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Alliance of American Football 2019 Results: Johnny Manziel Injured, Week 8 Recap

Mar 30, 2019
Memphis Express quarterback Johnny Manziel is seen on the sideline during a Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express AAF football game, Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Memphis Express quarterback Johnny Manziel is seen on the sideline during a Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express AAF football game, Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

The home stretch of the Alliance of American Football's inaugural season has arrived with Saturday featuring half of the Week 8 schedule. 

With just two weeks remaining after Week 8, there is still jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The Orlando Apollos have already clinched one of the two postseason spots in the east. They entered Week 8 owning the AAF's best record (6-1), one game ahead of the San Antonio Commanders. 

While the Apollos have taken care of business for themselves, they can still make an impact on the playoff race Saturday. The Birmingham Irons will clinch the second postseason spot in the east if Orlando wins and they beat the Atlanta Legends on Sunday. 

      

AAF Week 8 Scores

Orlando def. Memphis, 34-31

Salt Lake def. San Diego, 8-3

       

Salt Lake 8, San Diego 3

Things have gotten interesting in the Western Conference thanks to Salt Lake's 8-3 win over San Diego in a defensive battle.

San Diego drove down the field with a chance to win after getting the ball back on its own three-yard line with two minutes remaining. Quarterback Mike Bercovici experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows on consecutive  plays during that drive. 

Bercovici completed a 23-yard pass to Marcus Baugh on fourth-and-12 to get the ball into Salt Lake territory. His next pass was underthrown and picked off by Steve Williams to secure a victory for the Stallions. 

Salt Lake's lone touchdown of the day was almost a turnover when quarterback Josh Woodrum dropped the snap. He was able to pick the ball up and hand it to Terron Ward for the score late in the first half:

Neither team moved the ball well in this game with four turnovers combined. San Diego had a 264-244 edge in total yards, but Salt Lake controlled the clock with 37:57 minutes of possession. 

The win moves Salt Lake into a tie with San Diego at 3-5 with two games remaining. Arizona owns the second playoff spot in the west with a 4-3 record leading up to Sunday's game against conference-leading San Antonio. 

Looking ahead to next week, the Stallions figure to have an advantage against the 2-5 Atlanta Legends. Arizona has a matchup with Birmingham, while San Diego has to go against Orlando. 

Orlando 34, Memphis 31

Orlando held on for dear life in a 34-31 win over Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. 

Memphis started the game on a bad note when Johnny Manziel left in the first quarter after taking a blow to the head. The former Heisman Trophy winner was trying to tackle Orlando safety Will Hill following an interception. 

With Brandon Silvers taking over at quarterback and their season potentially on the line, the Express stormed back from a 22-9 deficit in the third quarter by scoring 22 straight points. 

Memphis' defense came up huge on back-to-back possessions with a stop on fourth down and a strip-sack by DeMarquis Gates that Jonathan Cook recovered and returned for a score.

Orlando finally got back on track in the fourth quarter when Garrett Gilbert found Charles Johnson in the end zone to cut the deficit to 31-28 with 4:59 remaining. 

Rainy weather in Memphis worked against the home team when punter Ryan Winslow mishandled a snap that gave Orlando the ball back at the Express' 28-yard line. De'Veon Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 remaining after a replay review:

The victory continues Orlando's dominance against Eastern Conference competition. The Apollos are a perfect 5-0 in those games. Their point differential of plus-100 is easily best in the AAF. The Arizona Hotshots enter Week 8 second in that category at plus-25. 

Memphis' slim postseason hopes now depend on it winning out and hoping Birmingham loses its final three games. 

Johnny Manziel Ruled out After Suffering Head Injury on Tackle vs. Apollos

Mar 30, 2019

Johnny Manziel's first AAF start is over after one series.

Manziel left Saturday's game against the Orlando Apollos after suffering a head injury. The former Heisman winner was 2-of-3 passing for 13 yards and an interception while adding 18 yards rushing. He was injured while attempting to make a tackle after throwing a red-zone pick on a tipped pass.

