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The UFL Made A Good Decision To Block The NFL From Nick Novak

The United Football League‘s (UFL) Mission Statement reads,

“The UFL provides high-quality professional football during a traditional fall season while embracing innovation and fan interaction.  The UFL serves its local communities with pride and dedication, and aims to provide every fan with an exciting and memorable game experience.  The inaugural 2009 champion Las Vegas Locos will battle the Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, Omaha Nighthawks and Sacramento Mountain Lions for the William Hambrecht Trophy in 2010.  The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is funded by a consortium of private investors.”

Nowhere in that statement is there a reference to the UFL being a feeder league for the NFL.  It also does not state that it is a place for ex-NFL players to continue to enjoy the sport they love.  Would it make sense for the UFL to work with the NFL in a relationship where both leagues benefit?  Yes, but the UFL has no obligation to the NFL, so when I heard that the UFL denied NFL kicker Nick Novak the right to sign with an NFL team, I was less shocked than many of my colleagues.

The UFL and the NFL are both businesses.  If the UFL allows its best players to pick up and leave the league in the middle of the season, it will cripple the league, its revenues from ticket sales, merchandise sales, etc., and its public image.  At the same time, the UFL wants to be able to acquire talented athletes who believe that playing in the UFL will give them an opportunity in the NFL.  I happen to think that the UFL made a smart business decision by telling Novak that he has to stay.

Novak is kicking 50+ yard field goals in the UFL.  He will still be desired by NFL teams after the UFL season expires.  In the meantime, his leg and his inability to play in the NFL is getting the UFL some much needed press, another thing that helps a business in the awareness category.

I do not think that this is the UFL trying to compete with the NFL in any way.  Instead, it is the UFL protecting its brand by saying that it is not just some feeder league for the NFL.  Its investors will be happy with this stance, which may turn out to help the UFL become a stable entity for years to come.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.