Bre Tiesi filed for divorce from former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel on Wednesday.
TMZ Sports reported the documents were filed in Los Angeles, months after the pair announced their split. Tiesi alleged Manziel cheated on her in a series of social media posts in March.
"u been married? U been betrayed? I don't do betrayal for a person I was devoted to period. Vows were broken f--k money and f--k u and every other loser on here," she posted in an Instagram comment.
Manziel and Tiesi were married in March 2018. They began dating in 2016, the same year Manziel was released by the Cleveland Browns over repeated off-field indiscretions. He has since played for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes and the AAF's Memphis Express.
"This is all very, very personal and very sad," Manziel told TMZ Sports of the split. "I appreciate everyone who has been so supportive of both of us and I would just ask that everyone respect our privacy at this difficult time.
"My hope is to put my head down and be allowed to focus on work and what is required of me on the football field."
Manziel has not received an NFL tryout since his release from the Browns.
After suspending operations midway through the league's first season, the Alliance of American Football has filed a petition for bankruptcy, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
Based on Wednesday's filings to a Texas court, the league has about $48.4 million in liabilities—including about $9.6 million owed to creditors—but only about $11.4 million in assets.
The league will file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is the most common form in the United States, per Rothstein, giving it an opportunity to sell assets to pay creditors.
The AAF provided a statement after the latest filing:
"We are deeply disappointed to be taking this action. The AAF was created to be a dynamic, developmental professional football league powered by an unprecedented alliance between players, fans and the game. The AAF strove to create new opportunities for talented players, coaches, executives and officials while providing an exciting experience for fans. We are proud of the fact that our teams and players delivered on that goal."
The league had attempted to become a secondary football option alongside the NFL, and it featured several notable players such as Trent Richardson and Johnny Manziel.
Unfortunately, the league had financial trouble and was forced to turn to Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon in February to make a $250 million investment.
Less than a month later, the league suspended operations and ended the inaugural season before its completion. As co-founder Bill Polian explained, it was Dundon's decision to shut down the league.
One of the problems was the inability to find an agreement with the NFLPA to allow practice squad players to compete in the AAF.
Meanwhile, it appears money was another significant issue.
The Alliance of American Football has issued an apology after suspending operations earlier this week:
"This week, we made the difficult decision to suspend all football operations for the Alliance of American Football. We understand the difficulty that this decision has caused for many people and for that we are very sorry. This is not the way we wanted it to end, but we are also committed to working on solutions for all outstanding issues to the best of our ability. Due to ongoing legal processes, we are unable to comment further or share details about the decision.
"We are grateful to our players, who delivered quality football and may now exercise their NFL-out clauses in our contract. We encourage them to continue pursuing their dreams and wish them the best. We are grateful to our fans, who have been true believers from the beginning, and to our world-class partners. And to the Alliance coaches and employees who devoted their valuable time and considerable talent to this venture, we are forever grateful."
The AAF paused play Tuesday, just eight games into its inaugural season, while it sought new investment capital. Darren Rovell of The Action Network reported AAF owner Tom Dundon, who made the decision "against wishes of league co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian," will lose $70 million on his investment.
David Glenn of The Athletic reported Feb. 18 that Dundon, also the owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, was named AAF chairman after making a $250 million investment.
Dundon revealed in late March the AAF's future was in jeopardy if it could not establish a partnership with the NFL.
"If the players union is not going to give us young players, we can't be a development league," Dundon said, per USA Today's Kevin Allen and Mike Jones. "We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league."
The decision left players without jobs and the opportunity to further pursue their football dreams, and it appeared initially that league personnel also faced hefty expenses they were not expecting:
Former Memphis Express president Kosha Irby told the Memphis Commercial Appeal's Jason Munz the team had sent the hotel a check for $74,500 on April 1. One player's charges had been reversed, but the same reportedly could not be said for everyone.
While it was initially unclear if AAF players could sign with NFL teams, the league gave clearance Thursday:
Cornerback Keith Reaser (Kansas City Chiefs), receiver Rashad Ross (Carolina Panthers), quarterback Garrett Gilbert (Cleveland Browns) and defensive end Alex Bennett (Oakland Raiders) have each capitalized on their AAF success and signed with NFL teams in recent days.
The Alliance of American Football has suspended play in its inaugural season, but those who gambled on futures bets will not be left empty-handed.
According to Ben Fawkes of ESPN.com, FanDuel Sportsbook declared it will grade all futures bets on AAF teams as winners even though it said it viewed the 7-1 Orlando Apollos as champions.
