Misplaced Pages

#963036

52-753: 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. According to

104-659: A Division III school that does not offer athletic scholarships. At Coe College, Jackson was named to four All-American teams in 2002, rushing for 2,702 yards and 29 touchdowns . He was a two-time Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference MVP for the Kohawks. He was also the MVP of the 2003 Stars Bowl . He graduated in 2003 with a degree in sociology . After trying out for the Chicago Bears , Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers , he went on to play indoor football for

156-577: A Wild Card berth in the playoffs, marking Jackson's first time participating in the postseason. On January 10, the Seahawks beat the Vikings 10–9 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, giving Jackson his first career playoff win. After spending the 2016 season out of football, Jackson announced an attempt at a comeback by signing with The Spring League , a league formed from the remains of

208-428: A career day with 212 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown. In the 2010 season, Jackson finished with 222 carries for 927 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns to go along with 31 receptions for 215 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 16 games and 13 starts. In 2011 , Jackson was having his best season to date, as the team's undisputed starting running back. Jackson had six 100-yard rushing games in

260-540: A career-high in catches with 46 for 371 yards and two more scores and also completed a 27-yard touchdown pass. Jackson also had 1,014 kickoff return yards making him the first player in NFL history to compile 1,000 rushing and 1,000 kickoff return yards. The 2,516 combined yards are the fifth highest all-purpose yards total in NFL history. In Week 17 of the 2009 season, versus the Indianapolis Colts , Jackson had

312-494: A player development fee and provide their own insurance to participate. Isos Capital Management is one of the league's investors. Teams active at the last league season. Before the 2020 Fall season, no official champion were named by the league. Fall Experimental Football League Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include

364-575: A player to the sideline for less than a penalty level offense. 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

416-416: 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. On July 15, 2017,

468-569: A practice received 30,000 views. Coaches with long NFL or College experience included quarterback coach Terry Shea , Steve Fairchild , Donnie Henderson , Dennis Creehan and Art Valero (offensive line). For the April games, the league had four teams and 105 players. Its players included NFL veterans Fred Jackson , Anthony "Boobie" Dixon , Ben Tate , Greg Hardy , Ricky Stanzi , McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Ahmad Bradshaw . The players ranged from two to 10 years out from college. The league indicated two CFL and 10 NFL teams had their scouts visit

520-509: A standout sprinter, Jackson was a state-qualifier in the 100 meters and recorded a time of 21.78 seconds as a member of the Lamar 4 × 100 m relay squad, breaking the previous record. During his senior year, 14 of his teammates signed letters of intent to play college football , but he did not receive any offers. Instead, Wayne Phillips, his Nichols Junior High School football coach, arranged for him and his brother to enroll into Coe College ,

572-744: 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. The league had try-outs in various cities in October and November 2017 and February 2018. On December 7, 2017, The Spring League announced it would play its second season in Austin, Texas beginning in late March 2018. The league

SECTION 10

#1732780624964

624-464: Is now a part of Spectrum News One 's post game show, Buffalo End Zone. Along with fellow Bills alumni Brian Moorman and Terrence McGee and other prominent Buffalo figures, Jackson operates SEAR, a high-end steakhouse located within The Avant in downtown Buffalo. The restaurant closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In October 2018, Jackson teamed up with Codes Socks LLC to create

676-607: The 2009 season , Jackson signed a four-year contract extension to stay with the Bills. In Week 2 of the 2009 season, Jackson had 28 carries for 163 rushing yards in the 33–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . At the end of the 2009 season, after winning the starting job from Lynch in Week 12, Jackson eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career with 1,062 yards and two touchdowns. He also set

728-638: The Coe Kohawks . After going undrafted in 2003 and playing two indoor football seasons and later in NFL Europe , Jackson spent nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills , becoming their third all-time leading rusher. In the 2015 season, he was the oldest active running back in the NFL. Jackson attended Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas , where he played football. Although he was a member of

780-651: The Philadelphia Eagles against the Cincinnati Bengals . In a 2007 victory over the Miami Dolphins , Jackson rushed for 115 yards with a long of 27 yards to top the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in his NFL career. Teammate Marshawn Lynch rushed for 107 yards, marking the first time the Buffalo Bills had two players rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since 1996 when Thurman Thomas and Darick Holmes accomplished

