Tonight on the Football Reporters Online Show-AFC North Division Preview, Plus Special Guest at 9pm Eastern: Peter Schwartz of Sirius radio's "this week in the AFL" , who is also the play by play voice of the NY Dragons discusses the UFL, When the AFL will return, and his take on other football news of the day. Listen at:

Is It June or September? The latest on NFL QB's Merry-Go-Round-Plus Plaxico Burress (again)

The N.Y. Jets latest wunderkind, QB Mark Sanchez finally got his deal done this week. It's worth 50 Million over 5 years, and with incentives could push 60 million. 28 Million of it is gauranteed money. I guess Woody Johnson will be able to sell off the rest of those PSL's now. Rex Ryan can talk all the smack he wants, butt hey still have to make their RB's happy (Shonn Greene still needs to be signed, as well as Jones and Washington deserving new deals), because they will take the pressure off whomever the starting QB is. Don't just think Kellen Clemens will just roll over and play dead.

A lot of Jets players think it's a great idea for the team to go after Ex-Giant receiver Plaxico Burress. Newsflash: he's going to be in jail for at least a few months if not more. He turned down a plea deal that would have limited his jail time to 60 days, plus 1,500 hours of community service. But Plax balked at the idea because it seems he is deathly afraid of serving time on Rikers Island. Sorry Plax: they don't put player's numbers on the back of correctional facility jumpsuits. The Jets players (and fans!) have yet to factor into the equation that Mr. Goodell will also suspend him for play as well. Just ask Mike Vick, because he'll be playing in the UFL this year. Plax is due in court this coming Monday.(late breaking news-We have reports that the case will be continued until September)

Down I-95, it looks like the Eagles finally have shown Donovan McNabb some love, but only so much. Reports are that he has a multi-million dollar raise(5.3 million), but no extension past 2010. This is surely because of a lack of a new CBA between the players and the NFL. You can be sure no veteran players will earn long extensions until the new deal is in place. Translation: Donovan, you have two seasons to win or find somewhere else to whine about losing.

Out in Minnesota, the Brett Farve waiting game continues. Did coach Brad Childress give Farve a deadline or not? Does it matter? If The "Farvelous" one wants to play, he will. His Agent Bus Cook says "Brett is at a different level then most." Which level is that? The level that he's finally realized he should hang it up for good this time? Or the level that says " i could still make a few dollars and be competative for at least a few games." Earth To Brett, come in Brett: please stop trying to embarrass yourself. We Know you were one of the greatest ever to play the game. the sooner you retire the sooner you get the gold jacket and the bust in Canton.

REX GROSSMAN sighting!! Rex has been spotted in Houston Texas, where it is reported that he will compete for the third string QB job against Alex Brink, and behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky. Now you know why half the population of Houston roots for Dallas instead.

In Denver, head coach Josh McDaniels has named QB Kyle Orton the starter during the teams' mini-camp. I had looked like it would be between Orton and Chris Simms as to who would get the nod for the 2009 season. Orton was part of the Jay Cutler deal with the Bears.

Finally, We have reports that Former all pro QB Trent Green Retired late this week after 15 seasons. When interviewed by Foxsports.com Green said "I feel this is finally the right time, I've talked about it with (the family) for a while, especially with the concussions over the last few years. We all felt it was the time to do it." Green returned to the St. Louis area where he was raised for the 2008 season. He also played for the Chargers, Redskins, Dolphins, and
Chiefs over his career.

If you had said to me three years ago that a new professional Football league would start up and play games during the fall, when the NFL and College Football (not to mention High School Football) were in full swing, i would have suggested some sort of substance abuse recovery program. two years ago if you were one of the co-founders of this joint venture and you would have polled veteran sports media types, weather traditional print, or electronic/new media, someone might have said " it might work for a year or two, but it will go the way of the USFL and XFL." Six Months ago I might have said to you "If the economy were different...."

With many in the business world saying that the worst of the financial down turn could be over before the end of the coming holiday season, it just might be the perfect time to launch a new Pro Football league. So today myself and a small but experienced group of football journalists, along with several executives involved with the UFL came together for their first New York based press conference at the Cornell Club in Midtown Manhattan. Commissioner Michael Huyghue opened the media meet and greet with about 6 or so minutes of information commentary, after which he turned it over to the New York franchise' head coach, Ted Cottrell.

Don't let Cotrell's calm business like demeanor fool you. This man is excited to finally have a shot as a head coach, something it looked like he would never get in the NFL, even with 24 years of experience as a position coach and defensive coordinator. To say that he got a raw deal in his last two stops (with San Deigo & the NY Jets) would be an understatement. He warmed up the crowd almost instantly with" Only in NY would a head coach get a round of applause before he's coached a game." He stated that he was truly honored to be in this position.

"If you ask me what kind of team we will have in NY, it will be the kind of team that gives you it's all on the field today."

"I expect to see players playing hard from start to finish, thats what i expect"

Later he told a smaller group of us. " We are trying ti watch the age of the Veteran players we bring in, with the concern that players get worn down"

On Being in NY: " aside from this being the team i was assigned, I love it here. I was here for three years with the Jets, and as an assistant with Rutgers for 9 years, plus i worked in the NFL offices for a year."

On Being a 3-4 Defensive Guru and innovator: "well, this year we will run the 4-3 based on the fact that we want to change things up a bit."

On his assistants: "I had to find a group of guys i could trust, guys i knew well. with the exception of one coach, everyone on this staff has worked with me before.

On His Offensive coordinator: "Wes Chandler" (thats good enough for me!)
Chandler played 11 seasons in the NFL, and was a big part in the 1981 "Epic in Miami" playoff game (6-106-1TD on a 56 yd. punt return). His Coaching career includes stops in NFL Europe, and in the NFL with Dallas, and most recently with Cleveland.

We also Heard from the NY franchise Owner Bill Mayer, the Founder of Park Avenue Equity. Probably the most interesting thing Mr. Mayer let drop is that he was a former NY Jets season ticket holder, and that after a few years of traveling to New Jersey for games He was just plain fed up. "This team will play somewhere east of the east river" said Mayer. Hmmmm...do the math. The New Facility at Citi field would be perfect, but it's playing surface is just not set up for football. That leaves...Hmmm...That college in Hempstead Ny when the Jets used to hold their training camp and practices. We think Hofstra would be a great place, but we will have to wait for a formal announcement.

Final Notes: Every good sports endeavor needs a good P.R. person, and the UFL has a very good one In Rachel Gary. She was fantastic today, and so far in every contact this reporter has had with her. It was also my pleasure to meet and report today with fellow examiner Andy Kossak who is the National Pro Football examiner.