XFL 2001

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 9: Guardians Overpower Ghosts

April 21, 2009

New York, NY - Guardians allowed QB Joe Germaine to drive the Ghosts for a touchdown on their first possession and then kept Columbus out of the end zone the rest of the night. Columbus gained just 65 rushing yards on 20 carries and never came close to scoring in the second half. New York DB Diamond Ferri intercepted Germaine twice, tying a league record for interceptions in a game, the first of which provided the turning point in the contest. The Guardians trailed for much of the first half before Ferri stepped in front of WR Reggie Germany to pick off Germaine at the Columbus 27-yard line and ran for the right corner of the end zone with 3:14 left in the second quarter. The score gave the Guardians a 16-10 halftime edge and the defense took over from there, allowing Columbus 106 second-half yards.

New York mounted only one strong drive in the second half, but that 15-play, 75-yard effort spanned more than seven minutes and ended with the Guardians firmly in control when RB Josh Scobey scored on a 14-yard run with 10:45 left to play. Scobey started right, then cut back left across the entire defense to reach the end zone. The next drive stalled, though, and the Guardians settled for a 25-yard field goal to pull within 10-9 at the 4:15 mark of the second quarter. New York fizzled out twice inside the 10 and the Guardians connected for three first-half field goals. Columbus scored on its first possession when Germaine found WR Mike Furrey on a deep crossing pattern and the receiver shook a tackle right outside the end zone before cashing in on a 21-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. The Ghosts looked ready to take control after picking off Redman deep in Guardians' territory on the next play from scrimmage, but RB Eric Shelton fumbled at the 8 and all momentum was lost for the Ghosts.

-- (5-3)Ghosts 10 - 22 Guardians(4-4)
(COL): QB Germaine - 21/37 162 yards, 1 TD, RB Shelton - 13 carries, 47 yards, WR Furrey - 5 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD
(NY): QB Redman - 20/29 217 yards, 2 TDs, RB Scobey - 23 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD, WR Green - 8 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD, WR Givens - 6 catches, 79 yards

-- (5-3)Rage 17 - 20 Colonials(5-3)
(ORL): QB Wynn - 15/28 153 yards, 2 TDs, RB Hicks - 9 carries, 48 yards, WR Lelie - 4 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD, WR Soward - 5 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
(HART): QB Bollinger - 30/34 258 yards, 2 TDs, RB Hambrick - 12 carries, 21 yards, WR Biddle - 7 catches, 75 yards, WR Brackins - 5 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD

-- (4-4)Express 24 - 23 Commanders(4-4)
(MEM): QB Ramsey - 18/27 254 yards, RB Canidate - 21 carries, 75 yards, 2 TDs, WR Calico - 4 catches, 65 yards
(SA): QB Bishop - 16/31 194 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Toefield - 8 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD, WR Merritt - 6 catches, 68 yards, WR Woods - 4 catches, 64 yards

-- (3-5)Aztecs 31 - 30 Desperados(4-4)
(MEX): QB Gray - 23/34 247 yards, 3 TDs, RB Shipp - 11 carries, 70 yards, WR Nash - 9 catches, 57 yards, WR Wallace - 4 catches, 57 yards, 2 TDs
(DAL): QB Jacobs - 18/28 234 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Redmond - 16 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs, WR McNeal - 6 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD, WR Johnson - 4 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD

-- (2-6)Stars 10 - 55 Enforcers(6-2)
(LA): QB King - 23/37 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Foster - 8 catches, 45 yards, WR Copeland - 5 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD
(CHI): QB Harrington - 25/38 267 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Herron - 10 carries, 72 yards, 2 TDs, RB Perry - 13 catches, 61 yards, 1 TD, WR Martin - 6 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs, TE Humphrey - 5 catches, 61 yards

-- (3-5)Valor 20 - 30 Force(5-3)
(DC): QB McPherson - 23/38 220 yards, 2 TDs, RB Suggs - 10 carries, 40 yards, WR Gardner - 5 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD, WR Jones - 5 catches, 61 yards
(OTT): QB Huard - 21/35 269 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Robertson - 19 carries, 69 yards, WR Caldwell - 7 catches, 77 yards, WR Looker - 6 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD, TE Ricks - 6 catches, 86 yards, 2 TDs

-- (4-4)Mountain Lions 31 - 37 Mammoths(5-3)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 24/30 270 yards, 2 TDs, RB McCoo - 18 carries, 39 yards, WR Mitchell - 6 catches, 65 yards, WR Warren - 5 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD
(OMA): QB Banks - 19/32 283 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Dayne - 31 carries, 115 yards, WR Haygood - 5 catches, 97 yards, 2 TDs, WR Kasper - 6 catches, 100 yards

-- (2-6)Conquerors 16 - 24 Roughnecks(3-5)
(LV): QB Chang - 26/35 204 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Dorsey - 13 carries, 93 yards, WR Robinson - 7 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD
(OKC): QB Davey - 15/19 197 yards, 1 TD, RB Anderson - 18 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD, RB Bell - 18 carries, 64 yards, WR Bellamy - 4 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD, WR Bowman - 4 catches, 59 yards

-- (6-2)Bandits 42 - 28 Steel(2-6)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 17/22 266 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 15 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs, WR Gabriel - 5 catches, 63 yards, WR Jackson - 3 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD, TE Wrighster - 3 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD
(BIRM): QB Carter - 18/29 157 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Arrington - 8 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD, WR Lucas - 7 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD

XFL Players Enjoys a Deep Talent Pool and Camaraderie

April 25, 2009

New York, NY - If you ask players, the XFL is like a hidden gem. There's the talent level, as coach Steve Spurrier said his Tampa Bay Bandits have more than a dozen guys who could be playing in the NFL this fall. There are the story lines, as many players are battling back from injuries or off-the-field issues with the hope they can prove they can still play on Sundays. And there's the college-like camaraderie, with them all living together in a hotel.

"We're having a blast together," said Oklahoma City Roughneck running back Tatum Bell, who played five seasons with the Broncos and Lions. "I go to sleep with a big smile on my face every night. I was telling one of my teammates, 'I'm not going to know what to do when this season is over.' "

Colonials' quarterback Brooks Bollinger, "The NFL is great, but this is a lot of fun, too. There's a real good vibe to it. Everyone is kind of on an even playing field. There's no one guy that's making $20 million and the next guy making $300,000. It feels a bit like college. That's the stuff that when you get to the NFL you miss."

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 10: Tampa Come From Behind To Defeat the Desperados

April 28, 2009

Dallas, TX - Tampa took a five-point lead on a three-yard touchdown pass from QB Gibran Hamdan to TE George Wrighster with 6:43 remaining in the game. Hamdan scrambled to keep the play alive and found Wrighster in the back of the end zone. The two-point conversion pass failed. Tampa got the ball after Tampa LB Odell Thurman intercepted Dallas' QB Omar Jacobs and returned the ball 41 yards to the 11 with 7:52 remaining in the game. After Tampa took the lead, Dallas responded with a strong drive. Beginning at the 32, the Desperados marched to the 29-yard line on the strength of six consecutive running plays with RB JR Redmond. But on first and 10, OL Al Johnson snapped the ball over Jacob's head and LB Jeremy Cain recovered to snuff out Dallas' hopes. Dallas looked sharp in the first half and a 14-7 halftime lead. With the game tied at 7-7, the Desperados marched 80 yards on 11 plays to take the lead. Redmond ran for 15 yards on a key third down at the 40-yard line to keep the drive alive. Tampa tied the game at 7-7 thanks to a drive of nearly eight minutes with Hamdan completing six of 10 passes, including a six-yard touchdown pass to WR Doug Gabriel with 9:51 remaining in the first half.

"It's hard to win in any league. It's always going to come down to the last minute of the game. Dallas gave us a really, really good game. It was a hard-fought game. Very physical. We've had good and bad happen in our secondary today. We had guys coming free, but we made enough plays at the end to win the game. The wind was a big factor again, and we both tried playing it. I'm proud of our guys, and proud of Avon. He told me to feed the beast. He's a heck of a guy, and really a good running back," said Tampa head coach Steve Spurrier. "Once I got here, I saw this was a legit league. This league has got great talent. You see Dallas, they have a strong defense. You have good coaching and solid talent on each team in the league."

"Again, we continue to hurt ourselves. We cut down on the penalties. I thought it was a hard-fought game. The wind was a factor in the game. I still think we have the makings of a pretty good football team. We just self-destruct. I can't question their effort. They're playing hard. They're trying to make plays," said Dallas head coach Jerry Glanville.

-- (7-2)Bandits 19 - 14 Desperados(4-5)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 21/33 313 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 13 carries, 91 yards, WR Gabriel - 4 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD, TE Wrighster - 5 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
(DAL): QB Jacobs - 19/33 236 yards, 1 TD, RB Redmond - 11 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD, WR Johnson - 7 catches, 157 yards, 1 TD

-- (4-5)Roughnecks 48 - 24 Aztecs(4-5)
(OKC): QB Davey - 20/30 310 yards, 3 TDs, RB Anderson - 21 carries, 79 yards, WR Bowman - 8 catches, 148 yards, 2 TDs, WR Bellamy - 5 catches, 91 yards
(MEX): QB Gray - 27/42 198 yards, 2 TDs, RB Denson - 10 carries, 101 yards, RB Shipp - 12 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD, WR Nash - 8 catches, 69 yards

-- (4-5)Commanders 30 - 10 Conquerors(2-7)
(SA): QB Bishop - 19/36 266 yards, 3 TDs, RB Toefield - 14 carries, 49 yards, WR Morgan - 6 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD, WR Woods - 5 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD
(LV): QB Chang - 17/40 210 yards, 1 INT, RB Dorsey - 16 carries, 21 yards, WR Robinson - 7 catches, 77 yards, WR Walters - 6 catches, 67 yards

-- (6-3)Colonials 27 - 24 Express(5-4)
(HART): QB Bollinger - 33/43 288 yards, 3 TDs, RB Hambrick - 11 carries, 38 yards, WR Biddle - 7 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD, WR Hankton - 7 catches, 71 yards
(MEM): QB Quinn - 11/21 191 yards, 1 TD, RB Canidate - 20 carries, 142 yards, 2 TDs, WR Berlin - 4 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD

-- (6-3)Force 32 - 35 Guardians(5-4)
(OTT): QB Huard - 21/37 247 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Robertson - 19 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD, WR Caldwell - 6 catches, 128 yards, 1 TD, WR Looker - 5 catches, 46 yards
(NY): QB Redman - 18/26 245 yards, 3 TDs, RB Lundy - 7 carries, 47 yards, WR Darling - 5 catches, 48 yards, 2 TDs, WR Green - 2 catches, 63 yards

-- (7-2)Enforcers 25 - 20 Mammoths(6-3)
(CHI): QB Jackson - 18/29 200 yards, 1 INT, RB Herron - 15 carries, 58 yards, RB Perry - 15 carries, 47 yards, WR Martin - 4 catches, 41 yards, TE Humphrey - 5 catches, 54 yards
(OMA): QB Banks - 25/38 239 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Dayne - 22 carries, 32 yards, WR Hatchette - 6 catches, 65 yards

-- (2-7)Steel 10 - 26 Rage(5-4)
(BIRM): QB Carter - 14/23 146 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Duckett - 8 carries, 67 yards, RB Arrington - 11 carries. 59 yards, WR Lucas - 5 catches, 88 yards
(ORL): QB Wynn - 13/19 204 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Hicks - 17 carries, 81 yards, WR Lelie - 4 catches, 83 yards, TE Hart - 2 catches, 57 yards, 2 TDs

-- (4-5)Mountain Lions 22 - 34 Stars(2-7)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 23/31 292 yards, 1 TD, RB Smith - 16 carries, 81 yards, 2 TDs, 3 catches, 56 yards, WR Mitchell - 6 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD, WR Warren - 4 catches, 113 yards
(LA): QB King - 24/36 293 yards, 2 TDs, RB Barlow - 12 carries, 93 yards, RB Foster - 16 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs, WR Williams - 6 catches, 82 yards, WR Copeland - 5 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD

-- (5-4)Ghosts 13 - 10 Valor(3-6)
(COL): QB Germaine - 27/37 246 yards, 1 TD, RB Shelton - 19 carries, 65 yards, WR Moore - 6 catches, 101 yards,
(DC): QB McPherson - 15/31 149 yards, 1 TD, RB Suggs - 11 carries, 37 yards, WR Gardner - 3 catches, 61 yards, TE Wiggins - 5 catches, 38 yards

XFL Eyeing Overseas Expansion

April 30, 2009

New York, NY - The XFL is eyeing teams in Europe for the next expansion or the expansion after, Commissioner Michael Huyghue said. “Foreign expansion for XFL very likely for the future,” he wrote in a Tuesday post on Twitter. “Some fantastic soccer stadiums that would work perfectly.” XFL spokeswoman Rachel Gary confirmed Huyghue’s comments and that he is in Europe. She said the XFL is looking at expansion both overseas and in the United States. Huyghue previously said the league will expand by two in 2010, and the XFL has discussed putting a team in Canada. Huyghue, who wrote he had visited London, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin and was on his way to Barcelona, Madrid and Italy, said there was strong interest in American football despite the failure of the National Football League’s European league.

The league still intends to expand to twenty teams for the 2010 season, so expect that announcement in the coming months, but don't expect either new franchise to be located outside of the continental United States, yet.

Haslett Says These Cats Are Dangerous

May 1, 2009

Ottawa, ONTARIO, CANADA - Salt Lake City has lost two in a row and limps into Ottawa with a 4-6 record. But Force head coach Jim Haslett says his team had better bring its "A" game if it wants to beat the Mountain Lions and stay on track for an appearance in the XFL playoffs. "Mountain Lions-like any animal-- are most dangerous when they are wounded and have their backs against the wall," Haslett said. "Realistically, they can't afford another loss if they want to get to the playoffs. I've preached to our guys all week, they had better get ready for a war. Salt Lake has good players, outstanding coaches and they know how important this game is for their chances."

UFL Put the Onus on Graziani and Chang

May 3, 2009

New York, NY - The United Football League have signed quarterbacks, Tony Graziani from the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders and Timmy Chang from the XFL's Las Vegas Conquerors, as the face of their football league. Graziani and Chang signed three year, $750k contracts with the UFL.

