[Baynative]

"...putting a reasonable chunk of change right off the top into a lockbox"

The old USFL offered big money contracts to lure players away from the NFL. They didn't have the money to back it up so they paid in annuities.

[ScottinVA]

The old USFL offered big money contracts to lure players away from the NFL. They didn't have the money to back it up so they paid in annuities.

Yep... the most glaring example of that was Steve Young, who signed for "$43 million," most of which didn't exist, with the USFL's LA Express. IIRC, the Express ceased to exist after a year or two.