TheSmokinggun.com reports that the Lingerie Football League, where bikini-clad women grapple on the gridiron, is threatening legal action against a group of former players who have complained that the league has reneged on promises to pay the medical bills for women injured during practices and games.

In a letter from December 10, a lawyer for the league warned nine ex-players that “evidence gathered” showed that the women had “participated in the posting” of false information online (apparently on Facebook and MySpace pages). The letter is the latest heavy-handed tactic employed by the struggling 10-team league, which launched about three months ago with the laughable assertion that it was “one of television’s biggest commercial properties.”

According to several former players, league founder Mitchell Mortaza and his deputies have repeatedly threatened legal action when players have complained (or simply inquired) about health coverage and wages.

In an e-mail exchange, Mortaza declined to comment on the letter, but he wished TSG “the best of luck with your story, especially the elements that you obtained illegally which is actionable.”

In an October e-mail to a player who had written to him about disorganized practices, Mortaza responded, “Let me give you a little advice and this goes for any other player creating unnecessary, drama. Simply SHUT UP and play football.”

He added that he wished the woman stopped attending practices “so we have reason to terminate you and assess the termination fine.” That fine–$5000–is detailed in the league’s standard player contract.

Other e-mails from league officials show them threatening to file a stolen property report with the Police Department over a uniform that one ex-player purportedly did not return.