AAF Collapse Is Completely Screwing Its Players
The Alliance of American Football is in the process of a collapse, as the league has suspended operations. The worst part of this story has been the way the AAF is treating its players on the way out. The details emerging have been ridiculous.
Robert Klemko started the slew of ridiculous stories:
Source says AAF teams making players pay for their own flights home. What a clown show this was.
— Robert Klemko (@RobertKlemko) April 2, 2019
Then on Wednesday night, San Diego Fleet color analyst Rich Ohrnberger piled on with inside stories:
More on the #AAF collapse:
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
+Players in Memphis came back to their hotels after news came down, and had their personal items waiting in the lobby. Kicked out of their lodgings.
+Amount of money owed to vendors, venues, etc. in San Antonio for training camp is over $4 Million
+Reserve/Injured players, “will be left in the cold.” They will be paying for their own rehab/medical expenses.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
+High level staff at the team level received email from “The Board” no one received a termination notice from an actual person.
+Team level staff members were asked to stay behind in markets to clean out office spaces (without pay)... and handle “refunds” ...no clarity who will be receiving those refunds.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
This is a complete mess...
Brandon Silvers and Anthony Manzo-Lewis —QB & FB for the Memphis Express #teammates pic.twitter.com/GdVpEMPHU4
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
This is absolutely absurd. Players were kicked out of their lodgings and their contracts weren’t honored.
It would take $20 million for the AAF to finish out his season, but Carolina Hurricanes owner — and noted a-hole — Tom Dundon, shut the league down before it could complete its first season. The players will not be paid, their medical expenses won’t be taken care of, and they were thrown out of their lodgings. Then they had to pay for their own flights home.
Honestly, if the NFL wanted a huge public relations win, it would reach out to those injured players and cover their medical costs.