Former Jacksonville Jaguar Quinn Gray has been stopping by UFLAccess.com of late, following all of the latest news. He dropped in on the last two live chats and interacted with the fans, proving himself to be a great ambassador for the United Football League. Today UFL Access had the chance to chat with him as he prepares for the opportunity to play in the league this fall.

Nation Hahn: When did you hear about the UFL?

Quinn Gray: It’s funny. Last year around September or October when I was out of work and just working out here in Jacksonville I ran into Ed Reynolds, former NFL guy, now with the UFL. We were at a high school game and he approached me and said I’d be a good candidate to play for the league. Ed told me about the UFL, said they’d be getting it going in early 09 . We stayed in touch and it went from there.

NH: What makes it different from some of the other leagues out there?

QG: Well, once I saw the people starting the league from the front office people to the football people – it was obvious that they knew what they were doing. You know, you have leagues like the AAFL and others that have been trying to start up – I’m not sure how they even got started but they didn’t stick around because they didn’t have the right people to get the league up and running. With the Commish being in the NFL for many years, the NFL head coaches, people like Reynolds, Rick Mueller, and others – you know, they know the intricacies of running a league. The UFL is going to get bigger and bigger.

NH: What specifically makes the UFL attractive to you as a player?

QG: The UFL is a good place because you have the opportunity to play football. Sometimes you are sitting at home working out, the phone isn’t ringing off the hook, and you want to get out there and play the game you love.  We were fortunate to have this pop up with NFL coaches, you know, who have friends in the league who will be able to vouch for you. It offers the opportunity to play American football, not going up to Canada with men in motion, not going to Arena – the UFL is attractive because it is a real opportunity to get great playing time and great film. I played in several NFL games but this is a chance to start for a franchise and take them to the championship. Once I prove myself, the NFL will realize that I can go to the next level and that I wasn’t given the opportunity. The UFL gives me a chance to show I am a leader and will always be a leader at QB. I was a leader in NFL Europe and I will be here in the UFL.

NH: Would you be happy building the UFL, regardless of the NFL situation?

QG: Without a doubt. I’ll be happy to build this league. After all what guys down the road will be able to say I helped build a league? Everybody wants to be a spokesperson for a league – you want to be the Peyton Manning-type. If you can’t lead an NFL team to the Super Bowl, why not build a league to prominence with good quality football and good quality players with good quality coaches. This can be an up and coming league, a premiere league in this country. If the NFL wont give me that opportunity, I can do that with the UFL.

The better question might be do I want to be a starter in the UFL versus a backup in the NFL, if it comes to that… well I’ll weigh my options, see what I feel in my gut. I like the idea of being “the man” in the UFL. I want to be one of the faces of this league.

NH: Any preference on team or coach? Since they’re holding you out?

QG: I like Ted Cottrell, but no preference really. Cottrell is a great guy. But, you know, unless you are a high priority free agent in this life you can’t pick and choose your coach. The most important thing is that the UFL offers us the opportunity to play football. No preference, I just want to get out there.

NH: Are you excited for your team to be announced?

QG: Without a doubt. I’ve been in between Orlando and Daytona in a small town training. Truthfully I’ve been more excited about this than the NFL my rookie year – I’m like a kid in a candy shop. You have the websites to follow the development of the league. It is just an exciting time for my family and myself. I’ve been out of football since I was released by the Chiefs – and so I’m ready to call somewhere home and just play football. I am just really excited.

NH: What does it say about the UFL for them to attract Jermaine Wiggins, Mike Doss, LaBrandon Toefield, and the like? This isn’t the talent we’ve seen in recent non-NFL leagues.

QG: It says that the UFL is legitimate. The football will be good and very high quality. It is being ran by the right people. The NFL can’t harbor all of the talent and an enormous amount of talent is out there. The NFL rosters are full and the UFL gives you the opportunity to play good football, get some film, and get coached by NFL coaches. This ain’t going to be a slappy league, players with no discipline, not working hard – I’ve been talking with Ted Cottrell and others and these guys are expecting us to work hard. They want players to believe in, they want to believe in us. The UFL is going to have attractive, good quality football with attractive, good quality players and coaches. People want to play good football, not play in some rinky dink league. Rinky dink won’t be the UFL. The UFL WILL happen.

NH: What are you going to do to help the UFL become a success?

QG: With me, I always want to give back to the community. I want to put the word out about this league in the local community. A lot of people know about the UFL but I want to get out there and spread the news to everyone else – especially once the uniforms and names get out there. Get out there and let people know it is real, will happen, and it will be really good football. The UFL won’t have any jokes out there.

NH: What have you been doing to stay in shape and focused on this opportunity?

QG: I’ve been out at All Star Sports Training with LaBrandon Toefield, Jeff Littlejohn, and others – for the last two and a half, three months. Been at a lodge, getting fed, and working hard. We’ve been busting our butt every day. The trainers take us through our dietary routine, running, lifting, etc. We’ve been doing the same thing we would for the NFL.

NH: Any opinion on the ball and the uniforms?

QG: The balls were pretty much same as NFL, good textured ball. Stripes were different and threads in terms of color, threads were a little different. Just have to get used to the feel of the UFL ball. It was a different texture than the NFL strings but I loved the ball. Threw it around and had a good time with it.

As for the jerseys I am 250 lbs, I have never been a Deon Sanders-tight shirt guy, so it felt different. I’d rather wear a looser shirt, I’m a big guy, but the jerseys felt good.

NH: What do you have to say to the fans?

QG: All I have to say to the fans is stay tuned, give this league a chance to grow. Be on the lookout, it is going to be really good football and a really exciting time for the UFL once everything gets kicked off. Stay tuned to UFLAccess.com and ufl-football.com!