Pat White Could Sign With The Destroyers Of The UFL

Former Mountaineer Quarterback, Pat White, retired from baseball back in February after getting cut by the Miami Dolphins prior to the NFL regular season last fall. It was an interesting move to retire at that time.

Pat signed with the Kansas City Royals and played in their developmental league through the winter. He was then promoted to the Burlington Royals, a KC Royals affiliate. Before training camp was to start in February, White passed word through his agent that he was not going to attend training camp and chose to retire from baseball. White gave no statements and revealed no plans about his future. Even when he was in Morgantown for the Legends game prior to the Spring Game, he was still mum on his plans. White did tell reporters that he wasn't football ready, although he felt he could do some running. 

The timing of his decision to retire from baseball was interesting in that, if White were interested in resuming football, it would give him time to get in football shape before the UFL, CFL, or NFL had their respective training camps. Back in April, the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL announced that they acquired negotiating rights for White. Avon Cobourne, the Mountaineers All-Time leading rusher and CFL Grey Cup Winner, told me that White's style was perfect for the CFL. When it came down to it, White wanted too much money to play in Canada. 

Shortly after that, in a manner similar to how the CFL works in acquiring NFL free-agents, the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL announced that they had acquired the rights to Pat White. The Destroyers had a free-agent camp the same weekend that the Blue/Gold game was held. White elected to be in Morgantown instead. That signaled to many that he was uninterested in playing in the UFL. As our buddy, Lee Corso, would say, "Not so fast, my friends."

Now, on the cusp of UFL training camp, word came out yesterday that White was close to signing a deal with the Destroyers and could sign on the line within the next few days via Twitter: 

@VADestroyersVirginia Destroyers 

#Destroyers are close to signing QB Pat White. Deal could be inked in the next few days. #PatWhite played for the Dolphins & West Virginia U

 

Should White sign with the Destroyers, it seems prudent to give you a snapshot of the Destroyers.

They are coached by long-time NFL Head Coach, Marty Shottenhiemer, and will play the first game in franchise history on August 13, 2011 against the Hartford Colonials. The other quarterbacks currently on the roster are Derek Devine, the former Thundering Herd quarterback, and 34-year-old, Chris Greisen. 

The Destroyers will begin training camp in mid-July.