Antonio Brown’s National Arena League team ‘in chaos’: nonpayment for players, coaching changes, team bus incident
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Not long ago, we told you that former Steeler Antonio Brown was being sued by a celebrity jeweler over issues of non-payment. A former live-in chef once made a similar claim. He’s also allegedly failed to pay
So should we be surprised that the players on the Arena Football League team he owns aren’t being paid either?
That’s the word from the Albany Times Union as the newspaper reports that the Albany Empire has fallen into a state of “chaos” since Brown took over the team two months ago.
On March 2, Brown bought 47.5% of the team. Since then, he surprised other investors by saying he is the “sole owner” and then managed to carve out 95% of the club. And he got into an altercation with a security guard at one of his own games.
But that’s child’s play compared to the latest problems that have emerged. Since April 6, the franchise parted ways with coach Tom Menas, who had led the club to back-to-back championships.
On Monday, the Albany Times Union reported that the players hadn’t been paid since April 21. Also, new head coach Damon Ware left the team over a lack of payment.
But wait! There’s more!
Reporter Abigail Rubel posted that six players were suspended because of an incident on the team bus following a game this weekend against the Carolina Cobras. The Albany police responded early Monday to a report of “aggravated harassment” arising from the alleged incident. The six players got back to the team’s hotel in Albany and didn’t receive room keys.
One anonymous player told the newspaper that the team is supposed to be paid the Friday following each week’s game. Yet no one received direct deposits on April 28 in advance of Sunday’s game in Greensboro, N.C. So the team played without pay.
Team President Alberony Denis told Rubel, “The lack of payment was due to issues with the payroll processor.” That apparently put a “hold” on payment due to “a problem created when former team owner Mike Kwarta and most of the former front office left following Kwarta’s sale of his ownership stake” to Brown.
Denis said the players were told they’d be paid on Monday afternoon. No word on if that actually happened. That said, two players announced they were leaving the team Monday.
Here's what they posted: pic.twitter.com/vPWZwsox6d
— Abigail Rubel (@abigail_rubel) May 2, 2023
Now, the former coach, Tom Menas, is apparently coming back, according to the “Inside The Walls” podcast.
“Chaos,” indeed. But does that surprise anyone? Chaos follows A.B. pretty much anywhere he goes.
Personally, I think the only thing that can save the Empire now is if Brown comes back as owner/player. I mean, if it worked for Mario Lemieux, why can’t it work for Mr. Big Chest?
OK. There are a million reasons. But I think we all deserve to see how they will play out.
Please note I said, “play out.” Not “pay out.” Brown never does that.
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