Arena Football, Extinct Business or a Chance for Replacement Players?

We’ve all heard it before, players threatening to strike, walkout, or worse, lockout an entire season. Thankfully through the years, they’ve had lockouts but eventually plans are put in place to shorten them, end them, or prevent them. Arena Football, however, at this point, has no plans to do any of the above.

In a stunning move this past weekend, the owners of the Pittsburgh and Orlando arena football teams fired all the members of their respective teams at a team dinner prior to their opening game against each other. The two teams were forced to field replacement players in a 40-26 victory for Orlando. Fans have a mixed reaction over this scenario, which is to be expected. Some fans feel the owners are being too selfish by requesting a decrease in the salary cap. Others feel the players are being too greedy by requesting an increase in pay and contract bonuses. Myself, I feel they should stop squabbling about pointless things, eliminate the salary cap and just start playing ball.

What do the replacement players feel about this? I feel they see this as an opportunity for many things. You become an instant celebrity when you are involved in sports, you gain a lot of publicity, you become recognized, and even better, you get your 15 minutes of fame. For those who may have played football before, it’s a second chance for them. Every athlete dreams of a second chance at redemption or glory, now they get a chance to live it.

Is this simply a sign of the Arena Football League becoming extinct, or is it a chance to see some new fresh talent get their shine on? That really depends on your point of view as a player, fan, owner, or replacement player.