The XFL is coming back

[Chip R]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/vince-mcmahon-aims-imagine-football-200659612.html

[Boston Red]

It's already a better idea than it was 17 years ago. Admittedly, that's a low bar.

[Tom Servo]

It makes sense to take time to get the infrastructure in place, but particularly in our hyperactive news cycle it's hard to see the fairly recent NFL backlash still being relevant in 2020.

Anyway in general I support attempts to de-monopolize the sports landscape, but I'm a lifelong wrestling fan and I know Vince is doomed to fail at every non-wrestling venture he attempts.

[Raisor]

He Hate Me is only 41 years old.

#Comeback

[WVRed]

It makes sense to take time to get the infrastructure in place, but particularly in our hyperactive news cycle it's hard to see the fairly recent NFL backlash still being relevant in 2020.

Anyway in general I support attempts to de-monopolize the sports landscape, but I'm a lifelong wrestling fan and I know Vince is doomed to fail at every non-wrestling venture he attempts.

Agreed, I don’t think people are going to be talking about Colin Kaepernick, Michael Bennett, and national anthem protests two years from now.

But I’ve been wrong before.

[Tom Servo]

Agreed, I don’t think people are going to be talking about Colin Kaepernick, Michael Bennett, and national anthem protests two years from now.

But I’ve been wrong before.
Right, and certainly there will be some holdouts, you can still find people that are mad about Jane Fonda or whatever. But the XFL is gonna need way more than just those people to be successful.

[Redsfaithful]

There is so much dumb about this, but 40 man rosters really stands out as particularly stupid, unless you're doing away with kickoffs maybe? Which would actually be smart, but I don't think this is going to go in the direction of safer football, so I doubt it.

[Redsfaithful]

There's not enough decent quarterbacks to go around in the NFL, let alone more. Nobody ever addresses this with these secondary leagues.

[paintmered]

The XFL was mediocre football the first time around. How is it going to be different this time?

[kpresidente]

The XFL was mediocre football the first time around. How is it going to be different this time?

So is college football, people love that. The talent is relative, it’s the character that matters. If they can really get rid of all the off-field garbage that goes along with the NFL and just make it about the game, I’ll may start watching football again.

[Tom Servo]

If they can really get rid of all the off-field garbage that goes along with the NFL
I agree, get rid of the military propaganda.

[Chip R]

The XFL was mediocre football the first time around. How is it going to be different this time?

It'll be mediocre and non-political? :dunno:

I'm not sure how he is going to distinguish the XFL from the NFL besides lack of quality. He said there won't be scantily clad women and they won't wrestle for first possession. I always thought the sky cam was a good idea and others did too. I doubt this will happen but maybe they could be a more progressive league with blows to the head and other things.

[KronoRed]

They should attack college football, not the NFL, otherwise it's just NFL rejects, go after the 18 year olds.

[15fan]

Reimagine pro football in a way that makes it more entertaining to watch? Here are a few thoughts:

No replay. Make the call on the field and go with it.

3 20 minute periods with a continuously running clock. 10 minutes between each period for commercials and runs to the concession stand.

Eliminate pass interference. Let dbs be physical all the way down the field. On the other side, WRs don’t have to catch the ball. As long as they get a hand on the ball, it’s a catch at the spot on the field where the receiver touched the pass.

No punting. Just like backyard football, you go for it on 4th down.

Kickoffs into the endzone on the fly result in 2 points for the receiving team.

[M2]

Reimagine pro football in a way that makes it more entertaining to watch? Here are a few thoughts:

No replay. Make the call on the field and go with it.

3 20 minute periods with a continuously running clock. 10 minutes between each period for commercials and runs to the concession stand.

Eliminate pass interference. Let dbs be physical all the way down the field. On the other side, WRs don’t have to catch the ball. As long as they get a hand on the ball, it’s a catch at the spot on the field where the receiver touched the pass.

No punting. Just like backyard football, you go for it on 4th down.

Kickoffs into the endzone on the fly result in 2 points for the receiving team.

CTE monitors in the helmets. "That hit just took two years off his life!"

As far as actual suggestions, no punting would be a good rule. Yet I'm not sure any number of rule changes is going to create a market for offseason football.

[Chip R]

Reimagine pro football in a way that makes it more entertaining to watch? Here are a few thoughts:

No replay. Make the call on the field and go with it.

3 20 minute periods with a continuously running clock. 10 minutes between each period for commercials and runs to the concession stand.

Eliminate pass interference. Let dbs be physical all the way down the field. On the other side, WRs don’t have to catch the ball. As long as they get a hand on the ball, it’s a catch at the spot on the field where the receiver touched the pass.

No punting. Just like backyard football, you go for it on 4th down.

Kickoffs into the endzone on the fly result in 2 points for the receiving team.

