Settlement reached in Tampa Bay salary cap case
March 23, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â The AFL, the AFL Players Association and Tampa Bay Storm have agreed to a resolution of a salary cap investigation involving the Storm.
The settlement will result in a $150,000 fine for Tampa Bay and a suspension of head coach TIM MARCUM, who will pay $25,000 of the fine. The Storm will also be subject to a competitive penalty, specifically, delays in their ability to sign free agents for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Marcum's suspension, which prevents him from having any contact with the team whatsoever, will be split over the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The 2005 portion began yesterday, March 22, and includes two games â at Los Angeles on Saturday, March 26 and home vs. Georgia on Saturday, April 2. Marcum can return to the Storm on Monday, April 4. The 2006 portion covers the first two weeks of the 2006 season.
Tampa Bay will be placed on probation through the 2006 season, and Marcum will remain on probation personally through the 2007 season. Greater discipline may be imposed if any additional violations are committed during that time.
The settlement is the result of an investigation into allegations that the Storm violated the AFL's salary cap through unreported payments to players during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Tampa Bay disputes the allegations of salary cap violations but has agreed to the settlement and its terms in order to resolve the matter in the best interests of all parties. The specific findings of the investigation are confidential.
"Allegations led us to investigate the Storm's salary cap practices," said AFL General Counsel JOHN MASTER. "We believe that the findings were serious and warranted discipline."
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