2016 Major League Football season

2016 Major League Football season Major League Football American football Major League Football.png April–August (planned) 40 regular-season games, 3postseason games (planned)https://www.sportsdestinations.com/management/marketing-sponsorships/major-league-football-announces-tv-contract-10895 Major League Football Announces TV Contract Sports Destinations Management March 28, 2016 8 (planned) American Sports Network 2022 The 2016 Major League Football season was the planned inaugural season of the Major League Football (MLFB), a public traded professional football league. The season was cancelled after a major financial backer of the league backed out of a $20 million commitment.http://www.businessobserverfl.com/section/detail/football-leagues-runs-after-lost-20m/ Football league runs after lost $20M Florida Business Observer February 11, 2016 August 1, 2022 February 13, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160213202931/http://www.businessobserverfl.com/section/detail/football-leagues-runs-after-lost-20m/ dead Background MLFB originally planned on having its inaugural season in spring 2016. In January 2016, the MLFB held a draft for eight teams based on territory and announced seven general managers (Jerry Hardaway, Rodney Knox, Gerald Loper, Glenn Smith, Quintin Smith, Stephen Videtich and Martin Prince) and eight head coaches (Dave Campo, Charlie Collins, Ted Cottrell, Robert Ford, Wayne 'Buddy' Geis, Galen Hall, Larry Kirksey and Chris Miller).http://www.mlfbmedia.com/major-league-football-inc-provides-company-update/ MLFB Media official website https://web.archive.org/web/20160215023024/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/major-league-football-inc-provides-company-update/ 15 February 2016 dead However, in February 2016, a major financial backer of the league backed out of a $20 million commitment putting the league's first season in jeopardy.http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-announces-letter-of-intent-for-120-million-in-equity-and-credit-line-financing/ MLFB Announces Letter of Intent for $120 Million in Equity and Credit Line Financing https://web.archive.org/web/20160222212341/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-announces-letter-of-intent-for-120-million-in-equity-and-credit-line-financing/ 22 February 2016 dead The league continued to push forward in an attempt to start games in April 2016, but was unable to come up with the needed financials in order to operate a full season. On March 31, the league announced that the first season would be postponed and 2016 would be considered a "developmental" year.http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-to-launch-2016-development-season/ MLFB to Launch 2016 Development Season MLFB April 1, 2016 But the league would miss at least four months of rent payments on its headquarters in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and eviction papers were served for non-payment of rent beginning in March 2016, ending any hope of starting the season.http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article85530977.html Eviction papers served on Major League Football at Lakewood Ranch Bradenton Herald June 23, 2016 Teams While never officially unannounced, the MLFB has filed trademarks for ten regional teams and have held a territorial draft for eight teams in which coaches draft based on region.https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/major-league-football-inc-3226318/ Major League Football, Inc. Trademarks Justia Trademarks February 17, 2016 The reported names were: Alabama Airborne (Birmingham), Arkansas Attack (Little Rock), Florida Fusion (Orlando),https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/os-major-league-football-orlando-franchise-20150127-story.html Major League Football to include team in Orlando https://web.archive.org/web/20150709234456/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/football/os-major-league-football-orlando-franchise-20150127-story.html 9 July 2015 dead Utah Stand (Salt Lake City), Texas Independence (San Antonio), Oklahoma Nation (Oklahoma City), Ohio Union (Akron), and Northwest Empire (Eugene),https://www.escondidograpevine.com/2015/10/26/new-spring-major-league-football-mlfb-tryouts-come-to-escondido/ New Spring Major League Football (MLFB) tryouts come to Escondido The Escondido Grapevine October 26, 2015 while the league would add the Virginia Armada (Norfolk) and Oregon Crash (Portland) on a later date. The final The eight cities were supposed to be announced after Super Bowl 50.http://americansportsnet.com/draft-complete-major-league-football-one-step-closer-to-spring-kickoff-on-asn/ Draft complete, Major League Football one step closer to spring kickoff on ASN American Sports Network https://web.archive.org/web/20160423065103/http://americansportsnet.com/draft-complete-major-league-football-one-step-closer-to-spring-kickoff-on-asn/ 23 April 2016 dead The final potential teams were: Alabama Airbornehttps://www.birminghamprosports.com/otherteamsmlf.html Will Birmingham play in Major League Football? Arkansas Attackhttps://razorbackers.com/2016/01/29/arkansas-getting-professional-football-team-called-arkansas-attack/ Arkansas is Getting a Professional Football Team called the "Arkansas Attack" 29 January 2016 Fan Sided Florida