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Report: AAF Needed $250 Million Emergency Investment to Be Able to Make Payroll

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The Alliance of American Football has achieved early success during its inaugural season, but it reportedly was on the verge of collapsing recently because of financial troubles.

Fortunately for the AAF, Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon stepped up to save the day in the form of a $250 million investment, per The Athletic's David Glenn on Monday. 

"Without a new, nine-figure investor, nobody is sure what would have happened," a source told Glenn. "You can always tell people their checks are going to be a little late, but how many are going to show up on the weekend for games when they don't see anything hit their bank accounts on Friday?"

Dundon is expected to be announced as the league's new chairman on Tuesday.

The AAF features eight teams, with each roster consisting of 52 players. AAF co-founder Bill Polian revealed to Darren Rovell, then of ESPN, in July 2018 that players would receive three-year, non-guaranteed contracts worth $250,000. The deals were said to include health insurance and an education stipend for any player who registers one year of service time.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Trent Richardson, College Football Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier and Super Bowl champion Mike Martz are among those participating in the AAF's first season.

With fans around the country intrigued by the new football league, the AAF scored bigger ratings than a star-studded Houston Rockets-Oklahoma City Thunder clash in the NBA during its first week of action, per Rovell.

Even with that early splash, though, the AAF found itself in an unexpected bind.

"The hope and belief now is that years from now, (the AAF) can look back and consider these some scary growing pains, because this league clearly has a chance to become incredibly successful," one source told Glenn. "The opening weekend provided a lot of excitement and hope, even beyond the TV numbers. Obviously, though, the original plan did not include a financial crisis in Week 2."

The AAF plays a 10-week schedule along with a two-round postseason.

If It Wasn't For Princess Margaret, You Probably Wouldn't Be Able to Read Your Horoscope Today

Did you know that the horoscope you read every day in a newspaper, magazine, or on your favorite website has a fascinating connection to Princess Margaret? Yes, the Princess Margaret - younger sister to Queen Elizabeth II, she of biting British wit, headline-making romances, and extravagant morning routines. As crazy as it may sound, Margaret is pretty much the sole reason that sun sign horoscopes exist. You're probably wondering how the hell this is possible, right? In his inventive new biography, Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, journalist Craig Brown details how daily and weekly horoscope columns came to be, thanks to one astrologer and one newborn princess. And as a huge fan of both astrology and the British royal family, my mind was basically blown.

HRH Princess Margaret Rose was born on Aug. 21, 1930 to the then-Duke and Duchess of York, who just a few years later would ascend the throne and become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Margaret was fourth in the line of succession when she was born, and in the tradition of royal baby births, her introduction into the world was marked by gun salutes, official portraits, and of course, tons of press. In London, Sunday Express editor John Gordon, as author Craig Brown wrote, was "struggling to come up with a fresh angle on the news of another royal birth." He came up with the idea to ask Cheiro, a famous astrologer and palmist during that time, to make a prediction about what might unfold during the newborn princess's life. Gordon reached out to Cheiro - whose real name was William John Warner - but he was busy, and instead the assignment was taken on by Cheiro's assistant, a man named R.H. Naylor.

Naylor's article, titled "What the Stars Foretell For the New Princess," was printed in the Express the following Sunday, four days after Margaret was born. The idea was so new that the introduction included an explanation:

"Everybody is interested in the future. Can it be told by the stars? Readers of the Sunday Express will be able to judge for themselves after reading the following article, which tells you just what is expected to happen during the remainder of the month. Mr. Naylor has included in the article an extremely interesting horoscope - an observation of the heavens at the hour of a person's birth."

According to Ninety-Nine Glimpses, the piece predicted that Margaret would have "an eventful life" (OK, obviously) and that "events of tremendous importance to the royal family and the nation" would occur around the time Margaret turned seven. Naylor's prediction story was a huge success, and John Gordon ended up commissioning him to write more general forecasts to be printed over the next few months. One of Naylor's most notable prophecies was that "a British aircraft will be in danger between Oct. 8 and 15." While he didn't hit it on the nose, he was right: on Oct. 5, 1930, an R101 airship crashed in France, killing 48 people. This prediction sent Naylor's fame skyrocketing, and soon enough, Gordon offered R.H. Naylor a weekly column in the Sunday Express making predictions for all readers according to their birthdays. It was called "Your Stars."

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Red Sox might be able to capitalize on slow MLB free agent market with extensions to own players

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The slow MLB free agent market could prompt more players to sign contract extensions before they hit free agency. Top free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper remain unsigned. The market has been stagnant the past two offseasons.

The Red Sox might be able to capitalize by inking some of their own pending free agents. Chris Sale, Xander Bogaerts and Rick Porcello are among several Red Sox players eligible for free agency after the 2019 season. J.D. Martinez also has an opt-out clause after this season.

Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. are eligible for free agency after the 2020 season.

“You’ve seen in baseball, there have been less and less players opting to sign before they hit free agency, it seems to me,” Red Sox principal owner John Henry said here at JetBlue Park on Monday. “So it works both ways. And maybe with the state of the free agent market, at this point, you’ll start to see more of that (extensions) happening again.”

Henry said an extension with Sale “could happen” before he hits free agency. The Red Sox have discussed extensions with Sale and Bogaerts.

So the slow market could help lock up players before free agency?

“I think it’s a matter of a negotiation,” chairman Tom Werner said. “I think the Yankees made a very fair deal with (Luis) Severino. Obviously, we’re at a point in time .... I think people are referring to the fact that Manny Machado and Bryce Harper haven’t signed, but at this point last year we hadn’t signed J.D. Martinez. So I think in some ways we could answer that question better in a month."

Severino signed a four-year, $40-million extension with the Yankees.

Xander Bogaerts contract: Boston Red Sox have had extension talks with Bogaerts in addition to Chris Sale

Martinez said Sunday he would not let the free agent markets for Machado and Harper affect his opt-out decision.

“At the end of the day, I know my value and I know what I bring to the table,” Martinez said. “I really don’t look at that. I really judge me on me.”

Werner made a strong point earlier in the day on WEEI. He said, “I think unfortunately the players are trying to see how it all falls out with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. So we’re a little slower to sort of see where the market is."

Bogaerts, and even Betts, might not want to agree to any potential deal before Machado and Harper establish the market in terms of average annual value (salary). Bogaerts won’t receive near the overall deal Machado receives. But he and others might first want to see what Machado and Harper receive for average annual salaries.

Could a hometown discount also come with an extension?

“We’d like to continue our relationships with the players who actually have been such great contributors,” Werner said. “As John said, it’s their right to test free agency. If we extend a player before his contract ends, maybe we can get a deal that might be slightly club-favorable. It’s just a conversation.”

Denyi Reyes, Sox’s most interesting young pitcher in camp, took ball off forehead from brother’s bat first time he practiced.