United Football League

Now that Training camps have started for all four UFL teams we can start to analyze their rosters. Today we start with the California Redwoods and their quarterbacks.

The Redwoods have a varied collection of guys from the AFL, CFL, and one who never quite made it in the NFL; of course, the Detroit Lions drafted him. Mike McMahon has the most experience out of this group that includes Liam O’Hagan, Shane Boyd, and Brett Dietz.

McMahon was drafted in the 2001 fifth round by the Detroit Lions, of course, by Matt Millen. He joins a collection of Millen draft picks playing in this new league. He was a four-year starter while attending Rutgers and put up enough passing yards to be third in Scarlet Knight history.

After being cut by the Lions in 2005 he bounced around the NFL with the Eagles and the Vikings before heading up to the CFL. He is a dangerous threat to run the ball and is the likely starter for the Redwoods.

Shane Boyd took a different route, coming out of Kentucky with 2,484 career assign yards and 845 rushing yards he signed a non drafted free-agent deal with the NFL and was assigned to NFL Europe. While there he set the NFLE record for most rushing yards by a QB. He last played with the Montreal Alouetts of the CFL.

Brett Dietz grew up in the Arena leagues where he was the rookie of the year in both the AFL and the AFL2. Before that he played in the NIFL, and in a professional football league in Europe. It seems, Diets is the likely backup for the Redwoods.

The Redwoods also have Liam O’Hagan on their roster. Liam attended Harvard but was suspended for four games due to undisclosed team rule violations in 2007. Little else seems to be known about him, and he comes to this new league as something of a question mark.

If we were to guess at a depth chart I would guess that O’Hagan ends up on the practice squad or cut, and McMahon is the starter with Dietz as his backup, and Boyd as the third stringer.

The concept of the UFL's sampler platter of an initial season, the so branded "Premiere Season" strategy really should be appreciated for what it is: Apparent Brilliance.

It seems like a truly innovative concept. Could this be the way all future leagues that dare to compete with the NFL are launched?

The premise is quite simple.  As leagues like the USFL proved, every market is capable of drawing good fan support to two games based off curiosity and football fans' off-season cravings alone.

After that, the quality of the team and the fan experience at the previous games determine future turnout. For most teams, that means dramatically diminished home crowds for the rest of the season.

(For a heads up, that is why the XFL's attendance was better than the USFL's.  The XFL played five home games vs. the USFL's extended nine home-game schedule. This meant there was less time for a fan to get turned off and it allowed for potentially cheaper season tickets—in dollars of the day.)

The UFL only has two owners.  That is the plain and ugly truth that threatens everything about the league. The buy-in costs appear to have been judged as too much for too little chance of success.

But in the positive column, thanks to the high buy-ins requested, the league did receive a buy-in that gives the league the money to field four teams. The "Premiere Season" plan puts the league's assets to work to build credibility with potential owners.

With four teams, a 12-game schedule allows each team to play each other, allowing three home games each. 

Rather than playing a third game of diminishing returns in a team's host city, the teams of the league will play a third game in a nearby large city in a somewhat smaller stadium, figuring they can match the third game turnout for a curiosity turnout in a new city.

This has the added benefit of allowing the league to effectively double their exposure footprint from four cities to eight.

Lets take a peek at the schedule:

Week One
California Redwoods vs. Las Vegas Locomotives @Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV
New York Sentinels vs. Florida Tuskers @Citrus Bowl - Orlando, FL

Week Two
Florida Tuskers vs. Las Vegas Locomotives @Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV
New York Sentinels vs. California Redwoods @AT&T Park - San Francisco, CA

Week Three
California Redwoods vs. Florida Tuskers @Citrus Bowl - Orlando, FL

Week Four
California Redwoods vs. New York Sentinels @Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, NJ
Las Vegas Locomotives vs. Florida Tuskers @Tropicana Field - St Petersburg, FL

Week Five
Las Vegas Locomotives vs. New York Sentinels @Citi Field - Flushing, NY

Week Six
Florida Tuskers vs. New York Sentinels @Rentschler Field - Hartford, Conn.
Las Vegas Locomotives vs. California Redwoods @AT&T Park - San Francisco, Calif.

Week Seven 
Florida Tuskers vs. California Redwoods @AT&T Park - San Francisco, Calif.
New York Sentinels vs. Las Vegas Locomotives @Home Depot Center - Los Angeles

Week Eight
Championship Game @Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV

So in the league's seven-week season (a six-week schedule stretched to seven weeks with two half-league bye weeks), their four teams will play 12 games with each team "hosting" three games. 

The California Redwoods will host three games at AT&T Park—a baseball stadium that was wisely built with football in mind and made the XFL's San Francisco Demons that league's attendance leader. With a similar price structure to the XFL and the 49ers in the middle of an ugly divorce with the city, it seems the UFL has wisely deduced that San Francisco is one of their best plays—hence all three Redwoods home games will be played there.

The Florida Tuskers will host two games at their home stadium, the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and a third game in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg near Tampa Bay. Florida is never a bad gamble for good football attendance and Orlando has been a solid host city in a number of leagues.Tampa Bay was a very strong team in the USFL and, considering the NFL team's recent struggles, might again have a host of fans willing to support a competitor. Playing in a smaller stadium, the 40,000 seat baseball stadium—and slightly out of town should allow the Tuskers to draw a fairly strong turnout for their St. Pete's sampler game.

