The United Football League (UFL) season has concluded with the “United Bowl” on June 13, and all players then became free agents on June 15. The UFL is set up with all of its athletes signing one-year deals, and the season concludes in time for its players to be signed to NFL training camps.
The Arizona Cardinals recently worked out two UFL players.
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Last year, 190 UFL players got workout invitations, with 160 signing training camp contracts. In Week
1, 47 players were on main rosters, practice squad, or some sort of injury list. So far, 23 UFL players have been signed to NFL rosters.
The Cardinals worked out punter Jack Browning from the Orlando Storm and punter Brad Robbins from the Columbus Aviators.
On the surface, bringing in a couple of punters might seem to be a futile function. The Cardinals’ punter, Blake Gillikin, tied for the league lead in average yards per kick with 51.7 average yards per punt. Those are great numbers.
However, Gillikin was injured last year and missed a significant number of games. To make things worse, the injury was back-related. Anyone who has ever had an issue with their back realizes that those types of difficulties return and may diminish, but the problems rarely completely subside. So, there’s that.
Another reason for working out extra punters is the fact that every NFL club brings in competition for every position. Occasionally, a second long snapper might not be signed, but a second kicker and punter are the norm.
Competition in training camp makes both players better. It pushes the starter not to assume that his job is safe. And sometimes, the new guy will beat out the incumbent, and a new regime will begin. Plus, all GMs have a registry of free agents sorted by position. This comes into play when a guy is injured, and the team needs a replacement right away.
Both UFL punters could end up on the training camp roster plus will certainly be added and updated on the free agent records.
Browning (6’-2”, 209 pounds) had an elite career while at San Diego State and was named First Team All-Mountain West and voted Mountain West “Special Teams Player of the Year.” He was on the Groza and the Ray Guy watchlist. Browning took on punter and kicker duties and had a career high of 45.4 average yards per punt.
He has been on the roster of the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was signed to their practice squad and then played five games. He had 10 punts for 425 yards and an average of 42.5.
Browning was second in the UFL in punting average with a 48.6 average, but led in net punting average (40.7).
Robbins (6’-1”, 203 pounds) was selected in Round 6 of the 2023 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after a good college career at Michigan and a 43.0 average. He started his rookie year on IR with a quadriceps injury and was released in October. The following season, he signed with the Bills but was a last-day cutdown. The Las Vegas Raiders then signed Robbins to their practice squad before playing for the Aviators this year.
Neither punter was signed, but it does not mean either won’t be before or during training camp. Currently, Gillikin is the only punter on the roster.
