🏈 The AAF is being discontinued

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Tell me what arenas the NBA is building. As far as I know, there aren't any.

I wouldn't watch the NBA if they were playing in my garage....then again that's just me

 

[rick4bama]

So the new has wore off, is this what is happen? I have only seen one game and that was the one on CBS.

 

[JoshB]

So the new has wore off, is this what is happen? I have only seen one game and that was the one on CBS.

Is this what happen? Their shutting down? No, they're not. One of the owners was throwing out hyperbole to try and get the NFLPA to jump on board with teams sending practice squad players to play in the AAF. They know the NFL really, really wants this league to succeed. Whats probably going to end up happening is the NFLPA and the league agree to start signing certain players to "developmental contracts", which would allow those players to play in the AAF and then they return to the NFL team for training camp.

 

[planomateo]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Is this what happen? Their shutting down? No, they're not. One of the owners was throwing out hyperbole to try and get the NFLPA to jump on board with teams sending practice squad players to play in the AAF. They know the NFL really, really wants this league to succeed. Whats probably going to end up happening is the NFLPA and the league agree to start signing certain players to "developmental contracts", which would allow those players to play in the AAF and then they return to the NFL team for training camp.

Oops

 

[bama alum]

Hate it for those life-long fans

 

[252BAMA]

The AAF will suspend all football operations
Posted by Mike Florio on April 2, 2019, 12:48 PM EDT

"It’s not over. But it’s close.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Alliance of American Football will be suspending all football operations within the next few hours.

The league won’t be folding, yet. But it seems to be moving in that direction.

The move comes in the aftermath of ominous comments from Tom Dundon, who became majority owner of the AAF several weeks ago. Dundon committed $250 million in funding to the league, but he had the ability to pull funding, and he obviously has.

Last night, a source told PFT that the AAF needed roughly $20 million to get to the end of its first season. Instead, the season will end with two weeks left in the regular season, and with a four-team postseason that never comes to fruition."

The AAF will suspend all football operations

 

[planomateo]

Another quitter

 

[planomateo]

It seems Bill and Charlie made a bad decision bringing in Tom.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I blame it on Johnny Football.

 

[planomateo]

Interesting. Seems like he could buy/build a gambling app cheaper? Maybe the app was icing on the cake.

I imagine the conversations going on between Tom, Bill, and Charlie are heated.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

So basically Dundon bought in to get the app and is now shuttering the league

Oh well

 

[#80]

Dundon to lose $70M.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

As someone who was involved in some software patents, you have to realize that sometimes it is a lot cheaper to buy something than to try to make your own. Software patents can sometimes be so broad that you almost can't do anything similar without infringing. A good patent filing on this app could be broad enough to block almost any other decent app for many years and lead to many successful infringement lawsuits.

 

[planomateo]

XFL will be an option in a few years.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Saw some players saying they were unceremoniously kicked out of their hotel rooms today. If you follow this chain some others commented that it was true and other things.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[JoshB]

Yeah it's over. From what it sounds like this Dundon scumbag literally bought the league so he could eventually fold it and strip it for the gambling app/tech they were working on. All rumor right now but the more we hear about what was going down, it seems like its likely...

The timeline (as I understand it).

• Ebsersol and Polian work on this league for around 2-3 years, create a 3-year plan that ultimately (in theory) ends in a partnership with the NFL as their official farm league but still grow it to the point where it is sustainable even without the NFL.
• They put together a TV deal, investors, etc.
• The league starts in February, one of the primary backers pulls out almost immediately. Tom Dundon, who seems to be enamored by some of the tech they are working on, steps up as a White Knight to save the day and claims that he will invest $250-million and agrees with Polian and Ebersol's "vision" (plan). He even gives a radio interview where he says "capital is no issue" and that the league will be open as long as people are watching (TV ratings have staid steady since the initial dropoff from week one).
• Less than a month later he refuses to go along with that plan, and with Ebersol and Polian begging him not to do it, he goes publicly saying he will shutter the league if the NFL doesn't agree to partner with them in the sense that they will allow practice squad players to play in the AAF. The NFL already allows players that are under "futures contracts" to play in the AAF but offers no protection to those players if they get injured in the AAF. This is something Dundon wants to change, too. The NFL Player's Association is surprised by him going public because they and the NFL itself were already in talks with the AAF. Bizarre situation #1.
• A week later, a lot of people in the league and the NFLPA are happy with the way discussions are going between the two sides. On Monday, Dundon again threatens to shut down the league unless they get an agreement with the NFL sooner rather than later. This supposedly "blindsides" the NFLPA and AAF executives. Dundon is not stupid, he owns an NHL franchise, he knows that this whole situation is not something that you just snap your fingers and it resolves. The NFL and NFLPA would literally have to either rewrite the Collector Bargaining Agreement or amend to allow practice squad players to play in the AAF or even possibly begin signing practice squad players to "developmental contracts."
• A day later Dundon says he will not fund the league anymore, won't shell out another dime. An even more problem is that if the AAF finds someone else to foot the bill to at least finish out the season, Dundon could overrule it and not allow it and still shutter the league.

This guy really, really seems like, unless we find out something different, he is going to be the AAF's version of Donald Trump to an extent (this is a USFL reference, not political please don't @ me over political nonsense).

 

[JoshB]

 

[JoshB]