Omaha Mammoths: TE Matt Thayer and RB LaDarius Perkins
By Kelli Anne
The FXFL (Fall Experimental Football League) features action once again this Friday as Nebraska’s own Omaha Mammoths are on the road to play against the Brooklyn Bolts tonight at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN3.
A bit about the league, it was to form with six teams but started with four. The Boston Brawlers, Florida Blacktips, the Bolts and the aforementioned Mammoths round out the league.
The league’s proud behemoths are at 2-0 while the shocking sensations sit at 1-1. The Bolts are a physical team, so the Mammoths are going to have to live up to their namesake to keep their undefeated streak in tact.
Omaha native Matt Thayer plays tight end for the orange and gray. A graduate of Bellevue East High School, he went on to play college football at Missouri State. From there he played in the Indoor Football League with the Green Bay Blizzard and the Omaha Beef.
When asked about the opportunity to play in his hometown, he was excited. “It’s Nebraska. Beef. Corn. Football.”
No. 87 Matt Thayer, tight end
He knows he’s the only player who hasn’t had an actual NFL opportunity, but is hopeful the exposure from the new league will get him there.
“The FXFL model is better than the UFL. It’s a fiscally responsible organization. There’s lots of talent with experienced football players everywhere.”
Some of that exposure will come thanks to ESPN3 which picked up the coverage rights of FXFL games.
“ESPN3 showing it is great. I have a lot of relatives that are tuning in all over to watch.” Thayer treats every game the same. He begins his routine a couple of days before with an ice bath. On game day, he starts by catching a football 200 times. At the end of the day he wants to finish with another “W”, of course.
Next up, meet Ladarius Perkins. He’s one of the rock-toters for the tusked terrors. A Mississippi State alum, he was later signed by the Green Bay Packers on this past May after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft.
“This is a great league on the rise. It’s a developmental league, so you can stay fresh.” While Perkins’ home town is a ways from Omaha in Greenville, MS, he’s getting used to the city and enjoys the fan base.
When asked about the upcoming game against Brooklyn, Perkins stated, “We are not going to come out flat. We kinda did that against the Blacktips. I’m looking forward to a physical game.”
The purpose of the FXFL is to keep those cut from the professional roster in “game ready shape” so they can instantly be called up, similar to Minor League Baseball farm teams. It’s already proved fruitful for now-former Mammoths
Just this past week, linebacker Mister Alexander was called up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is player No. 3 to be called up.
Only a couple of guys on the roster have not logged professional time, be it on the regular roster, participating in camps or on the scout team. This is a 5-game schedule with a bye week coming next week.