Fusionhttps://247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Major-League-Footballs-Orlando-team-loading-up-on-Gators-43246559/ Major League Football's Orlando team loading up on Gators 247sportsApril 2024 medicmedic Northwest Empirehttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/major-league-football-targets-eugene-130000877.html Major League Football Targets Eugene, Oregon for Spring Football Franchise Ohio Unionhttps://sg.style.yahoo.com/major-league-football-targets-akron-120000791.html Major League Football Targets Akron, Ohio for 2016 Spring Football Franchise Oklahoma Nationhttps://www.enidnews.com/sports/local_sports/ruthenberg-is-pro-football-coming-to-oklahoma/article_84adfac5-79c0-58b3-8274-815cb7c7af46.html Ruthenberg: Is pro football coming to Oklahoma? Oregon CrashA thankful Mark Mason, a battling Greg Ballard, and a football league on hold, Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune, April 14, 2016 Texas Independencehttps://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/major-league-football-coming-texas/ Could Major League Football Be Coming To Texas? 8 March 2016 Utah Standhttps://www.deseret.com/2016/2/1/20581446/the-utah-stand-minor-league-football-may-be-coming-to-the-beehive-state The Utah Stand? Minor-league football may be coming to the Beehive State February 2016 Virginia Armadahttp://sporrepor.com/major-league-football-adds-virginia-armada-potential-teams/ Major League Football Adds The Virginia Armada To List Of Potential Teams Spor Repor March 8, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160309042350/http://sporrepor.com/major-league-football-adds-virginia-armada-potential-teams/ 9 March 2016 dead Coaches The following coaches were part of the planned 2016 season: Dave Campo (Arkansas Attack) Charlie Collins (Utah Stand) Ted Cottrell (Alabama Airborne) Robert Ford (Texas Independence) Wayne 'Buddy' Geis (Oklahoma Nation) Galen Hall (Florida Fusion) Larry Kirksey (Ohio Union) Chris Miller (Oregon Crash) Players On October 17, 2015, MLFB conducted the first league "Pro-days" simultaneously in Eugene, Oregon and Akron, Ohio,https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2015/10/new_pro_football_league_major.html New pro football league, Major League Football, to hold tryouts in Portland and Eugene October 9, 2015 with additional tryouts on later dates in 14 cities.https://www.newswire.com/news/major-league-football-announces-pro-day-tryout-camps Major League Football Announces "Pro Day" Tryout Camps October 12, 2015https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2015/11/players-have-you-heard-about-the-new-football-league-major-league-football-is-coming-soon/ Players, Have you heard about the new football league? Major League Football is holding workouts November 7, 2015 Every player who participated in the league tryouts had to pay $250 registration fee. Camps were supposed to start on March 30, 2016, at The Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.https://twitter.com/MLFBofficial/status/703249896707645440 BREAKING: MLFB's training camp for all eight teams will begin March 30th at The Premier Sports Campus in FL. Each team would've started the camp with 80 players on the roster and carried a 53-men roster to the regular season.https://www.ran.de/us-sport/nfl/nfl-news/patrick-esume-so-hart-sind-die-training-camps-der-mlfb-1002822 Patrick Esume: That's how tough the MLFB training camps are de https://web.archive.org/web/20160308165226/https://www.ran.de/us-sport/nfl/nfl-news/patrick-esume-so-hart-sind-die-training-camps-der-mlfb-1002822 8 March 2016 dead For the 2016 season, the players would've been paid $3,000 per win and $2,000 per losshttps://www.foxbusiness.com/features/meet-major-league-football-an-nfl-alternative Meet Major League Football, An NFL Alternative FOXbusiness February 23, 2016 (later reports said $3,500 and $2,500 respectively), while a designated "franchise player" on each team would've make $5,000 per week. All players were able to sign with other league at any point in the season, other than the last two weeks if their team was in the playoffs.https://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/suspension-of-mlfb-season-may-make-players-available-to-cfl-teams Suspension of MLFB season may make players available to CFL teams April 7, 2016 Draft The 2016 MLFB Draft was the inaugural player selection process to fill the rosters of the eight teams of the planned 2016. "More than 2,000 players" were in the draft pool.http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-concludes-first-day-of-2016-draft-announcing-selection-of-franchise-players/ MLFB Concludes First Day of 2016 Draft Announcing Selection of 'Franchise Players' MLFB website January 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160430163430/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-concludes-first-day-of-2016-draft-announcing-selection-of-franchise-players/ 30 April 2016 dead The 70 rounds player allocation process was held in three phases: "Franchise player draft"http://www.mlfbmedia.com/meet-the-eight-mlfb-franchise-players/ Meet the Eight MLFB Franchise Players MLFB website January 27, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160502174927/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/meet-the-eight-mlfb-franchise-players/ 2 May 2016 dead (day 