UFL offers an option for NFL castoffs - Ingles

Hundreds of players were cut from NFL teams Saturday. This article was written by Bill Bradley and appeared in the Sacramento Bee.
Yet, for the first time in decades, many of them will have a shot at playing fall football somewhere other than the NFL.

These castoffs will be eyed closely by the four teams in the United Football League, which opens play this fall. While many of us are unsure what to make of this new four-team, six-game league, it presents a new opportunity for these players.

Still, if a released 49ers linebacker is offered a deal by the new California Redwoods, the decision won't be easy.

Does he wait to see if he is offered a spot on an NFL team's practice squad, or does he sign with the UFL, which opens play in October?

Either way, the goal is to make it to an NFL 53-man roster. He has to decide which path gets him back there quicker.

At least for this season, the choices made by those players sitting on the waiver wire will be watched like a hawk by scouts, agents and other NFL officials. This article was written by Bill Bradley and appeared in the Sacramento Bee.