Commanders downplay reports of AAF’s financial trouble

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San Antonio Commanders general manager Daryl Johnston said Wednesday that a new $250 million investment in the Alliance of American Football was not connected to AAF players getting their paychecks a few days later than expected.

A report from the Athletic on Monday night said last week’s investment by Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, was necessary to prevent the Alliance from missing payroll during the second week of the season.

Johnston said the AAF has not felt any financial strain.

“That is nothing that I’ve heard from anybody,” Johnston said. “We were instructed that the two incidents last week were not connected in any way, shape or form. We had a large infusion of cash in December. We now had another large infusion of cash here last week. The ratings have been great. The response has been great. I don’t think anybody feels any pressure that something is going wrong financially.”

On ExpressNews.com: Alliance of American Football announces new investor after report of financial trouble

Commanders GM Daryl Johnston, left, said the timing of Tom Dundon’s $250 million investment in the AAF and last week’s payroll glitch led many to incorrectly assume the two were related. Commanders GM Daryl Johnston, left, said the timing of Tom Dundon’s $250 million investment in the AAF and last week’s payroll glitch led many to incorrectly assume the two were related. Photo: Kin Man Hui /Staff Photographer Photo: Kin Man Hui /Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 129 Caption Close Commanders downplay reports of AAF’s financial trouble 1 / 129 Back to Gallery

The Commanders players were paid Tuesday, Johnston said. The process was delayed from Friday because of a “glitch in processing” as the Alliance switched to a new payroll system.

Johnston said the AAF alerted teams to the delay Thursday night, and Johnston addressed it with the Commanders during the team’s breakfast Friday. With Presidents Day falling on Monday, the players were told their payments would arrive Tuesday.

“Here in San Antonio, everybody has been paid,” Johnston said. “We have one guy (who wasn’t), and I think that’s because he only put four numbers on his zip code. It can be something as simple as that. We’re still trying to get it completely solved, but it was nothing like the media made it out to be.”

Full story on ExpressNews.com: Commanders GM Johnston says AAF isn’t in trouble

greg.luca@express-news.net