We had the chance to chat with former Kentucky Quarterback Shane Boyd on Monday evening. Boyd is an electric athlete who showed flashes of brilliance in his collegiate career and then had a shot with the Texans, Steelers and Cardinals. Now he is looking for a shot at being the starter for the San Francisco UFL team this fall.

Nation Hahn: Shane, why are you in Minnesota?

Shane Boyd: I am up here training. I became friends with Larry Fitzgerald so I am up here working out. I’ve been throwing to Brandon Marshall, Jerry Rice, etc. Lots of guys are up here working out, a lot of great players. Our common bond is working hard. Larry is from here so he has a trainer and other things in place.

When did you first hear about the UFL?

I heard about the UFL back in April or May – back when the buzz was first getting stronger with regards to the league. Mike McDaniel, a former coach of mine with the Houston Texans, told me about the league. He always worked with me and he is now on staff with Dennis Green and the San Francisco team so he brought me into it. Plus Martin Bayless who is also coaching with San Francisco had mentioned the UFL to me – he was a defensive coach on the Texans.

Did you tryout? Or were just drafted?

I didn’t tryout, the San Francisco team just drafted me. The whole staff knew what I could do. Kruzcek was my QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator with the Cardinals. The other coaches were already familiar with me and my skill set.

Have you received a contract offer?

My agent is in talks with them and they are hammering out details I believe.

So are you excited about the league?

I’m really excited about getting out there. The UFL offers a chance to get out there and play. As a Quarterback I feel like we really need experience and reps. A skill position player, wide receivers and others, can move in and out of teams. Quarterbacks, however, need to know the in and outs, what the line is doing. It is a lot harder for  a QB to adjust. It is important for us to just be in the offense period. We can get reps in the UFL, an opportunity to play. A lot of us might be NFL backup quality – or starter quality – but in the UFL we can get playing time, film, and prove ourselves.

The UFL is a really good thing for the Quarterbacks. The exposure is key. People get to see players they know, former NFL starters, players who got NFL buzz. Players who have great skill set who now get the opportunity. A lot of the guys in NFL got their chance due to trades, or injuries happening and all of a sudden something happens. Look at Tom Brady or Matt Cassell. Cassell had a one year opportunity, Brady had a one year opportunity, then they proved themselves. This translates into an opportunity for guys with the skill set to play in the league. I have the skill set to be a starter in the NFL, that is the way I feel. Kurt Warner played in the Arena Bowl and bagged groceries and then ended up in the Super Bowl.

Would you be happy building the UFL into the best league that it can be?

My ultimate goal is to be in the NFL but I am blessed to be healthy and this is a outlet to play with NFL quality guys. I’m happy to contribute and build this league. I am happy to be part of the inaugural year and I can say I was part of the first players. I am one of the pioneers, you know, to help build the league into whatever it can become.

Do you think you can be the starter out there in San Francisco?

I am going to do my best to be the starter. I see myself as talented as a lot of these guys. I am competitive and I have the skill set to be the starter. I am not going in this league to be a backup. I am hoping to be in the title game in Vegas as a starter, that is my plan. That is why I am in Minnesota training with the best – Fitzgerald, Jerry Rice. I am going into the league to be a Quarterback, be a starter, and develop myself.

Do you think the UFL could work in Kentucky? The league has considered Louisville in the past.

I’d love to see a team in Kentucky. It is a great football state. Shaun Alexander, Tim Couch, and others are from there – we’re a good football state. We have Cincinatti, St. Louis, and the Titans around  so I think that is why we haven’t had a chance at an NFL team but a UFL team in Lexington or Louisville would be great. I think a Kentucky UFL team would have a great fan base and great backing. It’d keep helping the league to grow. I think people would gravitate to the UFL, have fun, and the league would be in a great area.

What do you think of the armband technology?

I read the article about the technology. Anything to put plays on the QB arm, I’m all for it. The technology has been bad before in some areas where I played and people would just scream. I want to keep it simple – not being too complicated – some teams, players go out of their way to make things complicated. Digital plays and visualization will help me and others. I like to get out there and perform and this will help. Anyone can sit in front of film project with no one running at you and think their way through it but you have to be able to play. This is taking play calling to the next level. It apparently will show the routes and cut down on miscommunication.

What about the intentional grounding rule change?

I like the change as a Quarterback. At the same time I hope it doesn’t take away from the football itself because QB’s need to get hit too. We get the love when things go good and the boos when things go bad. As long as it helps with protecting us then that is a good thing. I don’t want it to go too far because I have on pads, I stand out there and play. I can get hit too.

What about the elimination of the tuck rule?

I think that is a fair rule. A fumble is a fumble. Leaving it to the referees discretion leaves too much room for error. If it isn’t purely going out towards a WR then it is a fumble. An incomplete pass should be obvious. A fumble is a fumble. One referee might see it differently from the other with the tuck rule and the game shouldn’t be decided by the refs. The game should be decided by the player.

What about the technological innovations to bring the fans into the game?

I don’t see anything wrong with it. The fans drive this game and the fans want to feel like they are in the game. Anything you can do to help a fan see what goes on in the game and to help them appreciate what we’re going through as players is a good thing. Fans don’t always feel the emotion we are going through – it might help them get inside of the player so to speak, players like TO who are thought of as bad guys who just play with emotion. That way they can see what goes on in the game of football.