"They are the highest-paid players in United Football League history, and they know that we are resting the future of this league on them," UFL owner Cedric Dempsey said. "This is the first year of a three-year deal and I am counting on them."

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 11: Losing Sucks - Period

May 5, 2009

Columbus, OH - The words were profound in their simplicity. "Losing sucks - period." RB Chris Perry stood in a quiet hallway, the last Enforcers' player to leave the locker room following a 56-3 loss to the Columbus Ghosts in front of the estimated home crowd of 29,000 fans on Friday night. "The way we lost is just upsetting," Perry said. "You can lose a football game when you lose the turnover battle. And we turned the ball over too much." Columbus forced five turnovers in its victory, one of which came when Perry fumbled inside the five-yard-line. "I fumbled and that's just something that I take personally," Perry said. "They delivered a great blow on me but usually I hold on to the ball pretty well. That happens but you can't win a football game when you lose the turnover battle."

The rest of the turnovers belonged to QB Jarious Jackson. The veteran QB was responsible for four of Sacramento's turnovers, throwing two interceptions and losing the ball on a fumble twice. "Jackson did not have a good day at all obviously," Chicago head coach Mike Singletary said. "We ran the ball okay. Protection was okay. The run blocking was the best it's been so far this year. There are a lot of things going on. It was interceptions and fumbles." Ghosts' DB Mike Doss who also recovered a fumble earlier in the night, was responsible for the first interception. Moments later, DB Blue Adams made the second interception of the game - this time taking it back 58-yards for a touchdown.

"I am proud of this team and we're growing," Ghosts coach Kippy Brown said. "The defense played outstanding tonight - five turnovers. That's a good Chicago offense. They ran the ball very successfully at times but we seemed to make plays. We got a lot of pressure on the quarterback. I have a lot of respect for Chicago. Offensively, we did what we've been doing, that's kind of a standard game for us. We're physical and a pretty tough running team, we throw the ball alright but we're not scoring touchdowns in the red zone, that's pretty much what we are."

-- (8-2)Enforcers 3 - 56 Ghosts(6-4)
(CHI): QB Jackson - 13/30 106 yards, 2 INTs, RB Herron - 7 carries, 32 yards, WR Martin - 4 catches, 37 yards
(COL): QB Germaine - 36/41 283 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, RB Clarett - 10 carries, 72 yards, 4 TDs, WR Rambo - 8 catches, 76 yards, WR Furrey - 6 catches, 44 yards, 2 TDs, WR Moore - 8 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD

-- (3-7)Stars 16 - 13 Valor(3-7)
(LA): QB King - 20/36 243 yards, 1 TD, RB Barlow - 20 carries, 56 yards, WR Williams - 10 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD, WR White - 7 catches, 79 yards
(DC): QB McPherson - 24/46 204 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Suggs - 8 carries, 85 yards, WR Jones - 7 catches, 82 yards, WR Gardner - 4 catches, 42 yards, 1 TD

-- (7-3)Colonials 17 - 31 Steel(2-8)
(HART): QB Bollinger - 27/40 280 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Hambrick - 10 carries, 38 yards, WR Biddle - 8 catches, 70 yards, WR Hankton - 5 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD
(BIRM): QB Shockley - 21/31 224 yards, 2 TDs, RB Duckett - 10 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD, WR Lucas - 4 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD, WR Mathis - 6 catches, 59 yards

-- (6-4)Rage 17 - 9 Mammoths(6-4)
(ORL): QB Hamilton - 11/21 202 yards, 2 TDs, RB Fason - 8 carries, 57 yards, WR Edward - 6 catches, 112 yards, 1 TD, WR Lelie - 3 catches, 76 yards, TE Hart - 3 catches, 53 yards
(OMA): QB Banks - 20/32 174 yards, 1 INT, RB Dayne - 23 carries, 23 yards, WR Haygood - 3 catches, 92 yards

-- (4-6)Mountain Lions 20 - 30 Force(6-4)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 21/32 353 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Smith - 16 carries, 44 yards, TE Johnson - 6 catches, 188 yards, WR Mitchell - 5 catches, 58 yards
(OTT): QB Huard - 17/29 261 yards, 3 TDs, RB Robertson - 31 carries, 74 yards, WR Caldwell - 7 catches, 84 yards, 2 TDs, WR Looker - 6 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD

-- (5-5)Roughnecks 22 - 24 Conquerors(2-8)
(OKC): QB Davey - 20/29 271 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Anderson - 22 carries, 98 yards, WR Bowman - 5 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD, WR Bellamy - 4 catches, 64 yards, TE Jolley - 3 catches, 51 yards
(LV): QB Losman - 26/33 219 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dorsey - 21 carries, 89 yards, WR Robinson - 8 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD

-- (6-4)Guardians 13 - 35 Commanders(5-5)
(NY): QB Redman - 13/27 218 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Lundy - 8 carries, 46 yards, WR Williams - 2 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD, WR Givens - 4 catches, 58 yards
(SA): QB Bishop - 23/31 274 yards, 2 TDs, RB Toefield - 8 carries - 63 yards, 1 TD, RB Croom - 10 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD, WR Morgan - 6 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD, WR Woods - 6 catches, 88 yards

-- (5-5)Express 17 - 31 Bandits(8-2)
(MEM): QB Quinn - 14/35 148 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, RB Canidate - 22 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD, WR Calico - 8 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD, WR Berlin - 5 catches, 71 yards
(TB): QB Hamdan - 15/23 249 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Cobourne - 18 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD, WR Jackson - 5 catches, 59 yards, 2 TDs, WR Rubin - 4 catches, 81 yards

-- (4-6)Desperados 38 - 38 Aztecs(4-6)
(DAL): QB Jacobs - 23/44 305 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Redmond - 25 carries, 99 yards, 3 TDs, WR Johnson - 8 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD, WR McNeal - 9 catches, 64 yards, WR Sippio - 5 catches, 73 yards
(MEX): QB Gray - 26/40 308 yards, 2 TDs, 6 carries, 67 yards, 2 TDs, RB Shipp - 11 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD, RB Denson - 10 carries, 60 yards, WR Nash - 8 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD, WR Wallace - 4 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD

XFL Asks Fans To Suggest Tie-Breaker Scenarios

May 10, 2009

New York, NY - Underlining its innovative approach to fan interaction, the XFL is asking football fans to suggest tiebreaker systems that could be used to determine end of game tie-breakers starting with the current 2009 season. "We are soliciting opinions to see what fans want to see in a tiebreaker," said Mark Cuban, XFL owner. "That is the whole theory behind this, to let the fans have a voice. I am hoping to tap into that resource to come up with a good tiebreaker system."

Visitors to the XFL section of Fanhouse.com may enter their suggestions for the tiebreakers between now and June 13. The suggestions will then be considered by the XFL Competitions Committee. "If fans can come up with a set of points that are valid scenarios, then we as a committee can sit down and consider them," added Cuban. "I hope we get a lot of responses."

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 12: Losman's Scramble Leads To Las Vegas Victory

May 12, 2009

Las Vegas, NV - "We were in position to win the game and we made the most of the opportunity," said Conquerors' QB JP Losman.

"This was probably a great game to watch if you were a fan, but when you're in it, it's a game of ups and down and you're trying to stay on an even keel. Once he got in his rhythm, JP was OK," said Las Vegas coach Dennis Green. "We went no-huddle and let him go with the things he was comfortable with. It made a lot of difference."

While Losman's heroics stole the show, Conquerors' defense came to play. DB Nick Turnbull recovered two fumbles and registered an interception, stopping two Chicago scoring drives. LB Ezra Butler sacked QB Jarious Jackson for a third-quarter safety that made it 10-9. "We had a lot of guys rallying to ball on defense," Green said. "We feel good where we are. There was a lot of heavy hitting on both sides.

Las Vegas' first lead of the game came on a 27-yard field with 11:28 after a botched fake punt gave the Conquerors the ball at the 23. RB DeDe Dorsey had a monster day for the Lions, leading the team in rushing with 106 yards. Chicago used its early defensive dominance and the rushing of RB Noah Herron for a 10-0 lead. Herron's 3-yard run with 1:37 remaining in the first quarter capped off an 8-play, 68-yard drive, of which he gained 39. Chicago scored first on a 48-yard field goal with 10:13 remaining in the opening period. The Enforcers got a huge break when LB Victor Hobson recovered a fumbled punt at the 23, but the Conquerors' defense responded when Turnbull picked off Jackson to end to the threat. "We struggled on offense and it starts with the play calling," said Chicago coach Mike Singletary. The first five game our offense has not been up to par and that's on my shoulders. I have to make this work."

XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said, "We remain committed to Las Vegas as a XFL city and we love these fans who continue to show their devotion to the Conquerors and our league. It was a beautiful day and there was a great atmosphere in Sam Boyd Stadium where the crowd was treated to a close and exciting game.

-- (8-3)Enforcers 17 - 21 Conquerors(3-8)
(CHI): QB Jackson - 14/19 200 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Herron - 18 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD, RB Perry - 14 carries, 72 yards, WR Martin - 4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD, TE Humphrey - 5 catches, 61 yards
(LV): QB Losman - 26/35 237 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dorsey - 17 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD, WR Robinson - 8 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs, WR Walters - 8 catches, 60 yards

-- (7-4)Rage 28 - 15 Valor(3-8)
(ORL): QB Hamilton - 8/21 244 yards, 3 TDs, RB Fason - 12 carries, 73 yards, RB Hicks - 12 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD, WR Edwards - 4 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD
(DC): QB McPherson - 23/39 204 yards, 1 INT, 14 carries, 136 yards, RB Suggs - 8 carries, 12 yards, WR Jones - 6 catches, 97 yards

-- (7-4)Ghosts 27 - 10 Steel(3-8)
(COL): QB Stoerner - 15/26 189 yards, 1 TD, RB Shelton - 24 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD, WR Furrey - 5 catches, 94 yards
(BIRM): QB Carter - 12/19 102 yards, 1 TD, RB Arrington - 6 carries, 83 yards, RB Duckett - 10 carries, 39 yards, WR Lucas - 6 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD

-- (6-5)Mammoths 20 - 6 Roughnecks(5-6)
(OMA): QB Banks - 20/29 179 yards, 1 INT, RB Dayne - 20 carries, 45 yards, WR Hatchette - 7 catches, 52 yards
(OKC): QB Davey - 16/38 165 yards, 1 INT, RB Anderson - 27 carries, 54 yards, WR Bowman - 6 catches, 77 yards

-- (4-6-1)Aztecs 24 - 41 Mountain Lions(4-7)
(MEX): QB Gray - 33/46 337 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Denson - 14 carries, 31 yards, WR Nash - 8 catches, 99 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jones - 9 catches, 118 yards, 1 TD
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 12/14 262 yards, 4 TDs, RB McCoo - 23 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD, WR Mitchell - 4 catches, 97 yards, 2 TDs, WR Warren - 3 catches, 96 yards, 2 TDs

-- (5-6)Express 24 - 35 Guardians(6-5)
(MEM): QB Ramsey - 16/29 150 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Canidate - 20 carries, 184 yards, 1 TD, WR Berlin - 3 catches, 63 yards
(NY): QB Redman - 24/32 354 yards, 5 TDs, RB Scobey - 19 carries, 118 yards, WR Darling - 4 catches, 106 yards, WR Givens - 6 catches, 78 yards

-- (9-2)Bandits 28 - 26 Force(7-4)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 13/19 283 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 25 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jackson - 5 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD, WR Gabriel - 3 catches, 124 yards
(OTT): QB Huard - 14/25 201 yards, 1 TD, RB Robertson - 30 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD, WR Caldwell - 4 catches, 124 yards

-- (4-7)Stars 30 - 24 Commanders(6-5)
(LA): QB King- 21/28 186 yards, RB Barlow - 11 carries, 81 yards, RB Foster - 18 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs, WR Williams - 6 catches, 62 yards
(SA): QB Bishop - 20/29 252 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Croom - 17 carries, 37 yards, 1 TD, WR Woods - 6 catches, 62 yards, WR Morgan - 5 catches, 93 yards, WR Merritt - 5 catches, 35 yards, 2 TDs

-- (4-6-1)Desperados 24 - 10 Colonials(7-4)
(DAL): QB Rattay - 21/26 257 yards, 1 TD, RB Redmond - 12 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD, RB Cloud - 16 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD, WR Johnson - 4 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD, WR McNeal - 6 catches, 80 yards
(HART): QB Bollinger - 26/38 203 yards, 1 INT, RB Hambrick - 17 carries, 44 yards, WR Biddle - 9 catches, 91 yards, WR Brackins - 5 catches, 54 yards

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 13: Defense Wins Games

May 19, 2009

Columbus, OH - With sellout crowds and unprecedented buzz in their hometown, the Columbus Ghosts have been a big story of the XFL season. The Desperados dialed up a dominating defensive effort that forced five turnovers in a 24-10 win over Columbus before a crowd of 33,554 fans. The win strengthened the Desperados' position as a possible XFL wildcard. "We're aggressive and we've improved our pass rush and our tighter coverages," Dallas coach Jerry Glanville said. "We get after people and turnovers are what the by-product of that is. They've been very opportunistic and at times when we've struggled on offense they've carried the load and given our offense good field position. They've played outstanding. They really, really have. I don't think we've had a bad game." Dallas turned four second-half takeaways into 17 points including a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers that led directly to touchdowns that snapped a 10-10 tie.

"Coach drew up a great game plan and we buy into it," LB Otis Floyd said. "We wanted to win. We had the discipline to not turn the ball over, to create turnovers, takeaways, and just play hard."

"Obviously, I was not what I needed to be tonight for this team," QB Clint Stoerner said. "It's not indicative of how I play this game and how I've always played this game. I've never been one to turn the ball over, force the issue, force the football. Against good football teams, you can't afford to put yourself in those situations, especially the way our defense was playing. Unfortunately I feel responsible for this game and how it turned out because it shouldn't have ended that way."

