First, host Mark Nelson talks with Seattle Dragons running back Kenneth Farrow about the shortened XFL season, the success of the Seattle Dragons, especially with the fans in the city of Seattle, his work with the “Grind with a Purpose” foundation, and his plans for the future. Then we hear from XFLBoard.com Seattle Dragons team reporter Jackson Conner. Jackson talks about the shortened XFL season, which players are headed to the NFL, and what we can expect from the XFL leading up to season two.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing governments to dictate regulations regarding public gatherings, and considering the health and safety of XFL players, coaches and staffs, the XFL had no choice but to officially cancel the remainder of their 2020 season. To discuss the present situation, and talk about the future, host Mark Nelson has invited Tampa Bay Vipers team reporter Greg Parks to the podcast. Greg is a regular visitor to this podcast, and we always enjoy his football knowledge, and his keen memory of players, and their playing history. You can find Greg on Twitter, imparting his wisdom at @gregmparks, and sharing fascinating spreadsheets of players and their statistics.
With the XFL shutting down their regular season, we are left to wonder what could have been if the second half of the season would have unfolded. With this in mind, Mark Nelson has invited Mike Mitchell to the podcast discuss the current situation with league, to hypothesize of what could have been if the season had completed, and to talk about how the XFL succeeded to impress the sports world, even in the abbreviated season they had.
Currently, the XFL will not be playing its regular-season games. However, all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit toward future games. The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years.
Clearly the league is not enthusiastic by this outcome, but they have deemed this decision necessary. We should be buoyed by the fact the XFL plans to continue in 2021.
We’d like to wish all XFL players, coaches, staff and fans the best, especially in relation to dealing with the Corona Virus pandemic.
Josh Johnson (LA Wildcats), Kenny Robinson (St. Louis BattleHawks), Boogie Roberts (LA Wildcats) and Jameer Thurman (DC Defenders)
Welcome to our Week 5 XFL “Players of the Week” results. Voting began immediately at the completion of the final game on Sunday. We gathered over 3,500 votes before the closing of polls at 6PM Eastern on Tuesday 10 March 2020. We thank all who voted!
Fans were asked to nominate any player they deemed worthy of the honor, in four categories: Offensive, defensive, lineman, and special teams.
Winners below are based on the number of votes received for each player.
Offensive Player of the Week: Josh Johnson, QB, LA Wildcats
Quarterback Josh Johnson engineered a Wildcat comeback over the surging Tampa Bay Vipers. Johnson went 24 for 36 passes, for 288 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception.
Fan comments:
Josh Johnson was a man possessed. Player of the week! (Anonymous)
Johnson engineered the comeback of the XFL season. (XFL Wildcats)
Threw four touchdowns to break the Viper’s back. (Mark Jackson)
Honorable Mentions
Cam Phillips, WR, Houston Roughnecks
Jhurrell Pressley, RB, DC Defenders
James Butler, RB, Houston Roughnecks
Taylor Cornelius, QB, Tampa Bay Vipers
Defensive Player of the Week: Kenny Robinson, Safety, St. Louis BattleHawks
Young man Kenny Robinson with his second interception of the season and it was a BEAUTY
St. Louis BattleHawk Kenny Robinson had a beautiful fingertip interception, showcasing his athletic ability. Combined with one sack and five combined tackles, Robinson was a bright spot in the BattleHawks loss.
Fan comments:
Made a beautiful pick that had to be reviewed… and it was good! (Gerald)
He is making plenty of plays for such a young player. (XFL #1)
If Robinson keeps playing like this he is sure to picked up in the NFL draft. (Anonymous)
Honorable Mention
Ryan Mueller, DE, New York Guardians
Jack Tocho, CB, LA Wildcats
Jordan Martin, SAF, Seattle Dragons
Lineman of the Week: Boogie Roberts, Tampa Bay Vipers
After his teammate Cedric Reed sacked Vipers quarterback Taylor Cornelius, Boogie Roberts scooped the ball and rumbled into the end zone, thus extending the Wildcats score over the Vipers.
Fan comments:
Scoop and score, the Wildcats way (Anonymous)
Put the score beyond reach at a time the Vipers were mounting a comeback. (XFL Fan Forever)
Scooped the ball and “Boogied” into the end zone. (Anonymous)
Honorable Mention
Cedric Reed, DE, LA Wildcats
Beniquez Brown, LB, Houston Roughnecks
Greer Martini, LB, Dallas Renegades
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jameer Thurman, LB, DC Defenders
First, we speak to DC Defenders linebacker Jameer Thurman. We talk to Jameer the standout season he is having with the Defenders of the XFL, and hear how Jameer feels the Defenders are destined to go all the way to the XFL championship. Then we speak to Brendan Howe, our XFLBoard.com team reporter for the DC Defenders. Brendan helps dissect a very interesting XFL week five, and provides a look forward into week six.