"Because the FanDuel Sportsbook loves football and we believe this is the very definition of a bad beat for sports fans everywhere, we are also going to pay out straight future wagers for all AAF teams as winners," FanDuel said in a statement.
Fawkes noted FanDuel said the decision will cost it "just under $10,000."
This comes after the AAF sent an email to employees saying it suspended play, which NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala shared:
Former NFL player and current Fox Sports Radio host Rich Ohrnberger detailed some of the fallout in a series of tweets, noting some players returned to hotel rooms to see their items waiting in the lobby.
What's more, injured players are now responsible for their own medical expenses, and the termination letter sent to members of the AAF staff was unsigned.
Ohrnberger called the situation "a complete mess."
The Alliance of American Football is suspending operations with two weeks remaining in its inaugural season, according to an email obtained by NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala. What's more, the league reportedly isn't taking care of its players in the wake of the suspension.
Per Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko, AAF teams are making their players pay for flights back to their homes.
Per The MMQB's Albert Breer, the AAF attempted to save money during the season by only letting coaches and players eat on team flights, and team meals on the night before games were eliminated in favor of a $30 per diem for each player.
The AAF seemed like an early success after its initial launch on Feb. 9. Its first broadcast on CBS drew 2.9 million viewers, higher than a Houston Rockets-Oklahoma City Thunder game going on in the same time period.
After that successful opening week, The Athletic's David Glenn reported Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon made a $250 million investment in the AAF to help the league meet its financial obligations, including payroll for employees.
The Action Network's Darren Rovell reported Dundon stands to lose around $70 million of his investment in the league.
Co-founded by Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian, the AAF was designed as a secondary football league to be played after the NFL season concluded. The Orlando Apollos were leading the league with a 7-1 record and two games remaining in the regular season before the league suspended operations.
Orlando Apollos head coach Steve Spurrier said his team should be declared Alliance of American Football champions if the league doesn't complete its 2019 season.
Christian Bruey of WFTV provided comments from Spurrier amid rumors the AAF is going to suspend all football operations Tuesday:
Pro Football Talk reported the league hasn't decided whether to formally disband despite the expected suspension of operations, but noted "it's heading that way."
Orlando owned a 7-1 record through eight games of the 10-week regular season. The Birmingham Iron, San Antonio Commanders and Arizona Hotshots were tied for the next best mark at 5-3, meaning the Apollos were one win away from clinching the best record.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 2,152 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. Outside linebacker Earl Okine racked up five sacks, which ranked fourth in the league.
The Apollos and Iron were the only teams to clinch playoff berths through eight weeks.
With the future of the Alliance of American Football in doubt, Johnny Manziel offered some financial advice to his fellow players.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and Action Network's Darren Rovell reported Tuesday the AAF is suspending operations and could fold altogether.
Manziel noted the tough position that players are in as a result:
Manziel signed with the AAF in March and joined the Memphis Express. He's 5-of-8 passing for 61 yards with an interception while backing up Brandon Silvers. He has also run for 38 yards on five carries.
Now, Manziel's AAF career, along with that of many others, may be over. The league, which comprises eight teams, announced last October that 515 players had signed contracts. Polian said last July that players would receive three-year non-guaranteed deals worth $250,000.
According to Rovell, AAF co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian were at odds with Tom Dundon, one of the league's primary financial backers. Whereas Ebersol and Polian wanted the AAF to grow more slowly before forging a partnership with the NFL, Dundon wanted to expedite that process.
Dundon told USA Today's Kevin Allen and Mike Jones last week the AAF's inability to work together with the NFL Players Association was threatening the league's existence.
Rovell reported Dundon obtained unilateral control of the AAF board when he invested in the league, so he alone could potentially decide whether the AAF continues or ceases to exist.
The AAF is supposed to enter into Week 9 of the 10-week regular season starting Saturday, with the playoffs set to kick off April 21 and the championship slated for April 27.
Eight weeks into its inaugural season, the Alliance of American Football has likely played its final game.
The AAF sent an email to employees on Tuesday outlining the decision, which states the league's operations will be suspended immediately, via NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala:
"Over the last year, we have been able to realize some amazing accomplishments. We launched a football league, a ground breaking sports technology and APP, and established production and broadcast arrangements to air our content on major networks. Together we created some incredible moments for football and our fans. We are very proud of what we accomplished and appreciate the contributions each of you made during that process.
"Unfortunately, after careful consideration, the board has decided to suspend operations of the Alliance of American Football, effective immediately. As part of this process, we expect to keep a small staff on hand to seek new investment capital and restructure our business. Should those efforts prove successful, we look forward to working with many of you on season two. As a follow up to this communication, we will reach out to the personnel who will be involved in that continuation effort.
