A "Brownie" For Your Thoughts - The UFL: Who In The NFL Should Make The Switch?
The United Football League. Officially starting in 2009, the UFL took over the "unofficial" minor league football spot from the bankrupt Arena Football League. It's basically a four team league filled with NFL misfits who just couldn't play up to par in the NFL. Familiar names you might recognize in the UFL are DB Tra Battle and OL Brandon Braxton.
Now, in today's edition of A "Brownie" For Your Thoughts, we'll be looking at personnel in the NFL that should be giving the UFL a serious consideration in the coming years. I'll be naming five personnel of various positions that I think should transfer leagues. The 5th spot is least likely where as the 1st spot will be most likely.
Excluded from this list are rookies, first year starters and high double - digit season personnel (number of seasons will vary). Mainly though, we'll be looking at personnel with starting seasons from at least two years.
5. Reggie Bush - Bush will never go to the UFL due to his status and notoriety. Now, with the way the New Orleans Saints use him, Bush is not a bust nor a UFL player. But for his position in general, he's a bust. He's injury prone as well. He's listed as their starting RB but he's really just their fancy PR/KR. He's guaranteed over $25 million to be a PR/KR. Can the Saints live without him? Yes. Look at the stats you must, or look stupid do I...
- Over 3 1/2 seasons or 47 total games, he's amased 1,827 yards rushing or 39 yards a game. As a receiver, he's amased 1,806 yards or basically 38 yards a game. For both positions, that's not a good game. His yardage averages from 2006 increase from 3.6 to 3.7 to 3.8 but with only 473 attempts, most averages will look decent to good. He has 13 career fumbles in just 3 1/2 seasons. As a RB or a hybrid RB/WR, his numbers don't preach well for him. He was a #2 overall pick; those are not #2 overall pick numbers. For that, he is UFL ready.
4. Lovie Smith - Were you reading carefully? I hope you were. If you noticed, I've been using the term personnel, not player. Personnel, in my book, is anyone who receives a paycheck from the NFL. A coach receives a paycheck, right? Now, I'm not saying Smith has to make the transition to UFL coach this season. What I am saying is though, is that if he keeps following this trend, he may want to consider. Don't agree? Check out the stats...
- As "starting" head coach of the Chicago Bears for five full seasons, Smith has coached up a rollercoaster of mediocrity. Out of his five seasons, three have been winning seasons. Out of the winning seasons, only two were double - digit win seasons. Their last double - digit win season ended in a 2007 Super Bowl trip loss to the Indianapolis Colts. After the Super Bowl trip, the Bears went (9 - 7), (7 - 9) and now are presently at (4 - 5). Smith is just nine losses from a .500 career win record as a head coach at 49 - 40. This year is turning out to be a bust even with the biggest trade of the offseason in Jay Cutler. Most likely, I think the Bears finally cut their losses after this year with Smith. He may stay in the NFL but the UFL is going to be right there in his face.
3. Vernon Gholston - "But SpecialBrownie, he's only been in the league since 2008!" And this ignorant line somebody would have said had I not caught them, is completely correct. Sadly, it's been two years of straight crap. Stats people, look at the stats!...
- Gholston came out of OSU as one of the most promising OLBs coming out of college. He was picked #6 overall in the 2008 draft by the New York Jets. In 23 total games with the New York Jets, Gholston has only registered 24 tackles, 11 of those assisted. He has no sacks, no interceptions, no deflections, the list of zeros go on. Now, why wouldn't you sit him if he's not producing? Gholston is guaranteed over $20 million from the Jets. If the Jets were to sit him, they'd be wasting money and would be completely embarrassed. I understand he's only been in the league for two years, but shouldn't he be producing by now? He is just BARLEY over one tackle a game. And he's a starting OLB! I don't want to believe this, but this former buckeye might be calling the UFL his home by his 6th season.
