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Will they play for 35k?

UFL salaries are lower than advertised. Jack Bechta

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This July 15, 2009, 10:17 AM EST
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Tim Dwight APTim Dwight

Last week, I received a copy of a United Football League player contract for one of my clients. He’s a pretty good player who has four seasons in the NFL and was a backup on a good team behind some Pro Bowl players. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to compete for a starting job and was out of work for the 2008 season.

He, along with a few other clients, has expressed interest in playing in the UFL for what they’re hearing would be salaries of $50,000 to $100,000. Not bad for nine weeks of work.

What’s motivating my client and the other guys is not just the money but a chance to show NFL teams that they’ve still got it -- and the hope of being picked up late in the 2009 NFL season.

When the contract came, I was surprised to see that the base salary was only $35,000. My client was even more surprised since informal information coming from the UFL had touted higher salaries.

Another client, WR/PR Tim Dwight, was getting the itch to play again because a persistent toe injury had finally healed. He too was attracted to the UFL because of the talk of the higher salaries. I also had players tell me that some former NFL starting QBs were going to play. But once word got out that base salaries would be $35,000, the excitement waned.

I doubt now that Tim will play, but my other client has decided to give it a shot. I even encouraged him to do so.

Kurt WarnerAPBefore he was an MVP, Kurt Warner was an Iowa Barnstormer

As a fan, don’t underestimate the talent pool that the UFL can cherry pick off the street right now. Don’t forget that players like QB Kurt Warner and DE Stylez White were left for dead more than once by the NFL. As an agent, I’m excited that I can get a few guys some work.

I believe the UFL found the minimum threshold that guys will be willing to play for by matching the Arena League compensation level. However, I think it’s too low to attract the Tim Dwights who are still young and healthy enough to bring some excitement to a start-up league.

Some key dates and numbers in the contracts:

Base salary: $35,000. Punters, kickers, long snappers: $25,000.

Each team is permitted to sign a quarterback for an amount greater than $35,000.

Bonuses for top players are yet to be determined, but I was told it would be less than $10,000 per player.

Players on the championship team receive $5,000; losing players get $2,500.

Training camp: September 12-30. Regular-season kickoff: October 8.

Comments

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Jack
Jul 15, 2009
12:06 PM

What sad news, both for the players who got baited and switched and myself as a fan. I just lost all interest in the start-up league.

Tom
Jul 15, 2009
07:44 PM

Jack, I recently played golf with a former NFLer that was considering an offer from a UFL team but he was undecided on the opportunity due to limitations on when he would become eligible to sign with NFL teams if he signed with the UFL team. Can you shed some light on the language in the contracts? Would it limit a player's NFL opportunities for the 2009 season if they sign with the UFL? Thanks for the insight.

Mark
Jul 16, 2009
10:49 AM

I think that the UFL is trying to get up to speed fast in the event of an NFL work stoppage. Yes, it won't be up to the level of NFL Europe this year or next, but they wanted to get going on the assumption that the NFL won't be playing.

Add in a whole new league, and the tight economy, fielding a team, even at 35,000 per player is a rather expensive venture. For some players it is their only chance to get seen, so it is definately worth it to them.

Jack
Jul 16, 2009
03:12 PM

Mark, I don't think that makes it okay to tell players that contracts will be in the 50-100k range, and then actually offer 30% less than the lowest number in that range.

Ron
Jul 16, 2009
11:45 PM

Jack,

I think there are multiple reasons why the salaries are lower than originally planned, not the least of which is the economy. Several investors pulled out of season one, for financial reasons, which is why we are seeing only 4 franchises in the "premiere season." Circumstances changed, so I imagine that had a direct impact on salaries. The players will appear in only 6 regular season games, have an opportunity to stay active playing nationally televised games with other professionals state-side, and market themselves to the NFL. In addition, the UFL's salary base is on target with the market value of a number of the players available at the moment (i.e., not already under contract with another league), considering the shortened season.

A guy like Jermaine Wiggins, who will be playing in the UFL this Fall, has played in two Super Bowls (winning one) is still relatively young, and still very much capable of playing in the NFL. He seems very enthusiastic about having the option to play in the UFL, and discusses it often via his Twitter account.

Word is that the league has more commitments from more investors for season two. The league should have more franchises, more players available to the league, and higher salaries next season. But, the league needs support in order to grow, and become a much stronger option for professional football players down the road. Success for the UFL in season one, will equate for more opportunities for players in future seasons, so players will benefit from the growth of this league.

Pete C
Jul 17, 2009
08:15 AM

These UFL is dead already and anyone who puts money into this albatross is an idiot. A four team Michael Vick league launched in a recession and without a major television contract? Madoff had greater credibility.

Pete C
Jul 17, 2009
08:45 AM

These UFL is dead already and anyone who puts money into this albatross is an idiot. A four team Michael Vick league launched in a recession and without a major television contract? Madoff had greater credibility.

Jack
Jul 17, 2009
11:06 AM

Ron, even if all that is true, prospective employees deserve more transparency than has been exhibited by the UFL. Support is earned, not deserved. My heart goes out to guys who are still chasing the dream of being pro athletes, and I wish them the best. I'm not their dad. I support enough charities without adding a jobs program for borderline pro athletes.

Nation
Jul 17, 2009
04:40 PM

Jack,

Ax to grind, much?

Ron
Jul 17, 2009
07:15 PM

I think it is pretty transparent. The economy caused some snags. But, the league is still moving forward, and has the right executives and ownership to grow into something much more lucrative for displaced players.

There are very few people who make $35,000 in 7 weeks. I certainly don't. Plus, these guys also have a chance to jump on an NFL roster in the same year. I think it is a good opportunity for these guys, and I intend on watching the league play this Fall.

Jack
Jul 20, 2009
11:04 AM

Nation,

Not really. I'm just voicing my opinion, and responding to other's reactions. I am personally turned off by the way the UFL communicated the change in contract change as a bait and switch, not by the fact that they had to reduce salaries.

If other folks want to support the league, more power to them. I get it, and respect why some people would. I'm not about to go lead a boycott, or rally picketers here.

Troy
Jul 22, 2009
03:52 PM

Jack,

If the original plan was for 6 teams with each playing a total of 8 games, but the new plan is 4 teams with a total of 6 games per team, shouldn't the change in salary be similar? $50,000 for 8 games is $6250 per game. $35,000 for 6 games is $5834 per game. Seems like they are still pretty close to the original stated salaries.

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