The Las Vegas Locomotives will host their first two games at Sam Boyd Stadium. In the CFL, Las Vegas was a dud, drawing under 10K a game. In the XFL, Las Vegas drew fairly well, as the city's rampant growth effectively swelled the population out closer to the stadium and the ticket price structure was considered much more reasonable to the fans. The UFL will have similar prices, the city is larger now, and the UFL season is shorter, so attendance should be a little stronger. The Locomotives will play their sampler home game at Los Angeles' Home Depot Center.  The Home Depot Center seats 29,000.  For a one shot game, they should be able to draw at least 25,000 fans.

The New York Sentinels seem in some ways the least promising of the XFL teams on the field.  The team plays three games in or near the NYC metro area, but their first game is not until week four, when it is very possible New York may carry a 0-3 record into the game. Their first game is in Giants Stadium, which in itself draws football fans to it like a roach motel draws roaches.  The team's second "Home" game is in Citi Field (thanks US taxpayers!) in flushing NY and it's final game is in nearby Connecticut at UCONN's Rentschler Field.  If the team is competitive—again, a big if—they could draw well to all three venues, as the latter two areas have been begging for pro football for quite a while.

With solid promotion, California might average 35K per game, Florida maybe a little more than 35K, Las Vegas 29K, and New York, anywhere from 28-40K.

I may be assigning too much competency to the league, but I think they will promote it properly in their host markets, so the league game attendence average should be in the 32-35K range.

While there is some chance of failure built into a short season --- Will the promotion be sufficient to sell the tickets? Is the season too short to grab a local fan's interest? Will fans in secondary home cities buy into a single game (more or less an exhibition game) of a semi-pro league? --- it is entirely likely that if properly promoted, the Premiere Season will be a box office success. 

The thinking in the league has to be that high attendance league-wide should make their cities appear viable than they may actually be.

It should give the league the credibility to get at least a couple other billionaires or at least high hundred-millionaires to buy franchises and allow for a second year.

Odds are they will be correct in that regard. 

Rich folks who want to own a pro football team on the cheap only need a compelling argument backed with reasonable sounding claims, they don't require anything that looks financially "provable" like, say,... the NFL.  They will settle for compellingly possible.  The idle rich tend to crave a little challenge.  They are confident enough in their own abilities to make a reasonable scenario work that they don't need a McDonald's-level franchising opportunity (NFL) on this size of investment.

To me, I equate this to my wife getting a false reading off a home pregnancy test.  As a kid lover, I might be quite excited to think that means I will see another member of my family arrive who will probably grow to be a self-sustaining being. I may rush out to buy baby clothes and diapers, but it really doesn't mean that a self-sufficient being is on the way.

The League also probably hopes that good attendance would allow for a network TV contract with one of the big networks or at least ESPN.  I think this might be asking too much. 

While it is entirely possible that the league will open season two with a full-time team in New York and Los Angeles (the US's No. 1 and No. 2 TV markets), the XFL had that too and no one bit for a second season, even though they were playing in a time of year with no other real football played and no strong sports competition anywhere else on the dial. The UFL will at minimum still be competing against FBS college football and its 60 games a week.

What if they enter Season 2 with Rivals and HDNET again, or less than that?

What if there is less or no significant broadcast revenue?

How do you justify and afford $12 Million dollar team salary caps? 

How do you get any media leverage without star power?

To me this is the problem with the UFL, for all it's brilliance (The "Premiere Season" concept), its premise (minor league football teams willing to let any of their star players go if those players get a better offer from the NFL, while the teams attempt to compete head-to-head with college, high school, CFL, and NFL football for TV time and fan support) is a non-starter that will likely doom the league to failure.

The UFL is far more likely to be remembered like the USFL, a league with a lot of potential that helped advance the blueprint of how to build a league to compete with the NFL.

It may finally be time for Odell Thurman to smile again.

After being drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2005 NFL Draft, Thurman had reason to be optimistic.

He was a cornerstone of the team's young defense led by Head Coach Marvin Lewis.

He wasted no time justifying the Bengals' pick, as he recorded 106 tackles and 1.5 sacks, while leading an aggressive defense. Thurman was responsible for 10 forced turnovers (five interceptions and five forced fumbles), nine deflections, and even a defensive touchdown.

Needless to say, the future was bright for Thurman and Cincinnati, as the Bengals made the playoffs with an impressive 11-5 record.

However, Cincinnati fell to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in their playoff opener, 31-17, lost their star quarterback Carson Palmer to a knee injury, and have never been the same.

The loss of their stud in the middle, Thurman, might have had something to do with it.

Never a poster-boy for high character, Thurman found himself in the midst of many off-field issues, as he battled drug and alcohol problems.  After several failed NFL tests, Thurman was suspended by the league for the first four games of the 2006 season, and after Thurman failed to make any progress, the suspension was extended for the remainder of the season.

The next season proved to be even more difficult for Thurman, as alcohol and violence issues prompted another year-long suspension from the league, and inevitably led to his final release for the team prior to the 2008 season.

Thurman failed to latch-on with another club last year, and when the same seemed destined to happen for 2009, he cut his losses and joined the up-start UFL's Florida Tuskers.

With an indefinite suspension from the league, Thurman opted to join the Tuskers to display his re-dedicated work ethic and attempt to clean up the view of his character.

Thurman may have a long road ahead of him to prove his character is that of NFL standards, but from a talent standpoint, he is just one of the many former "star" additions to the league that establishes it's credibility and quest to deliver the best possible product to put on the field.

With his talent and experience, Thurman is a near lock to make the Tuskers final roster and start, giving him the perfect launching-pad back to the NFL.

Now, just like Thurman has for the past three years, the rest of us will have to sit back and wait.

(Odell Thurman is finally getting a second chance.)

