A prominent UFL player believes he was released last weekend largely because of his participation in union activities as negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement remain stalled.
"I think that was the driving factor," former Memphis Showboats quarterback Quentin Dormady told ESPN this week.
In response, a UFL spokesman released this statement Tuesday afternoon: " Our teams engage in various player transactions during training camp, including free agent signings, moving players to injured reserve, waivers and terminations. In fact, through eight days of camp, 24 players have been released. Any player transactions are purely the result of football decisions at the team level and have nothing to do with collective bargaining negotiations."
Dormady is a veteran of spring football leagues. He started six games last season for the UFL's San Antonio Brahmas and was the primary quarterback for the XFL's Orlando Guardians in 2023. The UFL's Memphis franchise acquired him via trade this winter.
When he reported to training camp this month, Dormady took on an increasing leadership role this month in organizing players' response to the league's CBA proposal, which included discussions about the possibility of boycotting the league's media days last week. In February, 24 UFL quarterbacks skipped a voluntary passing camp.
Three players told ESPN, on the condition of anonymity, that all eight UFL coaches informed players they would be released if they boycotted media days, a threat the players considered an illegal labor practice. The league later clarified that players would be disciplined but not released if they boycotted. Dormady and all other requested players decided to participate.
The acrimony did not subside, however. Dormady said that on March 8, Memphis general manager Jim Monos informed him via phone he would be released. According to Dormady, Monos did not provide an explanation. In a face-to-face meeting March 9, Dormady said Monos told him the decision was not based on his practice performance. On March 10, Dormady said he received a text attributing the decision to his accuracy and footwork.
"They trade for me to come in and compete to be the starter," Dormady said. "And then I get five practices to show that basically I'm not good enough to be on their team? It just seemed fishy.
"I've been very open about trying to help lead the negotiations here to get us to where we can get to a place to finish this and come to a resolution. But when we're at a standstill because the league refuses to even meet us a third of the way, then there's no good faith here. So I think that this was a deal where it's like, let's chop a head off and make this another way that they can threaten people."
Dormady, 29, acknowledged that the first week of training camp practices were difficult for quarterbacks across the league given high winds in league's training sites in the Dallas area.
"I was frustrated with how we were throwing the ball, and obviously how I was throwing the ball because I pride myself on being accurate," he said.
He also believes he was an easy target given an unusual incident during the 2023 XFL season, when he was released and then reinstated amid allegations that he had leaked offensive plays to members of opposing teams. A league investigation ruled that accusations of impropriety were unsubstantiated.
Dormady, however, said he was fined $5,000. He told ESPN this week that his playing career is likely over but that he wants to continue supporting current UFL players' bid for a CBA.
"They keep messing with the wrong guy," Dormady said. "I'm not backing down, man. This goes far beyond playing football at this point. ... What it's always been about is, 'Let's just do what's right.' We're not trying to sink anyone or the league or anything. We understand what the league's done for us, but at the same time, they just continue to show who they are, and it ain't about the players."