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A16 sports
Thursday 11 augusT 2022
NFL teams tapping USFL veterans for help in training camp

By TERESA M. WALKER Packers. Wide receiver (12) and prove myself. I’m just
AP Pro Football Writer has been the most popu- happy to be here.”Many
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — lar position for NFL teams of these USFL players have
Cornerback Terrell Bonds followed by cornerback been in the NFL before.
has talked about being (nine) as NFL teams look for Hunt played with both
a member of the NFL ‘s help in training camps. Denver and the Raiders.
Tennessee Titans since he Like Bonds, Turpin has Bonds played four games
played in college at Ten- been scrambling to keep with Baltimore in 2020
nessee State. his dreams of professional and spent last offseason
Five years after his college football alive since his col- with Miami before being
days ended, he’s finally on lege career at TCU ended waived last August. Darrius
the Titans’ roster as a train- during the 2018 season. Shepherd caught six pass-
ing camp signee. Turpin has bounced from es over 2019-20 with Green
“For it to actually come the Fan Controlled Foot- Bay and signed with Den-
true now, it’s crazy and I’m ball League, Spring League ver after reviving his career
thankful for it,” Bonds said. and finally the USFL before with the New Jersey Gen-
Bonds owes his latest foot- being signed by Dallas for erals.
ball opportunity to the Tennessee Titans safety Terrell Bonds (47) runs through drills camp. “It was really beneficial,”
revived USFL where he during an NFL football training camp practice at Ascension Saint “Man, it’s like a dream Shepherd said of the USFL.
played 10 games this spring Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. come true. It’s a blessing,” “I’m really happy that they
with the Pittsburgh Maulers, Associated Press Turpin said. “I’ve been in put that league on. They
and he’s got lots of com- USFL’s inaugural season All-USFL offensive lineman four leagues before I came did a great job and pro-
pany as the NFL starts its first signed through Tuesday by Cameron Hunt signed here. So, it’s a blessing to be vided a lot of opportunities
week of preseason games 26 of the NFL’s 32 teams. with the Chargers and All- here and know the Cow- for guys as you see people
Thursday night. Bonds is USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin USFL tight end Sal Can- boys gave me a wonderful get signed all over the
among 42 players from the now is with Dallas, while nella joined the Green Bay opportunity to come here league.”
NFL teams certainly were
watching. Not only did 32
officials from the NFL De-
velopment Pipeline work
USFL games, NFL teams
had no issues quickly ac-
cessing USFL game tapes
so pro scouts could watch
breakdowns for any play-
ers they liked.
Tennessee general man-
ager Jon Robinson said
their pro staff had specific
teams to evaluate and
grade and met to rank
those players just before
the USFL’s championship.
The Titans previously had
worked out both Bonds
and cornerback Shakur
Brown, Bonds’ teammate
with Pittsburgh who signed
with Tennessee a few days
before Bonds.
“But then certainly watch-
ing the USFL and seeing
how they performed or
things they needed to
work on, it gave us more,
I’d guess, comfort knowing
that we’re bringing a guy
in that’s played football re-
cently,” Robinson said.
Having practiced and
played this spring gave
USFL players a couple of
big advantages over those
working out on their own
hoping for an NFL team to
call. First, they’re physically
ready for the grind of train-
ing camp.
“I just got finished with a
whole season so I’m defi-
nitely like midseason for
me,” Brown said.q