Rochesterfan

They are stupid to play, but dead if they don’t. No Win here. I wish the players would stand up for themselves- especially heading into Seattle, DC, and NY. The players already have little recourse (can’t sue and can’t unionize) - now would be the time to stand up and say no. You have 3 games in major impacted markets. Not a good look when everything else is being postponed. Making it look like they do not care at all about their players.

It is about TV when your TV contract pays the Bills. The XFL has a TV contract that provides them no money. The stations put up the risk and the money. The XFL gets nothing from TV. The production cost for an NFL game is huge - so although it gets significantly better ratings - it does not mean the station is making more money. A 1.5 share for the XFL is about break even for the TV stations - I believe. That was why Vince had to front enough cash for 2 years because the league has no real income other than game ticket sales and even that is limited by how much the venue needs to be open and running. For the XFL to survive - they needed ratings that would allow the stations to make enough money from ads to cover production cost and then share with the league. The original articles discussing this was looking at around a 2.0 or higher share to have the stations bidding on XFL rites. A 1.5 share is great, but it is barely enough to cover the production costs to cover the games - especially with the XFL covering the entire US map. The stations are ok with the ratings even as they drop, but unless the XFL comes up with a way to lessen costs - it can not survive with out a big time TV contract and the viewership is not driving that. Maybe someone will take a shot, but my guess is this fizzles out - especially with new NFL deals coming up and the extra money the NFL is giving to the bottom tier players - the pressure is really on the XFL.

This is not correct. Their TV deal gives them nothing. The stations (Fox, ESPN, ABC, etc) are not charging the XFL, but the XFL gets no money from the deal. The only income the XFL gets is a small percentage of the gate. Vince was prepared to lose money for 2-3 years in the hope that the viewership would stabilize at close to 2.0 share and that would allow him to renegotiate to get some TV revenue. The issue is that it has not quite stabilized and it is in the 1.2-1.4 share range - not bad, but probably not enough to get a contract that pays the bills. If the teams have to play in an empty stadium or cancel/postpone games - it potentially creates even more issues as it delays when these players become eligible for the NFL and hurts the long term plans of the league as a potential feeder league. It will be interesting to see how they navigate this as the current climate could greatly eat into the money Vince set aside and maybe he no longer can fund a second season if they play without fans. It should be interesting.

Why do you think KJ would accept a deal for 6-8 million with potential outs by the Bills? When he was cut by Houston he lost his 5th year option of over 9 million. I would think he is looking for his “big contract” as he is in his prime and he showed he was healthy. I am guessing he is looking for 4 to 5 years at 10+ with a nice guarantees. Probably more than the Bills want to pay their #2. I also would assume the Bills know exactly what he is looking for - which is why they signed Norman and have not signed KJ. My guess is just like Phillips and Shaq - they have a value set for KJ and he thinks on the open market - he can beat that - so the Bills will allow him to test the market and if he is not getting the money - they will happily sign him back, but if someone is willing to overpay - they already have their back-up plan in place and do not have to scramble. The Bills were obviously willing to go to 6-8 million for a CB - so don’t you think that has already been discussed between KJ, his agent, and the Bills. If that was going to be acceptable - the deal would have been done and signed and Norman would have gone elsewhere. Beane is not stupid - he knows what he wants to spend and what KJ is looking for and right now those numbers do not mesh. If the market gets flooded with more DBs and his price drops - KJ will be back, but all it takes is one team like the Jets to offer 5 years $55 million with 25 guaranteed and KJs bet on himself pays off. If not he can always return to Buffalo at a healthy raise.

Except Carolina actually improved in Defense the year we hired McDermott and Carolina still had Star. They were a top defense against the run - #2 I believe. Those rankings really started to drop when they lost Star. It might not be the only reason as they also lost Steve Wilks to Arizona, but it did not help. That drop in rushing defense in Carolina was most pronounced last year as they dropped from top 5 to middle of the pack to finally stopping at bottom 3 in rushing defense. Meanwhile the Bills went the exact opposite way. With McDermott, but no Star, the Bills where bottom 5 in the league in run defense. They pick up Star and move immediately to middle of the pack, just as Carolina drops to middle of the pack. Last year the Bills were top 10 rushing defense as Carolina was in free fall. Now Star was not the only factor as you have Edmunds, Oliver, etc. but I do not believe you can discount what Star provides - even if he does not fill the stat sheet. Could they get the same production from a guy like “Snacks” at a lesser price - maybe, but they knew Star would accept his part time roll and help stabilize the room and help get the other lineman on the same page. I will not discount that - as Oliver and Kyle before him, The Phillips brothers, and all the pick-ups seemed to settle in and play fine on the line.

