In the wake of the report from Jason La Canfora of NFL.com regarding the UFL's projected pay scale and a response from the UFL fan site uflaccess.com that the report is incorrect, we've learned that the more accurate description is that the NFL.com report is "incomplete."
UFL spokesperson Rachel Gary tells us that the numbers cited by La Canfora are essentially correct, but that he doesn't have the full picture regarding player compensation.
For example, quarterbacks will be paid at a higher rate than the standard $35,000 for the six-game season, and possible play-time incentives of $15,000.
Also, the league will be providing housing to the players during training camp and the preseason. (Whoever cleans the bathrooms used by the offensive and defensive linemen should demand $35,000 for the six-game season, too.)
Bottom line? There won't be many, if any, guys who can get a job on an NFL practice squad who'll ditch that opportunity to play in the UFL.
And the other practical concern for the pool of slapdicks who churn the bottom of every NFL roster is that, once they go to the UFL, there likely will be no going back to the NFL. Ever.
UFL Pay Scale Report Is "Incomplete"
Posted by Mike Florio on July 1, 2009 1:44 PM ET
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It seems to me that alot of the guys that will be in the UFL won't be practice squad eligible (I forget the actual parameters), so if they have no current chance of making an NFL roster why not go to the UFL and try and turn some heads..
Or at least get paid for doing something they love for a little while longer . . .
I don't see why playing in the UFL becomes an automatic lifetime ban from the NFL. If I were an NFL team, I would rather have a guy who played in football GAMES for 6 weeks than a guy who sat on his ass every Sunday. Yeah, he gets to practice when he is on the practice squad, but practice is no match for a football GAME, even if it is with less than NFL caliber talent.
Typical Florio though...demeans anything that goes up against the NFL or anyone whose lifestyle tarnishes the NFL "shield". It sometimes makes me want to vomit.
Why would you assume there is no returning to the NFL from the UFL? Guys come back to the NFL from Canada and formerly Europe. What makes the UFL different? If you're good enough to play in the NFL someone will sign you.
If a player can go from the arena league, which completely lacks a running game, they can make the switch from UFL to NFL. It only takes production.
So you're telling me that Fassel, Haslett, and Green will never be affiliated with the NFL again??
"Slapdicks"? You kiss NBC's butt with that mouth?
Players on practice squads are not paid the NFL minimum, they are actually paid much less, so I bet they would consider jumping at a chance to start in the UFL.
$35,000 isn't a very big salary for a pro football player.. slapdick wages indeed.
"And the other practical concern for the pool of slapdicks who churn the bottom of every NFL roster is that, once they go to the UFL, there likely will be no going back to the NFL. Ever."
Where do you get that from? I see no reason why that would be the case.
Florio,
Why even waste space talking this one and done league? This has XFL written all over it!
$35K for six games? Pshaw -- Reggie Bush made more than that at USC.
I think you're off base on this one Florio. I would choose the less money and more playing time anyday. The four coaches in the UFL have some great ties to the NFL. A recomendation from one of them would hold some weight. Can't move up if you don't get on tape.
Whats the UFL again?
"And the other practical concern for the pool of slapdicks who churn the bottom of every NFL roster is that, once they go to the UFL, there likely will be no going back to the NFL. Ever."
I'm confused. Will the contracts prevent them them from never playing in the NFL, or did I miss something earlier?
Why would they never be able to go back to the NFL?
If the UFL decides to compete against the NFL head to head, it'll fold. The best thing for the UFL to do is to serve as a farm program for the NFL, which would allow players to develop for a shot at the big leagues.
Not sure what you meant by these guys cannot get back in the NFL ever. Is is because they are losers for trying the UFL or is there a contract that doesn't allow them to go back to the NFL?
35K a year? This must be a joke or something. Talk about a league with a bunch of jokers.... Sheesh most college graduates can start at or above 35K a year. This league will be made up of college and highschool drop outs.
My guess would be that there might be a few football players out there who recognize that playing in a real game at full speed, in front of fans and scouts from multiple teams, might be better for their career than sitting on a shadow roster or practice squad (if they're even eligible).
Unfortunately this same equation makes a team first attitude that much tougher to foster - anyone other than a washed up pro is looking to showcase himself - not be an unsung hero.
35k may not be much for a professional athlete, BUT, 35k is more than most of us make over the same 3-4 month period that these guys would be "working"...AND as someone said above, practice squaders aren't making league minimums (although some can make up to, but no more than), but instead somewhere around $5200/wk. Look at the math, 6 games/35k = 5,833.33...NFL practice squad guy makes about the same money, or less, only over a longer duration. You can count on the fact that the UFL "big wigs" were/are well aware of that fact.
Whats to stop a guy from doing the same thing with the UFL that Tommy Maddox did with the XFL? Raise your profile, show that you can play and get back into, or into, the NFL?
I watched the USFL, I watched the XFL, I watched NFLE, I watched AFL, I watch CFL (when it's on), I'll watch the UFL and the AAFL if they ever happen. I'll continue to watch the NFL, even if (Jeebus forbid!) they let that @sshole dog killer M!k$ V!CK back into the league. I'll watch any league that pays guys to do something I can only dream of. If I could, I'd play pro ball for ten bucks a game and a case of beer for every win...
I'm willing to bet some UFL contracts are confidential and Jason La Canfora obviously doesn't have access to those numbers. Jason La Canfora should go back to writing ill informed articles about the NFL instead of the UFL.
UFL players will NEVER go back to the NFL? EVER? I guess we'll see. I think some of the other posters here make some good points.