The UFL announced it's training camp participants for all four teams, and this time it's official.

My previous three installments of the UFL team-by-team preview analyzed the coaches, their previous success, and their philosophies, while also touching base on some of the better known players filling out their rosters.

With the final team, the New York Sentinels, ready to hit B/R sometime this weekend, here's a look at the freshly added key players for the other three team's rosters.

Comment on the ones you know or have heard of, and let's get the UFL into the regular flow of sports conversation.

Some of these guys could still be role players, and possibly even stars in the NFL if given a second chance. Read on to see who fits the bill as "guys to watch for" when the season begins on October 8th.

For other good reads, head over to www.ufl-football.com and check out the news as it's coming in.

Las Vegas Locomotives

Marcel Shipp (RB)

Shipp signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2001 as an undrafted free agent out of UMass.

Despite never getting the full load all to himself, Shipp was still able to put together two consecutive seasons of at least 830 rushing yards.

Shipp saw his workload decrease once Arizona brought in Edgerrin James in 2006, and was slowly phased out of the Cardinals' plans.

At 31, Shipp probably doesn't have a future in the NFL as a starter, but with a solid season in the UFL, he can still show he has the tools to be an effective role player.

Samie Parker (WR)

Parker, the long-time Kansas City Chief, was a fourth round pick of the Chiefs back in 2004, and spent his entire career in Kansas City as a second and third option at receiver.

Parker was constantly a "sleeper" player in the league, and while he never lived up to his great potential, still found himself on the field enough to amass 110 receptions, for 1,529 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Always blessed with good speed and solid play-making ability, Parker is a strong candidate to start for Las Vegas, and could make an impact strong enough to get him noticed by NFL teams again.

California Redwoods

Mike McMahon (QB)

Best known for his near-win and gritty performance against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day back in 2001, McMahon has also always been known as the athletic quarterback with an erratic arm.

While McMahon has always possessed the tools and athleticism to make an impact at the NFL level, he has never been a poster-boy for consistency, while also never having elite weapons around him.

At 30 years old, McMahon is entering the stretch of his career where he either has to prove he can play consistently at a high level, or he may see his window of opportunity close.

Peter Warrick (WR)

Once nicknamed "The Great One" (sorry, Wayne Gretzky) for his dazzling performances at Florida State, Warrick was the definition of a bust in the NFL.

After being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and coined their offensive savior, Warrick was constantly shut down by opposing defenses, mostly due to a lack of a supporting cast, as well as a lack of size.

Injuries and inconsistency plagued his career, and Warrick left Cincinnati in 2005 without ever recording more than 900 yards receiving in a season.

He signed with the Seattle Seahawks that same season and played in the Super Bowl, mostly as a return specialist.

Warrick bounced around from Seattle to several semi-pro teams since, but failed to stick to a team or make a significant impact.

With a huge chip on his shoulder, Warrick is out to prove in 2009 that he still has the speed and athleticism to be a solid player at the pro level.

Florida Tuskers

Odell Thurman (LB)

After a sensational rookie season in Cincinnati that saw him top 100 tackles and record five interceptions, Thurman was suspended by the NFL due to drug and alcohol problems.

Despite appealing the league in 2006 for reinstatement, further legal issues prompted the NFL to continue his suspension, causing him to miss the entire 2007 season.

Thurman was well into a comeback attempt in 2008 with the Bengals before being unexpectedly released prior to the season.

While initial reports had the reasoning being that Thurman had not "taken the proper steps" in getting his life back on track, Thurman and others stated that he was release d for not attending organized team activities, which by NFL rule, are not mandatory.

Regardless, Thurman was once again out of football, despite being fully able to play and still possessing elite talent.

Thurman is almost a lock to make and start for Florida if he stays on his best behavior, and a good showing in 2009 could lead to a second chance in the NFL.

Dexter Jackson (DB)

Jackson, a former member of the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a Super Bowl MVP and veteran safety of the NFL.

A fourth round pick in the 1999 draft, Jackson is widely known for his sensational two-interception performance against the Oakland Raiders in Tampa Bay's only Super Bowl appearance, where he also became only the second defensive player to be named the game's MVP since 1973.

Jackson, 32, brings veteran leadership and great ball skills to a Florida team already oozing with talent on the defensive side.

There are plenty of other players on all three teams worth mentioning, although it's impossible to give them all the "air time" they deserve.

Be sure to stay updated with trips back to the UFL site, as well as monitoring the UFL buzz right here on B/R.

Stay tuned for the final team preview installment this weekend, as we take a look at the big names on the New York Sentinels.

Las Vegas, prepare yourself for a no-risk situation.

While a professional football team being dropped into Nevada doesn't necessarily fall under "no-risk" in regular business terms, hiring Jim Fassel as the guy to lead that team in the right direction is the one thing that isn't a gamble.

Fassel, an offensive guru, is best-known for turning things around for NFL veteran Kerry Collins, as well as guaranteeing the 2000 New York Giants would make the playoffs. The end result; a Super Bowl appearance against the Baltimore Ravens.

His career is full of accomplishments, postseason success, potent offenses, and the progressive development of several quarterbacks.

Considering he was a quarterback himself at USC, who better to grab hold of J.P. Losman and make something out of him? Come to think of it, Las Vegas is still about taking risks, after all.

Still, Fassel has assembled a fine coaching staff and a talented roster of players who simply need a second chance, a new system, and a little guidance.

Read on and take a look at the key stars who represent the Locomotives in 2009 as Jim Fassel and co. attempt to put a face on professional football in Las Vegas.

