It is unclear if Spectrum Stadium vendors or staff "will ever get paid" by the AAF after the league suspended operations earlier this week, as the AAF "never paid UCF for the lease it signed to play at the stadium," according to sources cited by Boyce & Seabrook of Orlando-based WFTV-ABC. UCF now faces a tab of more than $1M. It is believed the school's athletic department "never sent an invoice" to the Orlando Apollos, who played three games at Spectrum Stadium (WFTV.com, 4/3).
Rashad Ross is one of several former AAF players to have already signed with an NFL teamGETTY IMAGES
PLAYERS FIND NFL HOMES: Several AAF players have already found a home in the NFL, with the Chiefs signing CB Keith Reaser, the Panthers signing WR Rashad Ross and the Browns signing QB Garrett Gilbert (Mult., 4/5). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio reported the AAF on Thursday indicated that players officially had the "ability to sign with NFL teams." The league's standard three-year contract "included a provision allowing players to exit for NFL opportunities at the conclusion" of a season. Although the AAF's inaugural season "concluded when it suspended operations, the NFL opted to wait until official documentation was obtained authorizing NFL teams to sign AAF players" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/4). YAHOO SPORTS' Terez Paylor noted a memo was distributed to all 32 NFL teams by the league on Wednesday stating that teams would be "subject to fines and/or the loss of draft picks for engaging with AAF players or their agents." NFL teams "aren't allowed to contact players in other leagues" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/4).
SAD, BUT NOT SHOCKED: THE RINGER's Rodger Sherman wrote the AAF's demise "offered a twist to the well-trodden story of the failed football league." Most leagues "fold because they cannot find a man with money in the bank," but the AAF seems to be "folding because they found one" in Hurricanes Owner Tom Dundon (THERINGER.com, 4/3). In Birmingham, Roy Johnson wrote he was "not really surprised the AAF deflated its operations," only that it "happened so quickly" (AL.com, 4/4). In Salt Lake City, Gordon Monson wrote it was "bound to take time" for the AAF to "make the connection between potential fan bases and teams." Monson: "Fifty-two days aren't enough to house train a puppy, let alone grab the attention of fans, change their habits, make them care, establishing a real pro league" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/4).