"I thought the defense played at a really, really high level today," Columbus coach Kippy Brown said. "I thought they got after it well. I told the team the only way we can't win today is to turn the ball over, and that's what we did." Glanville said riding his defense has become a solid strategy. The Desperados now have forced a league-high in turnovers. "The fundamentals of winning football games is stop the run, be able to run, create turnovers, don't turn the ball over, and pressure the other team's quarterback. That's it," he continued. "We've got a slogan: 'Protect the ball and protect the quarterback.'"

-- (5-6-1)Desperados 24 - 12 Ghosts(8-4)
(DAL): QB Rattay - 12/19 115 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Redmond - 15 carries, 71 yards, 2 TDs, WR Johnson - 3 catches, 45 yards
(COL): QB Stoerner - 36/55 312 yards, 2 INTs, RB Shelton - 17 carries, 42 yards, WR Furrey - 10 carries, 118 yards, WR Rambo - 11 catches, 90 yards

-- (5-7)Mountain Lions 34 - 30 Colonials(7-5)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 19/30 435 yards, 4 TDs, RB McCoo - 14 carries, 15 yards, WR Warren - 5 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD, TE Johnson - 5 catches, 123 yards, WR Mitchell - 4 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
(HART): QB Bollinger - 33/38 387 yards, 3 TDs, RB Hambrick - 9 carries, 21 yards, WR Biddle - 8 catches, 136 yards, 2 TDs, WR Brackins - 7 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD

-- (4-8)Conquerors 31 - 30 Commanders(6-6)
(LV): QB Losman - 24/34 268 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Dorsey - 27 carries, 94 yards, RB Sapp - 11 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs, WR Robinson - 5 catches, 96 yards, 2 TDs
(SA): QB Bishop - 23/36 286 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Croom - 8 carries, 59 yards, WR Merritt - 4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Woods - 5 catches, 75 yards

-- (7-5)Force 13 - 19 Enforcers(8-4)
(OTT): QB Huard - 18/29 178 yards, 1 INT, RB Washington - 16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD, WR Looker - 6 catches, 60 yards
(CHI): QB Harrington - 22/36 196 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Herron - 17 carries, 61 yards, RB Perry - 14 carries, 45 yards, WR Martin - 6 catches, 84 yards

-- (3-9)Steel 27 - 28 Express(5-7)
(BIRM): QB Shockley - 17/30 140 yards, 1 TD, RB Duckett - 10 carries, 29 yards, WR Lucas - 4 catches, 63 yards
(MEM): QB Ramsey - 19/27 256 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Canidate - 22 carries, 89 yards, 2 TDs, WR Berlin - 6 catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs, WR Calico - 6 catches, 102 yards

-- (3-9)Valor 17 - 20 Mammoths(7-5)
(DC): QB McPherson - 27/40 207 yards, 2 TDs, 14 carries, 64 yards, RB Jackson - 10 carries, 73 yards, WR Gessner - 7 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD, WR Jones - 5 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD
(OMA): QB Banks - 18/26 318 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dayne - 22 carries, 34 yards, WR Haygood - 6 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD, WR Hatchette - 5 catches, 136 yards

-- (10-2)Bandits 11 - 30 Rage(8-4)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 18/27 180 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Cobourne - 10 carries, 44 yards, WR Jackson - 5 catches, 57 yards, 2 TDs
(ORL): QB Wynn - 15/28 243 yards, 2 TDs, RB Hicks - 13 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD, WR King - 6 catches, 63 yards, 2 TDs, WR Edwards - 7 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD, TE Hart - 5 catches, 96 yards

-- (4-7-1)Aztecs 23 - 33 Roughnecks(5-7)
(MEX): QB Gray - 22/34 236 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Denson - 10 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD, RB Shipp - 11 carries, 61 yards, WR Nash - 7 catches, 104 yards, WR Wallace - 5 catches, 77 yards
(OKC): QB Davey - 22/29 286 yards, 3 TDs, RB Anderson - 12 carries, 109 yards, WR Bellamy - 6 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD, WR Bowman - 6 catches, 46 yards, 2 TDs, TE Jolley - 4 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

-- (7-5)Guardians 19 - 35 Stars(5-7)
(NY): QB Redman - 21/37 233 yards, 2 TDs, RB Scobey - 14 carries, 45 yards, WR Givens - 5 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD, WR Williams - 6 catches, 65 yards
(LA): QB King - 15/24 208 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Foster - 17 carries, 93 yards, WR Williams - 4 catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs, WR Copeland - 4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD

XFL Board Grants Conditional Approval for Philadelphia to Host Team

May 20, 2009

New York, NY - The XFL board has agreed a conditional approval for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to host the league's nineteenth team that will commence play in 2010. Meeting at the Cornell Club in New York, the board agreed that George Randolph Hearst III and Trifecta Sports Entertainment LLC will become the provisional team owner. Randolph Hearst is the current owner of the New York Guardians but nothing permits a group from owning two XFL teams. "I am very fortunate to be able to bring an XFL team to the state of Pennsylvania and especially to Philadelphia," said Randolph Hearst. "There is already a lot of football history in this area and I believe Philadelphia will become the shining star of the XFL. Pennsylvania is a great state, the fans are knowledgeable, there is a military presence here and I am sure they will all enjoy the opportunity to watch quality football."

"Philadelphia has already generated considerable excitement and fits the ideal XFL model of having a passionate fan base that we believe deserves a professional football team," said XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue.

UFL Moving Ahead with 4-Team Structure

May 23, 2009

New York, NY - The United Football League will operate a four-team format when the California Redwoods, Texas Tuskers, Florida Blacktips and Virginia Destroyers kick off the 2009 UFL season on July 15 and 17. The UFL has suspended the operations of the Arizona Hotshots and New York Skyscrapers. Skyscrapers and Hotshots players and coaches will join the other four UFL teams through an allocation draft to be held on June 5. "We are moving forward as projected having revised our strategy and realigned the make up of the United Football League," said UFL Commissioner David Baker. "We are disappointed to have suspended operations in Arizona and New York and are grateful to the Skyscrapers and Hotshots fans for their support. We have not closed the door on those locations and will review the viability of returning to those cities at the end of this season.

"The July 15 start date will allow teams to retrieve players who were in XFL camps but are no longer under XFL contract. Our shorter season will allow players to pursue their dream of making an impact in the NFL by joining teams earlier in the process once the UFL season has concluded," said Baker.

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 14: Overtime Determines Winner in Hartford

May 26, 2009

Hartford, CT - Trailing 21-13, QB Brooks Bollinger led Hartford on a furious late touchdown drive to send the tight game to overtime, moving the Colonials 69 yards on 11 plays in just more than five minutes. WR Taye Biddle caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Bollinger with 1:04 to play, then Bollinger hit WR Larry Brackins on a quick pass for the tying two-point conversion to tie the game. LB Maurice Crum had rumbled 83 yards on a fumble recovery to put Hartford in front in the first half. Crum scooped up the ball after DB TJ Wright stripped Force QB Brock Huard on a rollout. With a blocking convoy in tow, Crum ran all the way down the left sideline to set a league fumble return record, putting Hartford back in front, 10-7, with 44 seconds left in the half.

The Colonials added three points on the final play of the half on a 24-yard field goal. LB Matt Sinclair recovered a RB Cecil Sapp fumble at the Ottawa 27-yard line on the Force's first play after the Hartford touchdown to set up the score. Both offenses struggled to move the ball for most of the first half, but the Force cashed in after a gutsy call. Facing 4th-and-11 from the Hartford 33-yard line, Coach Jim Haslett elected to go for it instead of trying a long field goal. Huard rewarded Haslett's choice by hitting WR Dane Looker with a 12-yard pass to keep the drive going. Shortly after, RB Terrence Whitehead took a handoff and danced through the left side of the line before shaking a defender near the goal line to complete his 19-yard scoring run and give Ottawa its only points of the half with 4:27 left in the second quarter. Hartford also scored at the end of a nine-play, 50-yard drive midway through the second quarter on a 25-yard field goal. The Colonials recovered an onside kick on the next play, but quickly gave the ball back to Ottawa when RB Troy Hambrick fumbled. The Force thought they had the game's first score early in the second quarter when Hartford TE Ronnie Ghent fumbled following a hard hit at the Colonials 45-yard line and DB Deke Cooper returned the ball to the end zone. Hartford coach Chris Palmer threw the blue challenge flag, though, and won when replay officials ruled Ghent down by contact prior to the fumble.

-- (7-6)Force 24 - 21 Colonials(7-6)
(OTT): QB Huard - 17/28 269 yards, 2 TDs, RB Whitehead - 15 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD, WR Looker - 4 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD, WR Caldwell - 5 catches, 73 yards
(HART): QB Bollinger - 30/47 304 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Hambrick - 14 carries, 56 yards, WR Biddle - 7 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD, WR Brackins - 7 catches, 81 yards

-- (7-6)Guardians 31 - 41 Bandits(10-3)
(NY): QB Hill - 17/29 248 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Scobey - 13 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDs, WR Williams - 6 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD, WR Givens - 2 catches, 57 yards
(TB): QB Hamdan - 12/20 209 yards, 1 TD, RB Cobourne - 21 carries, 111 yards, 2 TDs, WR Gabriel - 4 catches, 83 yards, 1 TD, WR Jackson - 2 catches, 69 yards, 1 TD

-- (6-6-1)Desperados 20 - 34 Enforcers(9-4)
(DAL): QB Rattay - 23/35 258 yards, 2 TDs, RB Redmond - 17 carries, 25 yards, WR Johnson - 6 catches, 91 yards, WR McNeal - 6 catches, 67 yards, 2 TDs, WR Sippio - 6 catches, 73 yards
(CHI): QB Harrington - 20/29 299 yards, 1 TD, RB Perry - 18 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs, WR Martin - 4 catches, 73 yards, WR Ridgeway - 5 catches, 88 yards, TE Humphrey - 6 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD

-- (6-7)Express 16 - 27 Ghosts(8-5)
(MEM): QB Ramsey - 24/35 185 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Canidate - 27 carries, 100 yards, WR Maxwell - 3 catches, 49 yards
(COL): QB Germaine - 16/25 210 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Shelton - 17 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD, WR Germany - 3 catches, 101 yards

-- (5-8)Conquerors 19 - 27 Mammoths(8-5)
(LV): QB Losman - 26/34 193 yards, 1 TD, RB Dorsey - 24 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD, WR Walters - 7 catches, 75 yards
(OMA): QB Banks - 18/23 225 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dayne - 26 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD, WR Hatchette - 4 catches, 71 yards, 2 TDs

-- (6-7)Commanders 10 - 28 Rage(9-4)
(SA): QB Bishop - 19/32 223 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Toefield - 11 carries, 61 yards, WR Morgan - 9 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD, WR Merritt - 4 catches, 56 yards
(ORL): QB Wynn - 15/28 214 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Fason - 12 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD, WR Lelie - 5 catches, 69 yards, WR Edwards - 7 catches, 51 yards, 2 TDs

-- (6-7)Mountain Lions 28 - 21 Roughnecks(6-7)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 21/29 268 yards, 3 TDs, RB Humes - 15 carries, 23 yards, WR Mitchell - 8 catches, 87 yards, 2 TDs, WR Warren - 4 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD
(OKC): QB Davey - 19/26 207 yards, 1 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Bell - 13 carries, 100 yards, 2 TDs, WR Bowman - 5 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

-- (4-8-1)Aztecs 26 - 22 Stars(6-7)
(MEX): QB Gray - 24/35 246 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Denson - 10 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD, WR Wallace - 7 catches, 63 yards, WR Nash - 7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
(LA): QB King - 25/35 257 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Barlow - 10 carries, 65 yards, WR Copeland - 5 catches, 59 yards, WR Williams - 4 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

-- (3-10)Valor 49 - 31 Steel(3-10)
(DC): QB McPherson - 23/28 275 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 15 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs, RB Jackson - 18 carries, 72 yards, WR Gardner - 5 catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jones - 5 catches, 58 yards
(BIRM): QB Carter - 22/34 262 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 11 carries, 86 yards, 2 TDs, RB Arrington - 13 carries, 75 yards, WR Mathis - 7 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD


XFL Attracts Partner and Supporter Sponsors for Championship Game

May 28, 2009

New York, NY - The XFL has attracted a wide range of Partner and Supporter level sponsors for its 2009 Championship Game to be played at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. Cox Wireless, ConAgra, Heartland Chevy, Progressive Insurance, First National Bank, Air Force, Buffalo Wild Wings and Bellevue University came on board as Supportive sponsors while the U.S. Army has signed on as a Partner Sponsor for the annual XFL Championship Game that will now be coined as the Veterans Bowl. "We salute our sponsors for the 2009 Championship Game and are overwhelmed by the total number of sponsors and the amount of new partners who have pledged their support," said JK McKay, vice president of the XFL. "Many of them are new, and came on board despite a difficult economy and the fact that budgets are usually allocated at this point in the year. These sponsors are new partnerships and we look forward to growing these relationships in 2009 and beyond."

Bellevue University will award each fan attending the Veteran's Bowl at Rosenblatt Stadium with a $500 Tuition Grant. "We are delighted that Bellevue University is providing this generous tuition grant to our fans," said McKay. "A college education is a valuable asset and assistance in paying for the cost of tuition is certain to be welcomed by prospective students and their parents when budgeting for such an important time of life."

Krispy Kreme Unveils Chicago Enforcers Playoff Donut

May 29, 2009

Chicago, IL - Talk about the sweet taste of victory. To honor the success of the Chicago Enforcers, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has unveiled a special edition Enforcers Playoff Doughnut. The doughnut, which features delicious chocolate icing topped with sprinkles of the team's purple and white colors, is currently on sale at Krispy Kreme's Rosemont location adjacent to the Allstate Arena at 7050 Mannheim Road. In addition, fans who visit any one of Krispy Kreme's 10 Chicagoland locations and purchase a dozen doughnuts will receive a coupon good for $2 off any Chicago Enforcer's 2009 playoff ticket.

"Krispy Kreme has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the Chicago Enforcers this season," said Amanda Savage, marketing coordinator of Sweet Traditions, L.L.C., area developer of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. "The Chicago Enforcers playoff doughnut is a great way to celebrate the team's success on the field, as well as the success of our partnership off the field."