Offense

J.P. Losman (QB)

Drafted out of Tulane in the first round by the Buffalo Bills in 2004, Losman appeared to be the Bills' savior at the quarterback position. However, a leg injury delayed a major impact in his rookie season.

Despite the setback, Losman led the Bills to a 22-7 victory in his first NFL start in 2005.

This minimal second-year success left room for plenty of optimism, and 2006 saw Losman throw 19 touchdowns to only 14 interceptions as he passed for over 3,000 yards and led a much-improved Bills offense.

However, Losman returned to inconsistent play due to a horrendous offensive line and a lack of star power outside of stud receiver Lee Evans. This drop-off in play prompted Buffalo to draft Trent Edwards out of Stanford, and ultimately led to Losman being out of a job.

Never short of talent, Losman is expected to be Las Vegas's starter on opening day. He offers plenty of athleticism, a big arm, and a chip on his shoulder that could equate to great success in 2009.

Tim Rattay (QB)

While Rattay never established himself in the NFL as a franchise quarterback or a consistent starter, he has come a long way since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 draft.

Rattay would go on to appear in 40 NFL games, and has recorded over 4,500 yards and 31 touchdowns as a spot-duty quarterback, offering quality insurance as a back-up at the NFL level for eight seasons.

As of this season, Rattay also still holds the record for completions in a game for the 49ers, a prestigious quarterback franchise, with 37.

David Kircus (WR)

Kircus, nick-named "Circus" Kircus for his acrobatic and athletic catches at Grand Valley State, is big-play receiver with exceptional hands and ball skills.

Despite attending a small school in college, Kircus's numbers did not go unnoticed, as he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Kircus would go on to play for the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins, registering 15 receptions for 308 yards and a touchdown in his NFL career.

With underrated speed and excellent play-making ability, Kircus gives the Locomotives—and J.P. Losman—a reliable target.

Tab Perry (WR)

Perry is a dynamic and versatile player who simply hasn't had the opportunity to make a big impact in the NFL.

Despite only being drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Perry was still able to stick with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2005-2007 and finished his career as a Dolphin in Miami.

Perry brings 10 NFL receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown, as well as six rushing attempts for 22 yards and another score, to Las Vegas.

Adam Bergen (TE)

Bergen is a solid pass-catching tight end with average speed and blocking ability. However, with his good size (6'4'', 267 lbs), Bergen could emerge in the UFL as a consistent target over the middle, as well as a threat in the end zone.

Bergen brings 43 receptions, 381 yards, and two touchdowns, as well as four years of experience to the Locomotives. He figures to be a welcome addition, as well as a likely safety blanket for J.P. Losman.

Defense

Wendell Bryant (DT)

At 6'5'' and 305 lbs, Bryant is a space-eater for Las Vegas. However, while he comes into the league with a slew of accomplishments, he also carries the label of an NFL bust.

Bryant was a great collegiate player, winning the Big Ten Defensive Linemen of the Year award both as a junior and a senior at Wisconsin.

Bryant was then selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Arizona Cardinals, lasting on their roster until 2004. He has been out of the league since.

With 39 career tackles and 1.5 sacks, Bryant has a lot to prove, and will try to live up to his first-round billing this year with Las Vegas.

Teddy Lehman (LB)

A second-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2004, Lehman was an extremely productive rookie as he topped 100 tackles in his first year, and was the only rookie linebacker to start all 16 games that season.

Unfortunately for Lehman and the Lions, multiple injuries cut into his once-promising career, and future draft picks at the position inevitably made Lehman expendable.

Lehman's career as a Lion and a player in the NFL ended in 2007 with 151 career tackles to his name.

Fully recovered and prepared to prove he still has the ability to play at the sport's highest level, Lehman figures to be a fine addition to a very talented and deep Las Vegas defense.

Brandon Moore (LB)

Moore was an excellent find for the San Francisco 49ers in 2004, after he signed with the team when he went undrafted.

Moore stuck with the 49ers until 2007, registering 88 games played while logging 244 tackles and 15 sacks.

At 30, Moore is healthy and in his prime. With great experience and solid production at a high level, Moore is one of the better, more well-rounded talents leading Las Vegas's defense.

Tony Parrish (DB)

Parrish is proof that you're never too old for a second chance. Despite a long, successful NFL career, Parrish can no longer live on past accomplishments, and must fight to keep playing the game he loves.

With over a decade of experience, Parrish also brings great play-making ability and instincts to Las Vegas.

Parrish registered an impressive 649 tackles, five sacks, 30 interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns while suiting up for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.

He played his final season in the NFL at age 31 with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.

Parrish will be 34 in November, but with great instincts and years of experience at a position (safety) not dependent on speed, he can still prove to be a great asset—both in the UFL, and possibly once again in the NFL.

While many look at the offensive side of the ball and salivate over the possibilities of a Jim Fassel-led group—as well as what could be born with a rejuvenated and determined J.P. Losman—the defensive unit is just as talented and intriguing.

Like the two teams previewed before them, California and Florida, Las Vegas has a good core on both sides of the ball, presenting the makings already for an extremely competitive league.

Stay tuned for the fourth and final installment of the UFL Team Previews.

In the Harry Potter books, the Mirror of Erised is a mirror that reflects the desires of the viewer. I think there is a myth or noun that means an item in which everyone sees something different that they cherish, but I could not recall it. While sourcing children's books (even a very well-written series) is not the most successful way to begin a sports article, the Mirror of Erised does fit the underlying concept rather well.

I am befuddled by the confidence I see from the public in the UFL's offerings.