832-653: The Sioux City Bandits . Jackson played two seasons for the Bandits in the National Indoor Football League (2004) and United Indoor Football (2005). He was named the 2005 UIF co-MVP in 2005; in 18 games he ran for 1,770 yards and scored 53 touchdowns (40 rushing, 11 pass receiving and 2 on kick returns). During this time, he also worked as a youth counselor at Boys & Girls Home Family Services to make ends meet. His jersey number

884-452: 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. Also tested was the tap rule, which allows a referee to send

936-484: The Bills released Jackson as part of roster cuts. He finished third on the Bills' all-time rushing list. On September 7, 2015, Jackson signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks , reuniting him with former Buffalo teammate Marshawn Lynch . He finished the 2015 season with 26 carries for 100 rushing yards and 32 receptions for 257 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The Seahawks clinched

988-550: The FXFL, after two abbreviated seasons of operation, announced it had suspended operations in hopes of finding a more effective business model. A developmental league continued to be an internal NFL discussion as of December 2016 with a decision deadline of February 2017. 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, yet The Spring League has some prominent differences from

1040-472: 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. 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. By 2019, the application fee had jumped to $ 2000, as players now also had to cover room and board as part of

1092-434: 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. Unlike

SECTION 20

#1732780624964

1144-649: The Seahawks' training facility between Fred Jackson and teammate Marshawn Lynch ended with Jackson crashing his Corvette , first into a planter box and then a stop sign. However police later denied the report and said he was simply driving too fast. Jackson had his own television program airing on WBBZ-TV . The Fred Jackson Show aired Mondays during football season. It debuted on September 10, 2012, and ran for Jackson's last three years in Buffalo. In 2018, Jackson signed with MSG Western New York to be an analyst for its weekly postgame series, Bills Tonight . Jackson

1196-605: The South Division in Houston, Texas . 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 . The Linemen beat the Jousters 26–23 in the first and only Mega Bowl , and won the TSL championship. Linemen QB Ryan Willis won both final and regular season MVP awards. On June 3, 2021, Woods announced that he had acquired

1248-602: 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. Flofootball.com's FloPRO subscription service streamed the game. 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

1300-614: The USA Today All Joe Team as he was no longer Pro Bowl eligible. He was ranked 83rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012 . On May 5, 2012, Jackson signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the Bills until 2015. He finished the 2012 season with 115 carries for 437 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 34 receptions for 217 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in ten games and eight starts. Jackson had arguably

1352-612: The United States . The league held its annual Summer Showcase in July in Glendale, Colorado with a total of 85 players 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. In October 2020 FS1 reached a multi-year agreement to televise The Spring League along with

1404-574: The XFL - the first in June in Mission Viejo, California 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. 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. A "Fall Showcase"

1456-626: The XFL's official development league. 2019 season practice began March 31, 2019 with double headers on April 6 and 11, 2019. Each of the four teams played two games. 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 . The remaining three teams retained their generic North, East and West brandings. The league held its two "Summer Showcases" in partnership with

1508-671: The best season of his career in 2013. Despite playing as the backup to C. J. Spiller most weeks, Jackson accumulated 1,283 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 total touchdowns. On October 19, 2014, Jackson suffered a groin injury against the Minnesota Vikings . He returned on November 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs . Jackson finished the 2014 season with 141 carries for 525 rushing yards to go along with 66 receptions for 501 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 14 games and nine starts. On August 31, 2015,

1560-647: 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 . Following the April games another "Summer Showcase" was announced for July 2018. 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. For

1612-491: The details below. Request from 172.68.168.237 via cp1104 cp1104, Varnish XID 213878051 Upstream caches: cp1104 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:57:05 GMT Fred Jackson (running back) Frederick George Jackson (born February 20, 1981) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for

The Spring League - Misplaced Pages Continue

1664-472: The end of his life as a recluse in Las Vegas. Mettenberger agreed to return as a quarterback. The registration fee for The Spring League's March 2020 season in Las Vegas was $ 2,100. 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

1716-537: The feat. In the 2007 season, Jackson appeared in eight games and finished with 58 carries for 300 rushing yards and had 22 receptions for 190 receiving yards. In Week 17 of the 2008 season, Jackson had 27 carries for 136 rushing yards against the New England Patriots . In the 2008 season, Jackson had 130 carries for 571 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 37 receptions for 317 receiving yards in 16 games and three starts. Before

1768-449: The fee; players with professional experience are exempt from this fee. Players must also cover their own health insurance. The league also assists in developing NFL referees. 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