I like the no punting idea. I could see a continuously running clock but I'd change that to time outs and out of bounds plays only stop the clock except in the last 5 minutes of each half. I'd still stay with 4 quarters. and keep the replay but limit it to 1 minute. If it's not overturned in 1 minute, the call stands. Make OT a 7.5 minute period and if there's still no winner, the game's a tie. In the post season, you go 7.5 minutes then after that, it's sudden death. Maybe mike the QBs so the people watching can hear the play call. But make the broadcast delayed so there's no hanky panky.

Also, if I were Vince, I wouldn't be too quick to criticize the NFL. He may want to work with them behind the scenes as a sort of de facto developmental league.

[KoryMac5]

They should attack college football, not the NFL, otherwise it's just NFL rejects, go after the 18 year olds.

I thought the same thing after hearing Vrabels comments during his news conference in regards to the NCAA being the NFL's developmental league...go after the big time recruits and offer cash to play for 2 or 3 seasons. I think 25% of the kids would bite.

[JaxRed]

I'd like to see this happen. Seems to have made 2 good decisions. Spring football and no individual team owners. Let's see if the other decisions are as wise.

[Slyder]

If Vince is smart he goes after NCAA not NFL. Cater your league to 18-26 year olds who don't want to make someone else a ton of money and basically be a minor league with the NFL. You can have the occasional 30ish year old vet trying to show he still got it but I think the money is in the younger guys.

[Z-Fly]

If they want it to succeed, they should center the league around gambling.

[Chip R]

If they are looking for some publicity, there's one thing that would guarantee them that: Sign Colin Kaepernick. I believe he has said he would stand for the anthem if he were re-signed so that shouldn't be a problem but even if it is, you make it a work. He and Vince work it out in advance that he kneels for the anthem and right afterwards, Vince struts out on the field and cuts a promo on him and ends it with, "You're fired!" Behind the scenes, Kaep gets his money and a large donation to his favorite charity - all kept hush-hush.

[Slyder]

If they are looking for some publicity, there's one thing that would guarantee them that: Sign Colin Kaepernick. I believe he has said he would stand for the anthem if he were re-signed so that shouldn't be a problem but even if it is, you make it a work. He and Vince work it out in advance that he kneels for the anthem and right afterwards, Vince struts out on the field and cuts a promo on him and ends it with, "You're fired!" Behind the scenes, Kaep gets his money and a large donation to his favorite charity - all kept hush-hush.

That would be an awesome bit.

[dubc47834]

I think it can be successful. As other have said, make it a NFL minor league and target some of those kids that don't want to go to college. I don't know how smart it is to not have owners of each team, that would be more revenue coming in initially, but I understand he has more power with him being the only owner.

[Z-Fly]

People typically watch sports, because they grew up loving a team or they have money on it. No one grew up watching XFL teams. Have to make it about gambling.

[dubc47834]

People typically watch sports, because they grew up loving a team or they have money on it. No one grew up watching XFL teams. Have to make it about gambling.

I don't think that will ever fly! How many sports leagues are there that are solely for gambling...I'll wait!!!

[Redsfaithful]

I don't think that will ever fly! How many sports leagues are there that are solely for gambling...I'll wait!!!

The NFL more than anyone wants to admit (especially if you consider fantasy gambling).

Pure gambling: Jai alai, horse racing

[Chip R]

I think it can be successful. As other have said, make it a NFL minor league and target some of those kids that don't want to go to college. I don't know how smart it is to not have owners of each team, that would be more revenue coming in initially, but I understand he has more power with him being the only owner.

If Vince is the only owner, he's going to lose his shirt. New leagues usually lose a bunch of money in their first few years. But it's individual owners who have to foot the bill, not the league itself. There are kids out there who can play but don't want to go to college but it seems to me that most of them could go to a university - or even a community college - and stay eligible then they can either go to the NFL or a four year school. College may be a drag for these kids but they are getting free room and board. They go to the XFL they are pretty much going to be on their own. And they probably aren't going to be getting paid a lot either. With a wrestling promoter as the owner, you can be sure these players are going to be getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop as far as a paycheck goes. Vince will probably promise them some kind of attendance bonus then claim it really wasn't as much as announced.

Broadcasting the games will be another challenge. Most of the online streaming media, Amazon, Twitter, Yahoo all have relationships with the NFL. If the NFL says that they won't allow them to work with the XFL if they want to keep working with the NFL, they will capitulate. If broadcasters remember what happened with the XFL the first time around, they may not be so anxious to do business with them again. Vince doesn't have that relationship he had with NBC when Dick Ebersol was running the show there. He does have a relationship with ESPN but they have a bigger one with the NFL. I'm also not sure if ESPN is the best broadcasting partner for him to be working with since with the standing for the anthem rule, it seems the people he is trying to market to have problems with ESPN.