2. The Raiders Franchise - Oh Al Davis, the butt of so many NFL jokes. Do you deserve it? Absolutely. You're freaking crazy man. In 5+ years, you've had some huge questionable moves. The Browns FO might trump yours in ineptitude right now, but if one of these franchises had to move to the UFL, it'd be yours. And remember guys, this isn't the Raiders' first year in the NFL and I said double - digit seasons could vary, so they're fair game for this list. Note: Nnamdi Asomough can stay in the NFL but only if he's traded to the Browns. S! T! A! T! S! Stats! Stats! Stats!...
- Davis has moved the team twice in the Super Bowl era, causing uproars and legal matters. In over a decade, the Raiders have had six head coaches, only two of which had any playoff appearances or winning seasons.Their current head coach, Tom Cable, has been accused of breaking the jaw of an assitant coach and has had past discretions of domestic violence. Also, on the day of his hiring, Davis (alledgedly) stated he had no clue who Cable actually was.He has the Raiders currently at (2 - 7). They have an enept starting QB with JaMarcus Russell (who has now been replaced by Bruce Gradkowski!). Russell, currently, has the lowest QB rating of starting QBs at 47.7 (since DA was knocked off the block, Russell gets to be at the bottom of the cellar.) The whole team is really in shambles. Davis has also been controversial in his high draft picks as of late for not being smart and thorough about who he picks. Heyward - Bey? Were you just trying to start something with the Blackhole? Honestly, this team needs a fresh start in an easier league.
1. Derek Anderson - Is anyone really surprised? What tipped you off? The picture? The bolded name? Or did you just know? Well, it's true and it's only fair. While he was replaced for MNF, he's still considered for this list because of his starts this year (He was already written in at my personal press time for this article also). He was on pace to have one of the worst possible seasons by a QB and he didn't even start the season! We don't need stats for this one since we've seen them countless times. This time, I'll be comparing his last 5 1/2 start stats with a starting UFL QB's last five NFL start stats. That QB is J. P. Losman. (By the way, that half game helps DA in no way, so I figured I'd just keep it in. You can't find 2009 stats without it included.)
- Comp/Att - DA: 66/154; Losman: 63/104
- Comp Pct. - DA: 42.9; Losman: 63
- Yards - DA: 681; Losman: 584
- Yards/Gm - DA: 113.5; Losman: 116.5
- TDs - DA: 2; Losman: 2
- INT - DA: 9; Losman: 5
- Rating - DA: 36.2; Losman: 62.3
- Somebody is in the wrong league. Wanna trade straight up for Losman? Yeah, I don't think they'd do it either (If interleague trading was allowed of course).
Now, as most can assume, the UFL is filled with misfit back - ups, not starting personnel or bad NFL franchises. Bad starters usually drop out of the NFL with enough guaranteed money to retire or become commentators. Back - ups don't have that luxury. Bad franchises move or get better. Most likely, none of these personnel will move to the UFL, I just took that approach to bring up ones that should if they ever finally lost it in the NFL. But it's not uncommom, as Losman shows, that starting personnel of the NFL can go to the UFL.
So do you guys agree or disagree? Let me hear your lists of personnel. Include stats if you want, but obviously it's not as important for you guys to include numerical evidence. Thanks for reading the second edition of "Brownie Thoughts" and tune in next week! Same Dawg place, same Dawg channel!
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Comments
It is pretty funny reading over the rosters for the teams. It’s a venerable who’s who of “B-movie” players.
Those are the teams? First time I’ve heard those names.
If you're at the table and you don't see a sucker..... you're it.
by Brownie's Year on Nov 19, 2009 3:09 AM EST up reply actions
Also, all the teams have the same GM and no team can have any different uniform pattern than another. They can just have different color schemes. Could you see Bush as a neon green California Redwood? Haha.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 19, 2009 7:25 AM EST up reply actions
I’ve been ruminating about that all day, and have come up with nada.
by Chief WaDrew on Nov 19, 2009 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
as a Tusker fan
its a hog basically. yes, we have wild hogs in central florida, though theyre pretty small by ozarks standards.
he was injured. injured bad.
a couple former browns in charles ali and noah herron are both playing for new york
by notthatnoise on Nov 19, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
oh wow i just glanced at it, i didn’t notice those other guys
by notthatnoise on Nov 20, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
Great idea for your column.
