Albany Empire Is Crumbling At The Hands Of Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown was somehow supposed to be "good" for the Albany Empire of the National Arena League. The former NFL magnet-to-trouble was going to connect the Empire to the community. Now the arena football team is in the midst of reports of the head coach, along with star players quitting the team, only a few weeks into the season.

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Abigail Rubel of timesunion.com, reported on Monday that the Empire players have not been paid since April 21st. The team was supposed to get paid on Friday of last week, prior to Sunday's 56-49 loss to the Carolina Cobra in Greensboro, North Carolina. Coaches and players frustrations bubbled up after the game.

Rubel reported that some conflict happened on the team bus following Sunday's game. According to the report, Empire Head Coach Damon Ware, along with players: Darius Prince, Sam Castronova, Brandon Sesay, Dwayne Hollis, Nick Haag and Melvin Hollins were suspended for an incident on the team bus as it returned from Sunday's game. The coach and the players were denied rooms at the team hotel following the suspension. Ware confirmed that he and the players have not been paid and that he has "left the team." Believe it or not, there is more.

Monday morning at 9:40am, the Albany police were called to the Empire's team hotel responding to a report of aggravated harassment. Albany police department spokesman did not identify the involved parties. The Empire's acting president Alberony Denis told timesunion.com that there was problem with the payroll processor following the departure of former owner Mike Kwarta and his staff. Apparently Brown's ownership group didn't realize that you had to "pay" the payroll processor or they won't pay the players.

Denis claimed that "processor was paid" and the players would receive their checks on Monday. It tough for fans to watch after all that Kwarta's ownership did to keep the team alive in Albany, following the pandemic, to see Antonio Brown carelessly dismantle it in a few short weeks. In case you're interested in joining a circus, Brown's Albany Empire have posted on social media that they are looking for a head coach, wide receiver, defensive back, lineman and backup quarterback. Good luck. It is tough to envision the Empire finishing the season.