The Spring League
Most recent season or competition:
2021 The Spring League season
ClassificationDevelopmental (Pro showcase)
SportAmerican football
Founded2016
Inaugural season2017
Ceased2021
CEOBrian Woods
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Linemen
TV partner(s)
Related
competitions		Direct: FXFL, USFL, XFL
Official websiteTSL.com

The Spring League (TSL) was an American football developmental league and scouting event (pro showcase) that played from 2017 to 2021 and was founded by Brian Woods. Aimed at professional athletes but not paying a salary or expenses, the league's goal was to "serve as an instructional league and showcase for professional football talent".[1][2]

The Spring League was the second football property to be established by Woods, following the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) from 2014 to 2015 and preceding the United States Football League revival in 2022. The league consisted of three to eight teams and played an abbreviated four to six game "season" in April or May. During the year, the league arranged additional scouting events, called Spring League Showcases, that began in July 2017.[3]

According to the league records, as of May 2021, more than 100 former players have signed contracts with a National Football League (NFL) team.[4]

Background

The National Football League (NFL) has not had an official developmental league since 2007 with NFL Europe.[5] Several other developmental leagues unaffiliated with the NFL have arisen, such as the FXFL, Gridiron Developmental Football League, and the Rivals Professional Football League.[6]

On September 2, 2016, the FXFL, after two abbreviated seasons of operation, announced it had suspended operations in hopes of finding a more effective business model.[7]

A developmental league continued to be an internal NFL discussion as of December 2016 with a decision deadline of February 2017.[8]

Business plan

Like the FXFL, The Spring League is built upon the concept of serving as a second opportunity to allow players to advance to more established professional leagues,[9] yet The Spring League has some prominent differences from the FXFL. While The Spring League's core player is around 24 years old, it also took in experienced professionals, which the FXFL discouraged. All four teams are brought to one location, and at first not have distinctive identities or home cities/franchises (this began to change beginning in 2019). Rather, the games are more showcases for the NFL and Canadian Football League (CFL) scouts in the spring and summer months.[9]

Unlike the FXFL, which paid a per-game stipend for its players, The Spring League paid only for room and board. Woods said that the lack of payment is out of financial necessity.[6] To be eligible to participate in the league, a player may not be under contract with a pro league nor be eligible for the current year's draft. Players must also pay a $350 application fee.[10] By 2019, the application fee had jumped to $2000, as players now also had to cover room and board as part of the fee; players with professional experience are exempt from this fee.[11] Players must also cover their own health insurance.[12] The league also assists in developing NFL referees.[8]

The Spring League earns additional revenue from a subsidy that the state of Texas provides to hold its events there, as well as from organizations seeking to test equipment and rules changes. In 2019, the XFL served as The Spring League's largest revenue source, paying the league "six figures" to test-run its rulebook,[12] a payment that allowed The Spring League to turn a profit that year for the first time.[11][13] In October 2020 the league reached a multi-year agreement with FS1 to televise The Spring League along with the option to acquire a minority stake in the league.[14]

History

2017 season

CEO Woods founded The Spring League in early 2016.[15] On December 22, 2016, SiriusXM NFL Radio initially reported the league as being owned by the NFL, but retracted that by the end of the day.[16] The NFL informed its teams of the league's existence and its plans to operate from April 5 through April 26, 2017.[8] The Spring League's 2017 season consisted of a four-team, three-week single round-robin tournament in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia at The Greenbrier resort in April,[9] and a two-team "Showcase" game in Napa, California in July. The teams in each tournament were only identified with vague geographic names such as North, South, East, West and California. A game streamed on Facebook received 60,000 views while a practice received 30,000 views.[9]

Coaches with long NFL or College experience included quarterback coach Terry Shea, Steve Fairchild, Donnie Henderson, Dennis Creehan and Art Valero (offensive line).[17][9][18] For the April games, the league had four teams and 105 players.[9] Its players included NFL veterans Fred Jackson, Anthony "Boobie" Dixon,[19] Ben Tate, Greg Hardy, Ricky Stanzi, McLeod Bethel-Thompson[9] and Ahmad Bradshaw.[6] The players ranged from two to 10 years out from college.[20][21][22][23]

The league indicated two CFL and 10 NFL teams had their scouts visit the league while another 20 made requests for video footage. Following the April games, roughly two dozen players were invited to NFL rookie mini-camps. The Carolina Panthers picked up six for their rookie mini-camp.[9]