1820-403: The first ten weeks. During a Week 11 loss to Miami , however, Jackson suffered a fractured fibula . Jackson was placed on injured reserve later in the week and missed the remainder of the season. The Bills had already been on a three-game losing streak when Jackson was injured, but lost all games but one for the rest of the 2011 season without Jackson. For his strong performance he was named to

1872-550: The first time in league history. 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. 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

1924-420: The former Fall Experimental Football League , for its summer 2017 showcase. In April 2018, Jackson confirmed he was in talks with the Bills to sign a one-day contract and formally retire as a member of the team. The contract was signed, and Jackson subsequently retired, on April 18, 2018. Jackson is married and has four children. On October 20, 2015, it was initially reported that a drag race just outside

1976-415: The league "six figures" to test-run its rulebook, a payment that allowed The Spring League to turn a profit that year for the first time. 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. CEO Woods founded The Spring League in early 2016. On December 22, 2016, SiriusXM NFL Radio initially reported

2028-473: 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. 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 . On March 3, the league did not execute on

2080-741: The league as being owned by the NFL, but retracted that by the end of the day. The NFL informed its teams of the league's existence and its plans to operate from April 5 through April 26, 2017. 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, 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

2132-543: The league records, as of May 2021, more than 100 former players have signed contracts with a National Football League (NFL) team. The National Football League (NFL) has not had an official developmental league since 2007 with NFL Europe . Several other developmental leagues unaffiliated with the NFL have arisen, such as the FXFL, Gridiron Developmental Football League , and the Rivals Professional Football League . On September 2, 2016,

The Spring League - Misplaced Pages Continue

2184-419: 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. 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

2236-716: The new USFL. On February 18, 2022, Woods stated that TSL was "no longer operational", but later reports indicate that it will continues as a business although the football operations are suspended. In June 2023 it was announced that Woods is planning to launch a 11-on-11 spring football league for high school players called the Prep Super League. 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 . Players will pay

2288-494: 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. 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, based out of the San Antonio Alamodome . Fox Sports 1 aired games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The league stated that this time

2340-527: The players did not pay to attend, but Woods later explained that some players did pay, while select others did not. All six teams had brands and names, including the returning Generals (originally from Austin ), Aviators (re-branded from Las Vegas Hughes), and four new teams: the Blues (modified from the FXFL Blacktips ), Alphas (a wolf motif), Conquerors and Jousters . In November 2020, amid

2392-463: The powerful Lamar Vikings teams of the late 1990s, he never started a game in his two years on the varsity team because he was considered too small (5 ft 8 in, 160 pounds) and too slow. He began his senior year as a third-string running back , and only after a knee injury to starter Justin Faust (headed to Stanford ), was he elevated to second-string behind Tommicus Walker (headed to TCU ). Also

2444-454: 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. 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, probably as a scouting showcase or developmental operation. It was later reported that TSL in no longer associated with

2496-571: The team with 731 rushing yards. Jackson was invited to training camp with the Buffalo Bills in 2006 by Bills general manager Marv Levy , a Coe College alumnus himself. He made his first career start against the Washington Redskins in 2007, rushing for 82 yards while catching four passes for 69 yards in a Bills victory. He became the first Division III running back to start an NFL game since December 24, 2000, when former Ferrum College running back Chris Warren started for

2548-657: 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. In March 2021, TSL announced that they reached a partnership agreement with Stephen Austin 's American National Combines , and were to hold tryouts for

2600-464: Was also to have a football-specific tech forum and a joint internship program with the University of Texas’ Center for Sports Leadership & Innovation. 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 . On February 14,

2652-822: Was held in September in Marietta, Georgia , and in November they held another showcase in Miami, Florida . For 2020, TSL played a showcase game against the Japan national American football team at the Ford Center at The Star March 1, and the main competition March 7 and 11 at Sam Boyd Stadium . The designated home team (formerly West) was dubbed the Las Vegas Hughes, named after Howard Hughes , who spent much of

SECTION 50

#1732780624964

2704-647: Was retired by the Bandits in 2008. While with the Bandits in 2004, Jackson's childhood home in Arlington, Texas , was torn down to make way for Cowboys Stadium , which replaced Texas Stadium as the home of the Dallas Cowboys in 2009. Jackson played in his former neighborhood on November 13, 2011, when the Bills faced the Cowboys. Jackson played in NFL Europa for the Rhein Fire in 2006, leading

#963036