Update (7:18 a.m. 4/14/2011): Very late last night, the UFL scrapped the reserve list idea. However, teams had spent the last 2 days putting together such lists under the assumption that they would become effective today. In any case, it will not become a reality…at least for the meantime.
Update (5:17 p.m. 4/14/2011): The UFL has once again switched course. The league has once again decided to go forward with a reserve list. Teams have until tomorrow morning to turn in their respective lists.
Yesterday I was informed that the United Football League (UFL) abruptly decided to give each of its five member teams ten “reserve” spots. Each of those teams will have until the end of the day tomorrow to pick ten players that they will have the exclusive right to sign. If any individual player is selected to a reserve spot by more than one team, the player and his agent get to break the tie and pick the team to which the player will be reserved.
The only players eligible for the reserve lists are free agents. College players do not apply.
The 2011 UFL Draft is scheduled to occur in early May, following the 2011 NFL Draft.
Word has floated that the standard UFL player salary will be $5,000 per game in 2011. This is a far cry from the $50,000 players earned for playing eight weeks of football in 2010. However, quarterbacks will get $5,000 per game, plus an additional $12,500 if they start the game. Of course, there is an exception, and his name is Daunte Culpepper. Last year, Culpepper signed what is believed to be the only two-year UFL deal, and will be earning quite a bit more than his UFL brethren.
2 replies on “United Football League Player Contract Update”
I got this call from another agent yesterday freakin out. I’m only repping 3 guys eligible for NFl / UFL draft so doesn’t affect me this year. Keep us posted on that UFL draft date!
There will be potential strong value for the UFL with those players who go undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Typically there is a flurry of activity after the NFL Draft with teams trying to sign undrafted players, but this year that won’t be an option without a new CBA before the draft.
I’m not expecting a USFL/NFL bidding war situation anytime soon, but for the UFL this could be a nice way to boost rosters with inexpensive but nonetheless talented young players.