SEMI PRO FOOTBALL...

WARLORD_123 · Jan 19, 2010

Has anyone here played or currently play semi pro ball. I got invited to come and try out for the local team today.

malcom young · Jan 19, 2010

Pass, last thig I want to do is get hurt for free!

WARLORD_123 · Jan 19, 2010

malcom young said:
Pass, last thig I want to do is get hurt for free!

Agreed... But, I think there is a paycheck involved.

biggTdogg · Jan 19, 2010

Yeah, I played for one in my home town a couple years ago. We didn't get paid but there are teams that do, but it's not much. I'm more interested in staying healthy for bodybuilding now.

buzzkill44 · Jan 19, 2010

all the ones that i have been asked to be on you have to buy all your equipment and don't get anything in return other than to play with a bunch of 30yo+ could-of-beens. i guess it's good if you love the game and don't have a current hobby. also you may get some sort of pay, but you better have some good insurance. there's a lot of late hits and dirty players in semi-pro. at least around here.

mass_chaos · Jan 19, 2010

Played in the NAFL a few years back. It can be worth it as long as you are with a well established team. There was a kick returner for the N.O. Saints a few years ago that got his start in the NAFL. It was a really good success story because the guy used to deliver beer to the same stadium. These story are rare but being an IFBB Pro is a long shot as well.

AZBodyZone · Jan 19, 2010

WARLORD_123 said:
Agreed... But, I think there is a paycheck involved.

I played for 2 seasons here in AZ and, no there is no paycheck, and its play at your own risk. The result was 2 plates and 10 screws in my left shoulder.

Legend10 · Jan 19, 2010

I have played in the past and from there signed a arena football contract which i have been playing for the past 6 seasons.

EL DIABLO · Jan 19, 2010

Have played in two differen leagues in different parts of the country in past years. One was a bit bigger and more orginized than the other, but at the end of the day were the same. No paycheck, dirty players, alot of out of pocket expenses, etc. It was definately made out to be alot better to me than it actually was. I do however have a friend who went from there on to arena football. Last I heard he was in Iowa or something like that making an average paycheck...enough to put food on the table anyway. Its a matter of risk vs. reward, and what your wanting out of it.

WARLORD_123 · Jan 19, 2010

Thanks for the responses guys. I will have to investigate this league a little better before I commit to anything.

Steve123 · Jan 19, 2010

WARLORD_123 said:
Thanks for the responses guys. I will have to investigate this league a little better before I commit to anything.

Be safe. Seems like allot of risk for no return at all. It's not exactly Tennis we're talking here. But hey, if you love the game and it's part of you, go for it.

I'm taking up Surfing this summer. NOt exactly risk free by any means but it's not like getting in a car accident on every snap - lol.

Either way, I guess if you want to feel the wind in your hair, you have to take some risk.

mike913 · Jan 19, 2010

After reading this thread I decided to see if there was any teams in my area and sure enough a team was just started not even two weeks ago in my county. It seems to be pretty popular these days, the only problem is that teams don't seem to stay around for very long.

WARLORD_123 · Jan 20, 2010

mike913 said:
After reading this thread I decided to see if there was any teams in my area and sure enough a team was just started not even two weeks ago in my county. It seems to be pretty popular these days, the only problem is that teams don't seem to stay around for very long.

Ive been researching my local team, and they seem to be fairly well established. The State league has quite a few teams in it as well.

Rolex · Jan 20, 2010

I was going to try out for a semi pro team, many years ago.. But my ailing back prevented me from doing it. Best of luck in making the team.

FRKNHUGE · Jan 20, 2010

yes i have, and no its not worth even the thought of it IMO
frk

malcom young · Jan 21, 2010

mass_chaos said:
Played in the NAFL a few years back. It can be worth it as long as you are with a well established team. There was a kick returner for the N.O. Saints a few years ago that got his start in the NAFL. It was a really good success story because the guy used to deliver beer to the same stadium. These story are rare but being an IFBB Pro is a long shot as well.

MICHAEL LEWIS

In 2000, he was a former Budweiser beer truck driver (thus, the nickname "Beer Man") who never went to college, and waded through the various semi-professional football leagues, pro indoor leagues, and the Arena Football League.

Michael returned back to his hometown to deliver beer locally. But, at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season the New Orleans Saints gave him a chance by signing him.
Lewis was the feature return specialist for the Saints from 2002 until September 19, 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, where he injured his MCL and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season. He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens

In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt)[5]. He is currently the Saints' all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482).

GEAUX SAINTS!!

Huge_C2 · Jan 21, 2010

I made one of the teams out here last year and i have never played football.. I played college basketball.. I decided to not play because i really didnt want to get hurt my some goon trying to relive his highschool days..

mass_chaos · Jan 22, 2010

malcom young said:
MICHAEL LEWIS

In 2000, he was a former Budweiser beer truck driver (thus, the nickname "Beer Man") who never went to college, and waded through the various semi-professional football leagues, pro indoor leagues, and the Arena Football League.

Michael returned back to his hometown to deliver beer locally. But, at the end of the 2000 NFL regular season the New Orleans Saints gave him a chance by signing him.
Lewis was the feature return specialist for the Saints from 2002 until September 19, 2005 during a game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, where he injured his MCL and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the season. He returned to playing for the Saints a year later on October 29, 2006 during a home game against the Baltimore Ravens

In 2002, Lewis set an NFL record for combined kick-punt return yardage with 2,432 yards total (1,807 kickoff, 625 punt)[5]. He is currently the Saints' all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482).

GEAUX SAINTS!!

Good looking out man. I couldn't remember his name for the life of me.

Diesel City · Jan 22, 2010

Be careful! There are a lot of guys that play this with zero respect for the game, and are only in it to get that one big hit.

alan1973 · Sep 20, 2011

i looked up this rather old thread out of curiosity since basically this one dude said that semi-pro football ain't a real sport.
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/f...unta-needs-get-shot-kneecaps.html#post1088487
I played for love of the game and thought that just maybe I might have a chance for the next level if I could prove myself in the 2 years of semi-pro I played, despite the 7 years in between where I was stationed overseas where there was only flag football (still made the base team though!). I played in high school and football will ALWAYS be in my heart despite no longer able to play the game. My old coach used to say that toughness comes from the heart and the will to push yourself past the point where you think you can't go further. that taught me a lot about life.