On Bush: Totally agree that he isn’t a very good RB and relative bust as a #2 overall pick. I think he stays in the NFL because of what he can do as a return man and 3rd down/back up RB. But it would be cool to see him in the UFL.
On Lovie: Think you are a little harsh. 49-40 is pretty good. And its not like the Bears have oozed talent. Their front office situation is wacky with Virginia McCaskey at the helm. In fact, maybe she should be sent to own a UFL team.
On Gholston: But, he’s only been in the league since 2008! Seriously, he has been a bust so far. I’d give him another season before banishing him.
On Oakland: Bingo.
On DA: Bango.
fka "DaytonDogg". Now a contributor to SBN's Dawgs By Nautre. www.dawgsbynature.com
Yeah these are the exact things I was thinking of with my own post. But It was actually a difficult task only trying to find one personnel per position and trying to keep it one personnel a team, so certain ones do seem harsher than they should. 5-3 can honestly be rearanged but #2 and #1, I thought, were dead on.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 19, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions
I think JaMarrcus Russel should get a dishonorable mention here too, much bigger bust than DA, a #1overall pick was wasted on JR where as DA was a 6th rounder that we claimed off waivers.
The sporting gods hate Cleveland, they give us false hopes, then yank it out from under us like a tablecloth.
by North Coast Flea on Nov 20, 2009 12:08 AM EST reply actions
He’s included with the Raiders franchise.
One spot per personnel/ franchise. So technically he was a dishonorable mention.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 20, 2009 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
USFL
SEND MANGEINA OVER FOR A BAG OF PEANUTS,NEED SOMEBODY LIKE PARCELLS NEEDS TO COME TO THE BROWNS TO STRAIGHTEN THE MESS OUT ,ONCE A GEAT ORGANIZATION,WHAT THE F—K HAPPEND
BIG YANKEE FAN,FROM MASS. HAVE TO PUT UP WIYH ALL THESE HOLE SOX FANS
Why do you keep commenting only on my posts?
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 20, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
JEETS secretly has a crush on you, SB. Sad but true.
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Nov 20, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
What’s a GEAT organization?
MANGEINA sounds like a brand of pasta.
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Nov 20, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
NO. LET’S GET HOMEGROWNEN.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 21, 2009 3:34 AM EST up reply actions
Found this post is in a WGC fan shot...
1. No need to beat a dead horse
2. Agreed on the Raiders, but I think Zach Miller deserves to go to a better NFL team. That guy picked up 430 yds with JRuss throwing to him.
4. Yes please take Lovie away. Same mistakes week to week, bad personnel decisions, bad position coach choices, no discipline or motivation, bad leader, bad coach.
5. He should stay in the NFL, but get paid less.
Since Lovie is a UFL candidate, can I nominate Bears GM Jerry Angelo too?
I think he would be an excellent talent evaluator for the UFL based on his 1st Round picks:
2008: OT C. Williams – knew he had a bad back and he sat last year after surgery, underachieving
2007: TE Greg Olsen – can’t block at all and he is soft, but he can catch, underachieving
2005: RB Cedrick Benson – pissed everyone off, then got arrested a few times and we know how that story ends.
2004: DT Tommie Harris – averaging about a tackle or two a game, was a healthy scratch in week 7, got ejected for punching a player in the 4th play of week 9, prior to draft JA knew he had a bad knee and it went a few years ago.
2003: DE Michael Haynes (not in the nfl now) & Rex Grossman – this guy belongs in the UFL too.
The title of that fanshot is grade A comedy gold.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 21, 2009 3:34 AM EST up reply actions
I suppose. I hate the idea which fans of certain teams have that if the team you root for is better, the better understanding of football that group of fans has.
Right but I’m just not going to fight it. It’s not like it’ll change unless we become good.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 21, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
We can’t fight it, but I feel bad for fans that really believe they are smarter than a losing team’s fans because of who they root for.
I just look at this optimistically.
And that’s probably not the idea the behind the title. It’s probably because everyone thinks we have our own head coaching problems but I took the time to point out their’s instead.
Author of the segment "A Brownie For Your Thoughts," on DBN. Check it out.
by SpecialBrownie on Nov 21, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

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