With the 2020 National Football League postseason ending just over two weeks ago, football fans everywhere are looking to keep themselves distracted until draft day. Luckily, a new football league has emerged to fill the void, the XFL.
What does XFL stand for? The answer is not entirely clear. According to a statement given to Les Carpenter of the Washington Post, it was originally supposed to mean “eXtreme Football League.” With that name being taken, “The X stands for anything but the NFL,” co-owner of the XFL, Vince McMahon, said.
The XFL consists of eight teams: the D. C. Defenders, New York Guardians, St. Louis Battlehawks, Tampa Bay Vipers, Dallas Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Tigers and Seattle Dragons.
During its first incarnation, the league was a complete disaster. McMahon’s first attempt at the XFL was 19 years ago; it lasted one season, had terrible reviews and disastrous game rules that made it very dangerous for players on a game-to-game basis.
The newest rendition of the XFL is, at first glance, performing much better in the national spotlight. The quality of play has certainly improved since the 2001 season. Notable players like former Ohio State Buckeyes star Cardale Jones are paving the way for this new league.
Microphones scattered all over the sidelines and reporters positioned right in the action give us a unique, inside look into the game. For the first time ever, we as viewers can hear exactly what the referees are saying and what is being said under the hood during replays. Although progressive, there are naturally negative aspects with these changes. These conversations are not entirely interesting and thrusting a microphone into an unsuspecting player’s or coach’s face can make for some awkward sound bites.
The differences between the NFL and XFL do not end there. The XFL has some distinctly different game rules compared to the NFL. For example, a kicker kicks from the 30-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in-play between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone during a kickoff. If the kicker fails to do so, or kicks the ball out of bounds, the ball will be automatically placed on the 45-yard line. These new rules also result in speeding up the pace of play, along with allowing for more creative liberties to be taken while designing plays.
Changes to the extra point following a touchdown are altered as well. Through these changes, the point-after attempt kick has been completely removed in the XFL. In place of the PAT kick, one can choose to try and make a completion from the two, five and 10-yard line, similar to the two-point conversion in the NFL. These tries translate to one, two or three points, respectively. This rule set allows for a nine-point swing, and therefore a chance for much more aggressive game calling.
The overall mission of the XFL is simple: speed up play, hit harder and pave the way for more opportunities for risky play. Strategy is an essential part of any sport, but does anyone really enjoy watching a punt or a touchback? The XFL sure doesn’t think so, resulting in these varying rules.
The league has also received a much stronger backing from large media outlets. The XFL has signed multi-year deals with both FOX and ESPN. Compared to the Alliance of American Football, a similar league that popped up last year and only received a minimal contract from CBS for one year, the XFL is in much better shape. The AAF went bankrupt shortly after their inaugural season. This factor, along with others, have led people to believe that this will not be another one-and-done season for the XFL.