I have noticed two elements that echo through almost every editorial written about the UFL and the followup posts by football fans. First, saying the UFL is "doing things right" specifically implies past competitors have not. Second, every fan sees a different primary example of how things are being done right that they sieze upon as "the" reason the UFL has a good shot to make it.

This happens every time a league springs up and those fans reasons are rarely factors one way or another. 

All competitors to the NFL do a number of things very well.  If they aren't in business, they had a combination of unfortunate luck and took a few major missteps.

I was only three when the World Football League came around, but I have read a lot about them. I was old enough to be a huge fan of the USFL when they came around, having collected most articles written about them and read many letters to the editor about those leagues. I was around for the XFL and tracked that pretty closely, too.

The only difference I see between the words of fans of those leagues and fans of this one is the voulume.  We live in an immediate feedback world.  Information can be had near-instantly with a Google search. This is the era of sudden expertism. Back in the day, letters to the editor praising those leagues would often be intercepted by an unsympathetic officehand who would deem the letter not worth printing as the league was not likely to survive and, as such, not newsworthy. Today, feedback is instant and unfiltered—rarely does an editor pick through it.

I look at the UFL and have very few feelings of the certain sucess other fans seem to see. I see plenty of creative brilliant ideas that should work to a point, but none that make me optimistic of the league's chances of survival.

I will attempt to present a layman's history of the UFL so far, unmarred by retroactive spin or company doubletalk.

The league was founded by a couple of high-roller friends, W.R. Hambrecht Founder Bill Hambrecht and Google President of Advertising & Commerce TIM ARMSTRONG. Each pledged $2 Million in seed money for the league.  They announced the league by revealing that Mark Cuban would be their first team owner. They hired Michael Huyghue, former General manager of the WLAF Birmingham Fire, to be the league's comissioner.  So far so good.

The league selected 20+ markets that they determined might support UFL teams.  Within a year all mentions of a site list had diminished to about 8 potential markets.

They initially mentioned playing in the summer of 2008 claiming they had the funds on hand to field up to 8 teams that year, but the start date was pushed back to fall 2009 to attract more investors, despite overtures from cities like Birmingham where the Mayor-elect proposed building a 55,000 seat domed stadium to house a UFL team.

Cuban did a lot to bring the league to the public's attention through a mention in his blog. (Cuban was widely rumored to be the owner of the Las Vegas franchise while the other rumored owner was NY's Wilpon group). The sales pitch to Cuban was apparently based around the original concept:  a small league with deep-pocketed owners who would have team payrolls in the $12-20 million range who would eat losses long enough to eventually either force a meger with the NFL or become an NFL-caliber league.  The league would be able to lure in NFL talents with those large caps to give the league TV appeal.

For an investment of $50-100 million over a multi-year period, an owner could conceivably have a franchise worth several hundred million in 5 to 10 years.  The league predicted franchises will break even in 3-5 years.

Michael Vick was publically pursued by the league in what ultimately turned into a hideously botched courtship that may turn out to be as damaging to the UFL as Joe Namath snubbing the WFL in their second season was for that league (a UFL article for another day).

But on the financial end, there was no new hard news for months.  No new owners were announced. I think a reasonable take would be the league could not find any owners willing to buy in on such a high-cost gamble as an expensive, unproven, start-up league.

Rumors of a second USFL being formed floated around.  Mark Cuban's public interest in the league appeared to cool. He was no longer mentioned as an owner. The league looked in real danger of not having enough owners to play in 2009 either.

Failure to play their announced scheduled first season is the kiss of death for a startup league.  It is almost always fatal.  Doing it twice would have killed the UFL.

Then in February, Paul Pelosi (yes that last name IS vaguely familiar) stepped up with a group of investors and bought 4 franchises.  This appeared to provided the funding to allow for a four team inagural season.  It appears that the Pelosi group worked a deal to buy four teams for a combined $30 Million --- what was supposed to be the amount each owner was supposed to invest for each franchise.

(One can only guess what the terms of the buy-in were.)

In exchange for the buy-in, the concept of the league appeared to change dramatically. The league would not die without a game played like so many prior leagues.  A new strategy was announced that would allow the UFL to ride out the recession. The quite brilliant "Premeire Season" (in quotes as if other leagues didn't have premeire seasons) strategy was announced.

Instead of a minimum of $12 million in player salaries per team, the entire four-team league would have a combined $16M payroll --- reasonably explained as a pro-rated salary cap for a truncated season  (...but it does beg the question if the minimum team salary will be $12 Million or merely some other pro-rated amount if a 2010 season is acheived).

With only four teams instead of the planned six-plus, the season would be abbreviated and teams would be semi-nomadic, calling multiple cities home (a pretty brilliant idea that will be the subject of another upcoming Bleacher Report article).

Since then, more details have emerged (for example the New York franchise is now owned by Bill Mayer of Park Avenue Equity).  It appears the Premiere Season is to wet the fans' and potential owners' appetites.

The league will have 4 teams for the Premiere Season.  Presently only two list owners' names.

As Cuban fades to be more of a supporting cast member (his startup TV network HDNET will be a broadcaster of some games), more and more talk arises of the UFL seeking to become the new WLAF—a minor league that develops post-collegiate players for NFL careers. The idea of competing with the NFL has been downplayed immensely as Huyghue has worked to court the NFL (kind of a "Please forget anything we said about competing...  Pretty please?").

While Huyghue is a former agent and well-respected among NFL circles, I kind of doubt the NFL is going to do much to aid in the continued existance of a league that still probably secretly desires hanging around long enough to compete with the big boys.

