PFS co-founder Lance Heron spoke to the Sports Techie community blog about their new professional football league, located in California and Nevada. They have designed a league where all teams are owned by the league owners and investors. The Professional Football Showcase Promise mission is to provide players with a platform to showcase their talents, while pursuing the idea that the players always come first. The league is designed to take the players and coaches best interests into account, making it the league’s primary focus.
PFS
What this means is that transportation, accommodations for out of town players and food will be covered by the league. There will also be a fixed salary of $300 per player, per game. The PFS will provide insurance for the players, so that they are taken care of in the event of injury. Each team can only have 10 out of area players.
Investors
They are presently looking for a few more PFS investors and sponsors. Where they differ and other pro leagues such as the USFL and NFSL have faltered, according to Lance, are with adherence to, “Christian values, honesty, character and integrity.”
Some leagues are asking healthy investors fees (USFL $7.0 Million, NSFL $2.5 Million) to start a franchise, as they have teams all over the US making travel costs a major part of expenses. The PFS is asking from $35,000 per year for 3 years, for a 1 percent ownership, or $150,000 per year for 3 years, for a 5 percent ownership.
Lance Heron Co Founder
Lance is an ex-military Policeman, Customs Inspector and Customs Investigator. He was headed to work one day and was crushed by a commuter train door. Heron was retired by the government as a result of commuter injuries and developed an intense pain condition. He could no longer sit around, so he began coaching high school football again. Heron moved up to coach at an NCAA Division II school and in Germany. Next, he was the General Manager and Head Coach for a professional team in New Mexico. While working for them he mentioned how the owner was taking advantage of the players by not paying bills and breaking promises.
Lance hails from Vancouver Island, Canada. In many ways, he is far removed from the inner city life of Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the surrounding regions. Yet, he believes in what he is doing because of an unshakeable faith in the Lord. He wants a football loving community who puts God first involved at all levels, from the water boy to the offensive coordinator. There will be no beer or alcohol served at games. Sportsmanship and fair play are critical components to the PFS code of conduct.
Players
The PFS will target talented players who have been overlooked, are late bloomers or did not have the financial ability to pay for college. Lance shared how the cost of driving from east L.A. to Las Vegas prohibits some athletes from trying out. Hotel room costs plus food on top of that can extinguish a budding football players careers after high school ends because they cannot afford to play on. He says there are try-out camps that have charged $65 only to skip town with cash from 3,000 to 6,000 registered players.
I asked Lance how they plan on making sure that players and coaches are actual Christians or have some type of official status of a religious faith. He said, “There will be a screening process that involves player evaluations and follow up phone calls.”
The PFS promises to promote its players to higher paying leagues, and allow those players who get invites to try out for these leagues, the opportunity to be released from their contracts. The sports business was designed to give football players a chance to earn professional game film and allow them a chance to be seen by area scouts, in a professional football environment.
Coaches / Admin
Five former CFL general managers and head coaches such as Adam Rita, Ray Jauch and several others are in. Good PFS coach and personnel candidates might be later in their career or young coaches. Young men who are need of mentoring by experienced coaches should take a look at the PFS Showcase. Send a note or video to Lance if you want to be evaluated or considered by the PFS in any capacity.
Facing the Giants
A football movie I learned to love while working as the Moderator for the New York Giants Official Historical Wiki is titled – Facing the Giants. I told Lance that I fell in love with this movie because it is one of the best football movies of all-time and it reminded me of his cause. The Christian theme only added to the movie’s entertainment and value. I share this because I want you to imagine the PFS full of people like the Head Coach, his players and fans that make up this inspiring movie.
Facing the Giants (2006) Full Movie
Sponsors
Professional Football Showcase game time promises to allow the general public to feel comfortable attending and cheering for their local team. Because of the family friendly fan base of men, women and children, alcohol consumption will not be allowed at the games, nor will conduct contrary to well-defined sportsmanship and fair play rules.
Feel free to contact at [email protected] if you have any questions or know of any investors who want the business plan or may want to sponsor the PFS combine.
Sports Techie, Being seen on PFS film playing at a high performance level during a closely fought game might be a player’s ticket to the CFL or NFL.
There is no story like that of Brian Banks, the Atlanta Falcons’ 28-year-old rookie linebacker who lost 10 years to a wrongful rape conviction. Lucky for him, he is still good enough to possibly play this season on an NFL team but reality is that most players never play pro football for a variety reasons.
Steven Rhodes was ruled ineligible because he played in a recreational league during his military service. The NCAA then reversed the rule that disallowed this Middle Tennessee football player who spent five years in the Marines to compete this fall and he now has four years of eligibility remaining. “It’s nothing but a blessing,” Rhodes said after practice, which is indeed the good word to Heron’s ears.
Hopefully, these types of stories motivate other players who are in need of a second chance to give it a shot. The new PFS plans to provide for God fearing players who meet their religious code of conduct.
This sports tech era has full-time sports TV channel and Internet wars ongoing between ESPN, FS1, CBSSN, and NBCSN. Content that is compelling and has a following will be ripe for acquisition by these media giants who need to sustain watchable content, 24/7. Perhaps the PFS can make this happen in the future with the right investors and sponsors today. Here is to hoping that Lance and his partner can realize their football league dream and make the PFS so.
I will see ya when I see ya, THE Sports Techie @THESportsTechie – http://twitter.com/THESportsTechie
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PFS Quote of the Week:
“Who can climb Mount God? Who can scale the holy north-face?
Only the clean-handed, Only the pure hearted,
Men who won’t cheat, Women who won’t seduce.”