Yes teams may target your CB2, but having Tre as a #1 means you can help by rolling coverage to ensure they do not get beat deep. This allows your CB2 to play more instinctual and play more underneath routes. This was the strength of Josh in Carolina. So yes they may try to target the #2 CB more, but for all the exposing teams did with Wallace - he was not bad in coverage, just a bit to small - which is why he was a UDFA. They got more size with KJ, but not much better play and that is what I expect from Norman. He is bigger and more physical- helping in the outside run game and he will match up with bigger more physical WR2 - allowing Tre to handle the WR1. The idea that Norman could be cut is the whole point of this. He was given a 1 year prove it contract with little to no guaranteed money. This was done before FA even begins - much like the Long signing last year. He is a depth body that if it works is great and if it doesn’t work - it cost you nothing at all - not even a shot at a comp pick.

Washington brought him in because at the time he was considered the “best CB in the NFL”. Carolina realized he was great because of the McDermott scheme - which made many CBs really good - so they did not want to pay him the huge contract. Washington needed another big signing. Washington doesn’t look at fit - they wanted the top CB and saw a way to get him. Also understand this is not a FA move - this is before FA even begins - it is just a depth move for a guy they know. Gives them more depth in case the Wallace surgery puts him behind or they lose other guys during FA. This is not a big time day one FA signing.

First - get your information correct - McDermott never coached Vontae (Miami/Indy) - so they only had minor info on him and much like this it was a low risk deal. Did him not being there the rest of the year hurt the Bills? Second - yes they knew Benjamin- did they give him a contract? They made a trade because they were in a playoff push and whether or not that trade helped - they pushed to the playoffs. So the trade was not a bad move. The Panthers picked up his 5th year option - so when he came in the Bills had him for the remainder of that year and the next. The Bills opted to see if playing on that last year would motivate him and when it didn’t - he was cut mid season. So it looks like - yes they knew him and when he did not give what they needed - they got rid of him. Just like the option for Norman. Especially as the report has 0 guaranteed money before the season - what is the risk? Can you also show these reports that he is currently slow and overweight and sluggish? I have not seen anything since the midpoint of last year where a poorly coached Washington was struggling and decided to “bench” him because of play. That entire team was unmotivated and played sluggish- not sure I blame it on Josh.

This would make sense because as a veteran player - if he is on the week 1 roster - it becomes guaranteed. They should not have to give extra guarantees because of his status as a veteran. This adds to the value as if he is bad - he is gone and no impact at all. If he is good - you have Kevin Johnson all over again. A guy you can play as needed, while still allowing Levi his growth and time. No real down side as it has little cap impact and brings in another depth guy to ensure we have a set roster.

His former HC didn’t want to give him a chance at an AAV of over 12.5 million a year. It sounded like a cap release more than anything. Your first part is absolutely correct - DC way overpaid and he was not worth what DC was paying him - so he gets cut. Now he is signed to a deal at less than half his original salary for a system he is better suited to. My guess would be if he was on a 1 year 6 million contract with DC - Rivera would of kept him around, but at over 12.5 with multiple years left - he was expendable.

He will have to compete to be CB2. He very will could be behind Levi Wallace and who knows who else we sign and draft. I have no issues with the signing as it is really just a depth signing. The money is totally irrelevant as it is a one year deal and begins to provide depth before FA begins.

Yeah - much like QB - the NFL needs more quality O-linemen and it really becomes apparent the lower you get - the total lack of O-Line depth and quality.

Because he never had to play. If they had let him play - he would have been out of the league faster. The Bills saw it and then the Chargers saw it. Now the XFL is seeing it.

It is not a “C” - it is a poorly designed Rams horn - curling from the A. Why it looks like lightning bolts and a C is anyone’s guess.

Agreed - the Chargers I could see. The Rams not so much.