XFL 2009 League Leaders Finalized

May 30, 2009

New York, NY - These are the regular season stat leaders for the 2009 XFL season.

Top 10 Passing Leaders:
1. Gibran Hamdan(TB) - 3724 yards, 30 TDs, 9 INTs
2. JT O'Sullivan(SLC) - 3628 yards, 29 TDs, 8 INTs
3. Brooks Bollinger(HART) - 3540 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs
4. Brock Huard(OTT) - 3234 yards, 25 TDs, 6 INTs
5. Brad Banks(OMA) - 3085 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs
6. Chris Redman(NY) - 2951 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs
7. Rohan Davey(OKC) - 2914 yards, 19 TDs, 9 INTs
8. Adrian McPherson(DC) - 2842 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs
9. JP Losman(LV) - 2753 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs
10. Patrick Ramsey(MEM) - 2712 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs

Top 10 Rushing Leaders:
1. Trung Canidate(MEM) - 1497 yards, 12 TDs
2. DeDe Dorsey(LV) - 1146 yards, 2 TDs
3. Avon Cobourne(TB) - 1011 yards, 10 TDs
4. Eric Shelton(COL) - 951 yards, 7 TDs
5. Ron Dayne(OMA) - 934 yards, 5 TDs
6. Josh Scobey(NY) - 899 yards, 8 TDs
7. Adrian McPherson(DC) - 882 yards, 8 TDs
8. Chris Perry(CHI) - 864 yards, 11 TDs
9. Mike Anderson(OKC) - 849 yards, 7 TDs
10. Ken Simonton(OTT) - 778 yards, 4 TDs

Top 10 Receiving Leaders:
1. Taye Biddle(HART) - 1325 yards, 9 TDs
2. Adarius Bowman(OKC) - 1145 yards, 9 TDs
3. Bethel Johnson(DAL) - 1108 yards, 8 TDs
4. Freddie Mitchell(SLC) - 1102 yards, 10 TDs
5. Marcus Nash(MEX) - 1092 yards, 6 TDs
6. Doug Gabriel(TB) - 1069 yards, 8 TDs
7. Paris Warren(SLC) - 1022 yards, 8 TDs
8. Reche Caldwell(OTT) - 1016 yards, 5 TDs
9. Teyo Johnson(SLC) - 968 yards, 7 TDs
10. Ashley Lelie(ORL) - 836 yards, 9 TDs

Vick, XFL Close to Deal

June 1, 2009

New York, NY - QB Michael Vick is on the verge of going from the NFL's Atlanta Falcons to prison to the XFL's Washington Valor. Vick and the Valor are putting the finishing touches on a deal that will make him the league's marquee name, according to sources familiar with the talks. Vick will be one of the first big-name players to jump from the NFL to the XFL this offseason, according to sources. Neither Vick nor XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue returned telephone calls or texts seeking comment.

But the deal is so close to getting done that sources said Huyghue is in Washington on Tuesday for a trip related to the Vick deal. In fact, Valor assistant coaches told players for the team that Vick will be the starting quarterback for the Valor this upcoming season.

[BengalErnst]

XFL Quarter-Final: Enforcers Roll Mountain Lions

June 2, 2009

Chicago, IL - The Chicago Enforcers took advantage of four Salt Lake City turnovers to score a XFL playoff record 38 points in the first half on their way to 41-14 win over the Mountain Lions. The win pushed the Enforcers to 11-4 on the season and kept the team alive for a second XFL Championship game appearance. In outgaining Salt Lake 285-120 in the first half, the Enforcers did little wrong - scoring on six of eight possessions. "There's not much to say," Enforcers head coach Mike Singletary said. "It's tough to point out any one group or individual. Our running backs played well, our offensive line played well, good work from the wide receivers, quarterback, defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. Heck, even our kicker made a couple of bombs tonight."

The Enforcers jumped out early in the game, taking an early 14-0 lead. Chicago grabbed a 7-0 lead at the 11:46 mark, when RB Noah Herron capped a five-play, 68-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. An interception by DB Tony Parrish set the Enforcers up deep in Salt Lake's territory one minute later, but a RB Ahmaad Galloway fumble gave it back to the Mountain Lions. QB JT O'Sullivan drove the Mountain Lions the length of the field and found WR Paris Warren for a 35 yard score. The Enforcers then upped the lead to 17-7 on a 39-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter. Chicago would then take a 24-7 lead. DB Brent Grimes intercepted O'Sullivan and returned it 30 yards to the 21. Two plays later, Harrington hit WR Ruvell Martin in the flat and Martin took it the distance for a touchdown. The Enforcers would then build a 31-7 lead on their next possession. After a roughing the quarterback penalty on a third and 22 play gave the Enforcers an automatic first down, Herron broke four tackles on a sensational 30-yard run for his second score of the game. Chicago would then complete the first half onslaught, operating the two-minute drill to perfection - moving 75 yards on eight plays for the score. RB Chris Perry capped the drive with a touchdown, making the game 38-7.

-- (7-7)Mountain Lions 14 - 41 Enforcers(10-4)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 21/28 400 yards, 2 TDs, RB Humes - 14 carries, 14 yards, WR Warren - 4 catches, 190 yards, 2 TDs, TE Johnson - 6 catches, 105 yards
(CHI): QB Harrington - 20/26 235 yards, 3 TDs, RB Perry - 16 carries, 153 yards, 1 TD, RB Herron - 10 carries, 184 yards, 2 TDs, WR Martin - 5 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD

-- (8-6)Force 17 - 24 Bandits(11-3)
(OTT): QB Huard - 21/31 332 yards, 1 TD, RB Robertson - 23 carries, 73 yards, WR Caldwell - 7 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD, TE Ricks - 3 catches, 71 yards
(TB): QB Hamdan - 13/21 203 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 22 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD, WR Gabriel - 4 catches, 62 yards

-- (9-5)Mammoths 44 - 17 Desperados(6-7-1)
(OMA): QB Banks - 24/28 321 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dayne - 21 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD, WR Hatchette - 8 catches, 92 yards, WR Haygood - 5 catches, 133 yards, 1 TD
(DAL): QB Rattay - 24/36 187 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, RB Redmond - 15 carries, 49 yards, WR McNeal - 5 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD

-- (10-4)Rage 17 - 13 Ghosts(9-5)
(ORL): QB Wynn - 16/25 228 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Fason - 8 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD, WR Lelie - 4 catches, 63 yards, TE Hart - 5 catches, 96 yards
(COL): QB Germaine - 38/46 332 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Shelton - 15 carries, 54 yards, WR Moore - 7 catches, 102 yards, WR Rambo - 10 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Furrey - 8 catches, 83 yards


XFL Semi-Final: Bandits Upend Rage, Return To Championship Game

June 9, 2009

Tampa, FL - It took the Bandits less than two minutes to get on the board in the game and that was without the benefit of the offense. DB Dexter Jackson stepped in front of a QB Spergon Wynn pass on the third play of the game and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Tampa at the 13:20 mark of the first period. After that early excitement, both defenses tightened up and Tampa held on to a 7-0 lead after one period of play. The Tampa offense finally got on the board at the 7:01 mark of the second on a 47-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game. The key play on the drive was a 4-yard pass from QB Gibran Hamdan to WR Chad Jackson on a 4th and two play to keep the drive alive.

Orlando finally started to show signs of life in the waning moments of the first half. After RB Ciatrick Fason picked up the team's initial first down with six minutes remaining, Wynn picked up two more quick first downs on back-to-back passes. But the next three plays netted a negative three yards and the Rage had to settle for a 23-yard field goal that cut the Tampa lead to 10-3 at the 1:41 mark but Tampa would up the lead to 17-3 on its third possession of the second half, driving 78 yards on nine plays. The drive was capped off by a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jackson, and K Brian Simnjanovski would then extend the lead to 20-3, drilling a 51-yard field goal at the 1:22 mark of the third. On Orlando's next possession, the Rage would drive the length of the field, take more than six minutes off the clock and have Wynn find WR Ashley Lelie for the score. After picking up an initial first down, the Bandits gave the ball back to Orlando as RB Maurice Hicks fumbled on the 20-yard line. The Rage again broke into the end zone as Wynn hit WR Troy Edwards on a 14-yard touchdown pass that made it a 20-17 game with 6:24 remaining. The Bandits would go three and out and Orlando got the ball back on its own 12-yard line after the punt. Orlando was unable to move the ball and when DL Baraka Atkins sacked Wynn to force a 4th and 20, the Rage punted back to Tampa. The teams traded punts before RB Avon Cobourne got loose for a 55 yard touchdown run icing the game, 27-17.

-- (11-4)Rage 17 - 27 Bandits(12-3)
(ORL): QB Wynn - 16/34 275 yards, 2 TDs, RB Fason - 8 carries, 37 yards, WR Lelie - 5 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD, WR Edwards - 6 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD
(TB): QB Hamdan - 17/26 258 yards, 1 TD, RB Cobourne - 23 carries, 105 yards, 2 TDs, WR Gabriel - 2 catches, 66 yards, WR Jackson - 5 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD

-- (10-5)Mammoths 31 - 24 Enforcers(11-4)
(OMA): QB Banks - 24/33 196 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Dayne - 23 carries, 143 yards, WR Hatchette - 5 catches, 78 yards
(CHI): QB Harrington - 20/30 273 yards, RB Herron - 10 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD, WR Martin - 6 catches, 96 yards

Tampa Bay Bandits Clinch XFL Championship Game Berth

June 11, 2009

Tampa, FL - The reigning champion Tampa Bay Bandits have clinched a return to the XFL Championship Game as a result of defeating the Orlando Rage on Saturday. "The XFL congratulates Steve Spurrier and the Tampa Bay Bandits on reaching the XFL Championship Game for a second consecutive season," said Commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Consistency is the key to success in sports and the Bandits epitomize that. Steve and his staff have assembled an exciting team that has given the city of Tampa a winning professional sports franchise. I am sure football fans in Tampa will show their appreciation for their team's success by giving them a great crowd in Omaha on Sunday night."

"We are excited about being in the XFL's championship game for a second year," said coach Spurrier. "This league is very equal and all these games could have gone either way. This year, games have been the tightest I've ever seen in any league. We feel very fortunate to be on top and earn our right to be in the Veteran's Bowl. We still have two days of practice and I want to continue to improve our team so we're ready to play our best in the championship game."

XFL Names 2009 All-League Team

June 13, 2009

New York, NY - The league wanted to honor the most standout players from the 2009 regular season. There are no restrictions to this list, this is just the list of the best players in the league voted on by all coaches, general managers and media outlets.

The 2009 All-XFL Team:
QB JT O'Sullivan Salt Lake, RB Trung Canidate Memphis, RB DeDe Dorsey Las Vegas, WR Bethel Johnson Dallas, WR Adarius Bowman Oklahoma City, WR Freddie Mitchell Salt Lake, TE Teyo Johnson Salt Lake, OL Rob Pettiti New York, OL George Foster Tampa Bay, OL Kelvin Garmon Dallas, OL Erik Pears Salt Lake, OL Donovan Raiola New York, DL Claude Wroten Ottawa, DL Marcus Tubbs Chicago, DL Cullen Jenkins Omaha, DL Remi Ayodele Dallas, LB Darren Hambrick San Antonio, LB Odell Thurman Tampa Bay, LB James Harrison Columbus, DB Darrent Williams San Antonio, DB Mike Rumph Tampa Bay, DB Mike Doss Columbus, DB Brent Grimes Chicago, P Nick Murphy and K Jay Taylor Orlando

Mammoths Pay Tribute To Armed Forces With Camouflage Jerseys For Veteran's Bowl

June 14, 2009

Omaha, NE - The Omaha Mammoths will honor the armed forces men and women who serve the United States of America by wearing camouflage jerseys for the Veteran's Bowl at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Wounded Warriors Family Support along with the U.S. Army have teamed up to make this possible. The commemorative Mammoths' jerseys are currently being produced by Under Armour, the official uniform supplier of the XFL. The jerseys of RB Ron Dayne, QB Brad Banks, DL Cullen Jenkins and WR Matthew Hatchette will be put up for auction on the XFL website. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Wounded Warriors Family Support.

"It is important that we remember the men and women of our country's armed forces who are serving to protect our shores and we felt this was a fitting tribute to them," said Banks. "In addition to showing our support through wearing the uniforms, we are also pledging to assist the families of wounded warriors financially, so we hope Mammoths fans will bid competitively for the jerseys."


XFL Veteran's Bowl: Tampa Repeats as XFL Champs with Last Second Blocked Field Goal

June 16, 2009

Omaha, NE - Tampa DL Baraka Atkins blocked K Taylor Mehlhaff's 45-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bandits their second straight XFL championship with a 23-20 win at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. "We were hoping, block it, block it, block it, Tampa WR Doug Gabriel said. He had kicked a low one earlier today. We just got a great push and blocked it. We rushed the field. Champions." It was the final big play from a Tampa defense that managed to find a way to keep the Mammoths out of the end zone in the fourth quarter. Tampa took a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter when WR Chad Jackson scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass with 5:53 to play in the third. But just when it looked like Omaha had an answer, the Bandits' defense stiffened. QB Brad Banks found RB Brian Calhoun for 36 yards on a screen pass to give the Mammoths a 1st-and-goal at the 4, but the Bandits held on three straight plays, forcing Mehlhaff's 22-yard field goal to pull Omaha within 21-20 with 7:48 to play.

Then, disaster struck for the Mammoths on their next drive. After the Bandits went three-and-out, Omaha started at its own 14-yard line. On the Mammoths' first play, Banks couldn't corral a shotgun snap and was tackled in the end zone for a safety by LB Odell Thurman with 5:42 to play. The Bandits led 14-10 after a first half that turned into a quarterback duel between a pair of starters that were considered afterthoughts before moving to the XFL. "Overall, it was a heck of game. We knew it would be. Every yard we got, we earned," said Tampa head coach Steve Spurrier.