Additionally, the continued existance of the UFL could potentially destabilize the Canadian Football League.  Keeping the CFL alive is a big part of what keeps the NFL out of court. ("See? We  aren't a monopoly! Look at the CFL's version of pro football THRIVING up there.") 

The NFL loaned the CFL the money to survive a few years back in a move many claim was justified for this reason. It made sense for the NFL to keep a "competitor" in business.  The two leagues are effectively loosely in cahoots.  I'd call them a Duopoly, but the CFL is merely already a version of the junior partnership the UFL aims to acheive with the NFL---but one with the plausible deniabilty of existing in a foreign country.

Finally, a tight association between the UFL and the NFL would only makes the NFL seem like more of a monopoly. The NFL would then not only control the best media markets and their stadiums, but also would effectively control the second-tier markets and their stadiums.

I really think the NFL would love to see the UFL collapse tomorrow --- if not sooner ---under an untenable premise and management missteps. Anything that cannot be blamed on the NFL.  The survival of the UFL as envisioned only opens up potential legal trouble for the NFL. 

Obviously, the UFL has had a number of identities since it was announced. Now we are left with a league that is essentially striving to fill the role of the defunct/dormant Arena Football League as a semi-pro developmental league. Where is the buzz in that? Who wants to watch that on TV in large markets, like say Seattle, Philadelphia, or Dallas? Or, for that matter, who wants to watch it in small markets like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or Boise?

With respect to Huyghue—who is about as personable of a commisioner as one could meet—is that even worth a fan watching on TV?

As a fan of anything that competes with the NFL, I am really uncertain whether the UFL is a league I personally should be following (well, as a fan and not as just a historian recording an historic footnote). 

If they do achieve their current dream and become Triple-A football with a tight relationship with the NFL, what are they really at that point? It seems like they are just another hurdle for any league that wants to bring real pro football to "second-tier" cities like Sacramento or Orlando. What fan wants that?

More than with other leagues, I feel like a bit of a pawn in some high roller business transaction designed to make the filthy rich even richer that only tangentially involves football.  Two of the core reasons for my appreciation for competitive pro leagues is that they want to bring real pro football to fans in cities who are argueably unfairly overlooked by the NFL and that the owners are going to poke the NFL owners in the eye, something a lowly fan like you or I cannot effectively do. 

I can't hurt filthy rich NFL owners back for making me pay for a new stadium, but I can support a league that causes an NFL owner stress by just turning on my TV or buying a ticket.

This league really does not appear likely to provide me either satisfaction.  The league does not appear to want to compete with the NFL for talent, so how much of a pro league can it be if we aren't likely to see a Joe Cribbs leave behind a starting NFL job to play in a forgotten "second tier" UFL city.  What the UFL is now saying they want to do would effectively systemize the labelling of these cities as second class to NFL cities. 

The League wants to work nicely with the NFL with the NFL's blessing.  No sleep lost by NFL owners there.  And if the UFL succeeds and builds a large network of teams in second cities that discourages new leagues, the NFL may never lose any sleep over a competitor again.

But those are just questions with which I struggle as a fan of potential monopoly busting leagues.

I think the UFL leadership is filled with brilliant folks, but with its dystopic history, I can understand why every sports fan with an opinion on the UFL sees what they want to see.

Look out, Florida. You've got a new team to cheer for.

While it's common knowledge that Florida is Tim Tebow and Gator country, three NFL teams also reside in Florida: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins.

Add the Florida Tuskers (UFL) to the list.

They'll be starting out at the bottom of the totem pole in 2009, but most fledgling leagues and team do. And new Head Coach Jim Haslett is okay with that.

After all, he learned his lesson in humility and a true appreciation of football while serving as the St. Louis Rams' interim head coach last season.

But that's not how NFL fans remember Haslett. He's the fiery coordinator from the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the decisive and explosive head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

He's a competitor on the sideline, swinging with the emotions of the game with his teammates, while keeping a balanced approach that allows him to lead his teams.

Haslett brings a winning attitude and a gritty, aggressive defensive approach back to Florida, much in the realm of what Tampa Bay and Jacksonville used to be, and what Miami is hoping to become.

With his staff of coaches and roster of players out to prove themselves, Haslett and company could make Florida the place to be this year in accordance with professional sports.

Here's a look at the new stars that could be gracing the field for the Tuskers in 2009:

Offense

Craig Nall (QB)

Nall was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers as a fifth round draft pick in 2002, but with the legendary Brett Favre rarely taking a seat, he was never able to truly prove himself.

While he did post impressive numbers in mop-up duty in 2004 (314 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions), he was widely known in Packer country for his stellar play in NFL Europe, as he led the league in passing his rookie year.

Nall would go on to play for several other NFL teams until he eventually re-joined the Packers in 2007, and then saw his last action in the league with the Texans in 2008.

Nall is a well-traveled quarterback with a good head on his shoulders, but has never been given the full reigns of a team, as he has mostly played behind Favre, a young J.P. Losman, and the Texans' future, Matt Schaub.

While not an elite quarterback on paper, Nall has the experience and intangibles to lead the Tuskers in 2009.

Chris Griesen (QB)

Drafted as a seventh rounder in 1999 by the Arizona Cardinals, Griesen hung around in the desert for three seasons as a quality backup.

He went on to participate in NFL Europe before he spent five seasons in the AFL, where he set the AFL record for touchdowns in a season with 117 in 2007.

Griesen is a perfect example of a small-school talent with prolific ability that simply never received a fair shake. He has moderate experience at all levels of football, and brings excellent competition to Craig Nall for the starting quarterback job.

