This whole situation is ridiculous.
First, with the investor, the AAF is not broke. But he's not going to permanently back the league if they can't get the players situation ironed out.
Second, this whole concept with "NFL contracts aren't guaranteed" is a joke, for the most part. The players who are on current rosters are not under contract to the NFL anyhow. There was a concept that was discussed a few weeks ago, where NFL teams would "loan out" third string QBs to the AAF to get playing time reps, but this idea does NOT extend to all the other positions on the field.
Third, you are going to have the XFL next year too. And, sure, Vince McMahon is an egotist who won't try to make the XFL into an NFL Development League. But the same pool of non-NFL-players will exist next year, and both the AAF and XFL will be subject to injury risk. The real issue for the AAF is whether they can develop some synergies with the NFL that will give them an edge on the XFL. Otherwise, there's no way in **** that 2 spring football leagues will survive.
FInally, let's look at what is really happening between the NFL and the AAF (ignore the NFLPA for a moment). Since the AAF has been introduced, the NFL created these "futures contracts" that effectively bar a significant number of the best AVAILABLE players from playing in the AAF. Never before (and possibly never again) has the NFL chosen to sign contracts with non-roster players in the off-season.
If the AAF can navigate these issues, they have a very good shot. They only have 8 teams right now, so there's no way they are getting a true "national" broadcast contract on a major network or ESPN. The quality of football has been decent, given the short amount of time they had to assemble rosters and practice.
Somehow soccer can allow players to be "loaned out" or play on national teams. Baseball, hockey, and basketball have some forms of minor league play. I understand the factors involved, and I certainly hope that NFL contracts become fully-guaranteed as they are in other sports. There is room for a spring developmental football league if the NFL and NFLPA can iron out a few issues. If not, the $250M money man is going to take his money back.
