Since his retirement from the NFL, former superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown has been a regular in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. And now it appears that even the National Arena League football team he owns is in a state of chaos.
As the Times Union reported that the Albany Empire, which is owned by Antonio Brown, has not paid its players or coaches since April 21. That, coupled with several suspensions of key players and the head coach, has left the future of the team uncertain.
“The Empire organization has not paid players or coaches since April 21, according to one of the team’s top players. Coach Damon Ware confirmed the lack of payment and said Monday that he has left the team,” Abigail Rubel wrote for the Times Union on Monday.
“The team is supposed to be paid the Friday following each week’s game; no one received direct deposits on April 28 ahead of Sunday’s game, and the team played the Carolina Cobras in Greensboro, N.C., without pay, one player said, speaking on condition of anonymity,” Rubel continued.
In addition to the payment issues, it appears that wide receiver Darius Prince, quarterback Sam Castronova, lineman Brandon Sesay, defensive back Dwayne Hollis, linebacker Nick Haag and lineman Melvin Hollins have all been suspended along with head coach Ware due to an incident on a team bus. Prince was last season’s Most Valuable Player while Hollis, Haag and Sesay are team captains.
All in all, things aren’t looking great for Brown or his team.
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