This looks like the Sabres slug logo

Considering even with the win bonus added in - most players besides the QBs will make around $55,000 for their 10 games - they are not exactly making much money. They will make a bit under $480,000 less than the NFL minimum and well below even the PS players before the new CBA. Even with the bigger QB salaries they are way below NFL PS levels. The players are totally being screwed for money as the pay in the XFL is even less than the AAFL was. The question becomes how many get invites and how many do not. I really do not see this as viable beyond next season and if the virus scare continues on the coasts - attendance will plummet even further for teams like Seattle, NY, and LA. I know Vince pulled enough money to fund 2+ seasons, but I am not sure at what point he pulls the plug or has the plug pulled for him.

if that is divided amongst the players only which I think it is - each guy has made an additional $9,000 total for the 5 wins so far. Not bad for 5 weeks work.

Not all of the booth reviews have been correct, but they get done somewhat quick and it is not always used. The flow is better, but the officiating is just as bad or worse and the major gaffes they have had like today have cost teams. Just think about if the major issues like today had occurred every week or 2 weeks in the NFL. The major issues are things that happen once a year in the NFL or should about every 30 XFL years. Also just watching a few games I have seen a lot of blatant things missed or not called. Think about the amount of complaining we do as a fan base when they miss or don’t call blatant holding or PI. If this was the NFL game - these refs would be getting worked over terribly for how they are calling the game. The issue is we are part of a very tiny group watching and we have next to zero allegiance to any team so we let the bad plays go rather than scream and fume over them.

So I love how we hear how great the officials are, but every week it seems there are major gaffes in their limited games a week. The officiating is just as bad just in different ways and the number of games/plays and viewership/importance of games is significantly lower. They are not calling everything, but they are still missing blatant calls and things like timing has been an issue. I think it is just different and if you calculate this out to an NFL schedule - they have played less than 2 weeks of games and have had multiple big plays missed by the referee - it just seems like less because of the fewer games per week and the fact that viewership is less than 10% so fewer people talking about calls.

He has the last 2 years and could not make the Bills WRs either year (and I am told that the Bills had pathetic WRs the last 2 years). After not making the Bills or a PS last year - how good is he really? My guess is he gets an invite, but he just is not good enough against NFL starting or back-up CBs. He will be potential NFL PS with the new expanded Rosters.

This is just going to be very hard to do. The league plays past the combine and past the major part of FA. So these guys will have little chance to get drafted if they come straight out of HS. Worse yet - the timing of the league means most FAs will already be signed and the teams are focused on the upcoming draft - any guys that actually make a roster are just fill ins. The AAFL at least by folding early got several players signed before the big FA push. I think the XFL will get a few guys signed, but considering their pay scale is less than the PS and the fact that viewership is dropping badly week over week and next week starts March madness which will kill the viewership. I just do not see the XFL surviving. The only way a spring league is going to have sustained success is partnering with the NFL/NFLPA and getting these young PS players and true back-up level QBs into the game - guys that will have a legitimate place on NFL rosters and name recognition.

Actually ratings have dropped each week just like the AAFL - attendance is variable because some teams like ST. Louis just had a home opener that got big attendance - some games in other markets attendance was down. How many players exactly do you think are making the 90 man camp roster from this league? You are talking like you expect a bunch - just not sure why? The AAFL folded early and actually made great timing as FA was not completed and it was still a while before the draft and they got a small number with better talent. The timing on the XFL season is really bad. The season completes well after the FA period has been done and right before the draft. They will most likely get a few of their top end players - Cam Phillips, maybe a QB or two picked up from teams that missed out on a position in the draft, but most teams will be down to filling in the last few roster spots. These guys will be competing against undrafted FAs to fill rosters. If the top couple of players from each team are picked up - you are talking about 16 players maybe about where the AAFL was - not exactly a big marketing push - especially as many of them will be cut as part of the roster cut downs. I really don’t think that will make this a viable league long term and it will not drive players from PS or the NCAA to the league. At least that is my opinion as of now. I just do not see this ending well for the XFL and part of that is the new CBA and the increase in players and money.

Yes, but the NCAA is working to balance that out to prevent either an unfair CA advantage with athletes getting paid or having to block all students in CA from competition as they have been paid.

And why after California law changes - players will be paid. The XFL pay scale is lower than the PS payouts - so I think most players will sign their future contracts and the colleges are allowing transfers and shortly - pay - the pool of higher end XFL talent begins to further melt away. The other league realized without getting an agreement with the NFL/NFLPA to use these guys the talent was never going to flourish. Basically the XFL is arena league football. Different rules - low end talent - it will have a few guys that make it back to the NFL - just like Arena and AAFL did, but if they can’t compete to even get the majority of PS players and that number goes up. They are in trouble long term.