The Spring League

The Spring League
Sport American football
Founded 2016
Inaugural season 2017
CEO Brian Woods
No. of teams 4
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		 West
TV partner(s)
  • Bleacher Report Live
  • Facebook
  • FLoFootball.com
Official website www.thespringleague.com

The Spring League is a professional football scouting event and showcase that began play in 2017. The league's goal is to "serve as an instructional league and showcase for professional football talent." The 2017 season consisted of six games that were played during April. There was an additional game called The Spring League Showcase that was played in July 2017.

The Spring League was the second football property to be established by Brian Woods, following the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) from 2014 to 2015.

Background

The National Football League (NFL) has not had an official developmental league since 2007 with NFL Europe.[1] Several other developmental leagues unaffiliated with the NFL have popped up, the FXFL, Gridiron Developmental Football League and the Rivals Professional Football League.[2] 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.[3] A developmental league continued to be an internal NFL discussion as of December 2016 with a decision deadline of February 2017.[4]

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,[5] 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 currently do not have distinctive identities or home cities/franchises. Rather, the games are more showcases for the NFL and Canadian Football League (CFL) scouts in the spring and summer months.[5] Also 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.[2] 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.[6] The league also assists in developing NFL referees.[4]

History

2017 season

CEO Brian Woods founded The Spring League in early 2016.[7] 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.[8] The NFL informed its teams of the league's existence and its plans to operate from April 5 through April 26, 2017.[4] 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,[5] 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.[5]

Coaches with long NFL experience included quarterback coach Terry Shea, Steve Fairchild (running backs), Donnie Henderson (defense) and Art Valero (offensive line).[5][9] For the April games, the league had four teams and 105 players.[5] Its players included NFL veterans Fred Jackson, Anthony "Boobie" Dixon,[10] Ben Tate, Greg Hardy, Ricky Stanzi, McLeod Bethel-Thompson[5] and Ahmad Bradshaw.[2] The players ranged from two to 10 years out from college. 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.[5]

After the first season, NFL scouts seem 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 NFL training camp 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.[5]

The following players signed with NFL or CFL teams following their involvement with The Spring League in 2017:

  • McLeod Bethel-Thompson, a quarterback, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on May 23. During his first year with the team, Bethel-Thompson served as a backup quarterback, and also played as a defensive back and on special teams during the CFL preseason.[16][1] Bethel-Thompson won the 105th Grey Cup with the Argonauts later in the year.[17] Beginning in week 8 of the 2018 season, Bethel-Thompson was named the Argos starting quarterback.
  • Zeek Bigger, a linebacker, signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 30, after participating in OTAs on a tryout basis.[1][18] Bigger was released at the end of the preseason, but spent two weeks on Carolina's practice squad.[19]
  • Manasseh Garner, a tight end, signed with the Washington Redskins on May 15 following their rookie mini-camp.[1][20] Garner was cut following the preseason, but was signed to the practice squad, and was later promoted to the active roster for the final game of the season.[21]
  • Cornerback Tyquwan Glass was signed to the Los Angeles Rams on August 22.[22] Glass was released as part of final cuts.
  • Tight end David Grinnage was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars just prior to the preseason on August 14.[23] Grinnage did not make the team, but was given a spot on Jacksonville's practice squad.[24]
  • Defensive lineman Calvin Heurtelou was signed by the Green Bay Packers on August 21.[1][25] Heurtelou was waived after the preseason.
  • Daje Johnson, wide receiver, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks.[26] After playing the first three weeks of the regular season on the practice roster, Johnson was promoted to be the starting returner for Week 4.[1][27] After playing two games, Johnson was placed on the injured list, and was later released on August 9.[28]
  • Wide receiver Jalen Saunders signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 23. After two weeks on the practice roster, Saunders made his CFL debut in Week 3.[1][29] Saunders finished the 2017 CFL season with over 1,000 yards receiving.
  • Quarterback Ricky Stanzi signed with the Calgary Stampeders on May 16 as a backup quarterback.[5][30]
  • Tani Tupou, a fullback/defensive tackle, signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 14 following their mini-camp. Tupou was the first Spring League player to be signed by a professional team.[1][31] Tupou was released after the preseason, but was signed to Atlanta's practice squad.[32] He spent time on the active roster as well this year.
  • Wide receiver Griff Whalen was signed by the Baltimore Ravens on July 21, following his participation in the Summer Showcase game.[33] Whalen was released following the preseason, but later spent two games with the Ravens before being cut again. Whalen then signed with the Oakland Raiders during the offseason.[34]
  • Running back Josh Robinson received a workout with the Detroit Lions in August 2017,[35] but went unsigned until he agreed to terms with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL in January 2018.[36]

