UFL Sets Base $35,000 Salary For Most Players During '09 Season

The base pay for most UFL players during the '09 season will be $35,000, according to a league memo cited by Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. The memo indicated that kickers, punters and long snappers will be paid at a "base rate of only $25,000." However, there is "no stated limit regarding" the pay for the league's four starting quarterbacks, as each UFL team is permitted to pay its starting QB more. Florio noted players who land on injured reserve will receive 50% of the "prorated base pay for the remainder of the year." Members of the active/inactive roster of the team that wins the UFL championship also will "receive an extra $5,000, and the members of the active/inactive roster of the second-place team will be paid an extra $2,500." The memo indicated that the UFL "'may establish' a discretionary Player Performance Pool, which will be aimed at rewarding the top-performing players on each team" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/1).

LOOKING ABROAD: UFL PR Dir Rachel Gary said that UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue is "in Europe" and that the league is "looking at expansion both overseas and in the United States over the next two years." Huyghue previously said that the league will "expand by at least two to four teams in 2010, and the UFL has discussed putting a team in Mexico." Huyghue said that Europe has "strong interest in American football despite the failure" of NFL Europe (REUTERS, 7/1).

LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: AFL Soul co-Owner Jon Bon Jovi said if the league comes back for the '10 season, "We will set a new benchmark for what is sports ownership." Bon Jovi: "This is more than a lockout. We’re on the brink of the abyss. I can tell you thousands of man hours are spent trying hard to keep those players employed and keep our fans satisfied. This is my first comment about this process and I’m already regretting giving it to you because I don’t want to talk out of school. We all love it so much that we are working. I swear to you we are working every day. There are phone calls at seven o’clock every night about what we’re doing to try and keep it afloat." Bon Jovi added the league's chances for survival are "50-50" (NYTIMES.com, 7/1).