Signed by the Memphis Express on March 16, Manziel was slotted in as the team's third starting quarterback of the AAF's inaugural season. Christian Hackenberg began the season as the starter before giving way to Zach Mettenberger, who is currently injured.

Manziel was released by the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in February. After his release, the CFL banned him because Manziel because of an unconfirmed violation of his contract.

"We advised Montreal that Johnny had violated one of the conditions we had set for him to be in our league. And Montreal announced his release today," CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said at the time. "We didn't release the terms of those conditions then and we're not going to do that now."

Manziel told Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today in July that the league required him to meet with doctors and a therapist and undergo drug testing because of his previous off-field issues. In 2016, he reached a plea deal after allegedly hitting ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley. The NFL also suspended him four games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

Both the organization and teammates have been highly complimentary of Manziel since his signing.

"Just the caliber he brings with him, a great charisma about him," Express wide receiver Reece Horn told NFL.com's Herbie Teope. "The fans obviously love him and his name is a big brand, and that's the biggest thing I've learned.

"But once you get in meetings with him, running routes for him, catching the football for him, he's a great athlete, he's very competitive—something that I'm also very competitive, so it's the same fire in each of us. He doesn't say too much, but he does say things that need to be said and helps correct some guys, just giving his two cents from his experience in his football career. It's a blessing to play with him and he's a great teammate."

Alliance of American Football 2019 Week 8 Schedule, Live Stream and Odds

Mar 29, 2019
Salt Lake Stallions quarterback Josh Woodrum, right, is tackled by San Antonio Commanders' Joey Mbu during an AAF football game, Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. San Antonio won 19-15. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Salt Lake Stallions quarterback Josh Woodrum, right, is tackled by San Antonio Commanders' Joey Mbu during an AAF football game, Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. San Antonio won 19-15. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

The Alliance of American Football is closing in on its first-ever postseason. Just three weeks remain in the inaugural regular season, and one team—the Orlando Apollos—has already clinched a playoff berth. Week 8 is going to carry some heavy playoff implications.

These last few weeks of the season could also have some serious implications for the league as a whole.

Majority owner Tom Dundon recently hinted that the AAF could need some help from the NFL and the NFL Players' Association in order to keep rolling.

"If the players union is not going to give us young players, we can't be a development league," Dundon said, per Kevin Allen and Mike Jones of USA Today. "We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league."

For now, the Alliance is still kicking, and if you want to enjoy it while you can, you're in luck. Here's everything you need to know for Week 8, including scheduling information, standings and the latest championship odds.

    

AAF Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Orlando Apollos 6-1

2. Birmingham Iron 4-3

3. Memphis Express 2-5

4. Atlanta Legends 2-5

    

Western Conference

1. San Antonio Commanders 5-2

2. Arizona Hotshots 4-3

3. San Diego Fleet 3-4

4. Salt Lake Stallions 2-5

    

AAF Week 8

Saturday, March 30: Orlando at Memphis, 4 p.m. ET (TNT)

Saturday, March 30: San Diego at Salt Lake, 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Sunday, March 31: Atlanta at Birmingham, 4 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)

Sunday, March 31: Arizona at San Antonio, 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

    

All games can be streamed at aaf-live.com.

      

Game of the Week

Arizona Hotshots at San Antonio Commanders

Picking out the game of the week isn't much of a challenge in Week 8. The Arizona Hotshots and San Antonio Commanders are the two top teams in the Western Conference and two of the hottest teams in the Alliance right now.

This could well be a playoff preview. That's something that cannot really be said about the other three games this weekend. Each of those contests will feature a two-win team on one sideline.

The Commanders are on a four-game winning streak. They also happen to boast the best home-field advantage in the AAF. In Week 7, they set a league record with more than 30,000 fans in attendance.