We had over 920 XFL fans add their wisdom to our system. We thank all those who entered. In Week 5 the collective was only 25 percent accurate. Not too wise.
Collective Wisdom – Week 5 Results
This Week
1-3
Overall Record 13-7
In picking the Week 5 winners, the collective went 1-3.
The Collective Wisdom season record is 13-7.
Week 4 Games
Collective Wisdom
Actual Score
Picked Winner?
Point Differential
Seattle Dragons at Houston Roughnecks
19-29
23-32
Accurate
7
New York Guardians at Dallas Renegades
17-20
30-12
Wrong
21
St. Louis BattleHawks at DC Defenders
26-14
6-15
Wrong
21
Tampa Bay Vipers at LA Wildcats
19-17
34-41
Wrong
39
Weekly Winner
The entrant who came the closest to predicting the actual scores was Jay Washington.
Compared to the actual scores, Jay Washington’s entry had a total point differential of 26. Very wise!
Here is the winning entry:
Seattle Dragons 24 at Houston Roughnecks 32
New York Guardians 28 at Dallas Renegades 15
St. Louis BattleHawks 10 at DC Defenders 14
Tampa Bay Vipers 28 at LA Wildcats 32
Jay has won the Genius of the Week tee-shirt. Congratulations!
We are happy to say that just over 920 XFL fans added their wisdom to our system. The closest entrant will win a tee-shirt proclaiming them the Genius of the Week.
We have crunched the numbers and have come up with the predictions for this week’s games. This week the collective wisdom says the visitors will win 2 of 4 games and two games will be decided by three points or less. Could this be true? We will soon find out how wise the collective can be.
Taylor Cornelius (Tampa Bay Vipers), Deatrick Nichols (Houston Roughnecks), Edmond Robinson (Houston Roughnecks), Matt McCrane (New York Guardians)
Welcome to our Week 4 XFL “Players of the Week” results. Voting began immediately at the completion of the final game on Sunday. We gathered over 2,900 votes before the closing of polls at Noon Eastern on Tuesday 3 March 2020. We thank all who voted!
Fans were asked to nominate any player they deemed worthy of the honor, in four categories: Offensive, defensive, lineman, and special teams.
Winners below are based on the number of votes received for each player.
Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Cornelius, QB, Tampa Bay Vipers
Tampa Bay quarterback Taylor Cornelius went 23 for 31 passes, for 211 yards and only one interception to rally his Vipers to their first win of the season.
Fan comments:
Cornelius sacrificed his body to get the job done. Player of the week! (Anonymous)
Corndog did what nobody else could do. He’s a keeper. (XFL Fan)
Gave his team the boost needed to get a whole team effort and the win. (PeterH)
Lineman of the Week: Edmond Robinson, LB, Houston Roughnecks
The bane of Landry Jones, Robinson gained the sack and then scooped up the fumbled football and rumbled into the end zone.
Fan comments:
Dual threat. Sack, scoop and score. (Anonymous)
Made Landry Jones wish he had never set foot on the field. (XFL Linebacker)
Robinson did it all. He sacked and he scored. (Anonymous)
Honorable Mention
Steven Johnson, LB, Seattle Dragons
Beniquez Brown, LB, Houston Roughnecks
Greer Martini, LB, Dallas Renegades
Kicker Matt McCrane with his magic boot. LA Wildcats At NY Guardians 29 Feb 2020 – Credit Adam McCullough
Special Teams Player of the Week: Matt McCrane, K, New York Guardians
Kicker Matt McCrane went 3-3 with field goals from the 51, 23, and 47 yds in a blustery MetLife Stadium to give New York enough points to ensure a much needed victory.
Fan comments:
3-3, with longest over 50 yards. Good enough for a win. (Anonymous)
Never missed. Gave th (Stephen Q.)
First kickoff return for a TD in XFL history deserves this honor. (Anonymous)
First, we speak to Dean Blandino the Head of XFL Officiating. We discuss the state of XFL officiating after week three, and talk about how transparent the league is attempting to be in its enforcement of the rules. Then we speak to Colin Gray, one of our XFLBoard.com team reporters for the Tampa Bay Vipers. Colin helps to dissect a very interesting XFL week 4, and provides a look forward into week five.
