The AAF’s best-case scenario is to be to the NFL what the G League is to the NBA. The AAF can survive on its own while helping the NFL get better. This past weekend showed fans would be just fine with that.

The most impressive thing about the AAF’s debut was the majority of reaction to it seemed positive. The currency of 2019 is internet rage, yet the AAF was mostly lauded and Saturday night’s games even beat a very good NBA matchup in the television ratings.

The main takeaway is that people want more football. Another takeaway is that while the NFL isn’t exactly going to lose ground to the AAF, there are some things the big league should take a long look at, in regards to what people liked about the AAF. Like the AFL, USFL and XFL, the most enduring legacies of competing pro football leagues often end up being how they influence changes in the NFL.

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The NFL and AAF aren’t exactly competing. The AAF has said it wants to work as a partner with the NFL; some AAF games can be seen on the NFL Network, so there’s some synergy already. As such, maybe the NFL can easily embrace these five lessons learned from the AAF’s first weekend:

Officiating transparency is good for the game

The shameful way the NFL handled the infamous no-call in the New Orleans Saints-Los Angeles Rams NFC championship game should be a wake-up call. Their referee was sent out to talk to a pool reporter after the game and said he hadn’t even seen the play. A week-and-a-half passed before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had the first official league statement on it. The missed call was bad, and the league reaction was embarrassing. The entire fiasco has fed widespread criticism about officiating.

Compare that to the AAF having the decision-making process of its replay officials broadcast live. Not only was it entertaining, it gave everyone an idea why calls were made. This was an oddly fascinating minute of television:

"We've got a score." After some careful consideration, @aafAPOLLOS get the first touchdown in the history of @TheAAF. pic.twitter.com/dCTBYvCEMF — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019





The NFL might never go that far, but with people crushing its officiating it wouldn’t be the worst idea to give us more insight into their decision-making process. The AAF showed how that can be done.

Fans like big hits

I’m not sure how the NFL incorporates the bloodlust people had for some of the bigger hits we saw over the weekend. The play that drew the most attention among the four games was probably San Diego Fleet quarterback Mike Bercovici getting blasted by San Antonio Commanders linebacker Shaan Washington.

Shaan Washington can BRING IT. pic.twitter.com/7VqYNk3DwD — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019





The NFL is in a tough spot, and always has been. We can’t criticize the league for not doing enough for player safety through the years, then also criticize the league for eliminating hits that endanger player safety. And the NFL had a great 2018 season in part because the quarterbacks stayed mostly healthy. It’s a good trade-off. But the AAF is a reminder that folks still like seeing violent collisions.





There are some talented players for the NFL to scout

We’re going to see plenty of the players from the AAF get a look from the NFL. Quarterbacks Garrett Gilbert (Orlando), Luis Perez (Birmingham) and John Wolford (Arizona) posted good numbers. Shaan Washington, the San Antonio pass rusher who crushed Mike Bercovici, got a shout out from former NFL general manager Scot McCloughan. Orlando linebacker Terence Garvin had two interceptions.

Some of the more notable names didn’t shine. Former Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg struggled, though he brought some entertainment by dropping swear words on his live mic. Trent Richardson had just 58 yards on 23 carries, though he did score twice.

TOUCHDOWN BIRMINGHAM Trent Richardson scores the first TD in @aafiron history. pic.twitter.com/ekgOtGunDb — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019





Nobody should or did expect NFL-level play from the AAF, but there were more than a handful of players who look like they could be on NFL rosters in the fall. The NFL will be better off if another league like the AAF can serve as a developmental ground.