Monday afternoon the Sacramento Mountain Lions arrived via two Amador Stage tour buses on the Capitol Greens on the west side of the Capitol building. They quickly demonstrated their prowess, signed autographs and were gone in a flash it seems.

I had never heard of them until last night.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I am now enlightened.

The Sacramento Mountain Lions are a professional American football team based in Sacramento, California that plays in the United Football League. The franchise originated as the California Redwoods, and played its home games in San Francisco and San Jose. The team will play its 2010 home games at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, home of the Sacramento State Hornets. Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green is the team's head coach and general manager. (from Wikipedia)

The United Football League (UFL) is an independent professional American football league that began play in October 2009. The league currently has five franchises playing in markets where the NFL has no current presence. The league's defending champions are the Las Vegas Locomotives.

The league primarily consists of players that have at one time or another played for a National Football League  team. While the league has no connection with the NFL, and does not intend to have such a relationship in the future, some have speculated that it could become a minor or "developmental" league for the NFL. Other reports described the league as a "competitor" to the NFL.

It has been speculated in the press that the UFL's long-term business plan is to be present if or when the NFL and its players' union

reach the end of their contract in 2011, giving players that would be locked-out or striking an opportunity to play somewhere else.

The NFLPA has advised any NFL player cut in training camp to consider the UFL as an employment opportunity. (from Wikipedia)

Here's the guys:

Dennis Green, former Minnesota Vikings coach, heads the team Ricky Hunley, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.

The cheerleaders were on hand also.

For the team's schedule: www.ufl-football.com/

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner