The UFL "could shutter shortly if it is unable to pay its players," according to sources cited by Daniel Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The sources said that the players "have yet to be paid this year." The four-team league, which is "operating without a commissioner, several weeks ago hired the law firm Morrison & Foerster to defend it from the claims that have been brought against the struggling outfit from ex-employees and vendors." Some agents have been "advising players not to compete until they are paid, further contending that some players have left clubs." Agent David Canter, who has three UFL player clients, each owed $28,000 for the season, said, "I have told my clients in writing that until they are compensated they should not play. My understanding is before one game players were basically begged by the coaches to get on the plane to go to a game" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/8 issue). Sacramento Mountain Lions Owner Paul Pelosi said, "The players have not been paid yet. ... We guarantee that they will be paid ... and we're going to do that very soon." Virginia Destroyers Owner and acting UFL Chair Bill Mayer: "If you talk to players that have played in past seasons, they got paid. Not always on time, but there's no one who hasn't gotten paid" (SACBEE.com, 10/6).