The chilly, 35-degree kickoff temperature didn't keep Banks from getting the Mammoths out to a hot start with a 12-play, 84-yard march on the game's first possession. Banks connected with WR Matthew Hatchette for 29 yards on 3rd-and-9 early in the drive before capping it with a five-yard touchdown pass to WR Herb Haygood to give Omaha a quick 7-0 lead. But Tampa found an answer just seconds later when QB Gibran Hamdan rolled to his right and found a wide-open WR Chad Jackson behind the defense to tie the game 7-7. "It's one of those plays, when you see a guy that wide open, it's the longest three seconds," said Hamdan, who celebrated his second XFL Championship. Omaha regained the lead on its next drive thanks to a pair of big third-down conversions. Banks found WR Kevin Kasper for 20 yards to midfield on 3rd-and-7, then Calhoun took a shovel pass to the 10 on another 3rd-and-7 to set up a 22-yard field goal that put them up 10-7 with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

Both defenses regained control in the second quarter until Hamdan put together Tampa's first sustained drive of the game. Hamdan converted three third downs, including one on a 19-yard scramble, before capping the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jackson to give the Locos their first lead of the game with 5:56 to play in the second quarter. The Mammoths retook the lead on their first drive of the second half on Banks' second touchdownpass of the game on a 2-yard hitch to Kasper but again Tampa had a quick answer. Jackson capped a five-play drive with a 37-yard touchdown catch to put the Bandits up 21-17 with 5:53 left in the third quarter. It was another big play in a championship game defined by them.

-- (11-5)Mammoths 20 - 23 Bandits(13-3)
(OMA): QB Banks - 16/34 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Dayne - 19 carries, 103 yards, WR Hatchette - 7 catches, 86 yards, WR Haygood - 3 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD
(TB): QB Hamdan - 17/24 236 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 17 carries, 59 yards, WR Jackson - 6 catches, 105 yards, 2 TDs, WR Gabriel - 4 catches, 96 yards

[BengalErnst]

XFL Strengthens Football & Business Operations With New Hires

June 24, 2009

New York, NY - The XFL has strengthened its football and business operations staff with the hiring of Brendan Rowe, Dean Blandino, Peter Morrissey and Justin Hesterlee. "The addition of Brendan and Dean in football operations and Peter and Justin on the business side are further indicators of the high level of talent the XFL has attracted," said Frank Vuono, Chief Operating Officer of the XFL. "Each of these bright individuals has a unique skill set that collectively allows the league to excel both on the field and in the league offices."

Jarious Jackson was hired as the QBs coach for Oklahoma City, Troy Walters as WRs coach for Chicago, Ken Dorsey as QBs coach and Joe Hamilton as RBs coach for Orlando, Tee Martin as QBs coach for Hartford, Klemm as OL coach for Tampa Bay, Kliff Kingsbury as QBs coach for Las Vegas and Kris Richard as the DBs coach for San Antonio.

Donald Trump Buys Guardians

June 30, 2009

New York, NY - On the cusp of announcing the two newest XFL franchises, the league has informed the media that Trifecta Sports Entertainment LLC and majority owner George Randolph Hearst III have sold the New York Guardians to Donald Trump and Trump Industries Sports & Entertainment LLC for $12.5M. Trump wanted the New York franchise and was willing to pay for it, but he wanted to build the team from the ground up. Hearst and Trifecta Sports will retain rights to all of the Guardians' staff and players and will be bringing them to their Philadelphia expansion team next month. "Affordable and accessible entertainment is paramount in today's economic climate and this is what the XFL is offering," said Trump. "Having worked with Bill Hambrecht for many years, I knew the XFL was a fiscally sound investment and one that showed great potential."

"We are very excited to have Donald join the XFL as owner of our New York franchise," said XFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Donald's business acumen and leadership skills will be an incredible resource to the league and the New York team. We are in final negotiations for our expansion franchises and look forward to announcing more information about all of our teams in the coming weeks."


Year Nine Financial Report Released

July 1, 2009

New York, NY - The attendance numbers improved to an average of 29.9k per game. The salary cap is set to rise to $4.8M for the 2010 season and $5M for the 2011 season.

The report states that the league is 16.6% owned by Alpha Entertainment LLC(McMahon), 16.6% Legendary Field Exhibitions LLC(Ebersol), 16.6% 2929 Sports & Entertainment LLC(Cuban), 2.8% Dallas Football LLC(Desperados), 2.8% Kroenke Sports & Entertainment LLC(Stars), 2.8% Trifecta Sports Entertainment LLC(Guardians), 2.8% Speros Ventures LLC(Steel), 2.8% Benson Sports LLC(Commanders), 2.8% Maloof Sports LLC(Aztecs), 2.8% FedEx Express Sports LLC(Express), 2.8% Williams Corporation Sports LLC(Rage), 2.8% Wirtz Sports Corporation LLC(Enforcers), 2.8% Foundation Ohio Sports LLC(Ghosts), 2.8% Monumental Sports & Entertainment LLC(Valor), 2.8% Sunburst Sports & Entertainment LLC (Bandits), 2.8% TD Omaha Sports & Entertainment LLC(Mammoths), 2.8% United Mountain Lions Sports LLC(Mountain Lions), 2.8% Professional OKC Sports Club LLC(Roughnecks), 2.8% Gleiberman Sports & Entertainment LLC(Force), 2.8% Digital Sports & Entertainment LLC(Colonials) and 2.8% Hambrecht Sports & Entertainment LLC(Conquerors).

Expenditures totaled $195M for the 2009 season. Costs consisted of $83.3M from player contracts, $13.2M for Player Bonuses, $54M in front office/coaching contracts, $3.5M on league staff contracts, $18M in stadium leases, $18M in traveling expenses, and $5M on insurance.

The league did receive $35M from TV contracts, $5.75M from each of the sixteen returning franchise owners, $15.75M from Digital Sports & Entertainment LLC and Hambrecht Sports & Entertainment LLC, $99.5M in ticket sales, $18M in merchandise and $10M in sponsorships totaling $286M.

The league ended the 2009 season $89M in surplus. The league will continue to operate under a hybrid franchise model, as each franchise is individually ran and operated, but all profits and costs are still league orientated.

XFL Founder Vince McMahon Excited for 2010 Season and Beyond

July 5, 2009

New York, NY - XFL founder Vince McMahon has spoken candidly about the positive future he envisions for the XFL heading into the 2010 season and for the years ahead. "The dust has barely settled on the 2009 season, but we are already firmly focused on 2010 and the opportunities that lie ahead," explained McMahon. "The league is currently completing its long-term planning process and I believe that the successes of the past few years and the initiatives we are putting in place are evidence that the XFL is moving towards a steady future. I have invested heavily in this venture and while we still face challenges, I believe we have established a strong platform on which to build a sustainable business. We have seen growth in all areas of our business both on and off the field and are establishing our credibility as a competitive and profitable league. We are in this for the long haul. We have a strong management team, led by commissioner Michael Huyghue, who are equally committed to building this long-term venture. We attracted significant sponsorship for our championship game with partner and supporting sponsors who in many cases are also committed to future relationships with the XFL. In all our markets we have established an exciting entertainment property that appeals to investors, sponsors and most importantly to fans, who have already shown their loyalty to the XFL in great numbers. We attracted incredible crowds this year and we recorded numerous sellouts in Omaha, San Antonio and Orlando, creating a passionate atmosphere. The success of the smaller markets integrating with the local community was one of the greatest stories in all sports in the 2000s. The XFL package is about more than simply the game on the field and our pregame entertainment and stadium tailgating experience appealed to fans of multiple demographics. The affordability of our product and the player accessibility, such as signing autographs for fans after every game, proved very attractive to families and to parents who were able to introduce their children to live professional football for the first time. I believe the quality of play on the field and the high-profile players who have already notified us that they would like to further their careers in the XFL, including Jeff Garcia, Daunte Culpepper, Dominic Rhodes and Josh McCown will attract even more fans to our games and further underline our credibility. I am certain that young players with a point to prove and those who wish to continue playing football at a high level now view the XFL as the most attractive outlet for their talents. For fans who were not able to get to our games, we have established a television and online presence that I believe is unrivaled in professional sports in terms of innovation and its growth in such a short space of time. We have a burgeoning social media following that allows fans and players to interact and we continuously solicit and monitor feedback from our fans to help with our decision making process. The Veteran's Bowl made sporting history when it was broadcast live to a worldwide audience with no restrictions on YouTube. Viewers had an option to select from four camera angles in addition to the main live game feed. No other sports league in the world has taken that initiative. We invited fans to ask questions and post messages during the live stream through Facebook and Twitter, underlining the fact that the fans' access to the XFL is unrivaled. We will continue to give fans a forum that allows their voice to be heard and to impact their league. As we head towards the 2010 season, my fellow investors and I plan to announce two new franchises and continue to explore our expansion options. I believe the years ahead will see the XFL thrive and become a permanent fixture among professional American sports, appealing to investors, business leaders, sponsors, players, coaches, officials, and of course sports fans who will always embrace high-quality football."


XFL Makes Philadelphia Expansion Official

July 10, 2009

Philadelphia, PA - The XFL board agreed a conditional approval for Philadelphia to host the league's nineteenth team that will commence play in 2010 at a meeting on March 21. Following a period of due diligence following the sale of the New York Guardians, commissioner Michael Huyghue confirmed at a media luncheon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, today that Philadelphia will definitely host an XFL expansion franchise owned by former New York Guardians owner George Randolph Hearst III. "The conditional tag has been removed, the XFL is coming to Philadelphia," confirmed Huyghue. "We are excited to be here. George is vested, passionate and believes in this area and the community. We are thrilled to have him as the team's owner and I have seen the work that he and Ron Jaworski have done building the New York Guardians and can't wait to see what they bring to Philadelphia."

"The Brawlers are going to be Pennsylvania's team," said Randolph Hearst III. "We have several strong cities in the region that can support this team and we in turn will become fabrics of those communities. The players will live here and we are going to create local jobs. We are going to showcase this team around the region and make sure that the fans and community have a chance to taste the product. It is the perfect home for the XFL. The XFL is exciting to me as a fan and an owner. We're bringing action-packed football to fans in Philadelphia, a huge sports town. What I find so appealing about the XFL is the focus on the love of the game and our goal to provide solid sports and entertainment that's fun, affordable and family-friendly. Plus, with the visibility of the sport on NBC and FOX, the Philadelphia Brawlers and the league as a whole have the potential to really grow."

"The Philadelphia Brawlers is the culmination of a lot of planning and hard work by people who believe in the sport of arena football and the ability of a professional sports team to be a positive force in the city in which it plays," said General Manager Ron Jaworski. "We want to be your team and want you to feel a part of it. I have seen the level of talent that is out there and eager to play in this league to prove themselves and we will bring the very best of those players to this team. I'm so excited that if I was 35 years younger and 35 pounds lighter, I would want to be the team's starting quarterback."

XFL Invites Football Fans In Houston To Name Their New Team

July 15, 2009

Houston, TX - The XFL is inviting sports fans to vote for their favorite name for the new professional football team that will begin play when the XFL season kicks off in 2010. "We want to empower the fans of this Houston XFL team to give us their thoughts on the name that they feel has a strong local connection, as well as the regional name they prefer", said UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Giving fans a chance to name their team underlines our mission to embrace innovation and fan interaction."

Daunte Culpepper Signs With Orlando Rage

July 20, 2009

Orlando, FL - QB Daunte Culpepper has signed with the Orlando Rage. "Bringing a player of Daunte's caliber to the Rage is a major step forward not only for the team but also for the XFL. He is a player who will excite the fans here and will be an integral part of the team we are building that we hope can bring a championship to Orlando," said Rage head coach Jay Gruden.

"My goal for this year was to get on the field and play football," said Culpepper, who threw for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns during a stellar NFL career. "When the opportunity came for me to sign with the XFL and play for Jay Gruden I could not resist. I am impressed with his approach to the game and to his players. I am also excited to play for Jeff Brohm as the offensive coordinator. I am expecting to have a lot of fun running a wide-open offense and being a part of the XFL."

"We have always prioritized putting a high-quality product on the field for fans to enjoy and adding Daunte Culpepper to the Rage roster continues that trend, said XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue. "He is an exceptionally talented player who will bring a wealth of experience and excitement to Orlando and the league as a whole."

Steel Unveil 'Franchise Fan' Program

July 21, 2009

Birmingham, AL - The Birmingham Steel have unveiled the 'Franchise Fan' program, which is set to begin inducting members into the inaugural class with a life-time membership. All 2009 season ticket holders are eligible to become a Franchise Fan simply by renewing their season tickets for 2010. "A football team builds their team around their franchise players, while we are looking to build our fan base around our Franchise Fans," said Steel owner Jim Speros. "These fans have been with us since the beginning. Their loyalty and commitment to the Steel deserves to be recognized as special, and that is what this program is designed to do."


Houston Stampedes into XFL Franchise

July 25, 2009

Houston, TX - American business magnate and financier, T. Boone Pickens and BP Capital Sports & Entertainment Management LLC has announced that they would be bringing the XFL to Houston, with the Houston Stampede. Pickens announced that the Stampede would be coached by Doug Pederson, who is coming off two straight XFL championships as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Bandits. He would be joined by Josh Heupel as his offensive coordinator and Ricky Hunley as the defensive coordinator. Heupel has served as the Oklahoma City Roughnecks' and Seattle Sea Devils' QBs coach the last five seasons. The general manager of the new Stampede will be Ricky Porter, while former New York Jets defensive back Aaron Glenn will be joining the team as the DBs coach. The Copperheads will be playing their home games at TDECU Stadium.

The announcement of the Stampede' coaching staff caused a bit of movement across the league. The Bandits stole Columbus Ghosts' offensive coordinator Kippy Brown for the same position, which caused the Ghosts to hire Turk Schonert for the position. The Philadelphia Brawlers hired former Philadelphia Eagles' RB Duce Staley as their RBs coach. Omaha Mammoths' owner Joe Moglia stepped down as the team's defensive coordinator and moved DBs coach Scott Frost to the position. Moglia was named as the head coach at Coastal Carolina University.

XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue is pleased that Moglia will continue in his role as the owner of the Mammoths, "Having Joe stay on as a leader of the Mammoths is great for Omaha and the league," he added. "He will be heavily involved in helping to restructure the league to help ensure its long-term survival."