2018 season

The league had try-outs in various cities in October and November 2017 and February 2018.[37] 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.[26] Turner Sports announced in mid-January 2018, while the league games would be on its new streaming service, the league was also finalizing a deal to practice and play games at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40] 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.[41] Following the April games, the another Summer Showcase was announced for June 2018.[42]


Games[43]
DateTeamscoreopponentscore
April 7 North13West30
South7East11
April 12 South17West34[44]
North27East10
The official TSL helmet worn by all players in the league starting in 2018
Spring League 2018
Team W L PCT PF PA
West201.0006430
North11.5004040
East11.5002134
South02.0002445

The following players signed with NFL, CFL or AAF teams following their involvement with The Spring League in 2018:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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.
  2. 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.
  3. ↑ "Hudson Valley Fort will not return". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  4. 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Is Spring League an NFL springboard? It's at least a shot". ESPN. May 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ Jones, Lindsay H. (March 22, 2017). "Greg Hardy headlines NFL castoffs headed to Spring League". USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  7. 1 2 James, Marty (July 8, 2017). "County Football Insider: Spring League Showcase July 15 at Napa Memorial Stadium". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Report: NFL Free Agent Spring League Starting in 2017". FOX Sports. December 22, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Filipowski, Nick (June 19, 2017). "Former Bills RB Fred Jackson to participate in Spring League". WKBW-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  11. ↑ Florio, Mike (June 19, 2017). "Fred Jackson is getting his wish, sort of". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. 1 2 3 Travis (July 19, 2017). "Spring League Showcase Player Stats". FloFootball. FloSports. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Spring League Showcase football game coming to Napa". Times-Herald. July 7, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  15. ↑ Florio, Mike (July 11, 2017). "Glen Coffee will participate in Spring League Showcase". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  16. ↑ https://tipofthetower.com/2017/06/19/toronto-argonauts-sorting-through-the-final-roster-cuts/
  17. ↑ https://www.cfl.ca/2017/11/26/change-course-argos-stun-stamps-win-grey-cup/
  18. ↑ Richard Walker (2017-05-30). "Gastonia's Zeek Bigger signs 3-year contract with Carolina Panthers - Sports - Gaston Gazette - Gastonia, NC". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  19. ↑ Richard, Walker. "Zeek Bigger released by Carolina Panthers". Gaston Gazette. Gaston Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  20. ↑ Princiotti, Nora (May 16, 2017). "Nico Marley, grandson of Bob Marley, signs with Redskins". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  21. ↑ http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Manasseh-Garner-To-The-Active-Roster/e7863842-3ccd-42e3-bc52-46b2275af6ab
  22. ↑ Galavizagalaviz, Anthony (2017-08-22). "Tyquwan Glass signs with the Los Angeles Rams". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  23. ↑ Crow, Alfie (2017-08-14). "Jaguars waive Josh Johnson, sign TE David Grinnage". Big Cat Country. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  24. ↑ Day, Ryan (2017-09-04). "2017 Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad: Live tracker and updates". Big Cat Country. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  25. ↑ "Green Bay Packers sign DT Calvin Heurtelou". The Washington Post. AP. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  26. 1 2 Lyttle, Kevin (December 7, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: NFL Spring League heads to Austin for 2018". Austin American-Statemans. Cox Media Group. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  27. ↑ Tim Baines, (2017-07-13). "Game Day: Redblacks at Eskimos". Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  28. ↑ https://www.cfl.ca/players/daje-johnson/162558/
  29. ↑ "Roughriders defeat Tiger-Cats for 1st win in new Mosaic Stadium - CBC Sports - Football - CFL". Cbc.ca. 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  30. ↑ Hlas, Mike (June 22, 2017). "Ricky Stanzi is Calgary Stampeders' No. 3 QB". The Gazette. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  31. ↑ Patterson, Nick (May 15, 2017). "Archbishop Murphy grad getting a second shot at the NFL | HeraldNet.com". Everett Herald. Everett Herald and Sound Publishing, Inc. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  32. ↑ Choate, Dave (2017-09-03). "Falcons reportedly sign 10 of their 11 practice squad players Sunday night". The Falcoholic. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  33. ↑ Zrebiec, Jeff (July 21, 2017). "Ravens sign Griff Whalen, place Michael Campanaro on PUP list amid flurry of roster moves". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  34. ↑ Raiders Media Relations Facebook Twitter (2018-03-12). "Raiders Sign Wide Receiver Griff Whalen". Raiders.