2021 Fan Controlled Football season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2021 Fan Controlled Football season
LeagueFan Controlled Football
SportIndoor football
DurationFebruary 13 – March 20, 2021
Number of games11
Number of teams4
TV partner(s)Twitch, VENN, FTF (replays)
Best regular season recordBeasts
Finals championsWild Aces
  Runners-upGlacier Boyz
Finals MVP[1]
Seasons
 →

The 2021 Fan Controlled Football season is the first season of the Fan Controlled Football (FCF), a professional indoor football league.

The FCF, which sees itself as "Esports and traditional sports colliding together"[2] is unique because the league leans heavily on fan interaction to make important decisions, such as play-calling, drafts, rules, team names and seasonal awards[3] with voting done through a mobile app, a concept the owners first tested in the Indoor Football League when they owned the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles, later giving up ownership of the team when they started the FCF.

The Fan Controlled Football League's (FCFL) first season initial start date was originally in 2018 but was postponed. It was later slated to start in summer 2020 in Las Vegas with eight teams,[4] but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league shortened its name to Fan Controlled Football (FCF) and announced it would play with four teams in February 2021 in a bubble environment at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth, Georgia. (FCF thus became the third different high-profile professional football league to play in the weeks immediately following the Super Bowl in as many years, following the Alliance of American Football in 2019 and the XFL in 2020; FCF was the first of those to complete its inaugural season as scheduled.)

The league began play on February 13, 2021, with four teams competing in a 12-game-format over six weeks. The league uses Internet streaming as its main television platform and is streamed on Twitch and VENN on Saturdays, with reruns on FTF; the league championship is carried on the digital subchannel network LX. The FCF saw a steady increase in its viewership through its first five weeks, from 735,000 in the first week to 2.1 million in the playoffs.[5]

Following a four-game season where the Beasts took home the regular season championship, the playoffs concluded with the #1 seed Beasts losing to the #4 seed Glacier Boyz in an upset and #2 seed Wild Aces easily defeating the #3 seed Zappers.[6] The Wild Aces beat the Glacier Boyz 46–40 in the final, named the People's Championship, as voted by the fans, on March 20, 2021.[7]

Players were paid weekly minimum of $400 to $750 plus room and board, while coaches got paid $3,500 per month with housing and meal plan.[8]

Teams[]

The 2021 season was originally said to have eight teams, which was reduced to four due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All teams have no geographic location that they are based in, similar to ESports teams. All teams share position coaches, doctors and trainers, marketing staffs and practice squad.[4]

Team[9][10] Colors Joined Owners
Beasts     2020 Marshawn Lynch, Mike Tyson, Miro, and Renee Montgomery
Glacier Boyz     Richard Sherman, Quavo, Deestroying, and Adin Ross
Wild Aces     Greg Miller, Austin Ekeler, Jack Settleman, Rachel Lindsay, and Barbara Dunkelman
Zappers     Trevor May, Dalvin Cook, Bob Menery, Ronnie Singh, and Stephen Deleonardis

Players[]

The FCF started its combines and scouting for players as early as January 2019, starting originally with asking fans to recommend players and then later holding combines in Atlanta, Dallas, Columbus and then Las Vegas.[11] Following the cancellation of the Summer 2020 season, the league held further combines in October 2020 in Houston[12] and Pittsburgh[13] then another in Atlanta in November 2020.[14] In December 2020, the FCF signed former Heisman trophy winner and NFL first round pick, quarterback Johnny Manziel[15] and Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois. They also signed former NFL player Quinn Porter,[16] Douglas McNeil III, Jeremiah Poutasi and former XFL players Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi and Quinton Flowers.

The league has no set teams with all players being drafted to teams before the first week of the season. This draft is done via voting by fans in the FCF app.[17] The same is done every week until the playoffs.[18] To stop a player from being drafted by other teams, fans can vote on using a "franchise tag" which will permanently attach the player to the team for the entire season.[19] Players can be selected by their own team in the draft to stop them from being drafted by another team.

Josh Gordon signed with the FCF on March 6, 2021 after being released by the Seattle Seahawks, entering the bubble soon after to appear in Week 4 as his FCF debut with the Zappers.[20] Robert Turbin also signed at the same time though entered the bubble later, making his debut appearance for the Beasts in the playoffs.[21]

2021 Fan Controlled Football final roster
Quarterbacks

Jackson Erdmann

Quinton Flowers

Deondre Francois

Johnny Manziel

Running backs .

