PFT: More Details On The UFL Draft

[Doomsday101]

I think the downfall will be trying to compete with the NFL. The UFL could get some momentum as a spring league/farm league but they are trying to take the NFL on.

I don't think they are trying to take on the NFL. This league like others may very well die but I don't see this as an attempt to compete with the NFL.

 

[jay cee]

Are these games gonna be on TV? I might watch if the qualitys ok

If they play in the summer, I would watch it over baseball in a heartbeat.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

DMN Blog
UFL has a little Cowboy flavor
8:55 AM Fri, Jun 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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The upstart pro football league held its draft last night, and several players who have worn the star on their helmet were picked.

RB Tyson Thompson, the Irving native with great speed and not-so-great elusiveness, went to Las Vegas.

Brooks Bollinger, the QB who was promoted to second-string over Brad Johnson in the middle of last season, was picked by Orlando. One of Bollinger's blockers will be OT Rob Petitti, a starter as a rookie in his only season as a Cowboy.

Really hardcore fans will recognize the names of these ex-Cowboy training campers turned UFL draftees: FB Ronnie Cruz, WR Joe West and OT Cory Lekkerkerker.

I'm going to miss Lekkerkerkerkerkerkerkerker.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

If they play in the summer, I would watch it over baseball in a heartbeat.

They start their season in October.

 

[Doomsday101]

When will UFL games be played?
The UFL will play in the fall, during traditional football season, to establish the league as a viable entity and will offer real, 11-on-11, outdoor professional football in NFL quality stadiums/venues. The UFL will play its regular season games on Thursday and Friday evenings in the fall, with the first regular season game kicking off in October and the Championship Game scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend.

Where will the UFL have teams?
In its "Premiere" season, the UFL will have four teams playing in seven cities. The four teams selected for 2009 are Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco. The additional cities where games may be played include Hartford, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Who will play and coach in the UFL?
The UFL will field teams comprised of the best players in the world and tomorrow's rising stars. There are thousands of talented world class players who are looking to play professional football at a high level. The UFL will provide that opportunity. Our "Premiere" Season Head Coaches include former NFL coaches Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett and Ted Cottrell.

Why will the UFL work?
The UFL's approach, rules and style of play will look and feel substantially similar to the NFL and will cater to those markets currently underserved by professional football. The UFL will assemble the best talent on the field, on the sidelines and in the league and team offices to ensure a credible, high-quality product that is accessible and affordable for fans.

Who is behind the UFL?
The executives behind the UFL are experienced NFL franchise builders. Commissioner Michael Huyghue has over 20 years of NFL management experience and is considered the architect in establishing the Jacksonville Jaguars as the winningest franchise of the NFL within a five-year span in his role as the team's Senior Vice President of Football Operations. While with the NFL, Commissioner Huyghue served on several of the NFL Commissioner's prominent committees, including NFL Management Council, the Executive Working Group Committee, the NFL College Advisory Committee, the NFL Europe League and as a Trustee of the NFL Players Insurance Trust. Prior to joining the UFL, Huyghue was CEO/Founder of Axcess Sports & Entertainment, where he represented a number of NFL, NBA and PGA Tour players. The League's COO is Frank Vuono who significantly expanded the scope of NFL Properties as its Vice President of Retail Licensing, has consulted for over 15 NFL teams and was personally hired by the NFL Commissioner's office to assist the Saints during the team's post-Katrina return to New Orleans. A co-founder of Integrated Sports International, the NFL Quarterback Club and its successor NFL Quarterback Greats, and most recently 16W Marketing LLC., Vuono was also instrumental in negotiating some of the largest naming rights agreements in all of professional sports and as president of marketing for SFX Sports represented hundreds of pro athletes including current 16W Marketing clients Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason. The UFL also has hired a number of former senior NFL executives to oversee team and league operations. Investors in the UFL include Bill Hambrecht, Chairman and CEO of WR Hambrecht + Co.; Tim Armstrong, President of Advertising and Commerce, North America & Vice President, Google, Inc; Paul Pelosi, President of FLS, Inc. and a consortium of others.

 

[viman96]

Wow Jim Haslett is the HC for Orlando.

 

[WarDaddy]

I think they'll be on the Versus network.

Also looks like it might be on a Thursday schedule. October 8th (season opener), is a Thursday. The championship game (Thanksgiving), is a Thursday, etc.

http://www.ufl-football.com/

That is one very short football season. I mean, little league lasts longer doesn't it? I know middle school and high school does.

The league can't have more than 5 games before the "playoffs" start and then these "playoffs" can't be more than a game or two.

But then again if there are like 4 teams, you'll be able to tell very quickly which teams are worthy.

Oh well, I guess you have to start somewhere...

 

[BAT]

Wow. I thought Rien Long would be a good player. I still say he would have been better off drafted by a 3-4 team instead of a 4-3 team. He could have been a good DE for Wade.


Unless he was done in by injuries, his bane.

 

[Wayfaring Stranger]

I don't think they are trying to take on the NFL. This league like others may very well die but I don't see this as an attempt to compete with the NFL.

That's correct. They say explicitly that they are not trying to compete with the NFL, but rather to fulfill some of the unmet need of football fans to get more football.

We'll have to see how it goes, this may be good overall for the NFL, the NFL maybe trying to figure that out right now if this new league helps them or hurts them.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's correct. They say explicitly that they are not trying to compete with the NFL, but rather to fulfill some of the unmet need of football fans to get more football.

We'll have to see how it goes, this may be good overall for the NFL, the NFL maybe trying to figure that out right now if this new league helps them or hurts them.

It seems they are starting off with extreme caution with so few teams. The big problem they face will be developing the hardcore supporter that is still the heart and soul of any sports team out there at almost any level.

 

[casmith07]

I'll watch it because it's football. As long as they don't try to turn it into a WWE storyline-fest like that dreadful XFL, it should be good to watch, although ESPN normally shows some pretty big college games on Thursday nights.