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This afternoon it was revealed that the AAF was planning to cease operations after investor Tom Dundon chose to fold the league after the NFL/NFLPA refused to loan
Sources: The AAF will suspend all football operations today. New owner Tom Dundon will lose approximately $70 million on his investment. Dundon makes decision against wishes of league co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 2, 2019
Text of the email that went out to @theAAF personnel a few minutes ago, announcing they’re suspending football operations. pic.twitter.com/KBrL2Wdl4v
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 2, 2019
It seems that not only are players left without a job many of them have not been paid and are being forced to pay for their flights back home out of their own pocket.
AAF players contracts are immediately terminated and there is no severance pay. Last paycheck was for last week’s game.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 3, 2019
AAF players all made $7,000 per week for 7 weeks. Hope to get paid for Week 8 but aren't counting on it. Gross amount for each player on roster all season: $49,000. And now they must pay their way home.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) April 3, 2019
Source says AAF teams making players pay for their own flights home. What a clown show this was.
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) April 2, 2019
One AAF player tells me that players are having to pay for their own way home & that the team hotel tried to kick them out today. This player is booking his own flight to get home. #AAF
This is just one player, so please take it for what it’s worth.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 2, 2019
Unorganized is an understatement…kicked out of our rooms (that weren’t paid apparently) 17 hours away from home with a car full of my belongings and nowhere to go…#JoinTheAlliance @TheAAF @CharlieEbersol @TDCanes @espn @BleacherReport @aafexpress
— Anthony Manzo-Lewis (@amanzolewis) April 2, 2019
The AAF also owes $1 Million dollars in unpaid broadcast/game day operations.
Per a source… The AAF owes over
$1 Million dollars in unpaid broadcast/game day operations at this time… this is probably only 10-15% of outstanding debts at this time.— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 2, 2019
It’s only been a few hours since the league has shuttered and we’re already starting to hear some of the horror stories that players and those involved had to endure during their time in the AAF.
Couple other cost-cutting AAF details I unearthed/found interesting …
• Only coaches/players were allowed eat on the team plane. Docs, trainers, equipment guys weren't fed.
• Night-before-game team dinners were eliminated. Players got a $30 per diem instead.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 2, 2019
AAF co-founder Bill Polian Bill Polian went to release a statement expressing his dissappointment Tom Dundon’s decision to shutter the league and appeared resilient in finding investors to continue funding the league.
AAF co-founder Bill Polian issues strong statement after new owner Tom Dundon shuts league down. pic.twitter.com/YwFWaLFwwl
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 2, 2019
The AAF turned out to be a clown show and it’s sad that people are going to be left without jobs and are not going to be paid money owed to them as a result.