Team's Financial Problems Forcing Some Mountain Lions Players To Quit

WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Mounting money troubles are plaguing the United Football League, and now players are starting to quit the Sacramento Mountain Lions.

Players are saying they aren't getting paid as promised, and the wait for a full paycheck has now worn out the patience for some Mountain Lions.

"We had a meeting yesterday. We tried to hammer out a solution as far as the whole pay situation, things like that. We really didn't get anything resolved," said one player who packed his bags Tuesday but didn't want to give his name.

Heading into their third game of the season Wednesday, Sacramento players haven't been fully paid for the first two games and describe a cash shortage creating poor practice conditions with no weight rooms and meals of hot dogs and stew.

"I definitely feel like people know what's going on," the player said. "They're just not letting us know. And the worst thing is feeling uninformed, you know?"

The Mountain Lions' owner is Paul Pelosi, husband of House minority leader Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi's late checks last year led to a lawsuit filed by then-head coach Dennis Green, who claims to be owed a reported $1.5 million.

Pelosi issued the first payroll checks Tuesday, but for only $1,000. The players are owed $3,500 per game.

A UFL representative issued a statement about the late paychecks this season, saying, "We're continuing to work toward a resolution of the situation."

A game is still scheduled for Wednesday at Raley Field. Field crews are prepping for it, but at least some players are now making other plans.

"I think the way that they do business here, they need to fix that. They've got to take care of their players. It just doesn't seem very organized," the exiting player said.