Tatum Bell (RB)

Arguably one of the better known and more explosive former NFL players, Bell was a star on the biggest stage as recently as 2006.

Bell recorded two-straight 900+ rushing yard seasons, while pairing with Mike Anderson in 2006 to provide the Denver Broncos with two 1,000-yard campaigns from rushers in the same season.

With the talent in Denver at running back, Bell was considered a luxury. He was eventually traded to the Detroit Lions, where he fell behind the other starters, only to re-sign with Denver again in 2008 after a string of injuries hit their running back depth.

Bell has proven as recently as last season that he is still a home-run threat with the ball in his hands, and provides an explosive threat to Florida's offense for 2009.

Koren Robinson (WR)

A former Seattle Seahawks' first rounder (ninth overall) in 2001, Robinson was once a rising star with a promising career.

Robinson even recorded 1,200 yards in just his second year, but an inconsistent attitude and work ethic led to his release from the team before the 2005 season.

Apparently reborn in Minnesota, Robinson shocked the NFL world and made the Pro Bowl as an electric kick returner, and then found himself in good graces with the league once again, as he signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2006.

He came back to Green Bay for the 2007 season until off-field incidents led to another release from an NFL team, but was then brought back to Seattle after injuries had plagued the Seahawks' receiving corps.

Robinson had little help from the rest of his supporting cast, as Seattle was a dismal 4-12 in 2008, but did manage to record Seattle's longest catch in team history, a 90-yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With a new attitude and re-dedicated concentation, Robinson is still in his prime and ready to turn things around as an explosive option for the Tuskers.

Doug Gabriel (WR)

Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 2005 NFL Draft as a fifth rounder, Gabriel quickly moved up the depth chart in a young Oakland receiving group, as he posted 71 receptions and over 1,200 yards in three seasons, before being traded to the New England Patriots in 2006.

Due to the Patriots depth at receiver, Gabriel never became a consistent force, eventually leaving New England for Oakland again, and then bounced to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2007 after being out of football in 2007.

After battling injuries in the past few years, Gabriel is fully healthy again, and looks to make a significant impact in Florida with his good speed and excellent hands.

Jermaine Wiggins (TE)

Wiggins went undrafted out of Georgia, but still went on to have an interesting and successful NFL career.

He signed with the New York Jets in his rookie year, playing 11 games, which then prompted the New England Patriots to sign him near the end of 2000, where he started two of the Patriots' remaining four games.

Wiggins went on to play with New England through 2002, as he caught 16 passes for 203 yards and a score, while also being a member of their 2001 Super Bowl champion team.

After a stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2002, Wiggins signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2003 and helped them win the NFC Championship, and eventually lost to his former team, the New England Patriots.

Wiggins went on to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, where he had his most success, as he broke-out in 2004 with a career-best 71 receptions for 705 yards and four touchdowns.

He went on to lead the Vikings in receptions (69) the following year, before he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, his last season in the NFL.

With exceptional experience and pass-catching ability, Wiggins expects to be a huge part of Florida's passing offense in 2009.

Defense

Bo Schobel (DE)

A former fourth round pick by the Tennessee Titans, Schobel was plagued by injuries and inconsistent play in four seasons with the Titans, Colts, and Cardinals.

Known more as a reserve and rotation-lineman, Schobel gets a new chance in Florida, and brings NFL experience and talent to a promising defense.

Darrion Scott (DE)

Scott, a third round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2004, saw his once promising NFL career dwindle away due to injuries and a lack of playing time.

Scott began his career with 23 tackles as a rookie, then started 15 of 16 games in 2005, as he raised his tackle total to 58.

He went on to start 13 of 16 games for Minnesota in 2006, and finished his career with the Vikings in 2007 with 128 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries.

Scott saw injuries hamper his playmaking ability in 2007, and was also phased out as Minnesota's high draft picks began to see more action.

He brings a tenacious and aggressive presence to the Tuskers' line, while offering excellent run support.

Colby Bockwoldt (LB)

Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2004 draft, Bockwoldt rose out of the obscurity of special teams to be a gem for the Saints.

Not only does Bockwoldt have experience in a Jim Haslett-led defense, but his numbers in the NFL are also solid.

Bockwoldt recorded 46 tackles as a rookie, and after earning extra playing time, started all 16 games for the Saints in 2005, as he recorded 89 tackles.

After playing for three other teams over the next four years due to injury and inexperience in other systems, Bockwoldt comes back to Haslett, where he saw his best production.

The Florida Tuskers have enough talent on offense to make things very interesting early on in 2009, and with Haslett leading a defense of solid, experienced talent, Florida could field the best team in the UFL's inaugural season.

(Green is back on the sidelines, this time in the UFL.)

Dennis Green is a long ways from his days in Minnesota, but he brings a tough, aggressive approach to the up-start UFL, as he brings a solid NFL career record of 113-94 and a winning attitude to California.

With a solid staff and a roster of talented, over-looked athletes, he gives California it's fourth football team to cheer for.

While the eyes of California will undoubtedly be on the Chargers, 49ers, and Raiders of the NFL, Green and the rest of his team bring a new and exciting spin to professional football, on a stage that is much different than the highest level of play.

The rosters are far from concrete at this point in the UFL pre-season, but with some key players currently listed on the team's roster, here's a look at the ones that stand-out:

Offense

Shane Boyd (QB)

While Boyd may never have been an NFL household name, he did play for four NFL teams, and made quite the name for himself in NFL Europe.

Despite bouncing from team to team from 2005-2009, Boyd was effective enough overseas, as he finished his play in Europe with the most rushing yards in a career for a quarterback.

