Developing Story

There's more than one way to reach the NFL

IN DECEMBER, REPORTS surfaced that a developmental league made up of unsigned NFL veterans would take place this spring, and last week brought news of a new league to develop players who did not suit up after high school. The Pacific Pro League was founded by Don Yee, Tom Brady's agent; retired receiver Ed McCaffrey; and former Fox Sports executive Jeff Husvar, and the board includes coach Mike Shanahan, former VP of NFL officiating Mike Pereira and ESPN's Adam Schefter. The idea—creating a path to the NFL that does not require college—is not a new one. At least two other developmental leagues exist. Here's how they stack up.

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

	PACIFIC PRO LEAGUE	RIVALS	GRIDIRON
FIRST GAME	2018	2012	2010
WHERE	Southern California	Detroit (four teams), Miami (four)	East Coast to Midwest
SEASON	Summer	Detroit, spring; Miami, fall	Spring and summer
PLAYERS	High school grads, younger than 22 years old	18 and older	Post--high school
TEAMS	Four	Eight	32 (although it varies)
GAMES	Eight	8--10	Eight
ROSTER	50 players per team	45--60 players per team	60--80 players per team
SALARY	$50,000 per year plus community college tuition	$500 to $1,500 per game; performance-based for rookies	Varies (not everyone gets paid)
FOUNDERS	Yee, McCaffrey, et al.	Quentin Hines	Charles Thompson
CFL ALUMNI	N/A	Keith Franklin, Roughriders, RB	Tyron Carrier, Alouettes, WR
NFL ALUMNI	N/A	None	Delvin Breaux, Saints, CB