The XFL is Back!!! And It’s Pretty Fun!
The XFL is Back!!!
High speed, less timeouts and some all-around good football. The XFL has some rules that are definitely an improvement over the current NFL rules. And with the Arena Football League filing for bankruptcy, the XFL has a real shot at sticking around.
With Fox, ABC and ESPN airing games on Saturday and Sunday, the XFL has a real shot at success.
Fun fact: Did you know it was the XFL that popularized the use of the Skycam? The NFL was a late adopter to this exciting new camera view.
Who’s who in the XFL?
For all you Bears fans that want to relive trauma, Marc Trestman is already losing in Tampa. The man who once kicked a 47 yard field goal… on 2nd down.
The biggest name in the XFL is likely Landry Jones. The fourth round draft pick was intended to replace Ben Roethlisberger but now he’s QBing for the Dallas Renegades. Other big names include former Ohio State QB Cardale Jones, former Chicago Bear Will Sutton and Christine Michael who ran for 4.3 yards per carry in the NFL.
Other notables include: Kony Ealy, Antonio Callaway and Conner Cook
XFL’s Xtreme Rules!!!
BEHOLD THE DOUBLE FORWARD PASS! – if you pass behind the line of scrimmage, you can pass a second time.
XFL Play Clock is 25 seconds
NFL Play Clock is 40 seconds
Also 10 minute halftimes so no more mid game beer runs unfortunately
2 Minute Drill er… I’m sorry…. “Comeback Period” - During the last 2 minutes of each half, if the play ends on the field of play, the game clock stops until the ball is spotted and 5 seconds have run off the play clock. If the ball is incomplete or out of backs, the clock stops until the ball is snapped just like the NFL
Kickoffs are now safer as the players line up 5 yards apart and must wait for the ball to be caught, or 3 seconds after the ball hits the ground, before moving. If the ball is caught in the endzone and downed, the ball is placed at the 35-yard line instead of the 20. All onside kicks must be announced, and standard NFL rules apply here.
Basically, there are less punting and more 4th down attempts making for a more exciting game.
After a touchdown, teams opt for a 1 point conversion at the 2 yard line, 2 point conversion at the 5 yard line or a 3 point conversion at the 10 yard line. Interestingly, no teams attempted a 3 point conversion in week one.
For a complete list of the new rules, check out the XFL official site
There are talks of an XFL Video Game
NFL2K5 was the last great NFL video game and they are the likely choice to build an XFL video game. The 2K game series has ties to the XFL owner, Vince McMahon, as they are already making the WWE games.
There are only 8 teams in the XFL, so most of you are likely missing out on a team to root for. Imagine being able to create a team that you could root for? A new expansion team? Bring back the Chicago Rush? Give San Diego a team to replace the Chargers?
Electronic Arts currently has a monopoly on NFL video games after they bought the exclusive rights to the NFL license. The XFL is wide open for a new developer to step in, bringing some competition to EA.
The Greatest Football Game Never Played?
You young zoomers may not know how amazing NFL2K5 is but understand this. To this day, gamers are still playing this game and updating rosters in 2020. And many argue the game is better than Madden and the 16 year old game definitely has more features.
Its presentation was unmatched. Chris Berman would narrate the halftime show where he’d bring his comical and fun personality onto your PS2 or OG Xbox. Then there were the weekly SportsCenter shows that would bring up detailed stats, injury updates and replays. This game was so far ahead of its time.
The game had a blocking system that made running an absolute dream. It was so satisfying to follow your lead blocker through a gap and time that juke just right to break past a free safety for a touchdown. And had the animation and pass arc dynamics allowing for a fade route, something Madden can’t do, 16 years later.
Perhaps most unique, was the “My Crib” mode. Now this game came out in 2004 back when MTV was touring famous celebrities’ cribs, but this is still a neat feature. You could walk through your mansion that allowed deep customization from hemp rugs to bobbleheads to framed jerseys of your favorite players. And you could even unlock air hockey tables and paper football tables. And yes, you could play them with a friend in local multiplayer.
NFL 2K5 kept track of everything. Your stats were meticulously tracked unlocking items for your crib. They had your VIP which created a detailed profile of your play style. Everything from which direction you preferred to run to how often you passed the ball. That meant when your friend left, you could practice against a surprisingly realistic AI of him, allowing you to prepare for the next battle on the couch.
And it released at $19.99. One developer at EA was quoted saying that the price point scared the hell out of them. And NFL 2K5 sold competitively on PS2 against Madden and outsold it on Xbox.
Who better to make a new high budget football game that isn’t made by EA?