The Hotshots, meanwhile, have won two in a row after losing three straight. During that three-game skid, Arizona didn't look like a legitimate playoff contender. With a win on Sunday, though, the Hotshots can grab a share of the conference lead and put themselves in prime position to eventually host a home playoff game.

"I just told them, 'Hey, we've got to turn this thing around. We're one of the best teams in this whole league and we have the potential to be one of the best teams, but we've got to act like it. We just can't hope things are going to go our way,'" linebacker Steven Johnson said, per Jose Romero of AAF.com.

A playoff atmosphere and a possible playoff preview in prime time? Sign us up!

      

Latest Championship Odds from Oddschecker.com

Orlando Apollos: 5-4

Arizona Hotshots: 7-2

San Antonio Commanders: 15-4

Birmingham Iron: 11-2

San Diego Fleet: 14-1

Memphis Express: 66-1

Atlanta Legends: 100-1

Salt Lake Stallions: 100-1

AAF Allegedly Could Be Discontinued If NFLPA Doesn't Provide Young Players

Mar 27, 2019

Alliance of American Football majority owner Tom Dundon said Wednesday the league is in danger of shutting down if the NFL Players Association does not provide it with young players.

"If the players union is not going to give us young players, we can't be a development league," he said, per Kevin Allen and Mike Jones of USA Today. "We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league."

Dundon said he would decide the league's future in the next two days.

His comments garnered mixed reaction:

While the NFLPA didn't officially respond to Dundon's claims, an anonymous NFLPA official said the union was concerned with the potential risks involved in allowing the players to participate in the AAF.

Allen and Jones wrote:

"The person said the players' union is founded on the belief that using active NFL players and practice squad members for the AAF would violate the terms of the CBA and the restrictions that prevent teams from holding mandatory workouts and practices throughout the offseason. The limitations set in place are designed to ensure the safety and adequate rest and recovery time for football players. But there's a concern that teams would abuse their power and perhaps force young players into AAF action as a condition for consideration for NFL roster spots in the fall."

The AAF has met a mostly positive reception in its opening season, especially given the access the league offers fans during its broadcasts. Cameras go into locker rooms, and the league features more in-game interviews and mic'd participants.

It also capitalizes on the lack of competitors in the market for football leagues below the NFL level, though with the XFL set to return in 2020, that window could be closing.

Johnny Manziel Responds After Eminem Asks AAF to Allow Fights in Games

Mar 26, 2019

Johnny Manziel will go to great lengths to help draw attention for the Alliance of American Football.

On Monday night, Eminem tweeted the AAF should allow on-field fighting—similar to hockey—arguing it "would be key to league's success." Regardless of whether the league takes Eminem's advice, Manziel is already onboard.

Manziel made his AAF debut for the Memphis Express in Sunday's 31-25 win over the Birmingham Iron. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner backed up starting quarterback Brandon Silvers and saw limited action. He finished 3-of-5 for 38 yards and ran for 20 yards on two carries.

Silvers had 266 yards and two touchdowns, so Manziel will likely be riding the bench again when Memphis returns to action Saturday against the Orlando Apollos.

Maybe Manziel will have a future as the Express' designated enforcer.

Johnny Manziel's Wife Bre Tiesi Says 'Vows Were Broken' in NSFW Instagram Posts

Mar 25, 2019
Memphis Express quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) looks for a receiver as he's pressured by Birmingham Iron defensive lineman Jake Payne (99) during a Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express AAF football game, Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. against the Memphis won in overtime 31-25. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Memphis Express quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) looks for a receiver as he's pressured by Birmingham Iron defensive lineman Jake Payne (99) during a Birmingham Iron at Memphis Express AAF football game, Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. against the Memphis won in overtime 31-25. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Model Bre Tiesi, the wife of former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, said "vows were broken" in their marriage in an Instagram post. 

Tiesi, who has taken nearly all traces of Manziel off her social media accounts and removed his surname from her public profile, replied to a series of comments asking about the status of their marriage.

