XFL may look to draft college freshmen and sophomores
"The XFL has hinted that it might go after some college stars who haven’t yet met the three-year threshold to enter the NFL draft. Those players, presumably, would be offered more lucrative contracts. But the average player will be making $55,000."
Someone post this to Justin Fields personal Twitter account so he can hire an agent ASAP....
October 11th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
Looking forward to that.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
XFL won’t last three season.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:51 PM ^
None of these leagues ever lasts one season. I always said they are wasting their time going after the NFL. If they can come up with a decent salary and facilities, they should go after college football.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:00 PM ^
Huh? The season will start the week after the Super Bowl.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:35 PM ^
I'm not talking about a season that runs concurrently with the NFL. So far, all of these leagues have been weaker pro leagues that hope to get big enough to take NFL talent.
I'm talking about the idea of blowing up the college system by paying players that the NFL currently won't take. They can basically create a new system that doesn't currently exist. Kids who want to go to school can go to school. Those who don't, go to the XFL. There are high school players out there who aren't good enough to get paid by boosters but still really have no interest in class.
October 11th, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
I hear ya, but the biggest issue is recognition. No one is interested in watching players they don't know. If players leave early, or don't even go to college no one will ever establish a following to carry over to this new league. People want to see the best, or see someone they have a rooting interest in. That's why these leagues don't work.
October 12th, 2019 at 12:38 AM ^
All it takes is a few top kids out of college like how a few top hoops kids go to Europe. Star in this league for a year or two, get drafted to the NFL, profit. Now the NFL could put a ban on teams drafting XFL players, to shut off the league entirely, but that's going down the rabbit hole I guess.
October 12th, 2019 at 6:29 AM ^
Could the NFL legally bar drafting XFL players? Not a lawyer, but seems like that might have right to work and/or antitrust issues.
October 12th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
That would go right to the heart of the anti-trust exemption. It would force a lawsuit. I doubt the owners would test that. There are easier ways not to cooperate that could do just as much damage.
If the XFL is trying to do anything other than set itself up as an entertaining second-chance minor league/development system, it doesn't bode well for their future. Even floating this idea shows a little desperation.
October 12th, 2019 at 2:00 AM ^
This blog used to have threads dedicated to C-USA games. When you say people want to see the best, that’s why people watch the SEC and a smattering of other teams. Otherwise, college is just a bunch of kids doing their best. By no means are they remotely the best - in fact, they’re often times unwatchable- but some people are just addicted to football (read: pre-NFL) and will I jest it in any way possible
October 11th, 2019 at 8:17 PM ^
Arena league lasted more than 3 years . Hell it might even still be around for all I know .
October 13th, 2019 at 1:20 AM ^
It better be around or why would I see a season pass charged to my credit card every year?
Go Barnstormers! We are we, IFL now?
October 11th, 2019 at 8:22 PM ^
You're probably right; I'm just surprised you gave them THREE seasons!
October 11th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
Interesting to see how it would work with their NFL eligibility. Would they still be draft eligible, or free agents?
October 11th, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
I don't know the NFL draft rules in detail, but the basic criteria is you have to be 3 years removed from high school. I don't see why it would matter where you played in the meantime. In all seriousness, I doubt Justin Fields would risk it in a brand new league. But I could see a few guys doing it (Blackshear from Rutger?) and then it could go either way from there.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:56 PM ^
I don't see any college athlete taking this. If you do it and the league folds halfway through the season, where are you going to go? The risk is not worth the reward.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:29 PM ^
That sounds like a good idea.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:29 PM ^
55k is not very good at all. I wonder what these more “lucrative contracts” actually are.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:38 PM ^
Not really, but “assuming” the average salary for college football players is $0, it ain’t bad at all. Imagine top prospects leaving Alabama, Clemson, Ohio etc. year after year. One and dones basically. Sounds interesting, but probably will fail.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:01 PM ^
I don’t see 55k picking up any notable college players which is why I’m wondering what their “max contracts” will be.
October 11th, 2019 at 9:36 PM ^
Ok and then those players have to rent an apartment in whatever city they play in, and pay for their own utilities in said apartment, and pay for food and clothes and transportation etc.
It may seem like 55k is worth more than zero, except when that zero is your room and board and utilities. Imagine getting drafted by a team in NYC or LA and trying to afford rent and food on 700 dollars a week.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:50 PM ^
For football, $55K is not good at all. But considering where a lot of these kids come from, and how much they would make in college, I bet $55K would seem like a $1 million to some.
October 11th, 2019 at 8:30 PM ^
Especially considering that only the top 3% ever make it to the NFL. A league taking the next 3% would be plenty talented.