"For those employees whom we do not contact individually to discuss an ongoing role or alternative arrangements, your employment termination date is effective Wednesday, April 3, 2019, and you will be paid through this date. We are extraordinarily appreciative for all of your efforts. ... Thank you again for your service."
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Darren Rovell of The Action Network first reported the news. Rovell noted that AAF owner Tom Dundon stands to lose $70 million and made the decision to suspend operations "against wishes of league co-founders Charlie Ebersol and Bill Polian."
Polian issued a statement about Dundon's decision, via ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein:
"I am extremely disappointed to learn Tom Dundon has decided to suspend all football operations of the Alliance of American Football. When Mr. Dundon took over, it was the belief of my co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, and myself that we would finish the season, pay our creditors, and make the necessary adjustments to move forward in a manner that made economic sense for all.
"The momentum generated by our players, coaches and football staff had us well positioned for future success. Regrettably, we will not have that opportunity."
The AAF has been in financial trouble basically since the season started on Feb. 9.
David Glenn of The Athletic reported on Feb. 18 that Dundon, who owns the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, was named the AAF's new chairman after making a $250 million investment to help the league get its finances in order.
Dundon told reporters last week the NFL Players Association could help the league by allowing its players, notably those on practice squads, to play in the AAF.
"If the players union is not going to give us young players, we can't be a development league," Dundon said. "We are looking at our options, one of which is discontinuing the league."
The NFLPA declined the request for multiple reasons. Chief among them were that using active players in AAF games could violate CBA rules that restrict mandatory workouts during the offseason and the possibility that injuries suffered in the AAF would stunt accrued service time in the NFL, which has financial implications.
The inaugural AAF campaign was scheduled for a 10-week regular season with a two-week postseason culminating in a championship game on April 27.
Plenty was at stake on Sunday in Week 8 of the Alliance of American Football's inaugural season.
The Birmingham Iron had the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a victory over the Atlanta Legends, while the top two teams in the West—the Arizona Hotshots and San Antonio Commanders—squared off for postseason positioning.
Here is a look at the scores and the action.
AAF Week 8 Sunday Scores
Birmingham Iron 17, Atlanta Legends 9
Arizona Hotshots 23, San Antonio Commanders 6
Birmingham Iron 17, Atlanta Legends 9
The Iron are going to the playoffs, and they can thank their stout defense.
Birmingham prevented Atlanta from finding the end zone and held quarterback Matt Simms to 13-of-22 passing for 135 yards and one interception. It also kept replacement signal-caller Aaron Murray in check, as the former Georgia Bulldogs playmaker finished 6-of-13 for 100 yards and a pick.
The defense was needed because Iron quarterback Luis Perez was a mere 10-of-24 for 65 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Former Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson provided 83 yards on the ground and the lone offensive touchdown.
Birmingham forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter and stuffed Murray on a 4th-and-goal run from the 3-yard line in the third quarter. The late turnovers came when cornerback Chris Davis forced a fumble on a hard hit and when Joe Powell intercepted Murray.
However, the Iron didn't wait until crunch time to set the tone defensively. They recovered a fumble from Dwayne Hollis in the second quarter and set the offense up from the Atlanta 1-yard line.
Richardson punched it in and provided enough offense for Birmingham's defense to do the rest and secure its spot in the first AAF postseason.
Arizona Hotshots 23, San Antonio Commanders 6
Arizona sent a message on the road in arguably the most hostile environment in the league.
Ben Kercheval of CBSSports.com noted San Antonio packed more than 30,000 fans into the Alamodome for its last home game and entered this contest with a four-game winning streak, but it was no match for the Hotshots on either side of the ball.
Wide receiver Rashad Ross started the scoring by hauling in a rainbow from quarterback John Wolford for a 58-yard touchdown. The Commanders didn't have a chance to keep up with his speed, and the perfectly placed pass set the tone for the rest of the game.
Running back Tim Cook put the exclamation point on the win with his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter with ankle-breaking jukes from 20 yards out.
San Antonio replaced quarterback Logan Woodside (4-of-9 for 32 yards and an interception) with Marquise Williams, but the latter was unable to muster much offense without the injured Mekale McKay at wide receiver. The Commanders had a chance inside the red zone and down nine in the fourth quarter, but Williams lost a fumble and the best opportunity to spark a comeback.
Williams finished 17-of-23 for 130 yards but didn't find the end zone, while no San Antonio receiver had more than 48 yards through the air.
On the other side, Wolford completed 17 of his 23 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions, while Cook had 30 yards and two scores on just three carries. Ross finished the game with four catches for 78 yards and the score.
Notifications