"Had it not been for the opportunity I had with the Mammoths, none of this would have become a reality. I will be forever appreciative to Vince, Oliver, Mark, Mike and Dick for allowing me to do that. I'm continuing as Chairman of TD Ameritrade, and as owner of the Mammoths as Omaha has become my home and will always have a place in my heart," said Moglia.

Josh McCown Signs with Houston Stampede

August 3, 2009

Houston, TX - The Houston Stampede have signed QB Josh McCown. "We're excited to have Josh join the Houston Stampede. His veteran leadership will help our football team," Stampede head coach Doug Pederson said. "He's a guy who has played in the National Football League for a number of years, and his experience is something that we'll lean on. Josh talked about coming in and competing and wanting to show people he can still play. That's what you're looking for in a veteran player."

"I'm excited about the opportunity to play football for the Houston Stampede and compete in the XFL," McCown said. "Coach Pederson is an excellent coach and has a great reputation when it comes to working with quarterbacks. I'm looking forward to learning from him and continuing to grow as a player."

"The XFL is delighted that players such as Josh McCown champion good causes and make charitable donations to benefit the local community in the city where they are playing," said XFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Josh wanted to give back to the Houston area where he will spend this period of his career and we are impressed by his generosity."

Guardians Sign QB Jeff Garcia

August 15, 2009

New York, NY - The New York Guardians announced the signing of former San Francisco 49ers star and four-time Pro Bowl selection QB Jeff Garcia. "I am delighted to sign a clearly talented veteran quarterback who will bring experience and a winning mentality to our team," said Guardians head coach Brian Billick. "Jeff is a one of the game's true competitors and will have a positive impact on his teammates and will be an exciting player for the Guardian fans."

"I am so ready and excited to represent the Guardians of the XFL," said Garcia. "I know that the state of New York has a great passion for football and I can already see that the people have fully embraced the XFL. I still have the drive, commitment, and ability to play this game at the highest level and one thing that I definitely share with the fans."

Michael Vick Signs with the Valor

August 17, 2009

Washington, DC - The Washington Valor announced the signing of quarterback Michael Vick. Vick adds to the talent level of the quarterback position for the XFL while providing huge name recognition for the league's fans. "We are delighted to sign four clearly talented veteran quarterbacks who will bring experience and winning mentality to our league," said XFL commissioner Michael Hyughue. "All four of these men are some of the game's truest competitors and will have positive impacts on their teammates and will be exciting players for the XFL fans to cheer for. We promised quality and exciting player signings and have delivered. We expect to go into camp with a combination of experienced veterans and developing players who will benefit from playing alongside the likes of all these great signal callers."

"The XFL is providing me with the opportunity to play the sport I love at a high level and for that, I am extremely grateful," said Vick. "There are many players just like me who possess the skills to compete at the highest levels and just need the playing time to showcase their talents. The XFL is filling that void and giving more players the opportunity to play. I am excited to get back out onto the field and represent the Valor during the spring season."

Jaworski Named Chairman of XFL's Board of Directors

August 21, 2009

New York, NY - Philadelphia Brawlers minority owner and GM Ron Jaworski was introduced as the new Chairman of the XFL's Board of Directors during the board's meetings last weekend. The role of the Chairman of the XFL Board of Directors is to head the Executive Committee and to work closely with the Commissioner to ensure strong communication between the Commissioner and the XFL's Board of Directors.

"Ron has proven to be a great leader and strong supporter during his tenure in the XFL," said XFL Commissioner Michael Hyughue. "He has been a leader with our sponsorship relationships, our labor discussions, and with developing our TV partners. As the XFL steps into a more prominent spotlight, Ron's leadership will be even more important."

UFL Postpones Second Half of Season Until Next Spring

August 25, 2009

New York, NY - The United Football League said today it is postponing the second half of the 2009 season until the spring of 2010, when it plans to complete the remaining four games and stage its championship game. The UFL would then return with a fall schedule later in 2011. UFL founder and chairman Cedric Dempsey made the announcement Saturday morning, "the players and coaches have established a terrific product on the field, because of a lack of sufficient funds due to the high cost of workmen's compensation insurance and other elements, we are postponing the second half of the season. We plan to play the balance of the season next spring, along with the championship game."

"It is our first priority to take care of our players, coaches, and staff," he said, "and then to raise sufficient funds to take care of our other obligations and to resume fully-financed operations in 2011 or to look for a complete merger with an established league."

Stampede and Brawlers to Select from 162 Talented Players in 2010 Expansion Draft

September 13, 2009

Philadelphia, PA - Houston and Philadelphia may choose a player from any current team who is designated as being "unprotected." Each team protected 36 players whose rights they control. All other players whose rights they control are deemed "unprotected" and, hence, eligible to be selected by the Stampede or the Brawlers. Once a player is selected from an existing team, that team will be allowed to pull back one player. The draft, which is conducted via telephone conference consists of maximum of 20 rounds. A maximum of five minutes per selection is allowed in each round. If the time limit expires, the pick is forfeited. Trades between the expansion team and other clubs may be made at any time prior to and during the draft.

"We have been looking forward to this day," said Stampede head coach Doug Pederson. "The talent in the XFL has improved dramatically from my years in the league where now teams are deep enough that they can't protect everyone. On top of that, the territorial and supplemental drafts are loaded with players that have solid professional experience. This is going to be fun, starting from scratch and building a competitive team."

"It's certainly going to be a challenge, to say the least, but it's something that we embrace and feel that, with the number of quality football players that are available in the XFL right now, it's a matter of good scouting and good planning," said Brawlers head coach Jim Fassel.

XFL Moves to 16-game Season

September 16, 2009

New York, NY - The 2010 XFL regular season has been extended from 14 games to 16, Commissioner Michael Huyghue announced today. The league will consist of 20 teams and each will play 16 regular season games, with the option of two preseason games(one home and one away). The change was passed in an ownership vote last week during the annual league’s Board of Directors meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

“There has never been a better time for the XFL,” said Huyghue. “The product is exciting, our economic model is sound and fans are demanding affordable family entertainment. Extending our season is a great decision, both from a business and fan perspective.”

The 2010 season will be the longest in league history. “The new 2010 franchises are in key markets with dynamic ownership and we can't wait to announce those for our fans in the coming weeks,” added Huyghue.

Brawlers and Stampede Add First Pieces to Roster

September 20, 2009

Houston, TX -

Stampede select RBs Ron Dayne and Marcel Shipp, WRs PK Sam and Bobby Sippio, TE Nate Lawrie, OL Jacob Bender, DL Darrell Wright, Michael Spicer, Reggie Grimes and Elton Patterson, LBs Quinton Culberson and Joey LaRocque and DBs Kyries Hebert and Antonio Perkins

Brawlers select QBs Chris Redman and Russ Michna, RBs Chris Barclay and Josh Scobey, WRs Devard Darling, David Givens and Paul Williams, TEs Adam Bergen, Keith Heinrich and Sean McHugh, DL Claude Harriott and Carlos Hall, DB Keyon Whiteside

Gladiators Assigned WR Troy Bergeron with Territorial Allocations

October 20, 2009

New York, NY - The Cleveland Gladiators have been assigned WR TROY BERGERON by the Arena Football League Office. The league also assigned WRs Todd Watkins and Malcolm Kelly, DL Grady Jackson, LBs Marcus Freeman, Jeremy Leman and Bo Ruud and DBs Keiwan Ratliff, Aaron Rouse and Darnell Bing.

"We are very fortunate to get Troy heading into next year," Gladiators Head Coach Steve Thonn said. "He is a big, physical receiver that is not afraid to go after the ball. He alone will make it very difficult to prepare for our offense. It is also a huge plus to get Adam (Tadisch) back. He was the anchor of our offensive line and will make sure our quarterback is protected all year."

XFL Announces TV Announcers for Versus Games

November 3, 2009

New York, NY - The XFL announced that four highly talented broadcasters will lead the television coverage of the XFL on VERSUS. Veteran play-play announcer Dave Sims joins the broadcast booth with color analyst and former NFL standout Doug Flutie. Former Steelers Quarterback Kordell Stewart and radio and television host Anita Marks will serve as sideline and features reporters. "We have assembled a top-notch team to lead our inaugural telecasts on VERSUS," said Frank Vuono, COO of the XFL. "The combined football experience and knowledge of Dave, Doug, Kordell and Anita will help us provide unprecedented access to professional football while allowing the home viewer prime viewing position that will truly make them feel like they are part of the action."

XFL Story: Low Expectations, High Hopes

November 6, 2009

New York, NY - Last week, Jermaine Wiggins, the Washington Valor' 34-year-old tight end, was asked this somewhat flippant question: Are the XFL's teams good enough to beat uh, say, Boise State? Wiggins, who started Super Bowls for the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers and caught 236 passes in seven NFL seasons, answered with what sounded over the phone like a straight face. "I'd like to think we could beat Boise State," Wiggins said from the Valor' training base in Dallas. "This is a very high, competitive level of football. Give us the time to come together as a team, minicamps and a full offseason workout program, and we would be competitive in the NFL. I'm telling you."

Jim Fassel, who coached the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, laughed when Boise State came up in conversation. "Yeah," the Philadelphia Brawlers head coach said from Dallas, gathering himself. "Knowing what I know about our team, yeah, we could beat Boise State. People forget we're playing with guys from Florida State and the SEC, big schools, and they were stars at those schools. "The quality of the players we released at the end, it surpassed what I thought we'd end up with. Bill Walsh used to say that at the end of the day, there's not a big difference between the last 15 guys on an NFL roster and the last 15 guys you cut."

Low expectations, the reasoning seems to go, are easier to surpass, although Wiggins and Fassel seem to be doing their best to raise that expectation bar. The idea from the beginning was to grow the league into whatever the forces of the economy allow it to be. In the early going, those in the league invariably described themselves as pleasantly surprised. Fassel reported that one of his players told him, "Wow, this is not a B-league operation at all."

"It's not a high-stress situation," said Ottawa Force head coach Jim Haslett, who said he could have remained in the NFL as an assistant coach. "The No. 1 thing is I'm having fun. We're working with a bunch of guys that were on the street but are pretty good football players, trying to resurrect their careers."

Michael Huyghue, the architect of the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise, is the league's commissioner. "It's a pretty well completed project, I was surprised how fast we got a wide-scale endorsement. At the same time, there's healthy skepticism. I think we have a strong product from a football standpoint." Huyghue said he isn't sure if the XFL ultimately will prove to be a stand-alone league, a complementary league or a developmental league for the NFL. The idea is to collect the best players available and pay them something more than they'd make on NFL practice squads.

One of the league's slogans is "Where future stars come to play." A majority of the players might have the skill set to make an NFL roster, but the economics of the game sometimes works against veterans. Because of their experience, their minimum salaries would be in the $800,000-$900,000 range. Teams would rather pay a less experienced player one-third to one-half that amount. Maybe they're straight out of college but didn't have the size or speed to get drafted or invited to an NFL training camp. Some have been injured or cut by one or more NFL teams.

Everyone knows about Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper and Jeff Garcia but make no mistake about it. There are plenty of good quarterbacks in this league. One of the other quarterbacks is Tim Rattay, who played 40 games for the 49ers, Cardinals, Bucs and Titans. Or JP Losman, who was drafted No. 22 overall in the 2004 draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played there for five seasons. Or Brooks Bollinger, Tony Romo's former backup with the Dallas Cowboys. "Holy smokes, Losman is an outstanding player," Fassel said. "He was offered a backup contract to play in the NFL, but he's doing the right thing to play here and re-establish himself. With some of these NFL teams struggling with the quarterback position, I can't imagine that he couldn't start for them. No question in my mind."

Nearly all of the players, young and old, are sustained by the notion that a good performance in the XFL might impress the NFL. If nothing else, the XFL is fashionably green, committed to recycling; all players will be permitted to sign with NFL teams after the final game. "The tickets are $25 and you can get a family of four in for $100. That's pretty affordable. I think this thing is going to continue to grow. I told my guys, 'When you run out there, you're going to make history.' I think the league's going to stick," said Fassel.

XFL Donates $25,000 To Reunite National Guard Families In Connecticut

November 12, 2009

Hartford, CT - The XFL presented a $25,000 check to Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today to kick-off "Operation Home for the Holidays." Some of the money raised will also provide entertainment options for those troops who cannot make the trip home or have no family in Connecticut. The XFL was the first organization to pledge a $25,000 donation.

"The XFL is a league of opportunity and we are happy to be in a position to provide opportunities for families to be reunited during the holidays," said Commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Throughout our regular season, we have donated funds and tickets to various branches of the armed services to show our overall appreciation for their hard work."

"The XFL has Connecticut's deepest thanks for their generous contribution and helping to kick-off a fundraising effort that will make this year's Holiday Season a very special and memorable one for hundreds of military families in our state," said Governor Rell. "Times are tight. However, the people and businesses are responding by opening their hearts to support Operation Home for the Holidays. We still have a ways to go."

XFL Teams Continue to Build Rosters through 2010 Supplemental Draft

November 20, 2009

New York, NY - WR Troy Williamson, DL Dewayne White, RB Lorenzo Booker, LB Danny Lansanah, QB Patrick Ramsey, OL Jake Grove, DB Ricardo Colclough, LB Freddy Keiaho, OL Nick Leckey, WR Limas Sweed, WR Sinorice Moss, OL Shawn Andrews, RB LenDale White, DB Ahmad Carroll, DB Ko Simpson, DB DeAngelo Smith, DL Chike Okeafor, WR Ashley Lelie, WR James Hardy and LB Clint Ingram.

The XFL teams preparing for the 2010 season each added 12 players to their respective rosters through the 2010 Supplemental Player Draft. With the first selection of the 2010 UFL Draft, head coach of the expansion Omaha Nighthawks head coach Jeff Jagodzinski selected defensive end Dewayne White, a former second round NFL Draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Louisville. The Nighthawks then added a second defensive end in ten-year NFL veteran Chike Okeafor with the first pick of the second round.

"I am really excited about the guys that we've picked and feel that we are putting together a good team of youth and experience," said coach Jagodzinski. "These are guys that can make a difference and rush the passer in the case of Dewayne and Chike."

