I've been working on a team of replacements in case the NFL goes on strike in the next couple of years. I've since decided to change the purpose of the team. Instead of being an NFL scab team, it is now the first unofficial UFL team. By the way, rumor has it the league will not kick off in August as originally planned. More on that at a later time.
These are the types of players the UFL may be competing for if/when they finally do play their first game. They plan to sign quality players who might only be back-ups in the NFL.
Feel free to discuss the team on the message boards.
The All-UFL Team
Offense
QB: Trent Green, released by Miami on 2/11
OT: LJ Shelton, released by Miami on 2/11
OT: Wayne Gandy, released by Atlanta on 2/15
OG: Mike Wahle, released by Carolina on 2/11
OG:
C: Mike Flanagan, released by Houston on 2/21
WR: Isaac Bruce, released by St Louis on 2/28
WR: Marty Booker, released by Miami on 2/11
WR: Muhsin Muhammad, released by Chicago on 2/18
TE: Alge Crumpler, released by Atlanta on 2/15
RB: DeShaun Foster, released by Carolina on 2/21
RB: Mike Anderson, released by Denver on 2/27
FB: Lorenzo Neal, released by San Diego on 2/28
Defense
DE: Jevon Kearse, released by Philadelphia on 2/28
DE: Orpheus Roye, released by Cleveland on 2/27
DT: Keith Traylor, released by Miami on 2/11
DT: Anthony McFarland, released by Indianapolis on 2/28
DE/DT: Kevin Carter, released by Tampa on 2/27
LB: Dan Morgan, released by Carolina on 2/11
LB: Derek Smith, released by San Francisco on 2/19
LB: Zach Thomas, released by Miami on 2/14
LB: Rosevelt Colvin, released by New England on 2/26
CB: Andre Dyson, released by NY Jets on 2/26
CB: Fernando Bryant, released by Detroit on 2/25
S: Terrence Holt, released by Arizona on 2/21
S: Dwight Smith, released by Minnesota on 2/20
Special Teams
P:
K: Olindo Mare, released by New Orleans on 2/27
NFL Replacements team becomes UFL Team
Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 4:24 PM Posted by Mike Register
Ideas for a new brand of American Football
Friday, September 28, 2007 at 12:59 PM Posted by Mike Register
Two new professional football leagues are to debut in 2008: The Mark Cuban-backed UFL and the College/Pro hybrid AAFL (All American Football League).
If either of these two leagues want to stick around longer then the XFL, they would be wise to follow the Arena Football strategy: create your own unique brand of football. The AFL is not in competition with the NFL because with its 50 yard field and eight players per side rules, it is its own unique brand of football.
So the task for these two new leagues is to create a brand that separates it from the NFL. Make it an apples to oranges comparison and you may have a chance at being successful. The AAFL has found its niche. They are marketing themselves as a "professional" version of college football. Teams will be placed in popular college football towns, with players from the home teams making the roster.
As far as the basic rules of the game, their is a lot of flexibility. Here are a few of my ideas that could make for a unique football experience.
Make the game TV friendly
This one really hurt the XFL. The length of an average football game usually exceeds three hours, longer than most movies. With the XFL, the quality of the game was low, and the games were long. Most viewers were bored to tears and the ratings suffered. If the total elapsed time can be lowered to around 2-2.5 hours, it would mask some of the talent problems.
Ideas for decreasing game time
- Running clock. The clock does not stop after incomplete passes or when a player runs out of bounds. Exceptions can be made for injuries, penalties, and the two minute warning.
- No two minute warning in the first half. College football does fine without it, but it does add excitement to a close game. I just don't think it is necessary in the first half.
- No instant replay. In theory replay is fine, but its current incarnation slows the game down too much.
- Two timeouts per half instead of three.
De-emphasize the kicking game
They always say kickers are not football players. So why do they have such a big impact on a football game? Some unique ways to de-emphasize the kicking game include:
- Make field goals attempted inside the 20 (the red zone) worth only 1 point. All other field goals worth 2 points. This would encourage teams to go for it more often, since the reward for a field goal is so little.
- No point-after-touchdown kicks. Force all teams to go for a two point conversion. The XFL tried this, but they made the two point conversion only worth one point.
- No punting allowed. On 4th down the offense must go for it or attempt a field goal, regardless of where the ball is on the field. This isn't original, as it is how it is done in the Arena league, but on a normal sized field, I think this would be a lot more exciting. Plus you free up a roster spot because all you need is a FG/Kickoff specialist.
- Football's first 9 point play: A touchdown (6pts) plus a 3pt conversion (one play from the 10 yard line). This would make the always exciting comeback a little bit easier.
- Instead of stopping play after the 4th quarter of a tied game, overtime (which would be less likely with the 2pt conversion, 3pt conversion and 1 and 2 pt field goals) would consist of adding 5 minute increments to the time clock until a team scores. No coin flips and kickoffs, just let play continue.
- Special Overtime rule: field goals cannot be attempted outside of the red zone (20 yard line). This means offenses have to mount a drive of more than 30 yards to win a game.
- Pass interference is a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down (college rules). Holding is only a 5 yard penalty, cause frankly holding could be called on every play.
