The following story serves to tell as much about scrappy football players getting a raw deal, as it does about the ineptitude of an entire spring football operation, known as the Arena Football League, or AFL. Look, all Americans know the “real dough” in football is made during the frigid fall and winter months of the calendar year in the National Football League.
However, for every rostered player that wears an NFL emblem on their helmet, there are about five more athletes still chasing their chance at domination on the gridiron. Athletes hoping to impress someone, ANYONE, enough to get an invitation to an NFL Training Camp and a chance to play on the big stage.
Word Leaks Out About AFL Injustice In Week One
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Throughout the last 10 days, information has spread on social media regarding contractually obligated requirements that AFL has not covered. Necessities such as travel, housing, food & even game-day medical treatment have been unavailable to players throughout training camp and heading into the start of the 2024 league year last week. These were promised to players & staff before the start of the schedule.
The first inklings of a problem came directly from a player advocate standing up for his client. Tristen Burnett of Flagship Sports Group, the representative for the expected Week 1 starting Quarterback of the Philadelphia Soul, Joe Mancuso. Information appeared on 04/27/24 that Philadelphia players did not fly to Louisiana to play against the VooDoo. Burnett was able to confirm this report later in the evening.
And let me tell you, this was only the tip of the iceberg that has appeared and threats to shipwreck this entire Spring football operation.
AFL Athlete(s) Left Stranded At Airport?!
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In a since-deleted tweet, former Storm wide receiver Hunter Rison reached out to me directly on X/Twitter regarding his situation with Southwest Kansas. Rison, the son of 10-year NFL veteran Andre Rison, claimed that veteran Paul Browning and himself were cut from the team & prohibited from discussing the fact that the AFL did not have adequate training staff to support football operations. He also added typical amenities like “adequate meals, equipment, & recovery during camp” were unavailable.
This information would be verified a few hours later by a rather disturbing video released by Philly Soul Kicker, Conor Mangan. The placekicker posted FROM Philadelphia International Airport after he was not able to board a plane intended to take the team to Louisiana. Except almost no one from the team showed up. Mangan’s video posted on socials can be viewed here. The league claimed Mangan “missed the flight”.
Also Read: Must-watch players in the upcoming 2024 UFL season
The Foundation is Crumbling in AFL
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As of Friday, 05/03, the Arena Football League has not yet commented on the league situation. It has, however, decided to promote its games on Vyre network instead of the aforementioned national TV deal with the NFL in advance of the Week 2 weekend schedule.
The problem lies in the disparity between ownership groups and teams still owned/operated by the league. The league-run teams have been in shambles and rampant with the above-mentioned issues. Privately owned squads like Minnesota, Nashville, and Orlando are functional with legit arena setups and owners sipping cheerfully on their expensively crafted macchiatos.
One of those league-run squads has already folded this week. The Iowa Rampage announced they are ceasing operations for the remainder of the year and blamed the AFL for doing so. The Rampage served up some more “tea” regarding the inefficiencies of the Arena League, specifically lacking adequate operations providing equipment paid for by the teams, in addition to issues with jersey production. Commissioner Lee Hutton III was regularly unavailable to the league owners for discussion.
On Thursday evening, the AFL was scheduled to hold an interview/video session featuring Mr. Hutton III on YouTube that was canceled. Once again, this was not addressed by the league at all. I suppose that checks out given the title of Commissioner is incorrectly spelled on social media. Like the spring league he operates, the lack of attention to detail is truly a marvel to behold (and not in a good way).
Oh….for those of you who think these athletes are fooling themselves at a chance for glory, here is your gut-check moment of the article. Last week, this SW Kansas Storm offensive lineman inked an NFL contract just two hours before game time of Week One.
There is most certainly more to come regarding this developing story as the AFL season attempts to continue.
About the Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With a varied professional background that includes an M.B.A. in Sports Management from Tiffin University, Chris can speak with authority on the subject matters that he covers. Additional insightful sports articles can be located here.
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