Outlaws look to keep their season alive

Practice had just ended at Las Vegas Sports Park, and the players and coaches knelt in a circle, held hands and said a prayer.

If a team could use a little divine intervention right now, it's the Las Vegas Outlaws. The Arena Football League expansion team has had more than its share of struggles in its inaugural season, including the league taking over operations from Vince Neil's ownership group in mid-July.

Coaches and staff are still owed money. Vendors haven't been paid for services rendered. Yet here the Outlaws are in the final week of the season with a chance to make the playoffs.

Las Vegas (5-11-1) needs only to beat Spokane in its 7:30 p.m. game today at the Thomas & Mack Center to make the postseason. The Outlaws can also make the playoffs if they lose and Portland (5-12) loses at first-place Arizona (13-4) tonight.

"It's a credit to the players and coaches for not letting everything distract them," head coach Aaron Garcia said. "It's been tough on everyone. But we still have something to play for."

Garcia, the assistant coaches, the players and the remaining staff have been paid by the league since it took control of the franchise. But some of the assistants and staff are owed money from the former ownership group and it may be tough to collect that back pay.

Right now, though, the focus is on the field and beating the Shock (6-11). The crowd isn't likely to be very large at the Thomas & Mack, and for the players, it's all about professional pride.

"For us, the playoffs start (tonight)," said quarterback Sean Brackett, who will get the start against Spokane. "We can't control what's going on with the ownership and the league, but we can control what we do on the field and the guys who are still here love being out here."

Brackett missed five games with a stress fracture in his right foot. But he says he is healthy, and he has thrown for 920 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

"I feel great and I'm ready to go," he said.

Garcia said he's proud of the players and coaches who have stuck it out this long, and a playoff berth would be a nice reward.

"We've had so many things work against us," he said. "We had the toughest schedule in the league to start. Our two quarterbacks got hurt. When the league took over, we had to clear it with them to sign someone if somebody got hurt.

"But we still have a chance to win a championship. I know it's a long shot but it's still a shot."

For the players, a win tonight means something else besides making the playoffs.

"It's a chance to get another check and that's a good thing," Brackett said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.