AL.com: UFL exec: ‘We want to be a standalone professional league’

[4th&long]

>> Roy S. Johnson: Merged UFL exec: ‘We want to be a standalone professional league’ <<
Music to my ears!  Collaborate but separately...  avoid the minor league stigma

https://www.al.com/sports/2024/02/roy-s ... eague.html

>>  Johnston said NFL coaches and executives he’s encountered “want” and “need” a spring league. That said, “We don’t like to be considered a G League or developmental league.

We want to be a standalone professional league that creates an alternative route for guys to get to the NFL,  “So it’s got to be [the NFL] accepting our business model and how we can both benefit. We’re proud of what we’ve built and think we can provide a really good service for what they need.

“Some of it’s easy, some of the medical information we share, some rules they’re considering that we’ve already put in place, the technology we use—that they don’t have video on the sideline, our guys love it. It has to be a good relationship where there’s flow back and forth.

“We’ve got to do what’s right for us.” <<

When RBC said we feel we can be the #5 league in the USA - I knew this had to be the approach. 

That's good news.

And here's a local TV report on Stallion Social Event...

https://www.wbrc.com/2024/02/09/stallio ... fl-season/

Here's more about Birmingham.  The USFL(UFL) is taking some responsibility for not enough engagement, but also seems to be saying community / gov needs to engage more.  Both are correct IMO, especially in a small city, need every one engaged.

https://www.wvtm13.com/article/the-ufl- ... m/46702416

And more... the event got lots of local TV coverage:

https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/birmin ... ng-season/

>>  The eight-team UFL is made up of four teams from both the USFL and XFL.“I think you can look at their model and look at our model and see that there were differences but those were just on the surface,” UFL Executive VP of Football Operations Daryl Johnston said. “There’s differences kind of throughout on how we do things and we’re trying to find the common ground. We’re trying to blend best practices.”  <<