XFL: Seattle at DC
Just turned this on and have recognized a few names already. Pep Hamilton is the head coach of DC and Cardale Jones is his QB. The other thing that I think we’ll see football as a whole adopt soon is their new idea for kickoffs. With player safety in mind I think it’s a nice way to keep the kickoff part of the game and minimize collisions.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
I like this better...
... especially since the kicker has to put the ball in play. Touchbacks come out to the 35 in the XFL.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:34 PM ^
Not too bad really.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:35 PM ^
I’ve always been a Dragons fan...
February 8th, 2020 at 3:09 PM ^
What about dungeons?
It would have been funny if one of the teams was called the Dungeons when they played the Dragons
February 8th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^
Watching the DC offense is like a bad acid flashback.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
With player safety in mind this makes a ton of sense and actually makes kickoffs an interesting part of the game because you can see more big kick returns
February 8th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark on the Dragons.
Tyree Kinnel and Logan Tuley Tillman in the Defenders
February 8th, 2020 at 3:08 PM ^
Announcers said William Campbell checked in at guard for Seattle.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^
Receivers are much better than the AAF.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
The defenders uniforms and logo are pretty sweet
February 8th, 2020 at 2:47 PM ^
I was just thinking the same thing. That logo on a hat would be a good look.
edit - Found one.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:47 PM ^
Kind of like a football game with Hard-Knocks-Live mixed in. I wouldn't want this type of presentation on a game that mattered to me, but it's cool to see it as a neutral party.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:54 PM ^
I have no clue what the rules are, but it'd be fun if they basically tossed excessive celebration. I want some 80s-90s the U celebrations
February 8th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
Seattle looks like the Miami Hurricanes with that uni.
I do like the KO rule but what about onside kick-ability?
February 8th, 2020 at 5:49 PM ^
You can still onside kick, but you have to announce that is what you are doing so both the refs and the receiving team will know. I don’t know at what yard line the teams line up at for an onside kick.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
This is fun, but do we believe it can survive? The AAF was like 12 weeks ago and died in a few weeks. Not clear there's a model for minor league sports in America: MiLB, AHL, G-League all hemorrhage money, but get subsidies from their parent, which the NFL won't give. But let's enjoy it while it lasts.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:12 PM ^
AAF was undercapitalized and in turn of course didn't have enough working capital. XFL has substantially more resources and deeper backing. XLF is highly unlikely to implode the way the AAF did but it will certainly be interesting if it is long-term viable. Arena Football did last for decades and the CBA was around for a half century until Isiah Thomas killed it.
February 8th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
McMahon allegedly was interested in reviving the XFL after seeing a study that 40 million+ Americans are interested in more football after the NFL season ends. Other minor leagues are not football and can't really be compared. Also, the XFL is not trying to be a minor league, or even developmental league - they want to stand on their own. To me, they seem to have learned all the lessons they needed from the original version, and have a good chance to fill the niche. I'm not sure how much it will take in terms of fan support live and on TV, but they seem to have enough capital to last long enough to be taken seriously.
February 8th, 2020 at 2:59 PM ^
Where is He Hate Me?
February 8th, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
Where are the cheerleaders? Asking for a friend.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:03 PM ^
Lol. It didn't take long for a player to drop an F bomb live when being interviewed as soon as they exit the field.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:06 PM ^
Lol, I know...the bleeping out was an epic fail and took too long after it was too late
February 9th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
... and when Seattle's QB got rocked... "man this hurts like a mother" effer.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:08 PM ^
will campbell is an OL?
February 8th, 2020 at 3:31 PM ^
He's stuck on a never-ending pendulum that goes from OL to DL every 365 days.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
I like a lot of the rule changes in the XFL - especially the common sense catch rule (no Calvin Johnson bullshit rule) and the kickoffs. The extra point thing is a bit funky and the timing rules favor comebacks. The Lions would lose so many games with the extra time available at the end of halves.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
We need a team in Detroit. Fans are starving for a pro football team.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:40 PM ^
Would be hilarious if we got one and won the XFL championship.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:47 PM ^
Detroit Drive
February 8th, 2020 at 4:51 PM ^
Detroit won titles in USFL and Arena League.
February 8th, 2020 at 5:58 PM ^
Michigan Panthers! They won twice as many playoff games in their first year as the Lions have won in my life time--and one more championship than the Lions have won in my life time.
I also saw their playoff win over Oakland (?) in person.
February 8th, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
Jeremy Clark sighting
February 8th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Gotta admit, I'm enjoying this game.
February 8th, 2020 at 6:21 PM ^
Oh boy, those Cardale Jones passes are bringing back memories
February 8th, 2020 at 7:38 PM ^
I’m glad there’s an alternative pro league. Hopefully they eventually start drafting top players right out of high school. For one thing, the best players deserve to get paid over the table. For another, I think that will help us out in the long run. It would even the playing field considerably if most of the top 30-50 hs players who don’t want to play school could go straight to a pro league.
February 8th, 2020 at 9:11 PM ^
Not going to lie, I freaking enjoyed the hell out of both XFL games today. And I plan on watching the games tomorrow! I haven't watched pro football (not superbowl) in years, and I watched two games back to back! Crazy
February 9th, 2020 at 12:14 AM ^
Ditto.
Entertained by both games. It's somewhere above Bama but below the Lions. Thought it was fun to watch.
If XFL v.1 pioneered the sky cam then perhaps some of the rules from XFL v.2 can make it into other leagues.
I really want to see an OT game and how that plays out.
February 8th, 2020 at 9:32 PM ^
I watched it. It was a fun game. Decided to get a couple of tickets to the Dragons' home game next weekend.
Dragons have three Wolverines: Channing Stribling, Jeremy Clark, Will Campbell.
On this one, as a Wolverine, I was OK with the other side, as it has Pep Hamilton as coach and Tyree Kinnel. :)
Another thing I like about the XFL: I like seeing all those guys get a shot at football and being on TV.