Vinny Papale #13 of the Memphis Showboats celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium on April 13, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/UFL/Getty Images)
Referring to the Showboats’ third loss in a row, wide receiver Vinny Papale was reflective but remained positive. “It’s just one of those situations where we didn’t take advantage of opportunities,” Papale said. “We have to come together and dig deep and find a way to get out of this, and I know we can.”
In the week four game against the St. Louis Battlehawks, Papale caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. This season, Papale has caught 10 passes for 107 yards and 3 touchdowns. In fact, his success this season is evident in that he is just one of two receivers in the UFL to have played three games with touchdowns.
Vinny Papale has been around alternative and spring leagues for most of his pro football career. Post-college, Papale had tryouts with the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins, but his first playing experience was with the Conquerors of The Spring League in 2020. Papale remained with the Conquerors for the 2021 season and then turned to an opportunity with the USFL.
The Tampa Bay Bandits selected Papale in the 17th round of the 2022 USFL draft, and he played in all 10 games, nine as a starter, catching 19 passes for 244 yards. Following the 2022 USFL season, the Bandits announced their hiatus, leading to Papale’s transfer to the Memphis Showboats. In the 2023 season, he played in all 10 games, totaled 33 receptions for 345 yards with three touchdowns, and was named to the All-USFL Team as a special teamer. On October 25, 2023, Papale signed with the New Orleans Breakers. When the USFL and XFL merged, the Breakers folded, and Papale was drafted by the Memphis Showboats during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.
As for his long-storied playing career, Papale is grateful for the opportunities he has received.
“It’s been a wild journey,” Papale said. “I’m one of the originals from the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits. So, just being there from season one all the way up until now and surviving through it all has been truly a blessing. I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity and see what comes to fruition now with both leagues merging.”
One thing Papale likes about his current playing situation in the UFL are the rules pertaining to player safety and the emphasis on sports performance.
“One of the big things that goes hand in hand with player safety is sports performance. We have top-notch equipment and coaches in that area,” Papale said. “With the athletic training staff, fortunately for me, I’ve never had an issue in the last three years, but they always take good care of us and always have our best interests in mind.”
Papale took a big hit in the game against St. Louis.
“I took a big one, but I feel fine,” Papale said. “Honestly, kudos to the safety, it was a clean hit. I’m glad he didn’t get the head. That’s what they’re trying to make of the game when it’s like taking those clean hits, and I’m actually appreciative that he got me in the torso. It didn’t feel that great. But that’s football.”
One of the things Papale enjoys about this year’s UFL is the opportunity to play in front of fans, including the vast throng of Battlehawks fans that filled The Dome in St. Louis last weekend.
“It’s honestly cool,” Papale said, referring to the situation last weekend in St. Louis. “I was telling the guys it’s the first time you get the hair standing up on your arms a little bit.”
“The first year in the USFL, I played for the Bandits, and obviously all 10 weeks we lived in Birmingham, and we played in Birmingham. I don’t even think Tampa Bay knew they had a USFL team, so we didn’t have much of a fan base,” Papale explained. “We were always looking forward to playing in Birmingham because we knew there would be some fans. It’s a testament to the league as to how far they’ve come with spring football and where it’s headed.”
“It was a great environment in St. Louis. I’m not going to be one of those guys to knock it. It was a loud environment, and that’s exactly what you want it to be,” Papale said.
Papale is looking forward to this week’s game in Memphis for many reasons, but mainly the chance to return to the Bluff City and play in front of the home fans once more.
“The city has truly bought in to the Showboats, and that is cool to see, Papale said. “Hopefully, we’re building on it this year.”
Admittedly, it has been a crazy schedule for the Showboats, as week five is coming up and Memphis has only had one home game. Papale acknowledged that the Showboats need some wins to really fill the seats.
“Hopefully we’ll go out there Sunday and get one,” Papale said. “I know we can. We’re a good football team, and we just have to go out there and put all the pieces together and finish.”
Papale and the Showboats get a chance to prove themselves in front of home town fans this weekend when they host the Michigan Panthers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 2:00 PM (3:00 PM Eastern). The game will air on FOX, with streaming options available. Good tickets are available at Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
