coach Joey Porter to expire this offseason was not a great surprise when it was announced last week Pittsburgh Steelers Womens Hoodie , but the words that followed from a local beat reporter as a reason for his effective dismissal were. According to Mike Prisuta, a writer for the team’s own website among other publications and a WDVE radio host, the motivation behind letting Porter go may have been less about his coaching talents and more about the way he negatively impacted the locker room.For a man who was known as the emotional leader of the defense for most of his eight years as a player in Pittsburgh, someone who had close relationships with an number of his offense teammates, the notion that Porter presence was damaging to team harmony was strange to hear. However, if the players that worked with him every day are to be believed, the tale that Prisuta was told is actually far from the truth. With Porter already out of the door and nothing to be gained by sticking up for a coach who has already lost the support of management, it is hard to believe that so many of his linebackers would speak out in his defense if they were not telling the truth. If nothing else, their actions speak to the loyalty Porter inspired in his players. Regardless of the reasons for his dismissal, perhaps the bigger questions we should be asking about the complaints Prisuta aired on social media are - why were two offensive players anonymously bad mouthing a coach who just been fired?, and why was a reporter from the team’s own website the only one to hear these rumors? Like many of the leaked reports that have emerged out of Pittsburgh from unnamed source as of late, there appears to be some debate about the integrity of the initial information. But sadly, that seems to be par for the course when it comes to the Steelers these days. The NFL may not be due return to the field until August Womens Customized Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys , but there is still plenty of football to watch in the coming months thanks to a new professional football league set to begin play on Saturday. Founded by noted film and television producer Charlie Ebersol and former Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian, the new Alliance of American Football league will feature eight teams playing a 12 week season.Watch:Broadcast contracts with CBS, NFL Network and TNT should mean that the games are available in most regions and the league’s mobile app will offer live streaming of all games, while B/R Live will also carry one game a week.Rules:Following a similar rules structure to the NFL, the AAF will still feature a few notable differences to the game fans have become used to.There were be no TV timeouts and fewer full-screen commercial in attempt to reduce game time by around 30 minutes.All teams must attempt a two-point conversions after a touchdown. There are no extra point kicks in the AAF. There will be no kickoffs, with all possessions starting at the 25-yard line instead. In place ofonside kicks, a team must convert a fourth-and-12 from their own 28-yard line in order to maintain possession of the ball or turn it over to their opponent. The play clock has been reduced to 35 seconds. In overtime, each team will be given the ball at their opponent’s 10-yard line and be given just one possession to score a touchdown and attempt a two-point conversion. Field goals are not allowed. The other team then gets the same chance and the game ends, regardless if it is still a tie.An additional “Sky Judge” referee using real-time technology will correct any missed calls centered around player safety and can correct any pass interference called inside the final five minutes of the game.Teams:Arizona HotshotsAtlanta LegendsBirmingham IronMemphis ExpressOrlando ApollosSalt Lake StallionsSan Antonio CommandersSan Diego FleetThe Birmingham Iron and San Diego Fleet may have the best looking uniforms based on the initial publicity photographs. But logo wise, the Iron remind me far too much of the Cleveland Browns.Schedule:Head coaches:Arizona: Rick NeuheiselAtlanta: Kevin CoyleBirmingham: Tim LewisMemphis: Mike SingletaryOrlando: Steve SpurrierSalt Lake: Dennis EricksonSan Antonio: Mike RileySan Diego: Mike MartzIn addition to these familiar names in charge of each team, former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will serve as the league’s Head of Player Relations and Hines Ward is the league’s Head of Development.Players:The AAF will also feature a number of players that Pittsburgh fans should recognize with several former Steelers under contract with all but one of the eight teams in the league.Arizona Hotshots: LB Steven Johnson (Edit: Missed this one first time around)Atlanta Legends: CB Dorian GrantBirmingham Iron: WR L’Damian Washington, OT Larson Graham, DT Casey Sayles www.steelerscheapshops.com , DT Josh Frazier, DE Johnny Maxey, CB Jamar Summers, S Jacob HagenMemphis Express: QB Zach Mettenberger, RB Rajion Neal, DE Greg Gilmore, DB Malik Boynton, P Brad WingOrlando Apollos: TE Scott Orndoff, DE Giorgio Newberry, LB Terence GarvinSalt Lake Stallions: NoneSan Antonio Commanders: QB Dustin Vaughan, RB David Cobb, RB Trey Williams, WR Demarcus Ayers Pittsburgh Steelers T-Shirt , TE Cameron Clear, LB Darnell LeslieSan Diego Fleet: RB Terrell Watson, OT Brandon Hodges, LB Travis Feeney, CB Greg DucreBetting:The season will run from Saturday, February 9 through Sunday, April, 14 with the top four teams in the league making the playoffs. The championship game will be held on Saturday, April 27 in Las Vegas. Custom Denver Broncos Jerseys