In the third round, the Nighthawks selected a former first round NFL Draft pick in offensive tackle Shawn Andrews, who was taken 16th overall in 2004 by the Philadelphia Eagles. With the second overall selection, first year Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer selected a local favorite in Connecticut running back Andre Dixon, who earned Second Team All-Big East honors both his sophomore and senior years. His 33 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown in the 2009 Papajohn.com Bowl earned him the game MVP title.

Coach Palmer explained: "He went down to Danbury for our tryouts and had an excellent workout and I was very pleased with what I saw. I talked to the people at UConn and they told me he was a guy who caught the ball extremely well. You don't see that on film because they don't throw ball that much. He has great hands.

"We selected players who had attended all three of our workouts in Berlin, Danbury and Virginia, which shows just how worthwhile those tryouts are." With his first round pick, Sacramento Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green selected quarterback Justin Goltz, who was in training camp with the Detroit Lions in 2009 having been a three-year starter at Occidental.
"He came to two of our camps and was very impressive," said Green. "He was a two-sport athlete in college and is a big tall guy with a really strong arm.

"We needed a couple of things and drafted two big offensive linemen in Tavita Thompson and Carl Spitale so that worked out for us. We got two good cornerbacks in Tim Clark and Willie Glasper, who both have exceptional speed. We feel very excited about the 52 players we have."

Jay Gruden and the Florida Tuskers selected a pair of linebackers with the fourth and ninth picks overall in Weston Dacus from Arkansas and Arnold Harrison, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We are excited," said Gruden. "Dacus is an athletic linebacker who was with Kansas City and everyone I spoke to there had positive things to say about him. We need to get more speed and athleticism at the linebacker spot and these are two players who will have an immediate impact. Harrison was a big time player at Georgia and can play all three linebacker positions."

The reigning UFL champion Las Vegas Locos made two defensive selections with the final picks of the first two rounds in linebacker Dominic Payne and cornerback Michael Ray Garvin.

"We thought Dominic was a tremendous athlete who will give us a lot of versatility," said Locos head coach Jim Fassel. "Michael Ray was the fastest guy I have ever seen run a 40. He is lightning fast and quick and he has a great attitude. He went to same high school as my son Mike and was a teammate of one of our linebackers, Brian Toal, so we had him in for a workout. At one time he was the leading kickoff returner in NCAA.

"Overall from the draft, we thought we needed a guy here and there to round out the team. We weren't depleted and we did a lot of research and most every one of the players we picked we had worked out. It is down to the character of a player and his attitude. We need a mix of pros with leadership qualities and young developing players."

The Omaha Nighthawks spent the 60th and final pick overall on former Denver Broncos and New York Jets safety Nick Ferguson. The former Georgia Tech star also won a World Bowl ring with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.

[BengalErnst]

XFL 2010 Roster Update

February 14, 2010

Our analysts have compiled their preseason Power Ranking and we will go in their predicted order to explore all 20 XFL franchises and see what we see as the strengths and deficiencies of each club, including recent roster departures, arrivals, draftees, and the coaching stability of each club. So, let’s get started with our look at how the XFL shapes up.


2009 Recap -

2010 Omaha Mammoths - HC Frank Solich, OC Terry Shea, DC Scott Frost, GM Steve Ortmayer, QBs Shane Boyd and Brad Banks, RBs Ahman Green, Brian Calhoun and Marlon Lucky, WRs James Hardy, Troy Bergeron, John Broussard, Ryne Robinson, CJ Jones and Herb Haygood, TE Ryan Krause, OL Bruce Nelson, Toniu Fonoti, Greg Eslinger and Pete McMahon, DL AJ Schable, Cullen Jenkins, Erasmus James, Langston Moore, Julian Jenkins, Matthias Askew and Jared Clauss, LBs Patrick Chukwurah, Bo Ruud, Beau Bell and Alfred Fincher, DBs Daren Stone, Eric Crouch, Keyuo Craver, Daniel Bullocks and Jovon Johnson, P Derrick Frost and K Paul Edinger

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Salt Lake City Mountain Lions - HC Dennis Erickson, OC Steve Sarkisian, DC Greg McMackin, GM Kathrin Platz, QBs JT O'Sullivan and Ingle Martin, RBs Larry Croom, Fred Russell, Ian Smart and Eric McCoo, WRs Freddie Mitchell, Samie Parker, Kendrick Sterling and Paris Warren, TEs Teyo Johnson and Michael Gaines, OL Marko Cavka, DL Lauvale Sape, Junior Ioane, Anthony Harris and Jason Parker, LBs Colby Bockwoldt, Cody Spencer and Gilbert Gardner, DBs Ronnie Prude, Josh Lay, Brannon Condren, Antwain Spann, Rashad Washington, Marcus Maxey, Ahmad Carroll, Lenny Walls and Colin Branch, P Kyle Larson and K Bill Gramatica

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Oklahoma City Roughnecks - HC Dave Campo, OC Larry Kirksey, DC Joe Avezzano, GM , QBs Jared Zabransky, Andre Woodson and Brock Huard, RBs Ken Simonton and JD Runnels, WRs Dane Looker, Travis Wilson, Malcolm Kelly, Adarius Bowman and Keenan Howry, TEs Trent Smith and Scott Kuhn, OL Lenny Vandermade and Tavares Washington, DL DeLawrence Grant, DeVone Claybrooks, Dwayne Missouri, Larry Tripplett and Dusty Dvoracek, LBs Lance Mitchell, Rufus Alexander, Teddy Lehman and Zeke Moreno, DBs Ricardo Colclough, Andre Woolfork, Derrick Strait, Gary Baxter, Dexter Reid, Rashad Bauman and David Irons, P Taylor Mehlhaff and K Hayden Epstein

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Dallas Desperados - HC Jerry Glanville, OC Wes Chandler, DC Dan Quinn, GM Drew Pearson, QBs Tim Rattay, RBs LenDale White, Allen Patrick, Thomas Brown and Taurean Henderson, WRs Chad Owens and Marcus Monk, TEs Ryan Hannam and Jake Nordin, OL Mike Pucillo, Anthony Alabi, Jacob Rogers and Trey Darilek, DL Anttaj Hawthorne, Marcus Tubbs, Rodrique Wright, Steve Fifita, Remi Ayodele and Gary Gibson, LBs Marquis Smith and Buster Davis, DBs Willie Offord, Anthony Cannon, Jerome Carter, Terrance Joseph, Kevin Kaesviharn, Arturo Freeman and Jimmy Williams, P Scott Player and K Taylor Rowan

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 San Antonio Commanders - HC Mike Riley, OC Paul Chryst, DC Bill Bradley, GM Louis Riddick, QBs Michael Bishop, Reggie McNeal and Chad Hutchinson, RBs Cory Ross, Brandon Miree and Musa Smith, WRs Dexter Jackson, Rashaun Woods, Bethel Johnson, Johnnie Morant, Siaha Burley and Ahmad Merritt, TEs Jason Rader and Charles Davis, OL Jeb Terry, Taylor Whitley, Jim Molinaro, Kelly Butler and Claude Terrell, DL Bo Schobel, Jason Jefferson, Kindal Moorehead and Marquise Hill, LBs Freddy Keiaho, David Bergeron and Jerrell Freeman, DBs Lance Frazier, Terrence Kiel, Norman LeJeune, Brandon Everage, Joselio Hanson, Marviel Underwood, Nate Salley and Calvin Lowry, P Adam Graessle and K Parker Douglass

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Los Angeles Stars - HC Rick Neuheisel, OC Eric Bienemy, DC Bob Valesente, GM John Elway, QBs Andrew Walter and Shaun King, RBs Kevan Barlow, JJ Arrington, Casey Cramer and Marcus Thomas, WRs Tab Perry, Jeremaine Copeland, Reggie Williams and David Kircus, TEs Eric Johnson and TJ Cottrell, OL Jake Grove, Drew Hodgdon, Scott Whittaker, Fred Matua and Robby Felix, DL Chris Cooper, Roderick Green, Babatunde Oshinowo, Baraka Atkins and Otis Grigsby, LBs Richard Seigler, Jamir Miller, Robert McCune, Kendyll Pope and Kris Griffin, DBs Chidi Iwuoma, Darnell Bing, Marques Anderson, Chris Roberson, Reynaldo Hill, Joey Thomas, Willie Amos and Jeff Shoate, P Ryan Plackemeier and K Clay Rush

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Chicago Enforcers - HC Mike Singletary, OC Peter Vaas, DC Robert Lyles, GM Steve Livingstone, QBs Joey Harrington, John Navarre and Bryson Spinner, RBs Ahmaad Galloway, Noah Herron, Chris Perry and Jarrett Payton, WRs Antonio Chatman, Jeff Webb and Ruvell Martin, TEs Tory Humphrey and Aaron Shea, OL Jesse Boone, Dan Santucci, Alex Stepanovich, Branndon Braxton, Dan Stevenson and Tony Pape, DL Israel Idonije, Chike Okeafor, Brian Johnston, Ryon Bingham, Eric Powell and Cyron Brown, LBs Courtney Watson, Jeremy Leman, Victor Hobson, Tim McGarigle, Boss Bailey and Cato June, DBs Brent Grimes, Justin Wyatt, , Corey Ivy, Marcus Hamilton and Guss Scott, P and K Shane Andrus

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Mexico City Aztecs - HC Jim Tomsula, OC Bart Andrus, DC Jeff Reinebold, GM Bob Ackles, QBs Quinn Gray, Cody Pickett and Travis Lulay, RBs Lorenzo Booker, Tatum Bell, Damien Nash and Stefan Logan, WRs Marcus Nash, Keron Henry, Airese Currie, Marques Hagans and Taco Wallace, TEs Joe Klopfenstein, Christian Hopkins and Tim Massaquoi, OL Frank Savis, Kili Lefotu, Dustin Fry, Dan Buenning, Enoka Lucas, Julius Wilson and Terrance Pennington, DL Kareem Brown, Chase Page, Ross Kolodziej, Earl Cochran and Fred Bledsoe, LBs Joe Tuipala, Rian Wallace, Quinton Caver and Sean Tufts, DBs Reggie Austin, Rayshun Reed, Vernon Cox and Dexter Wynn, P Brooks Barnard and K Jeff Chandler

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Las Vegas Conquerors - HC Dennis Green, OC Mike Kruczek, DC Ted Cottrell, GM Sid Pillai, QBs JP Losman, Brian Johnson and Omar Jacobs, RBs Terrence Whitehead, Cecil Sapp, DeDe Dorsey and Shannon Woods, WRs Koren Robinson, DJ Hackett and Aundrae Allison, TEs Jed Weaver, John Madsen and Jeb Putzier, OL Adrian Jones, George Gause, Brandon Joyce, Jeremy Parquet, Tavares Washington, Seth Wand and Jason Capizzi, DL Willie Williams, Kevin Vickerson, Eric Henderson, Bill Swancutt and Paul Carrington, LBs Terrence Melton, Colby Bockwoldt, Danny Lansanah, Chad Nkang, Ezra Butler and Spencer Toone, DBs Alan Zemaitis, Isaiah Trufant, David Lofton, Terrell Maze, Ahmad Treaudo, Nick Turnbull and Chaz Williams, P Durant Brooks and K Graham Gano

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Houston Stampede – HC Doug Pederson, OC Josh Heupel, DC Ricky Hunley, GM Ricky Porter, QBs Josh McCown, RBs Ron Dayne and Marcel Shipp, WRs Sinorice Moss, Robert Ferguson, PK Sam and Bobby Sippio, TEs Nate Lawrie, OL Jacob Bender, DL Darrell Wright, Michael Spicer, Reggie Grimes and Elton Patterson, LBs Quinton Culberson and Joey LaRocque, DBs Kyries Hebert and Antonio Perkins

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Tampa Bay Bandits - HC Steve Spurrier, OC Doug Pederson, DC Martin Bayless, GM Pepper Rodgers, QBs Rohan Davey, Chris Leak and Gibran Hamdan, RBs Avon Cobourne and Mike Cloud, WRs Dallas Baker, Chad Jackson, Taylor Jacobs and Reche Caldwell, TEs George Wrighster, Ben Troupe and Erron Kinney, OL Adrian Klemm, Carlos Joseph, Jabari Levey, Duke Preston and Kenyatta Walker, DL Shaun Smith, Darrell Shropshire and Dave Tollefson, LBs Clint Ingram, Raonall Smith and Tyson Smith, DBs Keiwan Ratliff, Mark Estelle, Stanford Samuels, Jeff Sanchez, Paul Gause, Jason David, Mike Rumph and DeMario Minter, P Tom Malone and K Xavier Beitia

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Columbus Ghosts - HC Marc Trestman, OC Kippy Brown, DC Fred Pagac, GM Chris Spielman, QBs Gino Guidugli, RBs Bruce Perry and Maurice Clarett, WRs Lance Moore and Mario Urrutia, TEs Dwayne Blakley and Jason Pociask, OL Tre Stallings, Adam Kieft, Shane Olivea, Al Johnson, Javiar Collins, Kirk Barton, Eric Ghiaciuc, Adrien Clarke, Ben Wilkerson and Tyson Walter, DL Antonio Smith, Tim Anderson, Johnathan Sullivan, Darrion Scott and Josh Savage, LBs James Harrison, Anthony Schlegel, Marcus Freeman, Khalid Abdullah and Antwan Peek, DBs DeAngelo Smith, Mike Doss, Abraham Elimimian, Anthony Floyd and Steve Bellisari, P BJ Sander and K Matt Bryant

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Orlando Rage - HC Jay Gruden, OC Jeff Brohm, DC Pete Kuharchek, GM Sammy Schmale, QBs Daunte Culpepper, Chris Weinke and Kliff Kingsbury, RBs David Kirtman, Onterrio Smith, Artose Pinner and Ciatrick Fason, WRs Ashley Lelie, Doug Gabriel, Skyler Green and Travis Taylor, TEs Aaron Walker and Bennie Joppru, OL Joaquin Gonzalez, Josh Sewell, Matt McChesney, Isaac Sowells and Ben Brielmaier, DL Jamaal Green, Jerome McDougle and Cameron Wake, LBs Matt Stewart, Jordan Beck, Odell Thurman, Marquis Cooper and AJ Nicholson, DBs Clinton Hart, Derrick Gibson, Ifeanyi Ohalete, Atari Bigby and Michael Boulware, P Kyle Basler and K Rhys Lloyd