[dubc47834]

The NFL more than anyone wants to admit (especially if you consider fantasy gambling).

Pure gambling: Jai alai, horse racing

Excellent catch...I would have never thought about horse racing. I don't know enough about jai alai to comment on it. While the NFL has a lot of gambling associated with it, it's not the sole reason it exist list the original poster was stating.

[Chip R]

Having the XFL openly associated with gambling would be a horrible idea. With the chairman of the WWE running the show, fans are going to wonder if it's on the up and up to begin with. Openly associating it with gambling isn't going to help that perception any. What fans and sports books want out of a sporting event is the knowledge that the event is on the level. Whenever there's even a hint of shenanigans going on in a game the sports books take that game off the board ASAP.

[Redsfaithful]

I think that's true - if this weren't associated with wrestling the gambling idea would have more legs.

[Tom Servo]

If they are looking for some publicity, there's one thing that would guarantee them that: Sign Colin Kaepernick. I believe he has said he would stand for the anthem if he were re-signed so that shouldn't be a problem but even if it is, you make it a work. He and Vince work it out in advance that he kneels for the anthem and right afterwards, Vince struts out on the field and cuts a promo on him and ends it with, "You're fired!" Behind the scenes, Kaep gets his money and a large donation to his favorite charity - all kept hush-hush.
lol Vince would just hire a black guy with an afro wig and a Kaepernick jersey

[Z-Fly]

I don't think that will ever fly! How many sports leagues are there that are solely for gambling...I'll wait!!!

Really? "I'll wait!!" I thought we were done quoting that comedian.

Like previously posted, horse racing and the NFL.

I'm not saying the XFL should come out and start taking bets. Just make sure the rules and game times make it so it is gambling friendly. Kinda like the NFL did with the Thursday night games.

[dubc47834]

Really? "I'll wait!!" I thought we were done quoting that comedian.

Like previously posted, horse racing and the NFL.

I'm not saying the XFL should come out and start taking bets. Just make sure the rules and game times make it so it is gambling friendly. Kinda like the NFL did with the Thursday night games.

I disagree on the NFL, that's fine tho! What comedian are you talking about? Gambling I'm sure was the furthest thing from the NFL's mind when they thought of Thursday Night Football. That was purely a money grab!

[M2]

The XFL strikes me as a lot like GLOW - great documentary fodder or source material for a scripted series, but dreadful to watch in its original form.

[Sea Ray]

I think McMahon still thinks it was a power outage that killed his league the first time:


power failure occurred because two generators were short on fuel.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/13/business/xfl-game-intrusion-on-saturday-night-live-roils-nbc-executives.html

He'll make sure the generators have fuel this time around...

[Z-Fly]

13208

[Raisor]

I don't think that will ever fly! How many sports leagues are there that are solely for gambling...I'll wait!!!

Poker

- - - Updated - - -


I disagree on the NFL, that's fine tho! What comedian are you talking about? Gambling I'm sure was the furthest thing from the NFL's mind when they thought of Thursday Night Football. That was purely a money grab!

Why do you think they release injury updates? It's for the gamblers

[Chip R]

Poker

But poker isn't a sport.


Why do you think they release injury updates? It's for the gamblers

Partly. As I said, everyone wants the games to look like they are on the level The books want that and the fans want that so they aren't betting on something that's fixed. Injury reports are also for opposing teams so they can see who is or is not playing. They are somewhat vague - not as vague as hockey which reports upper and lower body injuries - but you could say that Tom Brady is questionable due to his hand and anyone over the age of 10 knows he will play unless he's declared out.

[Big Klu]

But poker isn't a sport.

Maybe not the way YOU play it! :D

[Raisor]

But poker isn't a sport.




Liar

[Chip R]

Liar

Chess is more of a sport than Poker. Backgammon is more of a sport than Poker. Marbles is more of a sport that Poker.

[Raisor]

chess is more of a sport than poker. Backgammon is more of a sport than poker. Marbles is more of a sport that poker.

permabanned from raisorzone punk!

[texasdave]

The way my two little grandsons play, Go Fish is more of a sport than Poker. It often ends up a full-contact sport at that. =)

[Chip R]

permabanned from raisorzone punk!

Jacks is more of a sport than poker. Going to get coffee is more of a sport than Poker. Sleeping is more of a sport than Poker.

[Chip R]

There's a new rival to the XFL and it's backed by former people.

http://es.pn/2GKKmDJ

[KronoRed]

How long before a "merger" then a spectacular bankruptcy?

[M2]

There's a new rival to the XFL and it's backed by former people.

http://es.pn/2GKKmDJ

Forget about the football for a moment, when did they stop being people? Are they like that lady who tried to turn herself into a cat?