Will they play for 35k?

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.

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.

Upcoming Games

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Detroit -3.5 -127

New Orleans +3.5 -127

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Indianapolis +1.5 -106

Tennessee -1.5 -106

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

LA Chargers -4.5 -111

New England +4.5 -111

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Atlanta +0.5 -111

NY Jets -0.5 -111

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Arizona +2.5 -118

Pittsburgh -2.5 -118

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Miami -6.5 -110

Washington +6.5 -110

@

Dec 3rd, 1:00 PM

Denver +3.5 +104

Houston -3.5 +104

@

Dec 3rd, 4:05 PM

Carolina +6.5 -103

Tampa Bay -6.5 -103

@

Dec 3rd, 4:25 PM

San Francisco +2.5 -115

Philadelphia -2.5 -115

@

Dec 3rd, 4:25 PM

Cleveland +0.5 -115

LA Rams -0.5 -115

@

Dec 3rd, 8:20 PM

Kansas City -7.5 -123

Green Bay +7.5 -123

@

Dec 4th, 8:15 PM

Cincinnati +5.5 -114

Jacksonville -5.5 -114

@

Dec 7th, 8:15 PM

New England +6.5 -110

Pittsburgh -6.5 -110

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Detroit -5.5 -116

Chicago +5.5 -116

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Carolina +6.5 -103

New Orleans -6.5 -103

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Tampa Bay +2.5 -106

Atlanta -2.5 -106

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

LA Rams +6.5 -118

Baltimore -6.5 -118

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Indianapolis -0.5 -110

Cincinnati +0.5 -110

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Jacksonville -2.5 -115

Cleveland +2.5 -115

@

Dec 10th, 1:00 PM

Houston -5.5 -115

NY Jets +5.5 -115

@

Dec 10th, 4:05 PM

Minnesota +0.5 -115

Las Vegas -0.5 -115

@

Dec 10th, 4:05 PM

Seattle +10.5 -108

San Francisco -10.5 -108

@

Dec 10th, 4:25 PM

Buffalo +2.5 -125

Kansas City -2.5 -125

@

Dec 10th, 4:25 PM

Denver +3.5 +103

LA Chargers -3.5 +103

@

Dec 10th, 8:20 PM

Philadelphia +1.5 -110

Dallas -1.5 -110

@