Former Rebel Flair signs with UFL

Justin M. Bowen

Casey Flair, former UNLV receiver, runs the 40-yard dash during the UFL workouts at Sam Boyd Stadium in June. Las Vegas is one of four teams in the new football league and will have former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel leading the squad.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 8:38 p.m.

Updated Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 9:17 p.m.

When Casey Flair walked off the field at Sam Boyd Stadium following his final home game with UNLV’s football team last fall, the wide receiver thought he would never play another game at the east Las Vegas venue.

Now, it looks like the former UNLV standout could play at least two more games at the stadium where he became one of the Rebels’ top receivers of all time.

The upstart United Football League signed Flair to a contract Friday and assigned him to the Las Vegas Locomotives, which plays two of its seven games during its inaugural season this fall at Sam Boyd.

“It will be quite an experience running back on that field again,” Flair said. “I have a lot of memories there. That is where I made a name for myself. It will be weird standing on the home sideline in a different uniform.”

Flair attended an open league tryout at Sam Boyd in June and said he has been in contact with Las Vegas coach Jim Fassel ever since. He said the league contacted him on Thursday to offer him a contract.

“It’s a dream to further my career and continue doing what I love,” he said.

Flair finished his UNLV career as the school’s second all-time leading receiver with 202 receptions. It was an impressive four years with UNLV considering he was a walk-on.

Now, he's starting over again. Flair said he didn't know if his contract guaranteed him a spot on the roster and knows he has an uphill battle to enjoy the same success he had with UNLV.

“I’m not sure how many receivers they are going to bring in,” he said. “All I know is that I have to perform. There are some parallels from when I got to UNLV. Hopefully it works out the same way.”

Flair is the lone with local ties who has been assigned to the team. The league, which took heat this week locally for naming the Las Vegas franchise the Locomotives, feels they have winner in Flair.

“Casey is a talented and extremely reliable receiver,” said UFL Vice President and GM Rick Mueller in a press release. “Casey’s toughness and willingness to do the little things that separates players at the receiver position is what initially attracted us to him, and we are excited to have him as part of the Locomotives’ franchise.”