The Alliance of American Football was hoping to make it to its second year of play but now it’s possible the fledgling league might not even last until Week 9.
Slated for a 10-week regular season, the AAF is in danger of shuttering its door unless it gets assistance from the National Football League Players Association.
Tom Dundon, the majority owner of the AAF, told USA Today Sports the NFLPA is hamstringing the young league by refusing to loan it inexperienced NFL players.
“If the players union is not going to give us young players, we can’t be a development league,” Dundon told USA Today Sports. “We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league.”
Though unsigned NFL players are free to join the AAF at any time, the league would need the NFLPA’s help to bring in practice-squad players who are signed to futures contracts. It the AAF doesn’t get that help, it will be very difficult for it to present itself as a developmental league.
Things are so bad that there is a chance the AAF will fold after games are played this weekend, a source told Pro Football Talk on Tuesday night.
Even if that doesn’t happen, it does seem likely the league will not make its second season unless it is able to reach an agreement with the NFLPA.
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