Alliance of America Football doesn’t make it half a season

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) has set a record. After less than one season and only eight weeks of games, the league has already been dismantled. What was meant to give football fans something to do in the NFL off-season has fallen flatter than 40-year-old pigskin.

The owner of the league, Tom Dundon, has suspended all operations, according to a statement by the AAF’s co-founder, Bill Polian. In confirming the suspension with ESPN, he explained, “I am extremely disappointed to learn Tom Dundon has decided to suspend all football operations of the Alliance of American Football. When Mr. Dundon took over, it was the belief of my co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, and myself that we would finish the season, pay our creditors, and make the necessary adjustments to move forward in a manner that made economic sense for all.

“The momentum generated by our players, coaches and football staff had us well positioned for future success. Regrettably, we will not have that opportunity.”

From even before the first kickoff, there had been rumblings of issues behind the scenes, including rumors of contractors and employees not being paid. Dundon, who is also the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL, promised to make an investment of $250 million in the AAF to help straighten out the issues, but it later surfaced that he may have had ulterior motives.