After the first season, NFL scouts seemed to like the league structure but otherwise gave mixed responses. Value was perceived by scouts as they got updated information on forgotten players or saw a player with a conditioned arm, but otherwise the talent level was below what NFL teams expected for an established developmental league. Some scouts expected younger players that had been to a couple of NFL training camps but in the wrong system. Woods indicated that the older and big names brought attention to the league, which has a secondary purpose of providing a veteran annual showcase.[9]

Spring League Showcase

On July 15, 2017, the Spring League Showcase was held at Napa Memorial Stadium in California between Spring League California, coached by Terry Shea and Spring League East, coached by Donnie Henderson.[24] Flofootball.com's FloPRO subscription service streamed the game.[25] David Ash started the game for the California roster and lead several scoring drives. He had 96 passing yards and 9-of-13 passing, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Dixon with an interception and 3 runs for a total of 10 yards with his longest for 9 yards. For the East, two quarterbacks, Casey Pachall and Trenton Norvell, made touchdown passes. Pachall completed 4-of-6 passes for 84 yards and a 67-yard touchdown. The game's top rusher was Paul Harris of the East team, who rushed twice for 74 yards and a 6-yard touchdown. East defeated California 23–19.[26][27]

2018 season

The league had try-outs in various cities in October and November 2017 and February 2018.[28] On December 7, 2017, The Spring League announced it would play its second season in Austin, Texas beginning in late March 2018. The league was also to have a football-specific tech forum and a joint internship program with the University of Texas’ Center for Sports Leadership & Innovation.[29] Turner Sports announced in mid-January 2018, while the league games would be on its new streaming service B/R Live, the league was also finalizing a deal to practice and play games at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas.[30] On February 14, the league announced the signing of Heisman Trophy winner and former Cleveland Browns first round pick Johnny Manziel to the league playing on the South team. Games to be played on April 7 and 14.[31] Other former NFL commitments to the league were former Cleveland Browns first round pick Kellen Winslow Jr. and former Baltimore Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro.[32] On March 3, the league did not execute on the contract to play the 2018 season at the Circuit of the Americas and instead announced events to take place at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock, Texas.[33]

Spring League Showcases

Following the April games another "Summer Showcase" was announced for July 2018.[34][35]

The Spring League announced a "Fall Showcase" for Miami, Florida to take place November 6–9, 2018, which was intended to prepare players for the then-future AAF and XFL, which were set to play winter/spring seasons.[36]

2019 season

For 2019, The Spring League tested rules for the XFL. Seen here is the later implemented XFL kickoff formation.

For the 2019 season, The Spring League partnered with the XFL to test rule changes the new league hoped to implement for its own 2020 season. One rule change, originally proposed by Pro Football Talk in 2017, was replacing overtime with a two-point conversion shootout occurring simultaneously at both end zones with five rounds in the TSL.[37] Also tested was the tap rule, which allows a referee to send a player to the sideline for less than a penalty level offense.[38] Both rules and the kickoff formation were later implemented in the XFL. The Spring League was also hired by the XFL to hold three mini-camp style tryouts. With this revenue source, the league's revenue exceeded one million dollars and would have its first profitable year. The two leagues are in preliminary discussions of the Spring League becoming the XFL's official development league.[12]

2019 season practice began March 31, 2019 with double headers on April 6 and 11, 2019. Each of the four teams played two games.[39] For the first time, one of the teams had a brand name; the Austin Generals (formerly South) was named after its host city of Austin, Texas, and used the logo and colors of the former New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.[39][40] The remaining three teams retained their generic North, East and West brandings.

Spring League Showcases

The league held its two "Summer Showcases" in partnership with the XFL[41] - the first in June in Mission Viejo, California[42][43] and the second on July 30 in Long Beach, California, 2019 with 100 pay-to-play players in a four-day camp and a six quarter scrimmage.[44] XFL executives and coaches and ESPN and Fox staff were on hand to view rule tests and in-game technologies, with the broadcaster giving feedback on how it would effect broadcast coverage.[12]

A "Fall Showcase" was held in September in Marietta, Georgia,[45][46][47] and in November they held another showcase in Miami, Florida.[48][49]

2020 spring season

For 2020, TSL played a showcase game against the Japan national American football team at the Ford Center at The Star March 1,[50][51] and the main competition March 7 and 11 at Sam Boyd Stadium.[52] The designated home team (formerly West) was dubbed the Las Vegas Hughes, named after Howard Hughes, who spent much of the end of his life as a recluse in Las Vegas.[53] Mettenberger agreed to return as a quarterback.[54] The registration fee for The Spring League's March 2020 season in Las Vegas was $2,100.[55]

The league was able to get most of its abbreviated 2020 season completed just before social distancing mandates tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States took effect, shutting down effectively all in-person sports in the United States.

