Losman signs with UFL franchise

The Las Vegas franchise of the United Football League has a quarterback to go with its coach.

Former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman signed a one-year contract and will be the marquee player for the yet-to-be-named team, which will be coached by former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel and will begin play in early October.

"By no means is it a slam dunk," Losman said Tuesday from Buffalo, N.Y., where he has been working out in anticipation of participating in the UFL venture. "I'm definitely taking some risks. But in the situation I find myself in, if I want to get back to NFL, I need to play in the UFL."

Losman, who made $3.3 million last year backing up Trent Edwards, wouldn't say how much the UFL is paying him. But he said it's nowhere close to what he made with the Bills.

"It's a substantial pay cut," he said. "But I see this as an investment to what I hope will pay off with a return to the NFL. I love to play and I want to play for a long time. I've done a good job with watching my money, so I can afford to do this."

UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said the signing of Losman was a huge step in the league's attempt to build credibility.

"I think it's critical," Huyghue said. "We want players who have shown they have the ability to play in the NFL, and I think it's terrific he's playing in Las Vegas. He'll have the opportunity to be tutored by Jim Fassel and help resurrect his career."

Losman said the chance to work with Fassel was a major part of why he signed with Las Vegas and the UFL. "To play for someone like Coach Fassel who has worked with some great quarterbacks, including John Elway and Kerry Collins, I'm very excited," Losman said. "I'm going to learn a lot."

Fassel said Losman's career can be saved.

"A lot of quarterbacks' careers get sideways for a lot of reasons," Fassel said. "It can be a coaching change, a change of the system, an injury, changes in personnel. Sometimes, quarterbacks need to be re-tooled.

Losman, a first-round draft pick of the Bills in 2004, spent five seasons in Buffalo, throwing for 6,211 yards, 33 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. His contract expired at the end of last season, and the Bills did not re-sign him.