Larry Brackins (WR)

Brackins was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a fifth round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, but but was released following the 2006 season.

He went on to record 20 touchdowns as a rookie in the Arena Football League, and also finished 17th in the league with 107 receptions, 1,395 yards, and 29 scores in the 2008 season.

Brackins has battled injuries in his short career, and while he doesn't have elite speed, he possesses excellent size (6'4'' and 221 lbs) and ball skills.

B.J. Sams (RB/WR/KR)

Sams was an electric return man in the NFL while with the Baltimore Ravens, where he also filled-in at receiver and running back.

In three seasons with the Ravens (and one with the Chiefs), Sams collected over 3,300 kick return yards and over 1,300 punt return yards, while also registering two returns for touchdowns.

Sams left the Ravens after breaking his leg in 2007, and was out of the league following a DUI arrest, but with a spot on California's roster, he finally gets a chance to redeem himself and make his name known once again in professional football.

Defense

Marviel Underwood (DB)

Underwood was originally a fourth round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, and actually dressed for all 16 games in his rookie season.

Tragedy struck Underwood the next season, however, as he tore two knee ligaments during the pre-season and was placed on IR, despite having a successful off-season.

Underwood's career was filled with potential up until the injury, but unfortunately he  jumped from team to team until he was out of the league.

Now with California, a healthy and re-dedicated Underwood has another shot at proving he was worth a mid-round selection, as well as has the talent to play at the highest level.

Paul Carrington (DE)

Carrington is another young NFL player that never had the chance to truly prove himself, but has the physical tools and size to potentially dominate at his position.

At 6'7'' and 270 lbs., Carrington has the size and strength to aid in rush defense, while also having the motor and aggressiveness to get after the quarterback.

He led Conference USA in sacks as a senior at Central Florida in 2004, while finishing 23rd in the country that year with nine sacks.

Carrington went on to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 as an undrafted free agent, and recorded 37 tackles and three sacks in his only season with the team.

California's team may not be made-up of a long list of huge names, draft busts, or college superstars, but there is talent on it's roster; enough for it's fans to be hopeful for a successful season.

While the roster is sure to change with added players after more try-outs, it appears that the Redwoods already have the foundation for success.

Starting a new football league, especially one that plans to play their games in the fall versus the NFL and College Football doesn’t seem likely to have a lot of success. However the folks running the UFL seem confident that they can run their league using a lot of principles learned by other minor league sports.

First and foremost this league is being backed by a lot of big money. Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, is the owner of the California Redwoods. William Mayer, a prominent Wall Street investment banker, will own the New York Sentinels. On top of that the Tampa Bay Rays have bought an ownership stake in the Florida Tuskers and will host at least one of their home games at Tropicana Field.

The UFL will also have its games broadcast on the Cable channel Versus. Since Versus is owned by Comcast Cable we can add that organization, who happen to own the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Flyers, to the list of UFL supporters.

While having NHL games on Versus is somewhat a joke in most sports circles, having UFL games there is a major win for the league. Versus is now the home of all American Fringe sports, it broadcasts the NHL, Indy Racing League and now the UFL.

Mark Cuban is also involved in this league; his HDNET channel will broadcast several UFL games in their inaugural season. There are also rumors that Cuban will own a franchise should this league reach season two.

Clearly this league has big money behind it, but they also seem to understand that they will have to work extra hard to generate revenue.

To that end the UFL has signed a deal with ANC sports to have that company produce unique content on over 456 feet of field level LED signage. This signage will not only feature tremendous ad space for the league but will also offer fans unique looks at stats and in game content that will make the UFL very fan appealing.

Using this method, much how Minor League baseball teams give away free programs to sell ad space, should help this league generate a lot of ad revenue. Many companies would like to see their ads reach a few thousand eyes every time they are featured on these field level displays.

The UFL has also signed a deal with Stubhub.com and that company will come on board as a major sponsor for the league and the official second-hand selling spot for all UFL tickets.

In the end we just don’t know how well this league will do, but it appears that they have enough big money behind them to at least have more initial success than Vince McMahon’s XFL had.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, the United Football League will have its inaugural season this upcoming fall with four teams with intentions to expand to six or possibly eight teams in 2010.

Unlike the XFL, if the UFL can hold strong for one or two full seasons, it could be the only organized professional football league on television during the 2011 season.

Why would this be the case?

The National Football League and the NFL Players Association are at a dispute over guaranteed benefits for the 2010 uncapped year, according to Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

Both owners and the players association have had two meetings, but new NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith is concerned over the lack of progress on an agreement being reached.

If for some reason an agreement is not reached between the owners and players, could we possibly see the UFL as the only pro league on television in a few years? Only time will tell.

Michael Huyghue, the commissioner of the UFL, along with the help of many others, have already helped the UFL make a small, but safe name for themselves, and not one down has even been played yet.

With the recent television agreements with the UFL and both HDNet and Versus to broadcast the games, it could very well be a nice start for the upcoming league.

After compiling a good list of players and NFL hopefuls that plan to use the UFL as a place to shine, the inaugural UFL draft was held earlier this summer, and each team now has a base in place.

J.P. Losman, arguably the best player and most marketable player for the UFL, will be the quarterback of the Las Vegas franchise. Losman, being a former first round pick in the NFL draft, could definitely help get the UFL some looks and consideration among the NFL fan base.

It will be interesting to see how well the UFL does after a year or two and what happens with the NFL and the Players Association.

The UFL could very well be the only football we are watching in the 2011 season. The only question is…who will you be rooting for?