Summer Showcase

The league held its annual Summer Showcase in July in Glendale, Colorado with a total of 85 players[56] and another 25 staff members and medical personnel participated. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic all players had to go through 14-day self-quarantine before camp and all meetings were conducted in a video conference.[57]

2020 fall season

In October 2020 FS1 reached a multi-year agreement to televise The Spring League along with the option to acquire a minority stake in the league, with initial agreement to play a 6-team fall-season in late October and November 2020.[58] The league began its fall season on Oct. 27 with six teams competing in what was intended to be a 12-game format over four weeks in a bubble environment,[59] based out of the San Antonio Alamodome. Fox Sports 1 aired games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The league stated that this time the players did not pay to attend,[60] but Woods later explained that some players did pay, while select others did not.[61]

All six teams had brands and names, including the returning Generals[62][63] (originally from Austin), Aviators[64][65] (re-branded from Las Vegas Hughes), and four new teams: the Blues[66][67] (modified from the FXFL Blacktips), Alphas[68][69] (a wolf motif), Conquerors[70][71] and Jousters.[72][73][74]

In November 2020, amid the then-resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, TSL announced that the league would be cancelling the final week of the season. The top two teams met in the final on December 15, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Generals finished as the first TSL champions, after beating the Aviators 37–14 in the final.[75][76][77]

2021 season

In March 2021, TSL announced that they reached a partnership agreement with Stephen Austin's American National Combines,[78] and were to hold tryouts for the first time in league history.[79] They also declared that players who were on an active roster during TSL's fall 2020 season were not required to participate in the tryouts.[80][81] In April, TSL announced the 2021 season was to start on May 6, and would feature two new teams – the Linemen and Sea Lions (eight teams in total), competing in a six-week regular season from two hub cities: The North Division in Indianapolis, Indiana and the South Division in Houston, Texas.[82] For the first time, one game every week will be broadcast on Fox including the championship game, while all other games will be broadcast on FS1 and FS2.[83]

The Linemen beat the Jousters 26–23 in the first and only Mega Bowl, and won the TSL championship.[84][85] Linemen QB Ryan Willis won both final[86] and regular season MVP awards.[87]

Aftermath

On June 3, 2021, Woods announced that he had acquired the remaining extant trademarks of the United States Football League with intent of launching a USFL-branded league in 2022, with Fox Sports remaining as a partner in the new USFL.[88] What was to become of The Spring League remained, at the time, an unresolved question, but according to the initial announcement TSL was to continue,[89] probably as a scouting showcase or developmental operation. It was later reported that TSL in no longer associated with the new USFL.[90]

On February 18, 2022, Woods stated that TSL was "no longer operational",[91] but later reports indicate that it will continues as a business although the football operations are suspended.[92]

Prep Super League

In June 2023 it was announced that Woods is planning to lunch a 11-on-11 spring football league for high school players called the Prep Super League.[93][94] Games will be played from April 19 through May 24 with teams located in Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Tampa.[95][96] Players will pay a player development fee and provide their own insurance to participate.[97] Isos Capital Management is one of the league's investors.[98]

Teams

Teams active at the last league season.

Division Team Colors Original location First year Head coach
North Alphas     N/A 2020 Peter Vaas
Aviators     Las Vegas 2020 Terry Shea
Conquerors     N/A 2020 Jerry Glanville
Linemen       N/A 2021 Hal Mumme
South Blues     N/A 2020 Ted Cottrell
Generals       Austin 2019 Bart Andrus
Jousters     N/A 2020 Kevin Gilbride
Sea Lions     N/A 2021 Larry Kirksey

Champions

YearWinnerRunner-upScore
2017*OrangeBlack34-7
2018*West
2019*Austin Generals
2020 (spring)*Las Vegas Hughes
2020 (fall)GeneralsAviators37-14
2021LinemenJousters26-23

* Before the 2020 Fall season, no official champion were named by the league.

