AFL Commish Resigns... Is The AFL Done...?

((HT: Jack McCarthy/the four-letter))

The future of the Arena Football League appeared to darken this week as its acting commissioner resigned, and league owners were reportedly set to discuss options including a possible full shutdown.

Acting AFL commissioner Ed Policy abruptly stepped down Monday, leaving the dormant league without a top executive as it struggled to regain footing after canceling the 2009 season.

Policy's departure was reported in Monday's edition of Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.

In the wake of the resignation, a league source said the AFL's board of directors was set to convene via conference call later Monday to discuss options including possible dissolution.

Attempts to reach Policy and remaining executives at the league's New York and Chicago offices for comment Monday were unsuccessful.

In recent weeks, some team executives expressed optimism that the AFL would return in 2010, but as the league's suspension entered its fourth month there was still no official word on when or even if it will restart operations.

The AFL became the third North American sports league since 1994 to call off all or part of a season when owners pulled the plug on the 2009 season last December.

Even before Policy's resignation, league officials were tight-lipped about any progress toward a restart.

Several attempts by ESPN.com to reach Policy for comment were unsuccessful. Policy had made only two official statements since late last year, including one that said the AFL's business operations needed to be "restructured."

Despite the dearth of news, officials of at least two AFL franchises said last month that they were confident operations will soon resume.

"It's pure speculation, but I think [the odds] would be 9 [out of 10]," Grand Rapids general manager Scott Woodruff told ESPN.com. "I've always have been optimistic. And if I didn't feel that way, I probably would have aggressively looked for employment elsewhere."

Ron Jaworski, president of the reigning Arena Bowl champion Philadelphia Soul, said a return is a near-certainty.

"We have a plan in place; we're going to open up next year again. There's a lot at stake," Jaworski told The (Norfolk, Va.) Virginian-Pilot during an appearance last month in Portsmouth, Va. Shutting down "was disappointing for us … But the model needed to be fixed."

Fueling optimism was last month's tentative agreement between representatives of owners and players on a revised four-year collective bargaining agreement.

The deal reportedly reduces costs -- including salaries -- and helps lend financial stability to the league. And the AFL was also said to be exploring a less-costly centralized business operation model.

"Players are making economic concessions now in return for a share of expected increases in the League's value and revenue, because the players believe in the future of the AFL," said Richard Berthelsen, the AFL Player's Association acting executive director in a statement.

But results of a vote by the full AFLPA membership had not been announced by early April and the league owners had yet to OK the pact.

In a mid-March statement, Policy said the tentative agreement was a "critical step" forward.

"The AFL is working tirelessly to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that the League not only survives but thrives as a business enterprise," he said. "This revised deal with the players provides a fundamental and vital foundation upon which we can rebuild the economic model."