The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Aug. 13, 2011

After settling the lockout a few weeks ago, the biggest losers of this NFL season are now apparent.

I just wasn't expecting that to be players destined for the United Football League.

AS THE millionaires and billionaires spent the summer fighting back and forth about an unfair labor contract, the UFL opted to push back the start of their season.

On Wednesday afternoon the league announced they'd be playing a shorter schedule this season and will only have four teams instead of five, with the Hartford Colonials suspending operations.

Each team will play six regular season games, instead of previous years when they'd played eight.

Considering the league had lost around 100 million dollars in recent years, it makes me wonder, why keep it going?

With only four teams in a league that is losing money, as well as playing when most of the attention is on college football or the playoffs in baseball - does it really matter that a third football league is playing?

It's unfair to those players from the UFL, mostly players that were unable to hang onto jobs in the NFL, though good enough to play somewhere else.

But to lose such a large amount of money is crazy.

THEN THERE are those players attempting to declare for the supplemental draft, to be held on Wednesday afternoon.

Of those, former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has yet to be cleared to participate.

The supplemental draft allows qualified underclassmen who did not request early entry into the regular draft to have a chance to enter the league. Only players that have graduated or exhausted their college eligibility have been made available in the draft since 1990 - and Pryor, well hasn't done either.

Pryor had intended on making a return to Ohio State, but was told he'd be suspended for his involvement in the "Tatoo U" scandal that eventually cost Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel his job.

As attention to his dealing with the tattoo scandal continued, Pryor also bolted from Columbus, leaving his football career in serious doubt.

To say that Pryor could wind up a loser could be a little off, considering he's got his entire career ahead, but his pro chances are seriously damaged now.

If Pryor believed in his talents to play professionally, he should have made himself available in April's draft, instead of being caught out of both college and pro football.

Teams in the UFL attempted to offer Pryor a deal, but he declined and will wait to see if he can become eligible.

Right now, it seems the biggest loser is about to get locked out - again.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached via telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or by email at [email protected].