Some players who either played, or are thinking of playing, in the United Football League eventually want to get to, or back to, the National Football League.

While the NFL still is a goal of his, Las Vegas Locomotives tight end Adam Bergen is happy where he is, thank you.

Bergen, 26, is in the middle of an offseason as a UFL-champion Locomotive. And beyond earning a championship ring, he enjoyed his time playing in the inaugural UFL season.

“I thought it was a great experience,” Bergen said in a phone interview Monday night. “It was a lot of fun. They hired a lot of coaches that have been around the game. Overall, I thought the experience was fantastic.

“No one thought of it as a developmental league. Looking at the people that played, you can’t really say it was a developmental league. For some people, they were able to play and then get in the NFL. The coaches are out there to win games, the players are going out to win games. It’s just another football league, something other than the NFL that’s out there.”

Bergen said he took a couple weeks off following the Locomotives’ 20-17 overtime victory over the Florida Tuskers in the first-ever UFL championship game, but he is in the midst of preparing for the upcoming UFL season in Arizona. Bergen said he worked out for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints after the UFL title game, but nothing came of it.

“Obviously, it’s everyone’s goal to be in the NFL,” Bergen said. “I thought I had a good year, and thought something would happen.”

Bergen started the entire 2009 season at tight end for the Locos, catching 16 passes during the regular season, then another seven in the title game. That came after 43 catches over two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2005-06).

Each UFL team has a player representative, and Bergen represented the Locos in a recent meeting with UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue in Orlando, Fla.

“We spoke with the commissioner, and he kind of just told us what the league wants to do for the upcoming season,” Bergen said. “All in all, the meeting went really well. The changes are going to help a lot. I think the league is definitely heading in the right direction.”

Bergen said it is his understanding that he’s been protected by the Locos from the upcoming expansion draft, and that each team protected 20 players. It’s clear he wants to play in Vegas this fall.

“Vegas was definitely the best site out of the four (initial) franchises,” said Bergen. “The fans were really excited about it. Hopefully, the coming season, we’re able to sell out Sam Boyd Stadium.

“I’ve been in Vegas since then, and they know about the UFL now. I think a lot of people are excited about it.”

As for the recent report from Pro Football Talk about a rumor that the NFL was in talks with the UFL to buy a certain percentage of the league, Bergen said, “I just read what everyone else has read over the last day. I play in the UFL. The UFL is still building, so it would be nice to see the league go on its own for a long as it can, and see what develops from that.

“The UFL has a niche. They don’t have to be connected to the NFL to succeed. As long as there’s football, people are going to watch and there’s going to be an interest.”