Madre London

Quinn Porter

Robert Turbin

Wide receivers .

Josh Gordon

Douglas McNeil III

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi

Tight ends .

Offensive linemen

Jeremiah Poutasi

Defensive linemen .

Shawn Oakman

Linebackers

Defensive backs .

Special teams .

Vacant

Reserve lists

Vacant

Rights list .

Vacant


22 Active, 0 Inactive

Franchise Players[]

Franchise Players are players that were voted to be "protected" from other teams in the draft.[22]

Beasts[]

Glacier Boyz[]

  • (QB)
  • (RB)
  • (WR)
  • (WR)
  • (CB)

Wild Aces[]

Zappers[]

Notable players[]

Source[23]

Regular season[]

Standings[]

2021 Fan Controlled Football standings
Team W L Pct. PF PA PD GB
Beasts 3 1 .750 132 126 6
Wild Aces 2 2 .500 144 138 6 1
Zappers 2 2 .500 138 134 4
Glacier Boyz 1 3 .250 126 142 -16 2
Bold indicates top seed

Schedule[]

All times Eastern.[25]

Week Date Time Matchup Report
Week 1[26][27] February 13 8:00 p.m. Glacier Boyz 22 30 Wild Aces [28][29]
9:00 p.m. Beasts 48 44 Zappers [28][30]
Week 2[31][32] February 20 8:00 p.m. Beasts 30 28 Wild Aces [33][34]
9:00 p.m. Zappers 28 30 Glacier Boyz [33][35]
Week 3[36][37] February 27 8:00 p.m. Zappers 34 30 Wild Aces [38][39]
9:30 p.m. Beasts 28 22 Glacier Boyz [40][41]
Week 4[42][43] March 6 8:00 p.m. Glacier Boyz 52 56 Wild Aces [44][45][46]
9:30 p.m. Beasts 26 32 Zappers [47][48]

Playoffs[]

Fans voted for which team would face the top-seeded Beasts in the semifinal.[49]

Semifinals[50]
March 13
People's Championship[51][52]
March 20
      
1 Beasts 20
4 Glacier Boyz[53] 38
4 Glacier Boyz 40
2 Wild Aces 46
2 Wild Aces[54] 32
3 Zappers 6

Statistical leaders[]

Records reflect statistics through four regular season games played by all teams.[55]

Type Statistic Qty Player Team
Passing Yards 355 Zappers
Touchdowns 8 Logan Marchi Zappers
Interceptions 1 Jackson Erdmann

Logan Marchi

Wild Aces

Zappers

Beasts

Rushing Yards 245 Quinton Flowers Beasts
Touchdowns 6 Quinton Flowers Beasts
Longest run 25 Wild Aces
Fumbles 1 T.J Edwards

Quinton Flowers

Beasts
Receiving Yards 204 Zappers
Touchdowns 5 Travis Toivonen Zappers
Receptions 15 Glacier Boyz
Longest reception 45 Glacier Boyz

References[]