"maybe u should wonder why I would leave him instead of worrying about 'money' lucky for him I don't air out personals and lucky for u you are behind a screen u low life,” Tiesi said in a since-deleted comment captured by The Spun.

"u been married? U been betrayed? I don't do betrayal for a person I was devoted to period. Vows were broken f--k money and f--k u and every other loser on here," Tiesi said in another comment.

Manziel and Tiesi were married in 2018. The couple does not have any children. Manziel, who made his AAF debut over the weekend, has not publicly commented on the status of the marriage.

The quarterback returned to Instagram on Sunday after not posting on his profile since August. 

Watch Highlights of Johnny Manziel's AAF Debut for the Memphis Express

Mar 24, 2019

Johnny Manziel debuted in the Alliance of American Football on Sunday night, his third professional football league, as the quarterback of the Memphis Express.

Down 16-8 to the Birmingham Iron with 7:12 left in the second quarter, Manziel replaced starting quarterback Brandon Silvers. His first AAF play looked a lot like what used to be the norm for him as the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner at Texas A&M as he scrambled for a 13-yard gain.

On the same drive, the 2014 No. 22 overall selection of the Cleveland Browns hit Express wide receiver Alton "Pig" Howard down the sideline for a 36-yard gain and his first AAF completion.

Silvers played the majority of the second half and led the Express to a 31-25 overtime comeback, but Manziel was good for another impressive completion to wide receiver Reece Horn. Manziel ended the night with three completions on five attempts for 48 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The Express acquired Manziel on March 16 when he signed a player contract with the AAF. The Express claimed Manziel off waivers.

"This league is exactly what a lot of guys needed," Manziel said at his introductory press conference, per the Express. "There's a limited amount of opportunities and reps you get in the NFL or elsewhere."

Manziel will have to fight for his opportunity in Memphis as Silvers made a strong case to maintain the starting job on Sunday night.

Alliance of American Football 2019 Results: Week 7 Scores from Sunday

Mar 24, 2019

The Alliance of American Football put a bow on Week 7 on Sunday.

The San Diego Fleet first visited the Arizona Hotshots in Tempe, Arizona, to decide which 3-3 team would rise above the .500 mark and which would fall below. The Hotshots were coming off of handing the Orlando Apollos their first loss of the season in Week 6.

Sunday night took the action Memphis, where the Express hosted the Birmingham Iron and fans held their breath for a glimpse of recently acquired former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel under center.

In fact, seven years ago, many would have expected to see Manziel facing off against Iron running back Trent Richardson in the NFL.

Take a look at the results and recap of the AAF's Sunday slate.

         

Results—March 24

Arizona Hotshots (4-3) def. San Diego Fleet (3-4), 32-15

Memphis Express (2-5) def. Birmingham Iron (4-3), 31-25

              

Recap

Hotshots 32, Fleet 15

It was rough from the beginning for the San Diego Fleet on Sunday afternoon as they were penalized for a false start on the first snap of the game. They did recover to score the opening touchdown, but they wouldn't be able to find the end zone nearly enough as the game wore on.

The Arizona Hotshots answered on the following drive when Trevor Knight came in for a designed run at quarterback and dove into the end zone to tie the game at 6-6—his first AAF touchdown.

A couple of field goals later, the Hotshots took a 17-9 lead on a 36-yard pass from quarterback John Wolford to tight end Thomas Duarte. Following the touchdown, Arizona pulled off a "double throw" on the two-point conversion:

While the Fleet brought the warm and fuzzies on the CBS Sports Network broadcast, the Hotshots poured on the points, extending their lead to 23-9 ahead of the two-minute warning in the second quarter with a 15-yard Wolford pass to wide receiver Deion Holliman.

The final minute of the first half took a turn in the Fleet's direction when Wolford was intercepted by Kelly with 46 seconds left. San Diego converted the turnover into a 38-yard touchdown pass over the middle between two defenders from Mike Bercovici to tight end Marcus Baugh, cutting the Arizona's lead to 23-15 at halftime.

