The majority owner of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) said the league could be in danger of folding if the NFL Players’ Association is unwilling to let its younger players participate in the league, USA Today reported.
Tom Dundon, who became the league’s majority owner after investing $250 million last month, said the AAF can’t be considered a development league without cooperation from the players’ union.
“We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league,” Dundon said.
The AAF is in its inaugural season. The league features eight teams and many former NFL castoffs looking for a second chance to get into the big leagues.
The NFLPA believes sending active and practice squad players would violate the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, according to the report. The union is concerned that players would face significant injury risk, which would jeopardize future earnings in the NFL.
They’re also worried that teams would “abuse their power and pehaps force young players into AAF action as a condition for consideration for NFL roster spots in the fall,” the paper reported.
Dundon said a decision about the AAF’s future could be made within the next two days.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.