Remember the AAF? It was supposed to be a different kind of spring football. Instead of a lofty goal of maybe one day challenging the NFL, the AAF had a smarter goal. They wanted to survive on their own for a few years before convincing the NFL that they could be a useful partner as a true minor league.
As the NFL is currently organized, they have no true minor league to develop young talent, send players down for rehab, or to just put struggling veterans. You’re either in the NFL or you’re out of it. However, before the AAF could even finish its first season, they were finished.
They suddenly ceased operations mid-season and it was hard to not place the blame in controlling owner Tom Dundon. He purchased the league early into its lifespan with a significant investment, but it never felt like he had the league’s best interests at heart. Which is why according to Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports two former players are reportedly suing the AAF. Some of the alleged points in the suit are fraud, breach of good faith, and fair dealings.
Breaking: Two former #AAF players have sued the league, CEO and Founder Charlie Ebersol and control owner Tom Dundon in San Francisco Superior Court today. The class action suit alleges fraud, unfair business practices, breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealings.
— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) April 10, 2019
The class representatives and other players have sought representation with Boris Treyzon of the law firm, Abir Cohen Treyzon Salo LLP.
— Ben Kercheval (@BenKercheval) April 10, 2019
This lawsuit could prove very interesting. The AAF never got off the ground, with them having issues with paying players as quickly as two weeks into the season, but the majority of those running the league expected to at least make it to the end of their first season. Dundon, however, pulled the plug early and they never got a chance to make their case for why they should survive longer.
The case might have some ground here with how the AAF operated post closure. It had a feel of players showing up to work one day to find a sign on the door that said everybody had been laid off. They even left some players with the bill from recent hotel stays — although that was apparently resolved. It will be interesting to see who the courts side with here and what fallout could be for the league’s leaders.
