Former UFL Players Sign with NFL Clubs; McCown to Start
Published on December 22, 2011 under United Football League (UFL 1) News Release
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Thursday, December 22, 2011 - Three more former United Football League players have signed with NFL clubs and quarterback JOSH MCCOWN will start for the Chicago Bears this weekend.
Former Hartford Colonials passer McCown, who will lead the Bears at divisional foe Green Bay on Christmas Day, said: "Other than just the excitement and the joy of being between the stripes with the lights on again, I think that first snap obviously will be exciting."
In a 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week, McCown saw fourth quarter action in relief of starter Caleb Hanie and after a five-yard scramble was negated for a penalty, threw a completion for 12 yards and was then intercepted.
McCown, who played for the Colonials in 2010 despite being offered a contract by the Bears prior to UFL season kickoff, led the UFL in passer rating (79.3) and yards per attempt (7.24) that season. He was tied for first in touchdown passes (10), set new league single-game records for passer rating (137.4 vs. the Sacramento Mountain Lions in Week 1) and completion percentage (88.0 at the Omaha Nighthawks in Week 2) and completed a UFL longest pass, an 80-yard touchdown to running back Lorenzo Booker in the season-opener.
Offensive tackle HERB TAYLOR, who won a 2010 UFL championship ring with the Las Vegas Locos, will be in opposition on Sunday having signed to the active roster of the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
McLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON, who took over the starting quarterback job for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in 2011, has signed to the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins.
The Sacramento State product, who has spent time on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, completed 13-of-26 passes for 160 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions after replacing starter Ryan Colburn in a Mountain Lions loss at Virginia. A week later against the championship-bound Destroyers, he led his team to a win in his first professional start as he completed 25 of 46 passes for 260 yards and two touchdown passes to receiver Otis Amey and was named the UFL Offensive Player of the Week.
Bethel-Thompson threw for 355 yards in a 25-19 Mountain Lions win over the Omaha Nighthawks to close the 2001 UFL season.
Linebacker MIKE BALOGUN has signed to the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having won the 2011 United Football League championship with the Virginia Destroyers. Balogun did not play high school football his junior and senior years at Suitland (Md.) High School and then took a job as a carpenter's assistant to support his family. For two years he played semi-pro ball in the North American Football League and at 23 years old, he enrolled in Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton, Pa. After playing sparingly his first season, he was named a second team All-American his second year and transferred to Oklahoma as a junior in 2008.
During Week 15 of NFL action, former Florida Tuskers defensive end DARRION SCOTT had a quarterback hurry of Eli Manning as the Washington Redskins defense dominated the New York Giants in a 23-10 win. Kicker GRAHAM GANO (Las Vegas 2009) hit field goals from 43, 36 and 25 yards and was 2/2 on extra points, with NICK SUNDBERG (California 2009) as his long snapper.
Safety QUINTIN DEMPS (Hartford 2010) posted a tackle and defended a pass in a Houston Texans 28-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, while former Colonials teammate LORENZO BOOKER had a reception for a yard and made a special teams tackle as the Minnesota Vikings went down 42-20 to the New Orleans Saints.
Wide receiver MICHEAL SPURLOCK (Florida 2009) made a reception for 6 yards and a special teams tackle as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 31-15 to the Dallas Cowboys.
There were also special teams tackles for ISAIAH TRUFANT (Las Vegas 2010) in a New York Jets 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and safety DA'MON CROMATIE-SMITH (Sacramento 2010) who's Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a 20-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
ERIK PEARS (Omaha 2010) started at right tackle and COLIN BROWN (Hartford 2010) played at guard as the Buffalo Bills lost 30-23 to the Miami Dolphins. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive tackle SHAUN SMITH (Las Vegas 2009) posted a tackle for the Tennessee Titans in a 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Three former United Football League kickers enjoyed winning weekends. MATT BRYANT (Florida 2009) was true from 33 and 31 yards and on 5/5 PATs in a 41-14 Atlanta Falcons win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. STEVEN HAUSCHKA (Las Vegas 2010) split the uprights from 33 yards out and on 5/5 extra points as the Seattle Seahawks won 38-14 against the Bears. NICK NOVAK (Florida 2010) helped the San Diego Chargers to a 34-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens as he connected from 45 and 28 yards and on 4/4 extra points.
United Football League Stories from December 22, 2011
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