Baugh's touchdown was then reviewed after he appeared to chuck the ball before crossing the goal line, but officials upheld the score.

And the score would stay that way until Wolford took off for a 35-yard rushing touchdown with a little over six minutes to go in the game. The Hotshots would ultimately treat their home fans to a 32-15 win.

Wolford finished with 212 yards on 15-of-19 passing for two touchdowns through the air, while Bercovici tossed for 310 yards on 22-of-43 passing for one touchdown and two costly interceptions.

San Diego will travel to the Salt Lake Stallions next Saturday, and Arizona will travel to take on the San Antonio Commanders on Sunday.

     

Memphis 31, Birmingham 25

In Week 1, Birmingham steamrolled Memphis 26-0. The Express upset the Iron in Week 7 despite uncertainty at quarterback continuing to plague the team for most of Sunday night.

Midway through the second quarter, down 16-8, Memphis put in Johnny Manziel at quarterback after Brandon Silvers started the game. Manziel's first play with the Express resulted in a scramble for 13 yards.

The crowd chanted "Johnny" over and over again throughout his first drive, which included a 36-yard strike to wide receiver Alton "Pig" Howard and resulted in a missed field goal.

Manziel and Silvers alternated at quarterback in the second half, but it was the special teams that kept the Express in the game when defensive back Terrell Bonds took a blocked punt back 47 yards for a touchdown to make it 19-14 (Manziel failed to convert the two-point conversion).

The Express offense continued to struggle into the fourth quarter, but the Iron struck again when quarterback Luis Perez found tight end Wes Saxton Jr. for the touchdown to extend their lead to 25-14.

The ensuing drive, Manziel found wide receiver Reece Horn for a 34-yard completion. Then, Silvers hit Horn over the middle for 15 more yards. However, the drive stalled.

When the game was on the line, down 25-17 and under a minute left, Memphis put the ball in Silvers' hands. With 25 seconds remaining in regulation, Silvers tossed a seven-yard touchdown to Horn to make it 25-23. Silvers connected with tight end Brandon Barnes for the two-point conversion and a tie.

The game became the first to go to overtime in AAF history. In the extra period, the Iron had the first possession but failed to score a touchdown. On 2nd-and-goal, Silvers sealed the upset win for the Express with a 10-yard pass over the middle to wide receiver Daniel Williams, who was tackled into the end zone.

Silvers led all passers with 266 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-35 passing, while Manziel finished his AAF debut with three completions on five attempts for 48 yards.

Horn posted his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game, finishing with a crucial 113 yards on seven catches.

The Express will host the Orlando Apollos next Saturday, and the Iron will host the Atlanta Legends next Sunday.

Alliance of American Football 2019 Results: Week 7 Scores from Saturday

Mar 23, 2019
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 23: Garrett Gilbert #3 of the Orlando Apollos throws a pass during the first half against the Atlanta Legends in an Alliance of American Football game at Georgia State Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/AAF/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 23: Garrett Gilbert #3 of the Orlando Apollos throws a pass during the first half against the Atlanta Legends in an Alliance of American Football game at Georgia State Stadium on March 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/AAF/Getty Images)

Week 7 of the Alliance of American Football kicked off on Saturday, with teams continuing to jockey for playoff positioning in the second half of the regular season.

Below, we'll break down the day's matchups, results and statistics from another Saturday of football.

            

Matchups

Orlando Apollos at Atlanta Legends

Salt Lake Stallions at San Antonio Commanders

        

Results

San Antonio def. Salt Lake, 19-15

The Commanders moved one step closer to locking down the Western Conference on Saturday, but it wasn't without its drama.

Salt Lake's Josh Woodrum hit Terrell Newby on a 21-yard touchdown pass with just 1:54 remaining in the game to draw the Stallions within two, 17-15.

But disaster struck on the two-point conversion, as Woodrum through an interception to De'Vante Bausby and the San Antonio cornerback promptly took it to the house, giving the Commanders a 19-15 win.

