XFL

[Sigmapolis]

In a normal environment, the league would probably get time to develop a little.

But without the ability to hold spectator events, McMahon is probably hemorrhaging money in his other entertainment properties that are better established and have a better chance of bouncing back when this is over. So it was an easy thing to cut.

I hope some of the innovations that they employed get a look at other levels of football. The XFL did some neat stuff.

I think everybody should adopt their kickoff rules.

I think their "double forward pass" rule was an unworkable gimmick.

I thought their 1, 2, and 3 point conversions were kind of gimmicks, as well. My preference would be to turn the PAT into an automatic 1 *or* teams have a choice of giving up the automatic 1 in exchange for a chance at a two-point conversion.

I think the "shootout" style of overtime, with five plays run from the two-point conversion line for each team, has some potential, but I still prefer the college one of alternating red zone possessions. The recent rule change of first eliminating the PAT and then making it a "sudden death" shootout from the two-point conversion line is an improvement, too, preventing such games from going on forever. I did like their format, however.

The play clock should be shortened to their 25 seconds.

Coaches' challenges for replays are stupid -- they should just have a "sky judge" official who spots the ball and reviews every play, sort of like college does.

 

[Sigmapolis]

The CFL would essentially be the timing model. Or maybe someone who partners with the CFL and adds 9 US based teams to make a total of 18.

The CFL tried just that in the 90s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Football_League_in_the_United_States



The Baltimore Stallions even won a Grey Cup.

 

[huntt26]

I am really bummed. I actually really enjoyed this time around. Hoping we still get spring football someday

College very well might play in the spring next year

 

[Mr Janny]

 

[Drew0311]

My biggest problem with alternative football leagues is they come to quick after the NFL season. College get's done, then NFL has the superbowl, then the next weekend I am supposed to be ready for more football. I needed time to decompress. Give me a month or two off to where I really need some football. Make it a 10 or so week season and have the playoffs. Then another break and NFL and college starts up again.

 

[CyGuy5]

This is just unfortunate. Nothing the league did wrong this time.

 

[Mr Janny]

This is just unfortunate. Nothing the league did wrong this time.

Covid will always be linked with this, but the league was drawing fewer and fewer eyes every week, and that was before they had to compete with the NCAA tournament and MLB. The league was not exactly catching fire as the season went on.

 

[jbindm]

Covid will always be linked with this, but the league was drawing fewer and fewer eyes every week, and that was before they had to compete with the NCAA tournament and MLB. The league was not exactly catching fire as the season went on.

Weren't they claiming before the season started that they were prepared to weather the first few seasons and take some financial losses while the league found its footing?

I guess we'll never know if that was true or not, although I have my doubts. Even if they were set to absorb some losses there was no way they could have been prepared for a pandemic that would end their first season.

 

[CyGuy5]

Weren't they claiming before the season started that they were prepared to weather the first few seasons and take some financial losses while the league found its footing?

I guess we'll never know if that was true or not, although I have my doubts. Even if they were set to absorb some losses there was no way they could have been prepared for a pandemic that would end their first season.

The big rumor was McMahon put enough into the league for it to last 2-3 seasons, but obviously covid threw a wrench into that

 

[JP4CY]

The Athletic is doing some serious digging into the XFL.
They think there is a possibility of McMahon shut it down to go into Chapter 11 and then purchase it at a cheap rate. Creditors have been in contact with the stadiums, fans, etc.
Apparently the XFL is still open for business because executives are drawing a salary and Oliver Luck was let go and is suing for approaching $24 million.

Fascinating

 

[Mr Janny]

The Athletic is doing some serious digging into the XFL.
They think there is a possibility of McMahon shut it down to go into Chapter 11 and then purchase it at a cheap rate. Creditors have been in contact with the stadiums, fans, etc.
Apparently the XFL is still open for business because executives are drawing a salary and Oliver Luck was let go and is suing for approaching $24 million.

Fascinating

Read that today. It's super slimy, which means that McMahon is probably all over it

 

[hunttr82]

Time for a bump

 

[dawgpound]

Time for a bump

Having the Rock attached is honestly huge for the prospects of the XFL. Good for them

 

[CtownCyclone]

Saw this floating out there, but wanted to wait until it seemed a bit more official.

 

[Sigmapolis]

This is going to be The Rock's toughest challenge yet.

Buying a company off your old boss and making it work.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

This is going to be The Rock's toughest challenge yet.

Buying a company off your old boss and making it work.

If anyone can do it, it's Dwayne Johnson.

 

[Sigmapolis]

If anyone can do it, it's Dwayne Johnson.

Plus, if it blows up, it was "only" $15 million for him.

He can pull $20+ million per movie.

Lots of that goes to agent and taxes, so to make himself whole, all he needs to do is demand they write another Fast movie for him, and he has it back.

Of course, this is all pre-COVID...

 

[jdoggivjc]

This is going to be The Rock's toughest challenge yet.

Buying a company off your old boss and making it work.

Perhaps I have no basis in saying this, but for whatever reason I feel much better about Dwayne Johnson owning it than I ever did about Vince McMahon running it. People look at what he did with WWE and say “yeah, but...”, but honestly, for a long time now WWE has been surviving in spite of itself, namely because it bought out most of its major competition in the early 2000s, and largely since has been way too big to compete against. Vince has almost never had to play the role of “small guy competing against the guy that’s impossible to compete against.”

 

[Sigmapolis]

Perhaps I have no basis in saying this, but for whatever reason I feel much better about Dwayne Johnson owning it than I ever did about Vince McMahon running it. People look at what he did with WWE and say “yeah, but...”, but honestly, for a long time now WWE has been surviving in spite of itself, namely because it bought out most of its major competition in the early 2000s, and largely since has been way too big to compete against. Vince has almost never had to play the role of “small guy competing against the guy that’s impossible to compete against.”

Yeah, the skills and mentality of being the NFL or the WWE... like you said, being a behemoth that survives because of its imposing mass and the lack of competition, but I do not think anybody would say they are well-run as far as large corporations go... is a little different than being a plucky startup that wants to carve out a niche.

Elon could do it, but can Dwayne Johnson handle it...?

Nobody bats 1.000 -- see this for an example...

 

[KnappShack]

Plus, if it blows up, it was "only" $15 million for him.

He can pull $20+ million per movie.

Lots of that goes to agent and taxes, so to make himself whole, all he needs to do is demand they write another Fast movie for him, and he has it back.

Of course, this is all pre-COVID...

Is his exposure that high? He's part of a group that's making the purchase.

Kind of like Magic owning the Dodgers....he has a cut but he's part of a much larger group.

The Rock has to be better liked than Vince. It's football. The league was doing OK before COVID.... This can work!