United Football League

by **Peruna2001** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:01 pm

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN3040213820070530?src=053007_1103_DOUBLEFEATURE_

Mark Cuban is one of the potential owners of a team in a new football league. Las Vegas is likely where Cuban will have his team. Los Angeles, Mexico City, and San Antonio are some other locations being mentioned.

It'll be interesting to see if any SMU players that make practice teams in the NFL will make it into this league.

by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:11 pm

If I were Donald Trump, I'd buy a team just to annoy Mark Cuban. Then maybe Cubes could get Rosie to be his PR person. :lol:

As for the league,I think you'll see a lot of CFL and NFL Europe guys as well as out of work NFLers before you'd see Practice Squad guys. Besides, depending on what they paid, it might actually be more beneficial to stay on a Practice Squad rather than take a contract with an upstart league that could fold in a year.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:18 pm

Trump had a team in the USFL. Doubt he goes down that road again.

by **MustangStealth** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:38 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:Trump had a team in the USFL. Doubt he goes down that road again.

My thoughts exactly. The big money names tried the same thing 20 years ago with the USFL and 10 years before that with the WFL. It will be even harder now, because they will be competing for second tier talent with established leagues in Canada, Europe, and Arena football.

by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:45 pm

I agree. I don't see this as being a "realistic" competitor to the NFL and if the guys that are in on this see it as such, then they are delusional. If you want a secondary league that will not compete head to head and make its cut in the places where the NFL isn't located, then maybe you have something. That was the problem with the USFL. It tried to get the Herschel Walker's, Jim Kelly's and Steve Young's of the world with high dollar contracts(I think Steve Young had an 8 year, $ 40 million, which was unheard of then). Personally, I don't think Trump would get involved in this mess. It was just kind of a whimsical "what if" statement. I'm sure he's still bitter about the $1 the USFL got from the NFL.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Wed May 30, 2007 6:18 pm

The USFL got treble damages in that suit. They got $3.00.

by **mr. pony** » Wed May 30, 2007 6:48 pm

It's pretty sorry to encroach on high school Friday nights. Money, money, money, right?

by **WildHorse** » Thu May 31, 2007 12:46 am

No it's not. They're not a big deal outside of Texas, where every parent seems to think each Friday night is the Super Bowl wherever their sons are playing. High school football is a good thing for kids to play, but it's as overhyped as anything I can think of. This "alternate" pro league is a joke, as is anything that takes on the NFL, but let's not get all high and might about the risk of missing out on one of those sizzling Thomas Jefferson/Sunset showdowns.

by **CalallenStang** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:33 am

WildHorse wrote:No it's not. They're not a big deal outside of Texas

Obviously, you have never been to the states of Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, or Pennsylvania on a Friday night in football season.

Take a look at this stadium in Massillon, Ohio

There are some states where high school football is not a big deal, but there are just as many where it is.

by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:43 am

SMU Football Blog wrote:The USFL got treble damages in that suit. They got $3.00.

Yeah, I forgot about that. It was actually $3.76. I have that image in my head of Pete Rozelle and co., being interviewed in front of the courthouse and holding up a dollar bill to the camera basically taunting Trump and Co about their "victory." Surprisingly, the check was never cashed for the "award." :lol:

by **MustangStealth** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:17 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Cuban & co. are really looking at this as a short term investment gamble, and their actual goal is to sell a few franchises to the NFL in a couple years. They might not have any intention of forming a sustainable league.

by **jtstang** » Thu May 31, 2007 1:20 pm

I figure Cuban must need a write-off.

by **Peruna2001** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:40 pm

MustangStealth wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Cuban & co. are really looking at this as a short term investment gamble, and their actual goal is to sell a few franchises to the NFL in a couple years. They might not have any intention of forming a sustainable league.

When I heard about this, some people said this is what it seemed like the true intention was. With only 8 teams, they could probably work an easy deal to get some of those teams into the NFL. This could be San Antonio's best shot at getting an NFL team...something they've been trying to do for about 15 years.

by **Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:29 pm

Peruna2001 wrote:This could be San Antonio's best shot at getting an NFL team...something they've been trying to do for about 15 years.

If it were to come to that, I'm willing to bet that San Antonio will not be an option. I can't imagine Jerruh wanting San Antonio to get a team as it'd mean he'd have to share the market there.

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