  1. ^ @FCFWildAces (March 21, 2021). "MVP!! MVP!! @Eddunkin7" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Mastrangelo, Alison. "A new football league is coming to Atlanta. The twist? Fans get to be in charge". WSBTV. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  3. ^ Sharp, Walter (2021-02-16). "Fan Controlled Football: How to watch the FCF League on Twitch". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  4. ^ a b "Are you ready for some (fan-controlled) football?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  5. ^ Williams, Randall (March 19, 2021). "Fan Controlled Football League Sees Growth, Eyes Expansion in Year Two".
  6. ^ Schuster, Blake. "Wild Aces vs. Glacier Boyz Set for 2021 FCF Championship; Manziel's Zappers Out". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  7. ^ "FCF Season v1.0: Week Five Game Summary – FCF NEWS". Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  8. ^ "Fan Controlled Football league salary: How much do the players get paid?". www.sportingnews.com.
  9. ^ "Fan Controlled Football League Chooses Team Names, Solicits Logo Submissions".
  10. ^ "Fan Controlled Football League Announces Fan-Chosen Team Names". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.
  11. ^ "Combine – FCF NEWS". Retrieved 2021-03-17.[dead link]
  12. ^ Breaking down the Houston Combine, retrieved 2021-03-17
  13. ^ Pittsburgh Combine, retrieved 2021-03-17
  14. ^ ATL combine, retrieved 2021-03-17
  15. ^ "Manziel returning for fan-based startup league". ESPN.com. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  16. ^ "Johnny Manziel playing in new football league". al. 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  17. ^ Wells, Adam. "Johnny Manziel to Wear No. 2 Jersey in FCF; Full Roster of FCF Players Revealed". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  18. ^ Davis, Josh. "FCF Week 2 Gives Us New Tags, New Draft, and New Games". Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  19. ^ "What Is the FCF and Why Should We Watch?". GMTM. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  20. ^ "Josh Gordon's FCF debut: What to know, how to watch reunion with Johnny Manziel". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  21. ^ Schulze, Brandan (2021-03-12). "Robert Turbin is the latest NFL veteran set to make his Fan Controlled Football debut". Field Gulls. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  22. ^ "Fan Controlled Football is where FANS call the shots". FCF. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  23. ^ "All Players". FCF.
  24. ^ Morona, Joey (March 1, 2021). "Ex-Browns Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel to reunite in Fan Control Football League". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  25. ^ "Fan Controlled Football". FCF. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  26. ^ Davis, Josh. "FCF Week 1 Recap; New Franchise Tags?".
  27. ^ "FCF Week 1: Double Header - 2/13/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  28. ^ a b "FAN CONTROLLED FOOTBALL (FCF) SEASON V1.0 WEEK ONE: GAMEDAY SUMMARY". FCF.io. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "FCF Week 1: Wild Aces vs. Glacier Boyz Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  30. ^ "FCF Week 1: Beasts vs. Zappers Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  31. ^ Davis, Josh. "FCF Week 2 Recap, and New Rules".
  32. ^ "FCF Week 2: Double Header - 2/20/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  33. ^ a b "FCF SEASON V1.0: WEEK TWO GAME SUMMARY". FCF.io. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "FCF Week 2: Beasts vs. Wild Aces Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  35. ^ "FCF Week 2: Zappers vs. Glacier Boyz Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  36. ^ "VENN | GAMING | Fan Controlled Football Week Three: Zappers Take Home First Win, Beasts Remain Undefeated". www.venn.tv.
  37. ^ "FCF Week 3: Double Header - 2/27/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  38. ^ "FCF Week Three Recap: Wild Aces vs. Zappers – FCF NEWS".
  39. ^ "FCF Week 3: Zappers vs. Wild Aces Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  40. ^ "FCF Week Three Recap: Beasts vs. Glacier Boyz – FCF NEWS".
  41. ^ "FCF Week 3: Beasts vs. Glacier Boyz Highlights" – via www.youtube.com.
  42. ^ Davis, Josh. "FCF Week 4: Josh Gordon, And 2 Electric Finishes".
  43. ^ "FCF Week 4: Double Header - 3/6/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  44. ^ "FCF Week 4 Recap: Wild Aces – FCF NEWS".
  45. ^ "FCF Week 4 Recap: Glacier Boyz – FCF NEWS".
  46. ^ "FCF Week 4 Highlights: Glacier Boyz vs Wild Aces" – via www.youtube.com.
  47. ^ "Josh Gordon scores 2 touchdowns, including game-winning Hail Mary in FCF debut". sports.yahoo.com.
  48. ^ "FCF Week 4 Highlights: Beasts vs Zappers" – via www.youtube.com.
  49. ^ @fcflio (March 8, 2021). "You chose "pick your own adventure" for our playoff format. Who should the @FCFBeasts play this weekend? You decide" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  50. ^ "FCF Playoffs: Double Header - 3/13/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  51. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "Ed Crouch's Late TD Gives Wild Aces 2021 FCF Championship over Glacier Boyz". Bleacher Report.
  52. ^ "FCF Season v1.0 Title Game: The People's Championship - 3/20/21" – via www.youtube.com.
  53. ^ "FCF Week 5 Highlights: Beasts vs. Glacier Boyz" – via www.youtube.com.
  54. ^ "FCF Week 5 Highlights: Wild Aces vs. Zappers" – via www.youtube.com.
  55. ^ All statistics can be found on fcf.io. Click on the "Teams + Players tab", click on a team and then scroll to "Games", click on any game to get the boxscore and individual statistics.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""