Re: The Rock on MNF
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 2:12 am
I do, but I think only one plays in 2024. I do not know which one though.
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I do, but I think only one plays in 2024. I do not know which one though.
I mean, what did you want him to say? "Yeah, we purchased the XFL so we can continue to line our own pockets. That's the deal." Rock was a former football player who didn't make it to the big time, he can relate to the XFL-level player, he's talked about that a lot in his public appearances since purchasing the XFL. Is he blowing smoke? Maybe, but that's part of the job in hyping up a league like this.
Let me clarify - as I wasn't specific to my POV. As a fan I'm really only concerned if it will be a good product to watch and that its good FB. That's what I meant by my (and fans) # 1 priority. The $ part was just "give me a break" LOL comment.GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:32 amI mean, what did you want him to say? "Yeah, we purchased the XFL so we can continue to line our own pockets. That's the deal." Rock was a former football player who didn't make it to the big time, he can relate to the XFL-level player, he's talked about that a lot in his public appearances since purchasing the XFL.
Of course they're going to want to make it, outwardly at least, as player-friendly as possible. That's how fans want it framed, and that's what prospective players want to hear when they're trying to decide (a) if playing in a secondary league is worth it and (b) whether to choose the XFL or USFL to be a part of.
I don't want to get into the semantics of what's considered a "developmental" league again, but you'd be naive to think 100% of the players that end up playing in the XFL don't have the goal of trying to get into/get back to the NFL. I have no problem with the owners embracing the idea that this is where players can go to refine their skills and attract the attention of NFL scouts.
But don't you think that by acquiring the best players (and you get that in part by making it a place players want to play, selling them on being able to showcase for the NFL, etc.), that will lead to the really good football that you and the fans naturally want? I feel like they go hand-in-hand.4th&long wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:53 amSo I guess what I wanted him to say was - "The XFL is coming and FB fans are going to love it!" And why.GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:32 amI mean, what did you want him to say? "Yeah, we purchased the XFL so we can continue to line our own pockets. That's the deal." Rock was a former football player who didn't make it to the big time, he can relate to the XFL-level player, he's talked about that a lot in his public appearances since purchasing the XFL.
Of course they're going to want to make it, outwardly at least, as player-friendly as possible. That's how fans want it framed, and that's what prospective players want to hear when they're trying to decide (a) if playing in a secondary league is worth it and (b) whether to choose the XFL or USFL to be a part of.
I don't want to get into the semantics of what's considered a "developmental" league again, but you'd be naive to think 100% of the players that end up playing in the XFL don't have the goal of trying to get into/get back to the NFL. I have no problem with the owners embracing the idea that this is where players can go to refine their skills and attract the attention of NFL scouts.
The Rock didn't talk about that side of it. It was all "priority #1 the players". That might sell well to the 400 or so players but fans Really only want good FB especially after watching 4/6 Garbage NFL wildcard games. And XFL needs millions of fans.
Look - I'm going to be watching - you don't have to sell us. And quite frankly I do an eye roll on the over selling to fans - BUT it works. "For the Love of Football" was XFL 2.0's motto. That SELLS. "For the Benefit of Player development" Does Not. That's all I'm saying. Even Manning sounded awkward when asked by the Rock.GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:17 amBut don't you think that by acquiring the best players (and you get that in part by making it a place players want to play, selling them on being able to showcase for the NFL, etc.), that will lead to the really good football that you and the fans naturally want? I feel like they go hand-in-hand.4th&long wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:53 amSo I guess what I wanted him to say was - "The XFL is coming and FB fans are going to love it!" And why.GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:32 am
I mean, what did you want him to say? "Yeah, we purchased the XFL so we can continue to line our own pockets. That's the deal." Rock was a former football player who didn't make it to the big time, he can relate to the XFL-level player, he's talked about that a lot in his public appearances since purchasing the XFL.
Of course they're going to want to make it, outwardly at least, as player-friendly as possible. That's how fans want it framed, and that's what prospective players want to hear when they're trying to decide (a) if playing in a secondary league is worth it and (b) whether to choose the XFL or USFL to be a part of.
I don't want to get into the semantics of what's considered a "developmental" league again, but you'd be naive to think 100% of the players that end up playing in the XFL don't have the goal of trying to get into/get back to the NFL. I have no problem with the owners embracing the idea that this is where players can go to refine their skills and attract the attention of NFL scouts.
The Rock didn't talk about that side of it. It was all "priority #1 the players". That might sell well to the 400 or so players but fans Really only want good FB especially after watching 4/6 Garbage NFL wildcard games. And XFL needs millions of fans.
I agree with most if not all of this. If you've seen what Dany Garcia and The Rock have posted on Instagram and Twitter, many of their posts include the hash-tag #ForTheLoveOfFootball. That tells me they're not completely getting rid of that mantra. I guess my perception is we're reading too much into Rock's statements last night and extrapolating that out as some kind of tag-line the league is going to use over the next year. I'm not convinced that's the case.4th&long wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:37 amLook - I'm going to be watching - you don't have to sell us. And quite frankly I do an eye roll on the over selling to fans - BUT it works. "For the Love of Football" was XFL 2.0's motto. That SELLS. "For the Benefit of Player development" Does Not. That's all I'm saying. Even Manning sounded awkward when asked by the Rock.GregParks wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:17 amBut don't you think that by acquiring the best players (and you get that in part by making it a place players want to play, selling them on being able to showcase for the NFL, etc.), that will lead to the really good football that you and the fans naturally want? I feel like they go hand-in-hand.4th&long wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:53 am
So I guess what I wanted him to say was - "The XFL is coming and FB fans are going to love it!" And why.
The Rock didn't talk about that side of it. It was all "priority #1 the players". That might sell well to the 400 or so players but fans Really only want good FB especially after watching 4/6 Garbage NFL wildcard games. And XFL needs millions of fans.
You can imply that what's good for players will translate into good FB but its not the same.
At the end of the day the Rock got them to mention XFL and he got the word out that in 2-3 weeks more news is coming. But IMO they need to drop the 'its for the players' tag line and focus on their fan base like XFL 2.0 did.
Of course you need quality football and saying we are going to get great FB players is good PR, but that's not the same our priority is to help the players.laxtreme56 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:22 am I can see both points of view here. You need to get the fans excited and invested, but also need quality football. Giving players incentive to continue their careers in the XFL can only be a good thing. I didn't really expect The Rock to go into much detail on the behind the scenes stuff, and honestly the ManningCast isn't the outlet for it anyway. The Rock and Redbird aren't selling to alternative football fans, they know we're going to watch anyway, and history has shown, their aren't enough of us to keep things profitable in the long term. What they need to do is tap into the 100million+ that watch the Super Bowl every year and get 2% of them to watch and attend games weekly,.
I'm not surprised by them doing this at all, it came across that way to me.laxtreme56 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:17 am NFL.com posted The Rock's XFL segment from last night. While going full on NFL developmental league may not be ideal, (and likely not Rock/Garcia/Red Bird plans anyway) befriending the most powerful league on the planet can only be good for business. https://www.nfl.com/videos/dwayne-the-r ... ure-of-xfl