Executive Board for AFLPA to Meet at 5:30 PM

Adam Markowitz
Monday December 15, 2008

ArenaFan has learned that the Executive Board for the Arena Football League Players Association (AFLPA) will be meeting at 5:30 PM ET.

This meeting comes on the heels of the AFL Board of Directors voting to suspend the 2009 season.  Earlier today, the AFL released a statement that said that the decision to suspend the season was “subject to agreement and cooperation with the Arena Football League Players Association.”

A player in the players association who requested to remain anonymous expressed plenty of concerns about the happenings in the past few weeks.  “[The PA] feels like lines of communication haven’t been open between the owners and the Union… the information isn’t known to the fullest extent.”  He added, “The League office and owners have done a great job keeping its players in the dark.”

In an ESPN report on December 11th, Georgia Force QB Chris Greisen also expressed his displeasure with the owners and their lack of communication with the players.  “Personally, I think it speaks to the lack of [league] leadership we’ve had over the last couple of years, starting at the top.”

Several teams have responded to the initial report earlier today by suspending team operations and dismissing multiple staff members.  A player in the PA hinted to ArenaFan that all of this may be a bit premature.  “If the League thinks its union is going to sit back and not have something to say, they are wrong.”

He also stated that the owners and the Board of Directors committed violations in the League’s collective bargaining agreement.

While to most of us, the AFL is a game that we enjoy to watch, the livelihoods of several players, coaches, and staff members are at stake.  The player made reference to the fact that the AFLPA had already agreed to trim the salary cap back to approximately $1.4M from $2.1M, and said that further cuts will make the league impossible to play in.

“If we go back to where we were say, ten years ago, it’s not going to be a situation where raising a family is feasible.  I think a lot of people involved in the league now wouldn’t be a part of that league.”

Greisen was also concerned.  He told ESPN, “If I’m going out and applying for jobs and football decides to continue playing, great.  But I’m not going to sit around and go back and forth on this roller coaster ride of rumors.  I can’t wait around for the Arena League to make decisions.  I don’t think anyone can.”

Stay tuned to ArenaFan for further developments.