The XFL, NFL Partnership
The XFL announced Monday that they have reached an agreement with the NFL. This deal was designed as a way to improve the health and safety of the athletes while also providing an outlet for the NFL to experiment with some of its ideas. Those innovations could include trying out alternatives to the current overtime rules the NFL is currently using. This would appease NFL fans who have been complaining about this format for years.
The XFL also provides a testing ground for other items. A big issue right now is the long-term health of football players. The XFL would be an ideal place to test new playing equipment and surfaces to prevent career-threatening injuries. The XFL is a great opportunity to train new officials as well. Almost all fans have trust issues with the current NFL referees and are advocating for the use of virtual officiating in some cases. This would allow the NFL a place to hold tryouts for its possible future referees.
There are a couple of other topics that should be mentioned about this partnership as well. The first is the XFL saying it does not want to compete with the NFL. They recognize that would be a losing battle as no league has ever done anything to legitimately compete with the NFL since its creation. The other is that this agreement is non-exclusive. This means that other professional football leagues could enter into a similar agreement in the future.
Timing and Possible Outcomes of the Partnership
A deal like this was likely to emerge eventually. XFL league co-owner Dwayne Johnson made an appearance at Super Bowl LVI and was seen waving at fans during warmups for the game. Another thing that may have moved the partnership through was the USFL announcing its plans to return in April of this year. This might have scared the NFL a little. The USFL was the only other league to truly compete with the NFL in the past.
There are also possible outcomes that must be examined at this moment. As I previously mentioned, the partnership effectively gives the NFL a place to experiment with some of its ideas. This would allow the NFL a chance to use the XFL as a scapegoat if a change does not go as planned and it receives backlash from the public. Others may be more concerned about players’ long-term health beyond football. The chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) epidemic has led to many retired athletes to take their own lives and those of others.
My Opinions
If I had to give my personal opinion on this deal, I would say I like it. This gives players and coaches a chance to prove themselves as well as provides a training ground for potential future NFL referees. I only have a few concerns. Adding players to an XFL roster will be difficult as the league plays in the spring. I think this will make it difficult to put a team on the field every week since the season is happening during the NFL offseason. This means the XFL will effectively be bottom-feeders picking the players the other leagues do not want. Another issue is regarding the health of its players. The XFL is labeling itself as a place for innovation. What would happen if one of its players does something illegal that can be traced back to something that person developed while in the league? If someone presses charges against the XFL, that would surely be the end of the league. They are not like the NFL with decades of wealth to support any legal problems they may run into.
Regardless, I think the XFL, USFL, and any other football leagues that develop in the future will result in a net positive for the sport itself. Hopefully, any negatives will be kept to a minimum if there are any at all.
Closing Thoughts
This article was published on the Belly Up Sports website and specifically its NFL page. Belly Up Sports also has a Twitter page where you can interact with the network. I also have written for this outlet before so see my most recent story if you would like. If you would like to talk to me directly, feel free to chat with me on my Twitter as well. Try to keep it clean and proper. If you are incapable of doing so, ignore that completely and battle it out with me. Just a few warnings for those who dare challenge me. I am highly competitive and hate to admit when I am wrong. So be This article was published on the Belly Up Sports website and specifically its NFL page. prepared for a war of words.
