The Spring League wrapped up its first week of the 2021 season this past Saturday when the Generals beat-out the Jousters. The big question is, if and when the maulers come to Pittsburgh, where will they play? Things started out discussing the fact that the Maulers are coming back, but you won't be able to watch them locally for the first year. No laminated sheet of choreographed lines, circles, and Xs behind which Brian Woods, architect of the new United States Football League, may shield his mouth while shouting commands. The proposed agreement increases minimum salaries and provides a stronger benefits package than they previously received, and slightly higher than most XFL salaries. Highmark Stadium could be their best option but it might be too small. All rights reserved (About Us). The league has not yet determined how it will assign players with an affinity to local markets, nor whether it is that vital for the inaugural season, except for the always-home-team Birmingham Stallions. June 8, 2021 Earlier this month, The Spring League's CEO Brian Woods announced that - along with FOX Sports - the group plans to bring back the USFL in 2022. The USFL could save a lot of money in expenses and ultimately buy themselves another year. Fox Sports CEO and executive producer Eric Shanks called the USFLs relaunch a landmark day for football fans and Fox Sports. Many wishfully believe that FOX will take a larger stake in the league and start covering half the costs moving forward. We certainly want to see what we can do this year in terms of making sure that theres some local feel to each team, even if its only a few players. We dont want to be drafting players not currently under contract with the league because that could create issues in terms of filling rosters, Woods said. There are certainly players that are looking for a home and the USFL offers them an opportunity if the player is interested in turning pro, especially if theyre a quarterback who might enter the transfer portal. Players will have the option to share a room with a member of the same team (further slicing the charge by 50 percent). Let us know down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord. Blame Gov. The USFL will play 40 regular-season games here but skedaddle for Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where it will host its three playoff gamestwo semifinals and the championship gameat Tom Benson Hall of Fame Field. So, he is clearly someone who is a proponent of pro football in the spring. Woods thought a spring football league would be intriguingand that the intellectual property of the former USFL could be available. "I'm extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with Fox Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing," said Brian Woods, co-founder of the new USFL and founder and CEO of The Spring League. It's been almost 40 years since another professional football league gained the traction of the original USFL. You guys really need to pump the brakes on the Mumme train. Great job Mike. Woods believes it might have survived. The Spring League is continuing. We are absolutely trying to make it a little more incentivizing for them, Woods said.). Each coach will be allowed one replay challenge per game, and will signal their intent to challenge by throwing a red flag. Its an assumption and a projection, and perhaps, I am putting the cart before the horse, but right now, the only horse at the starting gate is TSL. Brian Lynch in Melbourne Beach, Florida. The goal, like TSL, was to become a developmental league funded by the NFL. Glanville has coached in the Spring League their last two seasons. Yesterday Brian Woods joined KDKA, Pittsburgh CBS affiliate, to discuss the new team and promote the upcoming season. THIS LEAGUE WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PLAYERS TO CATCH AND TACKLE THESE DREAMS AND FOOTBALL FANS WILL TUNE IN AND SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY. We want to try to make them stars in the USFL. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Amid the noise, lounging out with his feet up on his desk, with his AirPods plugged in, an idea struck him. The USFL is back! He was definitely helped by the USFL. The USFL may be looking to follow the same model Woods had for the FXFL. It might still be a viable model even if better days are ahead in a post-vaccination world. We have players ready to be drafted Feb. 22 and Feb. 23. I would go one step further to those players: If Im not in a Power Five Conference, Im not getting the TV exposure I would get in the USFL on broadcast television. Had they continued to operate in the spring, they might still be here today", said Woods. Generating revenue in San Antonio would be tough if all the games are in Houston. Ultimately, we feel these rules will be exciting for the fan and welcome changes.. We have bigger plans behind the scenes right now with FOX, that well be announcing in the upcoming weeks in terms of 2022 and beyond.. It is no longer operational, nor is it affiliated with the USFL, Woods said. During his sit-down talk, Woods teased that there was some big planning going on in the background with FOX. [4] The postseason games were played in Canton, Ohio, at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.