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'Antonio Brown to Suit Up for Albany Empire'

Del Shofner : 5/26/2023 9:23 pm
Turned on my local cable channel news here in the HV to see this headline.

I have no idea what this is actually about, and no interest in it. But I thought it was weird enough to start a thread on BBI about it....
seems to be true - but who the h*ll are the Albany Empire? - ( New Window )
If he's an owner  
Bill in UT : 5/26/2023 9:33 pm : link
what are the chances that he'll suspend himself?
The real question...  
JohnG in Albany : 5/26/2023 10:10 pm : link
is will he make payroll as the owner?
The Albany Empire  
BlackLight : 5/26/2023 11:13 pm : link
is he current AFL franchise based in Albany. The original AFL franchise were the Albany Firebirds, who played there from 1990 through 2000. Their star player was Touchdown Eddie Brown, widely regarded as the best player in league history. He's Antonio Brown's father.
RE: The Albany Empire  
solarmike : 5/27/2023 12:37 am : link
In comment 16123976 BlackLight said:
Quote:
is he current AFL franchise based in Albany. The original AFL franchise were the Albany Firebirds, who played there from 1990 through 2000. Their star player was Touchdown Eddie Brown, widely regarded as the best player in league history. He's Antonio Brown's father.

Link - ( New Window )
RE: The Albany Empire  
HomerJones45 : 5/27/2023 9:12 am : link
In comment 16123976 BlackLight said:
Quote:
is he current AFL franchise based in Albany. The original AFL franchise were the Albany Firebirds, who played there from 1990 through 2000. Their star player was Touchdown Eddie Brown, widely regarded as the best player in league history. He's Antonio Brown's father.
I didn't know Touchdown Eddie Brown was Antonio's father. Nice catch. ;0)
RE: The Albany Empire  
JohnF : 5/27/2023 11:56 am : link
In comment 16123976 BlackLight said:
Quote:
is he current AFL franchise based in Albany. The original AFL franchise were the Albany Firebirds, who played there from 1990 through 2000. Their star player was Touchdown Eddie Brown, widely regarded as the best player in league history. He's Antonio Brown's father.


It's a little more complicated. The original Arena Football League (in baseball terms, think AA minor league talent) lasted till 2008 or so (the league folded when NBC looked at the books...it was being run as a ponzi scheme, trying to pass off 2 million dollars franchises as 20 million dollar franchises. )

An attempt to revive the league happened in 2010, and lasted till 2019 (think class A level in MLB terms). Albany was brought back as the Albany Empire (they lost the rights to the name Firebirds). That league folded as well (finances for this level are always bad, you don't get TV money, advertising or enough attendance to break even).

The Empire resurfaced in the National Arena League (semi pro, in MLB terms), which is one of the low level semi pro 8 man football leagues (The Indoor Football League is another version, with different rules...no nets, two men in motion like the CFL, etc).

Bottom line, this is REALLY low level football. Average salaries are around $200-300 per game...players are just trying to get tape to show higher leagues. But it's still risky to play. I'll be going to the game tonight, but I hope Brown does not play. He really is not in football shape, and the field can be dangerous (the hockey dasher boards only have a 6 inch foam cover).

If you want a laugh, Antonio was trying to convince Cam Newton to join him.
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