He's Back! - Ta'amu has agreed to return to the Defenders!

[4th&long]

https://www.si.com/fannation/ufl/news/j ... ufl-season



Assuming true, huge signing for DC and UFL!

[GDAWG]

The UFL needed to retain another QB after losing a few of them to the CFL.  

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

The UFL needed to retain another QB after losing a few of them to the CFL.  

They were going to lose a few anyway given they went from 16 teams to 8. That so many of the 8 that were cut caught on in the CFL is a testament to the player quality. 

[GregParks]

I think the Ta’amu signing, and others, shows the concern over low pay forcing out good players has largely been overblown. 

[Rmbay]

It does seem like there's some wiggle room  in the budget to allow negotiating on the part of some of the players (quarterbacks, probably) that have become faces of the league.  Giving a Ta'amu or a McCarron a bit more money is probably well worth it for continuity and identification sake.

[4th&long]

I think the Ta’amu signing, and others, shows the concern over low pay forcing out good players has largely been overblown.
 

The pay was never an issue - it was only an issue because two leagues were competing for talent.  Once the competition was eliminated (AAF folding in 2019 or USFL/XFL merger in 2023) salary no longer going to have upward pressure,

Players need a venue to display talents if they want to get a shot at NFL $. Running any league costs money and are rare.   Its why TSL was attractive to players with little or no pay (even a fee to play).  Players know a US based spring league is more advantageous to get into the NFL vs CFL.  I said this in 2020/2021 (and during old UFL) its about getting flim in an organized football environment.  How many TSL players are now/were in CFL, XFL, USFL or NFL?  Quite a few - and not paid.

Now give a player $60k over 14 weeks of camp and reg season... that aint bad money.  I'm sure QBs are getting a bit more anyway.  Players want in, and there's going to be alot of disappointed players who don't make the cut.

[GregParks]

Right. I think some players looked at the salary released by the UFPA and assumed EVERYBODY would get paid that when in reality it was the minimum and the league could go beyond that if they saw fit. Perhaps they already have.

[XFL4ever]

Awesome news !!!

[MarkNelson]

Right. I think some players looked at the salary released by the UFPA and assumed EVERYBODY would get paid that when in reality it was the minimum and the league could go beyond that if they saw fit. Perhaps they already have.

If this is the case, then the league has a communication problem. Hopefully McCarron's concerns are addressed and we see an announcement about him signing too.

The league has not officially announced Ta'amu signing, perhaps because they are waiting for the Super Bowl to blow over and then they can spark up the promotions machine.

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

Right. I think some players looked at the salary released by the UFPA and assumed EVERYBODY would get paid that when in reality it was the minimum and the league could go beyond that if they saw fit. Perhaps they already have.

If this is the case, then the league has a communication problem. Hopefully McCarron's concerns are addressed and we see an announcement about him signing too.

The league has not officially announced Ta'amu signing, perhaps because they are waiting for the Super Bowl to blow over and then they can spark up the promotions machine.

I'm surprised McCarron is even considering it given that he got substantial NFL playing time this year and we've seen others with less, including DiNucci and Parker Romo, turn the UFL down.