Chaos! Cardinals lose Tax case.

So, it’s not just Victoria Panthers in trouble…. things just got worse for the league, following a two year court case involving the Pottsburgh Cardinals and the ERS Tax Authority (Eborian Revenue Service). Payments and accounting mechanisms have been scrutinised and ruled illegal.

The Cardinals now face a hefty tax bill, with interest and big penalties- as it appears to be have been deliberate evasion. With the Cardinals having borrowed money to update the aging Cardinals Stadium, they might be in the same situation as Victoria.

Reports that deal are attempting to be struck with the ERS are fluctuating. Time will tell if the league has two teams facing a potential axe- or suspension. Troubling times indeed.

 

Panthers Bankrupt! What’s going on?

The long battle in Victoria for financial stability appears to be over. Rumours coming out of the Panthers camp is that they are headed for bankruptcy.

Borrowing heavily has caught up with them, attendances have been down for the last five years- something that hasn’t helped the cashflow in Victoria.

Players had reported that they had not all received their wages for the past few weeks, which is where the rumours started from. USN Insiders announced the story on Monday morning.

What does Bankruptcy do for the team’s status?

Teams are not allowed to be in the red. If this is temporary, with the team proving to have have a cohesive plan for staying afloat, they can be given temporary reprieve.

If there is no prospect of the money coming- new investment, etc. The league may temporarily take over the team, who will be barred form the playoffs. The league office will then decide whether to pull the license from the team. If that happens, Victoria Panthers can still exist (if they survive the bankruptcy) but not in the PFL.

Worrying times in the Panthers camp. They should be guaranteed to last for 2016-17 season, at the very least.

What happens to the players?

The players, if not paid for two months, can cancel their contracts and become free agents. They would be free to sign with any other team. If they have been paid, they will enter a reallocation draft- if the team does not survive.

MNG: Chakota 31-38 Landor

What a great start to Monday Night Games on EBC! Chakota vs Landor had it all, big plays, broken plays, injuries and comebacks!

Trailing 31-24 going into the fourth quarter, the pressure was on Elijah Brooks and the Knights’ attack to get going. Brooks and Mackenzie ran well and as the team put the ball in the playmakers hands to get the job done. It really paid off. Having struggled for three quarters, the Knights’ defence finally got some stops and put pressure on QB Billy Humphrey.

Brooks was 19 for 31 for 229 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 41 more. Mackenzie had 118 on the ground and two touchdowns.

For the visitors, Humphrey was 25 for 38 with 323 yards and three touchdowns.

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Monday Night Game! Tonight!

Tonight we have the first Monday Night Game on it’s new home- EBS! The Chakota Wasps travel not very far to meet the Landor Knights. This one should be a shoot-out!

Pre-game show 7.30pm-8.25 pm | Kick  off: 8.30 EET

Offensive Options! 

Wasps: Billy Humphrey, veteran gun-slinging quarterback. Teemed with good receivers.

Knights: Good catchers, Great multi-threat QB (Elijah Brooks) and MacKenzie is an exciting prospect in the running game.

There may, or may not, be defences on show(!) it really will be time for them to show up strong!

#MNG #LANvsCHA #HereWeGo

Kickoff16: Steelers 13, Phoenix 41

The season has now officially kicked off, with the defending champions getting off to a great start with a deserved 41-13 win over the Iomagh Steelers.

Iomagh held the Phoenix to 20-13 at halftime, but with three second-half touchdowns, the Phoenix romped away with it.

The Steelers tried out Jared Millard and Cam Rogers at Quarterback. Rogers impressed early and will probably get the start next week! Millard started 1-6 with a fumbled snap.

For the Phoenix, the carried on from where they left off last season. Despite missing several stars in defence, captain midfielder Michael Keys recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble. On the attack, Marshall Knight had 112 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns, QB Matt Kelly threw for 241 yards and three scores (one to Knight) with no interceptions.

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Kickoff 2016: Iomagh @ Adelphia

All the time for waiting is over, the teams are set. The stadiums getting ready to receive  football thirsty fans! Tonight, the Adelphia Phoenix, the defending champions, open the season at home with the visiting Iomagh Steelers.

in a few hours, it is AWAY WE GO! #ADEvsIOM #PFLKickoff #PFL2016

The Class of 2016: PFL Hall of Legends

The class of 2016 is inducted today, seven new faces, seven new stories to tell in the wonderful world of team sports- the blood, the sweat, the tears, the joy, the ego and the pain. All worth it!

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The PFL would like to congratulate these seven players on the achievements and hope they look forward to the celebrations of their careers.

Hall of LEGENDS – Mike Vincent

Michael Vincent (Quarterback) Morrigan Giants 2001-2012 |
PFL Legends Class of 2016

A first time ballot entry. Mike Vincent changed the position profile in the PFL. He became seen as the ‘prototype QB’ Quick, agile, strong-arm, fearless… he seemed to possess it all.

Hall of LEGENDS- Ralph Adams

Ralph Adams (Guard) Harteford Hawks  1998-2010 | PFL Legend Class of 2016

Ralph wasn’t just  a reliable figure at Guard for 13 seasons- he was the leader of the line and the person that Defenders tried to avoid in blocking assignments. Following an impressive UniBall career at the University of Michago, Adams was picked in the first round in the 1998 draft (yes, the same one as Billy Humphrey!)

Training Camp Buzzes for 20 Teams!

Training Camp (#TrainingCamp16) has been going for a week (or two for some teams). Most of the last remaining veterans have reported in to their camps- to refine fitness, drills and build comradery with new recruits.

The rookies have been put through the ropes, learning a new set-up, finding a new home and learning what may be an extensive playbook. Plus stars that have changed teams this off-season have to start over- that includes Jeff Holliday, Oliver Parkman and co!

Over this time, as well, will be the battles for starter positions in the PFL. The battle remains for August- and into the two-week pre-season. Teams will scrummage off against each other on set-days near month end.

The next few weeks could be make-or-break for several fringe players, some new opportunities too- as all players striving to avoid injury at this early stage. Ed Brooks and Chauncey Smith have not been so lucky, so far.