Is the Alliance of American Football in trouble? Potentially, as majority league owner Tom Dundon explains to Kevin Allen and Mike Jones of USA Today. “If the [NFL] players union is not going to give us young players, we can’t be a development league,” said Dundon. “We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league.” The AAF wants the NFLPA to allow active NFL players — especially those on practice squads — to participate in the developmental league. The union, however, is worried that not only would such an arrangement would violate the collective bargaining agreement, but put said players of in danger of being injured in non-NFL-sanctioned action.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Matt Kalil received a $2.25MM signing bonus and a $3.25MM base salary as part of his one-year deal with the Texans, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Currently projected as Houston’ starting left tackle, Kalil can also earn $125K in gameday active roster bonuses, which could add an additional $2MM to his deal. If he’s healthy and active for each of the Texans’ 16 regular season games, Kalil will take home $7.5MM for the 2019 season. Kalil’s health isn’t a sure thing, of course, given that he missed all of last year with a knee injury.
- Colts owner Jim Irsay attempted to hire Peyton Manning for a front office role, first in 2016 and again in early 2017 after firing general manager Ryan Grigson, and those conversations actually went further than previously indicated. “It did get close with Peyton,” Irsay told Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star. “I wouldn’t say super serious close, but enough to kick the tires and say, ‘What are you thinking?’ Because my counsel is there for him whether he comes to the Colts or chooses to do something else. There was definitely some interest on both sides.” Manning has been loosely tied to several front office jobs since retiring after the 2015 season, but he’s thus far resisted every overture.
- The Ravens are still interested in adding a “shifty, third-down, home-run-type” running back even after signing Mark Ingram, head coach John Harbaugh said this week, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Ingram received a three-year deal to leave New Orleans and is the favorite to lead Baltimore in touches, but Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon, Tyler Ervin, and De’Lance Turner could also factor into the club’s backfield. The draft could present the Ravens with the opportunity to bring in another back, while free agents who might Harbaugh’s criteria include Ty Montgomery (whom Baltimore traded for last season), Bilal Powell, and Corey Grant.
- T.J. Weist has been named the Ravens‘ assistant special teams coach, the club announced. Weist, a longtime coach at the collegiate level, originally joined Baltimore as an offensive analyst in 2018.
I hope Peyton Manning buys the Colts one day.
Slide over AAF.
XFL on the way
Is this a joke?
The AAF wants the unions permission to have NFL players assigned to play in their league against their wishes?
Why would a practice squad guy risk his career?
Why would anyone start a minor league thinking major league players would join them?
I don’t think it’s against there wishes If they want to play they can. But as of the rules now if the player is in a practice squad they can’t play in the alliance
Was it officially planned in the beginning by AAF and NFL that the AAF would be a development league? It more sounds like they hoped they would be without discussing it and now trying to force NFL into doing something they are not at all obligated to do.
It’s a spring league with 10 games. If a player would happen to be injured they would be ready by the time the season starts.. and they are practice squad guys who most will never see the field. Give them a chance! Just a way to keep the NFL strong
But they’re not gaining any experience.
No reason to get them acclimated to an unorganized, semi-pro style;
Let alone playbooks, lingo, systems etc
Only reason for AAF would be finding an athletic diamond in the rough … Anyone on a practice squad has already been discovered
How about an arrangement where all the woman and child beaters in the NFL have to serve at least a one year sentence in the AAF before applying for reinstatement. That would provide the AAF with some talent while at the same time act as a deterrent to would be felons.
I like it, but only if they are actually convicted in a court of law.
Guys.
Call me uneducated, but why is it that this league lost 250 million dollars in like 4 weeks? what is the big expenditure aside from salaries? why do they need NFL players? Don’t they have TV deals in place to subsidize some of the costs?
Isn’t this like MiLB where these teams / the league should be easily sustainable as long as attendance is coming in the turnstiles?
what am I missing here??? Seriously, educate me!
I agree 100%. All we have been told is how much he league has former NFL staff and players and how well organized it is. And yet, before their 1st play-off’s, talk of needing more capital and now NFL labor. Terribly run organization. How could they not know about the labor agreement between the players and their union?
Attendance is not the major revenue stream for sports franchises . It’s the huge TV deals , which in turn are fueled by advertising !
Wait, what? An upstart football league featuring inferior talent to what we’re used to with the NFL isn’t doing well? That NEVER happens.