Tonight we spoke with Shane Boyd, Quarterback for the California Redwoods, about the arrival of United Football League camp. When Shane picked up the phone he told us that he was at Larry Fitzgerald’s house watching the first NFL game, ironically four weeks to the night that he will be playing in the first ever UFL game.

“We’re up in Scotsdale. Today went real well. It’s like one big reunion with guys you have played with or against. It’s been one big reunion today,” commented Shane when asked about the first day.

The Redwoods and Locos will be heading down to Casa Grande on Saturday morning.

When I mentioned that he would be playing in the first UFL game in four weeks he said, “It’s going to feel great to get the UFL started. It’ll feel real good to be out on the field. I haven’t been in a game since I was with the Texans. We’re going to play good – and we look forward to taking on Vegas which looks like a great team.”

Shane mentioned that the team would be getting the playbooks in the next day or two. He said that the Redwoods would be running a West Coast system similar to what Dennis Green ran with the Vikings and Cardinals which will include an element of airing it out.

“This system is familiar to me and I look forward to airing it out,” said Shane with a laugh.

When asked about prior contact with the coaches Shane mentioned that he had been interacting with the different coaches in the run up to camp and that they were in final meetings to bring everything together before the players arrive this weekend.

One of the common themes that became clear from our interaction with different players today is that they felt like the UFL had been professional and top notch with regards to everything thus far. Shane commented that, “Everything is running really smoothly for a first year league. The UFL is doing what they need to do. People are where they need to be and things have ran fairly smoothly. We’ve been doing head shots and such and everything has been great. It’ll be better in year two though – this is a learning process.”

Shane confidently predicted that he’d be the starter for the Redwoods saying, “Look, I’m here to be the #1 guy. I’m going to carry myself like a starter, play like a starter, and show that I deserve to be the starter.”

Pressed on the criticism by some that the Redwoods lack “name” players Shane replied that, “We’re going to be a quality team. We may not be the ‘big name’ team but we’re hungry. We’re going to get out there and play hard. We’re going to work to improve daily. Most importantly we’re going to give 100% every down, every day, every game.”

We look forward to continuing our conversation with Shane Boyd, and others, throughout camp as the four UFL teams come together over the next several weeks.