References

  1. ↑ "The Spring League offers chance to keep football dream alive".
  2. ↑ Tringali, Rob. "Camp Last Chance". espn.com.
  3. ↑ "County Football Insider: Spring League Showcase July 15 at Napa Memorial Stadium".
  4. ↑ "The Spring League: A professional football development league".
  5. ↑ Inabinett, Mark (April 9, 2017). "Spring League's roster shows variety of backgrounds for players trying to catch NFL's eye". al.com. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Weiner, Natalie (May 10, 2017). "In the Shadow of Dak Prescott: Welcome to the NFL's League of Last Chances". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Hudson Valley Fort will not return". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 Clayton, John (December 23, 2016). "Spring league kicking off 4-team, 3-week development plan in April". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Is Spring League an NFL springboard? It's at least a shot". ESPN. May 6, 2017.
  10. ↑ Jones, Lindsay H. (March 22, 2017). "Greg Hardy headlines NFL castoffs headed to Spring League". USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  11. 1 2 Keating, Steve (May 3, 2021). "The Spring League finds 'secret sauce' to survival". Reuters. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Unique Revenue Streams, Elimination of Costly Expenditures Keys to The Spring League's Success". Sports Illustrated. John Wall Street. Maven. July 30, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  13. ↑ "The Spring League finds 'secret sauce' to survival".
  14. ↑ "Fox Sports reaches agreement with The Spring League".
  15. ↑ James, Marty (July 8, 2017). "County Football Insider: Spring League Showcase July 15 at Napa Memorial Stadium". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Report: NFL Free Agent Spring League Starting in 2017". FOX Sports. December 22, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Donnie Henderson, Terry Shea among Spring League coaches".
  18. ↑ Digby, Matt (April 14, 2017). "Coaches Expect Players to Capitalize in Spring League". woay.tv. Archived from the original on 2017-08-29. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  19. ↑ Filipowski, Nick (June 19, 2017). "Former Bills RB Fred Jackson to participate in Spring League". WKBW-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  20. ↑ "2017 Spring League roster - NORTH".
  21. ↑ "2017 Spring League roster - SOUTH".
  22. ↑ "2017 Spring League - Training Camp Roster pt.1".
  23. ↑ "2017 Spring League - Training Camp Roster pt.2".
  24. ↑ Florio, Mike (June 19, 2017). "Fred Jackson is getting his wish, sort of". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  25. ↑ Talbot, Ryan (July 15, 2017). "How to watch Spring League Showcase featuring former Buffalo Bills Fred Jackson and Boobie Dixon". NewYorkUpstate.com. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  26. ↑ Travis (July 19, 2017). "Spring League Showcase Player Stats". FloFootball. FloSports. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Spring League Showcase Full Game Replay".
  28. ↑ Florio, Mike (August 20, 2017). "Spring League to conduct tryouts in multiple cities this fall". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  29. ↑ Lyttle, Kevin (December 7, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: NFL Spring League heads to Austin for 2018". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  30. ↑ Lyttle, Kevin (January 18, 2018). "Turner Sports will live-stream pro football venture in Austin". American-Statesman. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  31. ↑ Nathan, Alec (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel to Join the Spring League Scouting Event Amid NFL Comeback". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  32. ↑ Durkee, Travis (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel commits to The Spring League showcase". Sporting News. Omnisport. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  33. ↑ Livengood, Paul (March 3, 2018). "Circuit of the Americas punts Spring League". KVUE.
  34. ↑ "2018 Showcase Roster pt1".
  35. ↑ "2018 Showcase Roster pt2".
  36. ↑ "The Spring League Expands Showcase Model Amid Record Demand". August 10, 2018.
  37. ↑ Florio, Mike (April 7, 2019). "Spring League returns with revolutionary overtime idea". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  38. ↑ Florio, Mike (April 8, 2019). "Spring League tests XFL "tap" rule that sends players to sideline". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  39. 1 2 Halliburton, Suzanne (April 6, 2019). "Ex-Baylor star Shawn Oakman tries to revive career in Spring League". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  40. ↑ "The Spring League Brands Team as Austin Generals in Homage to Host City". The Spring League. March 18, 2019.
