Is "7" Headed For The UFL...?

((HT: Howard Balzer/cbssports))

Those of us at OSG HQ would venture to say that we had talked about this idea before, but we'll let Howard Balzer give his version since he tells us who the new UFL head coaches are.

The fledgling United Football League, set to play in four cities beginning in October, will officially announce its four head coaches at a news conference in San Francisco on Wednesday.

In addition to former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel, who will lead the Las Vegas team, the UFL has hired Dennis Green as San Francisco's coach, Jim Haslett for Orlando and Ted Cottrell for New York. All except Cottrell have been head coaches in the NFL.

It is also believed the league is trying to have former NFL quarterback Michael Vick play in its inaugural season.

Each team will play six games, with the championship game expected to be played in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving weekend. The UFL has announced a deal for a Thursday night game of the week to be televised on Versus, which is also home for NHL games.

Each team will have three "home" games, but all won't be played in the "named" city. New York will play a game in Hartford, Conn., Las Vegas will play a game in Los Angeles and San Francisco will play a game in Sacramento, Calif.

Fassel was last a head coach with the New York Giants in 2003, Green with Arizona in 2006 and Haslett was the interim coach for St. Louis last season. Cottrell is a longtime NFL assistant who was fired by the San Diego Chargers during the 2008 season as defensive coordinator. He was a coach with the USFL's New Jersey Generals in 1983-84.

Said UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue, "With the confirmation of four teams and the announcement of an infusion of a $30 million investment to operate the league, the UFL is excited to bring affordable, accessible football to underserved markets this October. [This] will allow us to set the foundation within the cities we feel would be a good fit, demonstrate the terrific talent of the coaches and players at our high level of competition, and integrate innovation into all aspects of the league so we are ready for expansion in 2010."

Head coaches will reportedly be paid $500,000 for the season.