By Nathan  Boudreaux -- As the Arena Football League approaches its 23^rd season, there is certainly a lot to be thankful for this time of year.

To everyone associated with the AFL family, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving as we take a fun look at what some players, fans, front office gurus and coaches have to be thankful for heading into this season:

10) I’m thankful for overtime in the Arena Football League. I think the AFL has the best overtime in football – just ask Donovan McNabb what he thinks of the NFL’s overtime system. According to AFL rules, overtime periods are 15 minutes long with each team getting one possession to score. If, after each team has had one possession, one team is ahead, that team wins. If the teams are tied after each has had a possession, the game goes to sudden death and the next team to score wins.

Unlike the NFL if the score is still tied after the 15 minute overtime period (basically a fifth quarter), teams would change end zones and start a 6th quarter with the team that lost the opening coin toss having the decision to play offense or defense and the game would continue until one team is crowned the winner. Interestingly, there are no one minute timing rules in the overtime (or 5^th quarter). One minute timing rules would resume in the 6^th and 8^th quarters if applicable.

Prior to the implementation of the overtime rule after the 2005 season, the AFL had two games end in a tie – Chicago Bruisers vs. Los Angeles Cobras (1988) and Dallas Desperados vs. Nashville Kats (2005).

9) I think fans in Philadelphia should be thankful for the addition of wide receiver Chris Jackson. Jackson caught 140 passes for 1,719 yards and 49 TDs last year, and helped the Soul to a 13-3 overall record and their first ArenaBowl championship.

Jackson is a leader on and off the field and his mere presence made other members of the Soul better. Second-year WR Larry Brackins (107 receptions for 1,395 yards and 29 TDs) had a career season and the Soul offense ranked among the best in the League.

Oh, and having QB Matt D’Orazio come off the bench didn’t hurt either.

8) I think AFL coaches and personnel folks should be thankful for af2. The indoor game is tough to master quickly and with limited practice time and no preseason games, new players to the 50-yard game have to learn on the fly. Therefore, coming to the AFL with indoor experience in af2 is a huge advantage.  Last season, there were more than 150 former af2 players on AFL opening-day rosters.

7) I think football fans in Cleveland are thankful for the Gladiators. In their first season on the North Coast (of Lake Erie that is), Cleveland finished the regular season with a 9-7 mark and made the playoffs. Not only did first-year head coach Mike Wilpolt and veteran QB Raymond Philyaw (83 TDs against 10 INTs) guide the club to the postseason, but they actually won a playoff game, something their NFL counterparts (the Browns) have not done since 1995. The Gladiators knocked off Orlando and Georgia in the postseason last year, and were a win away from their first-ever ArenaBowl appearance. The future looks bright for Cleveland again this season with the return of Philyaw and leading receiver Otis Amey (112 catches for 1,516 yards and 48 scores) and the rumored additions of free agents FB/LB Duke Pettijohn (Dallas) and DB Rashad Floyd (Colorado).

6) I think there are three coaches in the League - Pat O’Hara (Los Angeles), Ron James (Utah) and Pat Sperduto (Columbus) – who are thankful for their newest opportunity. O’Hara is a first-time head coach, while James (Las Vegas) and Sperduto (Nashville) have been head coaches in the AFL at one time during their careers. With the pressure to win sooner than later, the honeymoon is already over for these guys and the season hasn’t even started yet.

5) With the loss of the New Orleans VooDoo and the League restructuring the divisional alignment for next year, I think Philadelphia, New York, Columbus and Cleveland are glad to see Dallas move out of the Eastern Division and into the Southern Division for 2009. Over the last three years, Dallas has had the AFL’s best regular season record with a 40-8 (.833) mark and has won the Eastern Division two of the last three seasons. The Soul, Dragons, Destroyers and Gladiators all have smiles on their faces while the Tampa Bay Storm, Orlando Predators and Georgia Force will have their work cut out for them next year.

4) I think SaberCats fans need to be thankful they have a guy like head coach Darren Arbet on their sideline. With Arbet at the controls, the SaberCats have established themselves as an AFL dynasty on the West Coast.  Since taking over the SaberCats back in 1999, Arbet has totaled a 109-45 regular season record and a 15-6 mark in the playoffs with four ArenaBowl appearances and three victories (2002, 2004 and 2007). San Jose has been one of the most consistent teams year after year, and Arbet (10 seasons) is the second-most tenured head coach in the League behind Tampa Bay’s Tim Marcum (14 years with the Storm).

3) I’m thankful the AFL implemented instant replay in the playoffs last season. The name of the game for the zebras is getting calls right, and having a replay system to fall back on gives officials a sense of security in a fast-paced game like the AFL. Although the competition committee has not officially okayed the use of the system during the regular season just yet, don’t be surprised to see it in as a permanent fixture in the AFL sometime very soon.

2) I think Arizona Rattlers fans should be thankful for the creativity of their front office. Prior to last year, the Rattlers guaranteed season ticket holders that their club would make the playoffs or they would refund their money. With new head coach Kevin Guy at the controls, Arizona responded on the field and finished with an 8-8 regular season mark before falling to Grand Rapids in the first round of the playoffs. Although the Rattlers lost in the postseason last year, the future looks bright in the desert.

1) Most importantly, this Thanksgiving season I think everyone should be thankful for the gift of life. Be sure to share that gift with family and friends this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at arenafootball.com.

Nathan Boudreaux has been working for arenafootball.com since 2002. He has been associated with the AFL since 1999 and has worked as media relations director for both the AFL's Florida Bobcats (1999) and Carolina Cobras (2000-02). He also spent four years (2002-05) in the media relations department of the NFL's Cleveland Browns before moving to his current post as manager of marketing and business development for USA Football (usafootball.com) -- the national governing body for America’s favorite sport leading the development of youth, high school, and international amateur football.