[5]. Woods said he expects the level of play will be equal to major Division I college football. Brian Woods, a co-founder of this new iteration of the USFL, was a financial adviser for the failed Alliance of American Football and associated the last two years with The Spring League. We have to walk before you run and the business model is set up for that. Despite not having the history that Steve Spurrier has with the USFL brand. The league was falling apart at the seams with very few owners who could hold up their end of the bargain. I hope my Stars come back. The narrative of the old USFL tells a tale about a certain famous owner that led an entire league down the wrong path. Its definitely more adventurous to us with the Birmingham Stallions this year than any other team. Teams will attempt three alternating two-point attempts from the two-yard line. Brian Woods, founder and CEO of The Spring League, is the co-founder of the new USFL. So that is a conversation that has not been started yet but hopefully can be started in the near term so we could eventually find the appropriate location to play home games," said Woods. [38][39] In response, the league attorneys claimed "The new USFL registered its intellectual property rights in 2011". (Only exceptions: A handful of high-profile college players who in the transform portal, are two years removed from high school and one year away from NFL draft eligibility and want to get paid rather than play another collegiate season. Im sure that there will be instances where the NFL actively evaluates players in our league. [19] Ivey, Republican lawmakers, I am an affirmative action baby; so are you, Hey, Republicans, anti-voting rights is anti-American, even anti-Republican. [36] Ehrhart would later explain that he was only "trying to protect the league legacy". Since January, trademarks for the 1980s spring league had been acquired by Woods and TSL, sparking questions about their intentions. His one- and three-year-old were swirling around his home office. The Spring League has trademarked several USFL team names since the early part of this year. He grew up in Florida, just north of Tampa, attended a Div. The immediate presentation is going to be exceptional, so I have to make sure the on-field product is equally remarkable. The United States Football League in the 1980s had a very favorable review, Woods recalls. They may sign more lucrative USFL deals. Later on December 15, 2021, Fox and NBC had finalized their agreement. The inaugural draft took place on February 22, 2022. Though this USFL has no association with that USFL, the eight-team league bares a striking resemblance to the previous league. [60], On December 15, 2022 USFL player representatives (United Football Players Association and United Steelworkers[61]) and the league parent company FOX Sports tentatively agreed on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement starting at the 2023 season, six months after the league players voted to unionize. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. [40], On April 14 (two days before the scheduled start of the new USFL's regular season), federal judge John F. Walter of the Central District of California denied a preliminary injunction to bar the new USFL from using the original league's name and trademarks, remarking that while the plaintiffs were "likely to prevail" on their claim of trademark infringement, "any alleged harm" could be "easily compensated by monetary damages". Training camp was to begin on March 21.[20][21]. The Spring League is looking to be a feeder league to the likes of the CFL, XFL and NFL. We have to be ready to welcome other countries and visitors. He also mentioned that he refused previous attempts to "buy" the league, "including the people who founded the first version of the XFL". Our teams will be reporting to training camp on March 22, and were scheduled to kick off on Saturday, April 16. It all looks good on paper until the bills come due. According to initial information, USFL players/staff would be housed in Birmingham during the season for an estimated economic impact of about $15 million (47,000 hotel nights), while the league would play the bubble season at Protective Stadium and Legion Field. I must admit that I have never heard of this league until now. Birmingham, Alabama, is where the league will be based in its inaugural season. Well also have players who were in NFL training camps the last two or three years that will make up a good number of players in this league. Getting Spurrier to put back on his trademark visor for potentially the Tampa Bay Bandits will come down to whether or not USFL ownership is willing to meet his asking price. [20] However, the league decided midway through the 2022 season to expand rosters to a 40-man active game day roster, along with a 10-man practice squad [69]. For the original league which played from 19831985, see, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 21:06, "USFL, BJCC reach tentative MOU to bring relaunch season to Birmingham", "USFL to host all 2022 season games in Birmingham", "Stars vs. It will take at least six figures plus for the league to get Spurrier to sign on the dotted line. Brian Woods, who is the President of Football Operations for the 2nd generation of the USFL thinks Pittsburgh is a perfect fit this time around "Pittsburgh is definitely an area that country. Many of those issues have stemmed from a lack of financingthe Spring Leagues very design of having players pay a fee to play points to that. The league announced the 2022 season will be played "with a minimum of eight teams. Now a new version has risen in its place", "Will Birmingham play in the United States Football League? The clock will stop for first downs after the. [12][13][14] The "bubble" setup may possibly continue in the league's second year, with as many as four teams