SACRAMENTO MOUNTAIN LIONS
New Home, New Expectations

The Sacramento Mountain Lions, the West Coast franchise of the United Football League (UFL), has received a warm reception in Sacramento. Formerly the California Redwoods, who debuted in San Francisco last year, the Lions are stocked with competitive former NFL players, including ex-Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green is the team’s head coach and general manager and the majority owner is Paul Pelosi of San Francisco. The league was conceived of and founded by William Hambrecht, also of San Francisco.

The UFL has five franchises playing in markets where the NFL has no current presence. The league consists primarily of players that have at one time or another played for a NFL team. While the league has no connection with the NFL, some have speculated that it could become a minor or "developmental" league for the NFL. Other reports described the league as a competitor to the NFL. It has been speculated in the press that the UFL’s long-term business plan is to be present if or when the NFL and its players union reach the end of their contract in 2011, giving players who would be locked out or striking an opportunity to play somewhere else. The NFL Players Association has advised any NFL player cut in training camp to consider the UFL as an employment opportunity.