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  35. ↑ "Detroit Lions working out David Cobb, two other RBs on Tuesday". Freep.com. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  36. ↑ "Alouettes shake up roster with four additions, six releases". Montreal Gazette. Presse Canadienne. 2018-01-22. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  37. ↑ Florio, Mike (August 20, 2017). "Spring League to conduct tryouts in multiple cities this fall". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  38. ↑ Lyttle, Kevin (January 18, 2018). "Turner Sports will live-stream pro football venture in Austin". American-Statesman. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  39. ↑ Nathan, Alec (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel to Join the Spring League Scouting Event Amid NFL Comeback". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  40. ↑ Durkee, Travis (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel commits to The Spring League showcase". Sporting News. Omnisport. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Circuit of the Americas punts Spring League". KVUE. March 3, 2018.
  42. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/showcase-registration/
  43. ↑ "Bleacher Report Live". live.bleacherreport.com. Turner Sports. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  44. ↑ Middlehurst-Schwartz, Michael (April 12, 2018). "Johnny Manziel runs for two TDs in second Spring League game". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  45. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/05/06/tsl-dl-roman-braglio-signs-hamilton-tiger-cats-cfl/
  46. ↑ http://www.thespringleague.com/2018/05/24/tsl-dl-harold-brantley-signs-ottawa-redblacks-cfl/
  47. ↑ https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/
  48. ↑ https://www.argonauts.ca/2018/04/16/argos-add-running-back-brandon-burks/
  49. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/17/congrats-rb-brandon-burks-1st-cfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  50. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/30/tsl-te-paul-butler-invited-oakland-raiders-mini-camp/
  51. ↑ https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/raiders-paul-butler-signs-contract-with-oakland/
  52. ↑ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/04/riders-add-former-nfl-rb-david-cobb/
  53. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/05/07/tsl-dl-breion-creer-signs-bc-lions-cfl/
  54. ↑ http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-four-tryouts-waive-Zack-Sanchez/2d9e6a71-6e1e-41eb-a432-e5f9dde06198
  55. ↑ https://thespringleague.com/2018/05/17/tsl-ol-quinterrius-eatmon-signs-carolina-panthers/
  56. ↑ Williams, Charean (2018-04-17). "Falcons sign Tyson Graham, Justin Zimmer". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  57. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/17/congrats-db-tyson-graham-2nd-nfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  58. ↑ http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/mountain-west/boise-state-university/boise-state-football/article210718889.html
  59. ↑ http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Raiders-Sign-Guard-Cameron-Hunt/e04567a5-7a30-402d-b499-403c8ca1da0f
  60. ↑ https://thespringleague.com/2018/05/16/tsl-ol-cameron-hunt-signs-oakland-raiders/
  61. ↑ Tsai, Stephen (2018-04-17). "University of Hawaii alumnus Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea signs with CFL's BC Lions". Staradvertiser.com. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  62. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/17/congrats-lb-kani-kema-kaleiwahea-2nd-cfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  63. ↑ Boren, Cindy (May 19, 2018). "Johnny Manziel is returning to football, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats". Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  64. ↑ Reisman, Jeremy (2018-04-18). "Detroit Lions sign cornerback Raysean Pringle". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  65. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/18/congrats-db-raysean-pringle-3rd-nfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  66. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/23/congrats-s-keith-reineke-3rd-cfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  67. ↑ "Beau Sandland Latest Tight End Addition". Azcardinals.com. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  68. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/04/17/congrats-te-beau-sandland-1st-nfl-signing-spring-leagues-2018-season/
  69. ↑ http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/uni-panthers/karter-schult-attempting-to-land-another-nfl-opportunity-20180507
  70. ↑ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article211094464.html
  71. ↑ https://www.giants.com/news/giants-sign-punter-taylor-symmank
  72. ↑ http://www.thespringleague.com/2018/06/03/tsl-p-taylor-symmank-signs-new-york-giants/
  73. ↑ https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/
  74. ↑ http://www.thespringleague.com/2018/05/21/tsl-db-dwayne-thomas-signs-hamilton-tiger-cats-cfl/
  75. ↑ https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/
  76. ↑ https://www.thespringleague.com/2018/05/05/tsl-dllb-lynden-trail-signs-hamilton-tiger-cats-cfl/
  77. ↑ Munz, Jason (August 1, 2018). "Alliance of American Football announces Memphis team has signed 28 players". The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
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