  41. ↑ "#TheSpringLeague and the XFL are teaming up again for not one but TWO SoCal Showcases this summer".
  42. ↑ "2019 June Showcase roster pt1".
  43. ↑ "2019 June Showcase roster pt2".
  44. ↑ "Rosters revealed for the Spring League July Showcase".
  45. ↑ "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt1".
  46. ↑ "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt2".
  47. ↑ "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt3".
  48. ↑ "The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Offence".
  49. ↑ "The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Defense".
  50. ↑ "Here is #TheSpringLeague's official roster that will be taking on 🇯🇵".
  51. ↑ "2020Japan vs The Spring League".
  52. ↑ Simmons, Myles (February 14, 2020). "Spring League coming to Las Vegas in March". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  53. ↑ The Spring League Las Vegas @ Sam Boyd Stadium: Tickets ON SALE NOW! - The Spring League
  54. ↑ Froyd, Crissy (February 21, 2020). "Former LSU QB Zach Mettenberger looking forward to getting back to football for The Spring League". LSU Wire. USA Today Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 2021-01-22.
  56. ↑ "TSL Denver Showcase: Game Day Roster".
  57. ↑ "Spring League completed four-day showcase last week".
  58. ↑ Fox Sports will televise The Spring League football games this fall
  59. ↑ "The Spring League will be first to use bubble concept in football for October tournament in Las Vegas".
  60. ↑ The Spring League 🏈 [@TheSpringLeague] (November 11, 2020). "@JustinAaronUH91 Players are not paying to attend #TSL2020" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
  61. ↑ Davis, Josh (November 13, 2020). "The Spring League Week 3: Coaching Changes, COVID, Rumors Addressed". XFL News Hub.
  62. ↑ "Generals 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
  63. ↑ "The Generals Roster Breakdown".
  64. ↑ "Aviators 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-10-31.
  65. ↑ "Aviators Soaring High With Expectations".
  66. ↑ "Blues 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
  67. ↑ "The Blues Roster Breakdown".
  68. ↑ "Alphas 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
  69. ↑ "The Spring League 2020: The Alphas Roster Breakdown".
  70. ↑ "Conquerors 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
  71. ↑ "The Conquerors' Roster Breakdown".
  72. ↑ "Jousters 2020 Roster". Archived from the original on 2020-11-01.
  73. ↑ "Jousters Depth Chart Projections".
  74. ↑ "Finding Diamonds in the Dark: TSL Jousters".
  75. ↑ "The Spring League's Generals Win the 2020 Championship".
  76. ↑ "Generals Roll Past Aviators In Dominating TSL Championship".
  77. ↑ "2020 champions".
  78. ↑ "American National Combines Official Site".
  79. ↑ "The Spring League To Hold Tryouts For First Time".
  80. ↑ "TSL Combines".
  81. ↑ @TheSpringLeague (March 9, 2021). "Players wishing to participate in..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  82. ↑ "The Spring League expanding to eight teams, six-week football schedule".
  83. ↑ "PR: The Spring League Football Makes Broadcast Television Debut Saturday, May 8 on FOX".
  84. ↑ "The Linemen Win the 2021 The Spring League Mega Bowl".
  85. ↑ "Mega Bowl Championship Game Recap/Highlights".
  86. ↑ The Spring League 🏈 [@TheSpringLeague] (June 19, 2021). "M V P 🏆 https://t.co/Ija5toVEhq" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  87. ↑ The Spring League 🏈 [@TheSpringLeague] (June 24, 2021). "He left no doubt. The #TSL2021 MVP is Linemen QB Ryan Willis (@RyanWillis14)! ⚡️ 🎨: @AlmanzaStudioz https://t.co/18EUhBxdW6" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  88. ↑ "The United States Football League Returns in 2022". June 3, 2021.
  89. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (June 3, 2021). "The USFL is officially back".
  90. ↑ "The Spring League Reportedly No Longer Associated with the New USFL". usflnewsroom.com.
  91. ↑ "Roy S. Johnson: USFL football VP knows 'first season is everything'". AL.com. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  92. ↑ "USFL 2.0: This Time, Sports Betting, TV Could Drive Success". ggbnews.com. 2022-02-18.
  93. ↑ "Ex-USFL prez launching spring league for high school players". ESPN.
  94. ↑ "Inside the ambitious idea for AAU football with Prep Super League founder Brian Woods". SB Nation.
  95. ↑ "Former USFL President Brian Woods launching Spring high school football league". highschoolfootballamerica.com.
  96. ↑ "Brian Woods Set to Launch High School Spring League". usflnewsroom.com.
  97. ↑ "Will this work? Former USFL president proposing spring high school football league". MaxPreps.com.
  98. ↑ "Former USFL boss eyes Texas for 'AAU' football league despite potential roadblocks". dallasnews.com.
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