October 11th, 2019 at 10:57 PM ^
If you come from a family where nobody has ever gone to college and what jobs there are pay mininum wage, $55K a year is going to look like a fucking fortune.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
The beginning of the beginning.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:32 PM ^
If they want to make a huge splash they should throw a ridiculous amount of money at Trevor Lawrence and make him the face of the league. Although I highly doubt he would sign with a minor league football organization. Worth a shot though just to get the publicity.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:41 PM ^
The XFL could probably pay a hand full of premier athletes 100k+ and use them as their marketing campaign. Sounds interesting really.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:50 PM ^
Smart.
October 11th, 2019 at 6:51 PM ^
They should. The NFL should be able to draft kids out of high school for developmental deals, as well - at least. College football should be for kids who care about the college experience.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:05 PM ^
Well, the XFL needs some sort of differentiating factor if they're going to be viable (I do doubt their long-term viability).
So I guess this is it.
The $55K salary is a differentiating factor in its own right, I suppose. Perhaps a negative one.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:28 PM ^
I wonder how they came up with $55k. That's roughly the "value" of tuition cost + stipend players receive.
Of course, colleges could argue - depending on conference - the level of play is higher in the NCAA and/or the longer term earning potential with an education is greater for those that don't get shots at the NFL.
To me, the only college aged players that would be lured to the XFL are those that 1) can't qualify academically, and/or 2) don't want to play school, and/or 3) know they're NFL bound because they're physically ready, and/or 4) are on drastically higher pay scales.
I'm not sure that would disrupt the NCAA talent pool all that much.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:12 PM ^
Better be a lot more than $55K ... otherwise why would Fields take a pay cut?
October 11th, 2019 at 7:42 PM ^
Exactly. This kind of salary is great for guys who have a minimal chance of making it to the league anyway.
Justin Fields is playing like a top-5 pick. Why would he waste that potential and go to the XFL and make pennies compared to what he’d make in the NFL?
October 11th, 2019 at 9:37 PM ^
They would only have to play 1 or 2 seasons in the XFL and then they could be drafted by the NFL. I don't think a lot of guys will do it, but say the XFL becomes semi-successful, someone like Cardale Jones would do it. I bet Rashan Gary would have considered it. And there would be a number of guys every year like Arian Foster when he was at Tennessee who literally can't make ends meet in college. Even if it's successful I can't see more than about 10 or 15 guys doing it every year, but it could be an interesting wrinkle.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:27 PM ^
The XFL will crap out after one season.
October 11th, 2019 at 7:47 PM ^
good.. because right now college football is being ruined by whining
October 11th, 2019 at 7:50 PM ^
THAT ONE RIGHT THERE, SIR *i point to justin fields*
October 11th, 2019 at 7:51 PM ^
Big Brain time
October 11th, 2019 at 8:03 PM ^
There's hope for Joe Milton! Pep can come calling again!
October 11th, 2019 at 8:06 PM ^
If the XFL were to actually somewhat align with the NFL, I feel like this could work.
You get a kid who kills it as a freshman or sophomore, he plays in the XFL for a year or two, does not have to worry about classes or anything other than football, gets potential NFL-caliber coaching, then enters the draft.
Now, say they are not in this together...then the XFL would seemingly be filled with a bunch of mid-level younger guys who do not feel like they have a great shot at the NFL, have discipline or academic issues at school, or just do not want the college experience.
Here is another question: if a kid does go to the XFL, is he a free agent for the NFL at some point?
October 11th, 2019 at 8:14 PM ^
That would be a smart thing to do for the league & personally I look forward to watching the chaos
October 11th, 2019 at 8:31 PM ^
55K???
That's not even SEC level money!
Get out of here with that! That's D2 level cash.
October 11th, 2019 at 8:52 PM ^
I don’t see why the XFL wants to be on par with the NFL when that clearly will just never happen. They’d be smart to try and market themselves as minor league (if that would be even possible I’m not sure.) I just don’t see anyone going head to head with the NFL.
October 11th, 2019 at 9:00 PM ^
I hope it does well. I like the idea of spring football.
October 11th, 2019 at 10:53 PM ^
Consider how many baseball players skip college to make peanuts in the minor leagues.
October 11th, 2019 at 10:58 PM ^
I'm ready to see a college freshman running back get smoked by an 8 year veteran linebacker who barely missed the cut for the NFL.
October 11th, 2019 at 11:34 PM ^
You leave, you make a lousy $55K for a year & the league folds. You’re not going to the NFL and you don’t have a college education either. Or a scholarship.
Yeah. Sounds like a great idea.
October 12th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
We are already begging the pros to take Fields and Day away. Pretty sad.
October 12th, 2019 at 12:50 AM ^
F Ohio. I'm hoping the XFL takes Patterson from us. I can't take another year of him under center.
No hate because he seems like a nice kid and he's definitely giving it his all but we need change.
October 12th, 2019 at 6:38 AM ^
Isn"t this Patterson's last year regardless? You'd think a guy that hates on a qb and follows the team would know the eligibility status of said qb.