Colt Brennan signs with the Hartford Colonials

Once upon a time QB Colt Brennan seemed like a sure lock to be a NFL star. He put up big numbers in college, and even though he was a sixth round pick by the Washington Redskins in the 2008 draft it seemed like he could follow in Tm Brady’s footsteps and be another late round QB to make a big splash in the NFL. He was very impressive in the 2008 NFL pre-season, but his career got derailed by a hip injury that cost him the 2009 NFL season. He survived a pretty scary car crash that left him in critical condition, and put his NFL career on life support.

Brennan was released by the Redskins last August when the acquired John Beck, and Brennan caught on with the Oakland Raiders but was cut in the final rounds of cuts. Now he has signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League and will look to rebuild a once promising pro career.

Since it does not seem likely that Josh McCown will return to this team Brennan joins the Colonials as the early favorite to be the starter there for the 2011 UFL season. The Colonials did draft Jerrod Johnson in the UFL draft, but Brennan has a bigger arm and a touch more experience. Whatever the case the QB battle between them s UFL training camps this summer will be very interesting to follow.

For me it is another clear sign the UFL is on the right track. I think it is a league built to give guys like Brennan a second shot at the pros. Of course it can also give undrafted guys a shot, but guys battling back from things like what Brennan went through makes for good press and if he can light it up for the Colonials he could help deliver a big audience both live and on TV.