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 New York Guardians - HC , OC , DC , GM QBs Jeff Garcia and Colt Brennan, RBs Dominic Rhodes, Nehemiah Broughton, Tony Hunt and James Jackson, WRs Jerome Mathis, Syndric Steptoe, Roy Hall, Limas Sweed and Zuriel Smith, TEs Doug Jolley, Mike Merritt and Tim Euhus, OL Rob Petitti, Anthony Davis, Clint Oldenburg, George Foster, Scott Young, Morgan Pears, Will Svitek and Mike Mabry, DL Aubrayo Franklin, Adrian Awasom, Anthony Maddox, Bryan Save and Kenechi Udeze, LBs Isaiah Kacyvenski, Jameel Dumas, Ryan LaCasse, Ronnie Palmer, Jeremy Cain and Raheem Orr, DBs Randee Drew, Brandon Browner, Michael Waddell, Rashad Barksdale and Ray Ventrone, P Joel Stelly and K Nick Novak

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Birmingham Steel - HC Marty Schottenheimer, OC Kurt Schottenheimer, DC Scott Milanovich, GM Joe Cealera, QBs Alex Brink and Bryan Randall, RBs Curtis Keaton and Shaud Williams, WRs Troy Williamson, Will Franklin, Andrae Thurman and Chad Lucas, TEs Branden Ledbetter, OL Todd Williams, Atlas Herrion, Nat Dorsey, Roy Schuening, Jason Watkins and Brian Rimpf, DL Grady Jackson, Josh Cooper and Donnell Washington, LBs Dontarrious Thomas, Orantes Grant and Derrick Pope, DBs Woodrow Dantzler, Lamont Thompson, Blue Adams, Paul Pratt, Ramon Walker and Waine Bacon, P Mat McBriar and K Lawrence Tynes

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Memphis Express - HC Butch Davis, OC Terry Robiskie, DC Dennis Thurman, GM Tillman Engle, QBs Adrian McPherson, Patrick Ramsey and Erik Ainge, RBs Michael Pittman, Odie Armstrong, DeCori Birmingham and Trung Canidate, WRs Michael Clayton, Michael Spurlock, Tyrone Calico and Jarrick Hillary, TEs Jonathan Dekker, OL Michael Toudouze, Ryan Gibbons, Anthony Oakley, James Marten, Arron Sears, Isaiah Ross, Austin King, Tyler Luellen, Chukky Okobi and Qasim Mitchell, DL Claude Wroten, Marcus Bell, Rashad Moore, Andrew Shull, Demetrin Veal and Seante Williams, LBs Marcus Riley, Gary Stills, Rocky Calmus and Eddie Moore, DBs Gerrick McPhearson, Matteral Richardson, Cory Peoples, Idrees Bashir, Bhawoh Jue and Brian Bonner, P Bill LaFleur and K David Kimball

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Ottawa Force - HC Jim Haslett, OC Joe Paopao, DC David Catapano, GM, QBs Cade McNown, Craig Nall and Jason Gesser, RBs Obafemi Ayanbadejo, DeAndra Cobb, Alvin Pearman and LaBrandon Toefield, WRs Darius Watts, Quincy Morgan, Sonny Shackelford, Joe West, Marcus Maxwell and Dante Ridgeway, TEs Ryan Neufeld and Jerome Collins, OL Travis Claridge, Matt Lentz, Josh Warner, Doug Nienhuis, Nate Bennett and Erik Pears, DL Chad Lavalais, Tom Johnson, Jimmy Verdon, McKinley Boykin and Jonathan Goddard, LBs Lester Towns, Worrell Williams, Kyle Killion, Brian Toal, Zac Woodfin and Sedrick Hodge, DBs Ko Simpson, Ben Emanuel, Donte Nicholson, Daven Holly, Michael Grant and Therrian Fontenot, P Pat Fleming and K Shaun Suisham

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Hartford Colonials - HC Chris Palmer, OC Keith Rowen, DC Rick Lantz, GM Rick Mueller, QBs Brooks Bollinger and Mike McMahon, RBs Andrew Pinnock, Adimchinobe Echemandu, Dahrran Diedrick and Ryan Moats, WRs Taye Biddle, Craphonso Thorpe, Maurice Mann, Cortez Hankton and Jayson Foster, TEs Ronnie Ghent, Matt Sherry and Quinn Sypniewski, OL Nick Leckey, PJ Alexander, Rick DeMulling, Ramiro Pruneda, Kwame Harris, Joe Toledo, Steve Justice and Jasper Harvey, DL Josh Mallard, Jonas Seawright, Stanley McClover, Kenneth Pettway and Jason Stewart, LBs Saleem Rasheed, Maurice Crum, Leon Williams and Liam Ezekiel, DBs Diamond Ferri, DeJuan Tribble, Michael Lehan, Bruce Thornton, Adam Archuleta, Brandon Harrison, Darius Vinnett and TJ Wright, P Todd Sauerbrun and Paul Ernster

2010 Preview -


2009 Recap -

2010 Washington Valor - HC Hue Jackson, OC Frank Reich, DC Jim Criner, GM Doug Williams, QBs Shaun Hill, Michael Vick and Kevin O’Connell, RBs Lee Suggs, Wali Lundy and Kevin Jones, WRs Geroy Simon, Marcus Henry, Matt Jones, Harry Williams, Arman Shields and Rod Gardner, TEs Martrez Milner, Jermaine Wiggins and Patrick Estes, OL Mike Brisiel, Patrick Estes, Elton Brown, Adam Stenavich, Steve Edwards and Cory Lekkerkerker, DL Dewayne White, Chukie Nwokorie, Dewayne Robertson and Jesse Mahelona, LBs Chase Bullock, Charlton Keith and Ben Taylor, DBs Aaron Rouse, Tra Battle, Willie Andrews, Fakhir Brown and Dainon Sidney, P Danny Baugher and K Todd France

2010 Preview –


2009 Recap -

2010 Philadelphia Brawlers – HC Jim Fassel, OC Greg Roman, DC Chuck Bresnahan, GM Ron Jaworski, QBs Chris Redman and Russ Michna, RBs Chris Barclay and Josh Scobey, WRs Reggie Brown, Devard Darling, David Givens and Paul Williams, TEs Adam Bergen, Keith Heinrich and Sean McHugh, DL Claude Harriott and Carlos Hall, DBs Keyon Whiteside

2010 Preview –

[BengalErnst]

XFL Week 1: Stampede Earn First Win In Team History In XFL Debut

March 2, 2010

Chicago, IL - Capitalizing on the opportunities presented to them in the 2010 season opener and first game in team history, the Houston Stampede claimed an historic 23-13 victory over the Chicago Enforcers in front of 35,836 fans at legendary Soldier Field. "I think it was a terrific performance by our football team," said Houston head coach Doug Pederson. "We had some opportunities to make some big plays, and while we failed to do it at times, we made enough that gave us the opportunity to come out with the victory. I was particularly pleased with our ability to run the football on the offensive side and I thought we did some good things. We had four or five throws that were just a hair off, but I thought Josh McCown did a terrific job for us."

The second quarter saw 24 points put on the board and the visiting Stampede edged ahead first, putting together a three-play, 81-yard drive to strike with 11:08 left in the opening half. McCown connected with WR Bobby Sippio for a spectacular 53-yard pass and catch for the score. Chicago put together their own scoring drive on the very next possession, using a 70-yard drive to knot the game at seven. Led by backup QB Charlie Frye the Enforcers momentum was kept alive with an 11-yard run by Noah Herron and was capped off by an 18-yard pass from Frye to WR Ruvell Martin. McCown then orchestrated a 14-play, 62-yard drive, ending with less than two minutes remaining in the opening half to put the Stampede up 14-7 with a 5-yard end zone pass to TE Tom Santi. A DB Andrew Sendejo interception of Frye ended the Enforcers' threat to even the score. The Stampede pounced and added a field goal with 14 ticks left on the clock to take a 17-7 lead into the locker room.

The Enforcers put up the first threat of the second half, marching downfield and setting up for a 23-yard field goal attempt. Enforcers' DB Corey Ivy had other ideas, rushing off the near side and blocking the attempt to keep the game at 17-7. After an exchange of possessions, Houston added to their lead. The Enforcers' defense kept McCown and company out of the end zone, but a 22-yard field goal extended the lead to 20-7. Houston continued to make the most of Enforcers' miscues. After Frye fumbled a handoff on their own 35-yard line, the visitors marched downfield, to set up another field goal. Chicago put together the final scoring drive of the night, starting on their own 8-yard line, but the comeback attempt came with too little time on the clock. Frye completed three consecutive passes and ran for a first down, moving the Enforcers down the far sideline, approaching midfield. Chicago moved into Stampede territory, completing the pass to RN Noah Herron and a 16-yard completion to Martin put the Enforcers on the five-yard line before Frye scored on a quarterback keeper with 1:22 left in the game.

-- (0-0)Stampede 23 - 13 Enforcers(0-0)
(HOU): QB McCown - 26/34 238 yards, 2 TDs, RB Shipp - 14 carries, 29 yards, WR Sippio - 7 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD, WR Ferguson - 5 catches, 62 yards
(CHI): QB Frye - 17/25 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Herron - 18 carries, 44 yards, WR Martin - 2 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Bandits 17 - 10 Valor(0-0)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 14/18 179 yards, 2 TDs, RB Cobourne - 18 carries, 65 yards, WR Jackson - 7 catches, 76 yards, WR Gabriel - 6 catches, 85 yards
(DC): QB Vick - 13/23 146 yards, 1 TD, RB Jones - 7 carries, 33 yards, WR Jones - 4 catches, 81 yards

-- (0-0)Conquerors 9 - 24 Stars(0-0)
(LV): QB Losman - 20/32 139 yards, RB Dorsey - 23 carries, 49 yards, WR Robinson - 6 catches, 43 yards
(LA): QB King - 24/36 282 yards, 1 TD, RB Barlow - 10 carries, 77 yards, RB Foster - 6 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD, WR Williams - 9 catches, 129 yards, WR Copeland - 6 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Express 26 - 29 Rage(0-0)
(MEM): QB Ramsey - 22/35 275 yards, 2 TDs, RB Canidate - 20 carries, 22 yards, WR Berlin - 7 catches, 69 yards, 1 TD, WR Clayton - 7 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD, WR Calico - 6 catches, 50 yards
(ORL): QB Culpepper - 18/31 354 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Fason - 9 carries, 36 yards, WR Lelie - 6 catches, 117 yards, 2 TDs, WR Holt - 6 catches, 153 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Mammoths 34 - 24 Mountain Lions(0-0)
(OMA): QB Banks - 21/29 267 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Perry - 25 carries, 174 yards, RB Green - 8 carries, 31 yards, 2 TDs, WR Chatman - 5 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Hardy - 3 catches, 56 yards
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 22/34 286 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Smith - 10 carries, 27 yards, 4 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD, WR Warren - 6 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD, WR Mitchell - 5 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Steel 21 - 34 Ghosts(0-0)
(BIRM): QB Carter - 22/33 205 yards, 2 TDs, RB Arrington - 20 carries, 48 yards, WR Lucas - 9 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD, WR Mathis - 8 catches, 74 yards
(COL): QB Hill - 23/28 258 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Pittman - 25 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD, WR Moore - 6 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD, WR Rambo - 7 catches, 69 yards

-- (0-0)Brawlers 24 - 27 Force(0-0)
(PHI): QB Redman - 19/26 312 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Scobey - 7 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD, WR Williams - 3 catches, 54 yards, RB Moats - 5 catches, 75 yards
(OTT): QB Huard - 17/25 203 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Fargas - 30 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Watts - 4 catches, 68 yards, WR Looker - 4 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Roughnecks 9 - 17 Commanders(0-0)
(OKC): QB Davey - 22/38 230 yards, RB Anderson - 9 carries, 42 yards, WR Bowman - 6 catches, 100 yards, WR Bellamy - 5 catches, 50 yards
(SA): QB Bishop - 24/32 205 yards, 2 TDs, RB Toefield - 19 carries, 51 yards, WR Morgan - 6 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Guardians 19 - 24 Colonials(0-0)
(NY): QB Garcia - 22/37 246 yards, 2 TDs, RB Croom - 7 carries, 88 yards, WR Maxwell - 5 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD, WR Sweed - 5 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD
(HART): QB Bollinger - 15/23 196 yards, 2 TDs, RB Dixon - 18 carries, 43 yards, WR Tyree - 7 catches, 94 yards, WR Biddle - 6 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD

-- (0-0)Desperados 34 - 27 Aztecs(0-0)
(DAL): QB Rattay - 24/27 300 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, RB White - 17 carries, 61 yards, RB Redmond - 13 carries, 72 yards, WR McNeal - 6 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs, TE Blizzard - 5 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD
(MEX): QB Gray - 13/21 123 yards, RB Galloway - 10 carries, 46 yards, 2 TDs, RB Denson - 9 carries, 56 yards, WR Wallace - 4 catches, 45 yards

XFL to Offer Webstream

March 6, 2010

New York, NY - During the 2010 season, XFL games broadcast through regional sports networks are also available to football fans on their mobile devices, thanks to Veetle. As a result of the partnership, the XFL web stream, powered by Veetle and sponsored by ConAgra Foods, is broadcast in high-definition quality on the Internet and on mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Android phones. "The way in which people watch sports is evolving rapidly, and we believe it is essential for the XFL to be at the forefront of technology that offers web streaming and alternatives to traditional viewing platforms," said XFL commissioner Michael Huyghue. "Veetle approached us with their technology offering, and we saw an opportunity to create a win-win for both companies by combining XFL IT experience in the live-streaming space with their well thought-out consumer video platform."

Ethan Wang, Veetle's head of product development, said: "The partnership gives the XFL the chance to reach out to the growing online audience, and it gives Veetle the chance to demonstrate why we are one of the leaders in quality live-streaming. People are always looking for the best-possible-quality broadcasts on the Internet and Veetle, in particular, is known to have the best quality and fastest response time amongst all live-streaming sites."