1), "Territorial"Territorial Draft Tracker, MLFB Staff, MLFB website, January 28, 2016 (day 2) and "National"National Draft Tracker, MLFB Staff, MLFB website, January 29, 2016 (day 3). Also, each team was allowed to sign 10 "post draft free agents".Post-Draft Free Agency Signings, MLFB Staff, MLFB website, March 11, 2016 As a result of not finalizing teams locations, all teams were received the name of the assigned coach ("Team Campo", "Team Cottrell" etc.). Franchise player draft The "Franchise player draft" was the first round of 70 for the Major League Football (MLFB) draft, held in advance of the planned 2016 season.Franchise Player Draft Tracker, MLFB Staff, MLFB website, January 27, 2016 Rnd. Pick # Team Player Position College 1 1 Team Campohttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-campo-drafted-roster/ Team Campo – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216080258/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-campo-drafted-roster/ 16 February 2016 dead Joe Adams WR/KR Arkansas 1 2 Team Collinshttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-collins-drafted-roster/ Team Collins – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216071054/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-collins-drafted-roster/ 16 February 2016 dead Chris Bonner QB CSU-Pueblo 1 3 Team Cottrellhttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-cottrell-drafted-roster Team Cottrell – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216194349/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-cottrell-drafted-roster 16 February 2016 dead Taylor Belsterlinghttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/the-trials-of-timing-taylor-belsterlings-timing-goes-from-unlucky-to-franchise/ The Trials of Timing: Taylor Belsterling's Timing Goes From Unlucky to Franchise MLFB website January 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160417011727/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/the-trials-of-timing-taylor-belsterlings-timing-goes-from-unlucky-to-franchise/ 17 April 2016 dead WR Huntingdon 1 4 Team Fordhttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-ford-drafted-roster/ Team Ford – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216080301/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-ford-drafted-roster/ 16 February 2016 dead Casey Pachall QB TCU 1 5 Team Geishttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-geis-drafted-roster/ Team Geis – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216071112/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-geis-drafted-roster/ 16 February 2016 dead Emmanuel Stephens DE Ole Miss 1 6 Team Hallhttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-hall-drafted-roster/ Team Hall – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216070900/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-hall-drafted-roster/ 16 February 2016 dead Stephen Garcia QB South Carolina 1 7 Team Kirkseyhttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-kirksey-drafted-roster Team Kirksey – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216070913/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-kirksey-drafted-roster 16 February 2016 dead Dan LeFevour QB Central Michigan 1 8 Team Millerhttp://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-miller-drafted-roster Team Miller – Drafted Roster MLFB website January 30, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160216080325/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/team-miller-drafted-roster 16 February 2016 dead Darron Thomas QB Oregon Season finances On February 5, 2016, MLFB announced that Clairemont Private Investment Group, LLC had breached its agreement with the company to invest $20 million into the League.http://www.mlfbmedia.com/major-league-football-inc-provides-company-update/ Major League Football, Inc. Provides Company Update February 8, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160215023024/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/major-league-football-inc-provides-company-update/ 15 February 2016 dead On February 17 the league claimed it signed a Letter of Intent to secured $120 Million in Equity and Credit Line Financing from Asian Global Capital, Ltd. The funding agreement was expected to include a $20 million equity purchase of MLFB common stock, a $100,000,000 line of credit.http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-announces-letter-of-intent-for-120-million-in-equity-and-credit-line-financing/ MLFB Announces Letter of Intent for $120 Million in Equity and Credit Line Financing MLFB website February 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160423145109/http://www.mlfbmedia.com/mlfb-announces-letter-of-intent-for-120-million-in-equity-and-credit-line-financing/ 23 April 2016 dead Nevertheless, by June 2016, the league would miss at least four months of rent payments on its headquarters in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and eviction papers were served for non-payment of rent beginning in March 2016. Media On January 12, 2016, MLFB announced a two-year television deal with the American Sports Network. External links Official website (archive) References 30em Category:2016 in American football Category:Cooperatives in the United States Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States