The list of failed challengers for the NFL's monopoly on pro football audiences is long, but the organizers and coaches of the United Football League are convinced their model will be successful.
Either that, or the head coaches - Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett and Ted Cottrell - are looking to bide time until 2010.
The UFL announced its plans Wednesday at a news conference at AT&T Park. Green will coach the San Francisco team; Fassel will coach the Las Vegas franchise; Haslett will coach Orlando and Cottrell - most recently the Chargers' defensive coordinator -will coach the New York franchise.
UFL backers are convinced their business and game features - $20 tickets, hard caps on coaches' and players' salaries, a game ball with a GPS chip, a free spirit about end-zone celebrations and cameras televising fiery halftime speeches - will add up to a winning product.
And yes - a guy like Michael Vick is welcome to sign with the United Football League. But this doesn't mean the UFL intends to be an outlaw outfit.
"We don't intend to be a league of renegades, but having said that, there will be opportunities for players who have had incidents in the past," a former NFL senior vice president. "Each case will be balanced against the risks associated with that. But I would say if the right circumstances exist, we would welcome Michael Vick into our league."
Among the principle investors who will split $30 million in equity among the initial four teams is Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
At least three games in the inaugural season will be played at AT&T Park, the home field for the as-yet unnamed San Francisco franchise. One of the San Francisco games could be played in Sacramento as well.
UFL 101
Teams: Four, based in San Francisco, New York, Orlando and Las Vegas. Team names have not been announced.
Rules of play: Same as NFL.
Season: October-November, with title game on Thanksgiving weekend.
Game day: Usually Thursday.
Special features: End-zone celebrations and a GPS chip in the football.
TV: Versus
