anderson and DL Avery Moss
- Mexico City Vipers sign QB Aaron Murray, WR Dan Williams and DB Danny McCray
- St. Louis Stallions RB Matt Asiata retired, signed RB Josh Ferguson, TE Clive Walford, OL Russell Bodine and DB Jermaine Whitehead
- Las Vegas Conquerors RBs Terrance West and Zach Zenner and WR Jarrett Boykin retired, signed RBs Trey Williams and Charcandrick West
- Chicago Alphas signed QB Cooper Rush, RB Elijah Hood, WRs Fred Ross, Eugene Lewis and Tajae Sharpe, OL Josh Garnett and Sam Young and DL Ra'Shede Hageman
- Seattle Dragons signed WR Devier Posey
- San Antonio Commanders signed QB Marquise Williams, WRs Devin Smith and Chester Rogers, DL Dontari Poe and K Nick Folk
- Birmingham Iron signed WR Robert Foster
- Tampa Bay Storm signed WR Kermit Whitfield, DL Jon Hankins, LB Kentrell Brothers and DBs Kalan Reed and Chris Milton
- Washington Valor sign DBs Eric Reid and Cyrus Jones
Alliance League Takes Advantage of CFL Cancelling Season
December 20, 2020
Stamford, CT - The Alliance league only went out and signed three of the CFL's premier Free Agents. The Alliance's level of talent has set them above the CFL and the signings will likely be pretty marginal moving forward.
- Baltimore Brigade sign DB Cariel Brooks
- Atlanta Defenders sign LB Patrick Levels
- Los Angeles Wildcats sign QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson
- Washington Valor sign K Justin Medlock
- New York Guardians sign WR Bryan Burnham