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_Wanted to start by giving a shoutout to Kenneth from Germany. I am doing all right given the circumstances, and I really appreciate the condolences. If I ever make it to Stuttgart, the cold ones are on me (I hear they are better over there)._
_I'd also like to take a moment to plug the upcoming UFL season for anyone who is as hopelessly addicted to football as I am. If anyone is new to the spring league and looking for a team, I am a fan of the Birmingham Stallions. Their current roster includes Panthers' legends such as Matt Corral, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Deon Cain._
_I'm curious if the Old Guy himself has had a chance to watch any UFL games, and if so, how he feels that product (and other non-NFL football) impacts the direction of the sport at large?_ **— Jake, Candler, NC**
First off, the Mailbag Family crosses all borders, demographic and geographic, and we support each other.
But it's funny you ask about the UFL, because some of my young co-workers (who apparently have excess free time) have adopted teams. The one who pledged allegiance to the Columbus Aviators surprised us by declaring, "I'm prepared to die for them." I'm not even sure [Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr.](https://www.theufl.com/columbus-ted-ginn-jr) or defensive coordinator Captain Munnerlyn, more Panthers legends, would go that far.
I personally don't watch a lot of minor-league football in the offseason for the same reason a lot of chefs don't cook at home. Besides, baseball season just started, and I'm prepared to die for the Cincinnati Reds (or at least spend some of my disposable income for them and check their scores most days and watch games when I can). And the NBA playoffs are just around the corner, and for a change, the Charlotte Hornets appear to be on their way to an invitation.
But I love the idea of minor league football as an abstract concept. It's a good chance for players on the fringes to get reps they wouldn't get otherwise. Ask Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and his old Amsterdam Admirals backup, Jake Delhomme, where they'd be without NFL Europe.
I also think a petri dish to experiment with new rules or technologies is a good thing for the NFL. And even if you don't develop a lot of players, you also create the condition to develop officials, equipment and film staffs, athletic trainers, all the support staff personnel it takes to make this industry work. I'm all for job creation, and would never harsh anyone else's mellow. The heart wants what the heart wants, so if watching Matt Corral helps you enjoy a weekend, go for it.
(As long as this doesn't create a new Weekly Matt Corral Question, which was a longtime feature of the 'Bag.)