It was a wild fourth quarter, as Trey Williams took a short swing pass in the backfield to the house with just over five minutes remaining, before Marquise Williams found Greg Ward Jr. in the end zone for the two-point conversion to give the Commanders a 17-9 lead.

Woodrum almost pulled off the comeback, but Bausby intervened. 

The victory moved San Antonio to 5-2 on the season, while Salt Lake dropped to 2-5.

           

Orlando def. Atlanta, 36-6

The Apollos completely dominated the Legends on Saturday, led by 152 rushing yards as a team and a dominant defensive performance.

Garrett Gilbert threw for 217 yards in the win, D'Ernest Johnson rushed for 54 yards and De'Veon Smith added 40 rushing yards and three rushing scores.

Orlando was clinical in the red zone as well, scoring a touchdown in all four trips:

Orlando's defense, meanwhile, held Atlanta to just 255 yards of offense, posted three sacks and came away with two interceptions.

Quarterback Aaron Murray offered a mixed bag for Atlanta, finishing 16-of-22 with 135 yards and a touchdown, though he also threw two picks. Malachi Jones added six receptions for 53 yards and a score.

The victory clinched a playoff berth for the 6-1 Apollos, while the Legends dropped to 2-5 on the year.

Johnny Manziel 'Ready Right Now,' Says Memphis Express Co-Offensive Coordinator

Mar 22, 2019
HAMILTON, ON - NOVEMBER 3: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Montreal Alouettes runs the ball against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a CFL game at Tim Hortons Field on November 3, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
HAMILTON, ON - NOVEMBER 3: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Montreal Alouettes runs the ball against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a CFL game at Tim Hortons Field on November 3, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round NFL draft pick Johnny Manziel is now a member of the AAF's Memphis Express. 

While Manziel hasn't taken a snap during a game yet, Express co-offensive coordinator Bobby Blizzard said he's "ready right now" to compete.

"I think he's ready right now, just because he knows so much of our offense right now," Blizzard told Express team reporter Dylan Rubino. "He's building chemistry already with the weapons we have and the offensive line. He's familiar with everything that we do. If he gets in the game, I will call a play that he's familiar with."

Per Rubino, Manziel has taken the second-most snaps at practice this week behind Brandon Silvers, who will start at quarterback for Memphis against the Birmingham Iron at home on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Blizzard explained in detail why he felt Manziel was ready to roll.

"I mentioned the type of offense I ran, shouted some of the terminology I use, and his eyes lit up," Blizzard told Rubino. "He was calling out the plays before I even said anything. I looked at [Express head coach Mike Singletary] and gave him a thumbs up. He probably knew 75-to-80 percent of the offense before he even took a snap at practice."

Manziel shares his new coach's confidence.

"I'm light years away from where I was the first day out here," Manziel told Rubino after the Friday practice. "I'm very confident in myself and what we're doing here, what we're running and just trying to get better every day.

"I got to have a good, firm foundation of what this offense is. There's plays in our playbook right now that are exactly the same as the game-winner that I threw against Ole Miss. All across the SEC, I ran these plays successfully."

That familiarity could help jumpstart a pro career that has not gone to plan since 2014. Manziel completed just 57.0 percent of his passes in 15 games over two seasons for the Browns, throwing seven touchdowns and seven picks. He only managed 6.5 yards per pass attempt.

Off the field, Manziel has been the center of a tumultuous and turbulent series of off-the-field concerns, detailed by SportsDayDFW.com, which included allegations of domestic violence and multiple fines for his actions like flipping off a coach and arriving late for meetings.

He's largely stayed out of the news over the past few years, however, and earned some time with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. Last season, Manziel completed 106 of 165 passes for five touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games.

Although Silvers will be getting the start, the Express don't have much to lose by throwing the 26-year-old Manziel into a game in the near future.

The 1-5 team will be eliminated from postseason contention if they lose to the Iron, but three regular-season contests remain after the Birmingham matchup.

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