The relaunch of the XFL!

First big flaw in the kickoff rule exposed. Return team was penalized on the previous field goal and the penalty was assessed on the kickoff. But, a touchback punishes the kicking team severely. 

Decent game so far. I’m impressed by the officiating so far in pretty much every game I’ve watched. 

posted by justincredible

Decent game so far. I’m impressed by the officiating so far in pretty much every game I’ve watched. 

Sonofanump'd.

posted by justincredible

First big flaw in the kickoff rule exposed. Return team was penalized on the previous field goal and the penalty was assessed on the kickoff. But, a touchback punishes the kicking team severely. 

IF the kicking team can't refuse the penalty I'd like to see the XFL get creative with the rule.

For instance, Let's say that it was a 10 yard penalty. Have the kickoff from the regular spot, then enforce that penalty after the return. If the return went to the 50, back it to the 40 for a 1st and 10....or leave it at the 50 for a 1st and 20. If the return went for a TD, too bad.....it's 1st and Goal at the 10.

End of Rant.

I think that’s the easiest solution. Enforce it on the result of the return. 
 

Some rules guy tried explaining the strategy for the kicking team as it was happening, because the guys on the both were questioning how it’s actually penalizing the return team, and he really had no good answer.

PLay is getting better!   
Landry Jones looks like he is done with the injury.

As for the penatly thing...I would be good with it adding to the return, or the kicking team just needs to kick it short, may be move where the two teams set up by 10 yards as well can pin em deep

posted by thavoice

Landry Jones looks like he is done with the injury.

Did he manage to look like something more than total suck before getting hurt?

Indoor/Arena adds it to the return for such reasons, sounds reasonable to me

posted by gut

Did he manage to look like something more than total suck before getting hurt?

3 INTs in the first QTR, and a fumble returned for a TD before he got hurt on  QB sneak. He was in some major pain!

And now it's gone. Laid off all staff with no plans to return in 2021. Mother fuck.

posted by justincredible

And now it's gone. Laid off all staff with no plans to return in 2021. Mother fuck.

I would’ve been surprised if it was back anyway. But no surprise this did them in.

Heard it on the radio. Sucks.

Wonder if they  just feel with this happening there likely isnt going to be a good chance to return strong in 2021 so they laid everyone off so they can seek  other opportunities, file unemployment, and try again in 2022 with a little retooling.

I think it can work in the right places and had a decent foundation.  I hope it returns as I think it has its place and can influence some rule and procedural changes in the NFL.

posted by thavoice

Heard it on the radio. Sucks.

Wonder if they  just feel with this happening there likely isnt going to be a good chance to return strong in 2021 so they laid everyone off so they can seek  other opportunities, file unemployment, and try again in 2022 with a little retooling.

I think it can work in the right places and had a decent foundation.  I hope it returns as I think it has its place and can influence some rule and procedural changes in the NFL.

The ratings were putrid to end the year/when the year ended. Football is WAY to expensive to get by on ratings below 2.5, let alone 1.0, imo.

The XFLx2 and AAF have been backed by networks big-time. It just doesn’t bring in revenue and never will. CFB is the feeder system and the only other “league” that can survive next to NFL. People simply don’t care to watch players who weren’t good enough to make it to the top. 

posted by Laley23

The ratings were putrid to end the year/when the year ended. Football is WAY to expensive to get by on ratings below 2.5, let alone 1.0, imo.

The XFLx2 and AAF have been backed by networks big-time. It just doesn’t bring in revenue and never will. CFB is the feeder system and the only other “league” that can survive next to NFL. People simply don’t care to watch players who weren’t good enough to make it to the top. 

AAF was sent to the abyss after the first week or 2.

XFL, according to McMahon, said he was prepared to go 3 years with large losses.   

True, CFB is the feeder league for the NFL, no doubt about that, but I believe the XFL could work with some retooling.    In terms of people not caring to watch players who werent good enough to make it to the top, well, they care enough to watch college football that is largely non competitive across the board.

XFL lacks the emotional ties for the most part.  Play would get better after a bit of time.    People love their CFB and NFL no matter who fills the uniforms.

posted by thavoice

AAF was sent to the abyss after the first week or 2.

XFL, according to McMahon, said he was prepared to go 3 years with large losses.   

True, CFB is the feeder league for the NFL, no doubt about that, but I believe the XFL could work with some retooling.    In terms of people not caring to watch players who werent good enough to make it to the top, well, they care enough to watch college football that is largely non competitive across the board.

 

XFL lacks the emotional ties for the most part.  Play would get better after a bit of time.    People love their CFB and NFL no matter who fills the uniforms.

Right, they want CFB. Lol. That’s my point. You already have a feeder league to the NFL, but it’s one with roots and a large percentage have a direct tie to a team and 99% have at least an indirect tie to a team. So, there is your fan base. There isn’t room for a 2nd feeder system.

As for McMahon...it’s all great when you can say these things. Would he have backed up 3 years of losses? Maybe, if the return was heading in the right direction. This was plummeting so fast the networks may have bailed before McMahon. Not sure he’s going all in when the trend is downward and not upward.

posted by Laley23

Right, they want CFB. Lol. That’s my point. You already have a feeder league to the NFL...

This.  And while some players might take a little longer to develop, you already have 12(?) players on each practice squad.  Not to mention probably another 15 on the roster that barely play (barring injury).

Plus when the average player is in the league for only 3.2 years there's really no shortage of opportunities for people who can play.  Landry Jones is a perfect example - despite being a terrible QB, he played for PIT for 5 years and then I think was briefly with OAK(?) before getting cut.

Very few players from the XFL will ever get "called up", and that's part of the problem.  The XFL was basically the 4th quarter of an early preseason game - guys getting to briefly live out their dream but with no chance of ever making a roster.

I liked the XFL but that’s becuase I liked to bet on football during non-NFL/NCAAF season. It was also just something to watch and some of the rule changes were cool.  If anyone was watching the xfl as a competitor to the NFL or as a feeder to the nfl, then yeah you aren’t going to like it. 
I do think they would have survived if not for this covid shit. I imagine vince McMahon wasn’t dumb with the accounting of losses in the first few years. 

posted by SportsAndLady

I liked the XFL but that’s becuase I liked to bet on football during non-NFL/NCAAF season. It was also just something to watch and some of the rule changes were cool.  If anyone was watching the xfl as a competitor to the NFL or as a feeder to the nfl, then yeah you aren’t going to like it. 
I do think they would have survived if not for this covid shit. I imagine vince McMahon wasn’t dumb with the accounting of losses in the first few years. 

He may have accounted for it. But I’d guarantee the networks had language in their contracts they needed certain ratings or they could pull the plug and it wouldn’t have survived without the networks backing. It’s the exact reason it folded the first time.

posted by SportsAndLady

I liked the XFL but that’s becuase I liked to bet on football during non-NFL/NCAAF season. It was also just something to watch and some of the rule changes were cool.  If anyone was watching the xfl as a competitor to the NFL or as a feeder to the nfl, then yeah you aren’t going to like it. 
I do think they would have survived if not for this covid shit. I imagine vince McMahon wasn’t dumb with the accounting of losses in the first few years. 

Holy shit, first time I ever have agreed with you.

Their time slot was the perfect time of year and I believe could have been a proving ground for quite a few things, such as rules, and some players.   

Dont think it works though in places like New York though.   

Seattle and St Louis seemed to really support the team.   

A group backed by Dwayne Johnson has purchased the XFL for $15m. Hopefully a re-relaunch will be in the works.