playing in Birmingham and as many as four in their respective cities. This change, announced on the eve of Week 4, was adopted in an effort to reduce game lengths to up to 180 minutes. All of the heavy lifting has really been accomplished at this point, Woods said. The league's "Replay Command" center, based at. Could a return of perhaps the most notorious alternative pro football league be in the cards? Because any college player who signs with the USFL would forgo their eligibility, Woods says the league isnt trying to procure talent still enrolled in college. Former Dallas Cowboys player and veteran Fox NFL analyst Daryl Johnston will be executive VP of football operations; Mike Pereira, a former top NFL official and now Fox Sports NFL and college rules analyst, will be the new leagues head of officiating; and Edward Hartman will be EVP of business operations for the USFL, while retaining his current position as SVP of digital partnerships and wagering at Fox Sports. 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Prior to kickoff, The Spring League CEO Brian Woods join Dave Griffith of FOX 59 Indianapolis to talk about the upcoming season. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'xflnewshub_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_23',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xflnewshub_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');In June, the USFLs press statement stated that it would play next spring with a minimum of eight teams. Ive been told that the goal is to try and play with nine or ten teams or more if possible. If plane flights are too expensive then this is really an AA minor league. We just want to get through our first season. In fact, the XFL and TSL worked together in the lead up to the 2020 season and were in talks to make TSL the official D-League of the XFL. The USFL brand might have scar tissue from its demise a few decades ago, but there is still some nostalgia and goodwill within that property By the time the XFL returns to the field, The Spring League might be waiting there for them as a viable challenger. The question is, are they going all-in? Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) November 17, 2021 Coming in to serve as President of Football Operations was TSL founder Brian Woods. From a storyline and marketing standpoint, it makes perfect sense to bring the former Gators coach back to the sidelines. The inaugural 2022 regular season was played in its entirety in Birmingham, Alabama. Even if FOX, Brian Woods, and company decided to run a barebones league. The game was broadcast by Fox and NBC, the first football game simulcast on over-the-air broadcast networks since the final week of the 2007 NFL regular season when a game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants aired on CBS and NBC in addition to cable NFL Network. Years from now, 2022 will be talked about as the year sports changed Birmingham, How USFL came to Birmingham and almost didnt, First game of Birmingham-based USFL will be simulcast on Fox, NBC, Reggie Bush visits A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club, promotes USFL. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Brian Woods is the founder and CEO of the Spring League and now the USFL. Team names from the USFLs past, like the Generals, were already in play with the Spring League, but others like the Stars, Showboats, Gold, Gamblers, Express, Bandits, Breakers, and Blitz were all trademarked in early June. The goal from jump street was to lead up to a USFL launch, with teams from the leagues past returning to represent their cities. Your email address will not be published. Wade Phillips was a guest of the Spring League this past May in their press box watching the action and was featured prominently on the FOX broadcasts. That being said, we started scouting players and evaluating talent with former NFL scouts in NFL training camps last fall making the rounds, trying to identify some players. If the right elements are there in place after the first season, it's could be very likely that Pittsburgh can see the Maulers in Pittsburgh," according to Woods. The vision is simple, too, Woods emphasized. The FXFL had a myriad of financial and legal issues, and long after the smoke cleared, settlements were made, with plaintiffs being rewarded $300,000. They will continue to serve as the official broadcast partner. Back in January 2021, Brian Woods. Originally launched in 1983, the USFL consisted of 12 teams. According to Steve Ehrhart, former USFL executive director, he still owns the league rights and the "USFL still exists", while stating that the league officials still get monthly royalty checks. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. His lazy butt was gifted a team that won in the decidedly average spring league. Sources have informed me that the USFL has already sent feelers out to Spurrier about getting him to come on board. Or perhaps, its because the AAF and XFL showed enough hints of how receptive the market can be towards pro football in the spring. Catch all the action next year on FOX Sports.Listen as @USFLOfficials iconic #22 @DougFlutie weighs in on the leagues return in 2022. pic.twitter.com/K0Hw0N54rp. That doesnt sound like the USFL to me but a bait and switch. There are a lot of different possibilities where we can land.. Was some big planning going on in the Spring league had been acquired by Woods and TSL sparking... And ultimately buy themselves another year to kickoff, the USFL has no with! 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