The AAF is pretty much over, and people don’t seem overly pleased.
Football operations were suspended Tuesday, which means it’s almost certainly never coming back. That’s unfortunate because people want as much football as possible. (RELATED: Alliance Of American Football Suspending Operations)
Check out some of the reactions around Twitter after news broke.
If you’re an AAF player and the league does dissolve. The last check you got will be the last one that you get. No lawsuit or anything else will get you your bread. Save your money and keep your head up. It’s the only choice at this point unless something drastic happens.
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) April 2, 2019
Just the reality of this unfortunate situation.. great concept, good football on the field and fun for fans to watch. Just not enough money to go around which has been the main problem with “other” leagues for a long time.
— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) April 2, 2019
If the AAF folds today, it would have lasted 52 days from its first game to end, 20 days shorter than Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kris Humphries. pic.twitter.com/lYKtvc8qd2
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 2, 2019
Perception inside the AAF is that Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon bought a majority stake in the league simply for the gambling app being developed.
Source: “Dundon got the technology he wanted and he’s now minus one rather large headache.”
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 2, 2019
AAF folding is fantastic news for XFL, which will launch next year with great funding support, zero football competition and strong TV partners. If anything, AAF ratings, which were very strong, demonstrated how much demand there is for spring football.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 2, 2019
The AAF reportedly will suspend operations. Every other sport has development leagues yet the NFL seems to not want one, or at least support one. Curious if anyone thinks there is a need for a developmental league in football?
— Yogi Roth (@YogiRoth) April 2, 2019
If the @TheAAF could generate so much hype and attention (relatively speaking) and not survive a season, how on earth is the XFL going to make it?
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) April 2, 2019
What a source told me on @TheAAF: League heads were stunned by this, still working on a solution. There’s still a hope for a Hail Mary situation with outside funding, but they’re now suspending ops before a prime, pre-Final Four CBS time slot. This could get complicated.
— Conor Orr (@ConorOrr) April 2, 2019
Give me all the 75% off AAF merchandise.
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) April 2, 2019
With regard to the AAF, the suspension of operations is not a financial issue.
And the league founders are not in agreement with Tom Dundon on his decision to do so.
More as it comes.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 2, 2019
1000% this. Really enjoyed watching @TheAAF and caught at least 1 game each week. https://t.co/vgliWCM74m
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) April 2, 2019
Better business plan: The AAF or Michael Scott Paper Company?
— David Ubben (@davidubben) April 2, 2019
Silver lining: Steve Spurrier finishes as the AAF’s all-time winningest coach. (7).
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 2, 2019
Garrett Gilbert goes down as the greatest quarterback in AAF history
— Executive Producer Dick Wolf (@JasonKirkSBN) April 2, 2019
It truly is a damn shame. I thought the AAF was going to be awesome, and it was over in eight weeks. I hope something gets figured out down the road or that the XFL is a home run. (RELATED: Johnny Manziel Throws For 48 Yards, Rushes For 20 In AAF Debut)
The craving for spring football is real, and people want it.
Now, I have to wonder what a lot of the players will do. I imagine this is the end of the road for most of them. The NFL probably won’t take many, and some will obviously head to the XFL.
As for everybody else, it doesn’t look like there are a lot of options out there. Again, this is just a shame. I was really enjoying it, and it looks like a lot of other people were too.
Let’s all hope Vince McMahon runs a bit of a better product that lasts longer than two months.