XFL Suspends Operations, Lays off All Employees Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Apr 10, 2020
The XFL logo is on a goal post pad after an XFL football game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
One month after canceling the regular season, the XFL has suspended operations and laid off all of its employees because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Per ESPN's Field Yates, XFL COO Jeffery Pollock said employees were informed of the decision on Friday.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo added the XFL will pay employees through Sunday, but beyond that, it's unclear when or if the league might return.
When the XFL canceled the remainder of its 2020 season, the league'sofficial statement said it was "committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years."
Vince McMahon, best known as the chairman and CEO of WWE, relaunched the XFL this year. He wasexpecting to spendaround $500 million through the first three seasons on employee salaries at all levels and to build the brand.
The XFL was made up of eight teams that were expected to play a 10-week regular season, with the top two teams in each division advancing to the playoffs. The championship game was scheduled to be played on April 26.
Roughnecks LB Brian Peters to Donate Half of XFL Salary to COVID-19 Relief Funds
Mar 30, 2020
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16: Brian Peters #52 of the Houston Texans watches from the sideline during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
Houston Roughnecks linebacker Brian Peters is donating half of his XFL paychecks to the Frontline Responders Fund to contribute to coronavirus relief.
The 31-year-old, who played four seasons with the Houston Texans, signed with the Roughnecks on March 10.
Peters explained his decision to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson:
"I'm incredibly grateful for the XFL and the Roughnecks to give me the opportunity and to honor our contracts. I've been in a league before (United Football League) that didn't honor our contracts. This goes back to my value system about supporting people and their health. Everyone needs help. The XFL made the honorable choice to support us and I want to do the same and pay it forward."
He added that he wants to help food banks in the Houston area as well as around Columbus, Ohio, the latter of which is near his hometown of Pickerington.
Two days after Peters joined the Roughnecks, the XFL announced it was canceling the remainder of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league confirmed players would receive their full base salaries despite the abrupt end to the year. According to Sporting News' Jordan Heck, player contracts outlined $2,080 in biweekly base pay during the season.
XFL Announces Season Canceled Due to COVID-19; Players Free to Sign with NFL
Mar 20, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 8: DC Defenders players pose for a photo during the XFL game against the St. Louis BattleHawks at Audi Field on March 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shawn Hubbard/XFL via Getty Images)
The XFL officially announced the cancellation of the 2020 season Friday in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The organization will allow players to sign with teams in other leagues starting March 23:
The #XFL just informed its players they will be free to sign with #NFL or #CFL teams on March 23 upon execution of an #XFL Notice of Contract Termination
I know some of you have asked about TE Donald Parham. Skins not among teams who have shown interest in the XFL player. But a handful of others have. https://t.co/glNJ47iW1H
Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston noted Thursday that the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos "contacted the Houston Roughnecks inquiring about quarterback PJ Walker."
A number of players have spoken positively about their experiences in the XFL, which was far more successful in its reboot than it was when it initially launched in 2001 and lasted one season:
What a ride... I would like to thank the @xfl2020 for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dream. I’m excited to see what the future holds! #OnDutypic.twitter.com/E3Q1V3hIhO
Thank you 🙏🏼 @xfl2020 and @XFLBattleHawks for the opportunity to showcase my talents and taking a chance on me. I am forever thankful and grateful for everything. Also I would like to thank St.Louis for taking me in with open Arms and all the Support you guys were the BEST‼️💙🦅 pic.twitter.com/hF7tcb5rCY
The XFL becomes the latest league to take action to stem the spread of COVID-19. Professional leagues such as the NBA, NHL, MLB and various European soccer leagues, among others, have gone on hiatus, while the NCAA canceled the men's and women's basketball tournaments and all winter and spring championships.
Over 209,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported globally, perCNN.com, with 8,778 deaths. There have been 7,087 cases and 100 deaths in the United States.
XFL Confirms Unnamed Seattle Dragons Player Tested Positive for Coronavirus
Mar 14, 2020
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 7: The Seattle Dragons huddle during the XFL game against the Houston Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty Images)
An unnamed player for the XFL's Seattle Dragons has tested positive for the coronavirus, the league confirmed to Tom Schad of USA Today.
Konnor Fulk of XFL News Hub was the first to report the news early Saturday morning, just days after the XFL canceled the remainder of its season because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Per Schad, the player reported symptoms to the Dragons' medical staff Tuesday and was then placed in quarantine. He was tested shortly thereafter, and it came back as positive for coronavirus on Friday.
The unnamed player was active for the Dragons' final two games against the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis Battlehawks but was asymptomatic at the time.
The XFL released the following statement regarding the measures being taken in line with advice from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
"The league is alerting players, staff, vendors and partners associated with the Dragons, Roughnecks, and BattleHawks, as this player also participated in the February 29 game in St. Louis. The XFL is monitoring the situation closely and taking every measure necessary in accordance with recommendations set forth by the CDC."
On March 6, it was confirmedin a statementby King County health officials that a concessions vendor who works at CenturyLink Field in Seattle tested positive for the coronavirus. That employee worked the Feb. 22 game between the Dragons and Dallas Renegades.
After that game, the Dragons playedo on the road against the Battlehawks and Roughnecks the following two weeks.
Seattle had been scheduled to host the L.A. Wildcats on Sunday with no fans in attendance, but XFL officials decided to cancel the remainder of the season after the NBA, NHL and several other sports leagues suspended their seasons amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Dragons player is the third athlete from a major American sports league to publicly test positive for COVID-19, following Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the NBA's Utah Jazz.
PerCNN, there are over 142,000 known cases of coronavirus worldwide and more than 5,000 confirmed deaths. That includes nearly 1,700 cases and 41 deaths in the United States.
The XFL, which is owned by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon,announcedthat it will still pay its players for the full 2020 season and remains committed to returning in 2021.
XFL Suspends 2020 Inaugural Season Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Mar 12, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: A view of the XFL logo on the sidelines before the XFL game between the DC Defenders and the St. Louis Battlehawks at Audi Field on March 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The XFLannounced Thursday it will not proceed with the remainder of its first regular season since the league was rebooted because of the coronavirus outbreak.
"Currently, the XFL will not be playing its regular-season games," the league said in a statement. "However, all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for 2020 regular season. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit towards future games.
"The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years."
The move comes as numerous leagues across the country have put play on hold in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. The NBA and NHL suspended games indefinitely, while MLB pushed back the start of its regular season by at least two weeks.
The NCAA also canceled its winter and spring championships, which include the men's and women's basketball tournaments.
In addition to the steps taken by sports officials, state and local governments have issued moratoriums on large gatherings of people. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, for example, banned any event with more than 250 people in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties, a move that impacted the Seattle Dragons.
PerCNN, there are at least 124,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, and more than 4,600 have died.
A suspension or cancellation of the XFL season felt inevitable given how everything has unfolded so far.
The league has completed five weeks in its return campaign and was originally set to hold its championship April 26.
The NFL's regular season doesn't kick off until September, and training camps will open in July. As a result, the XFL might be able to push back its season and wrap things up before experiencing any significant overlap with the NFL.
However, that could be less than ideal for any players who hoped to parlay their XFL success into a possible shot in the NFL. The longer the XFL drags on, the more time NFL teams will have to fill their roster spots.
XFL's Week 5 Sunday Games Average 800K Viewers as Ratings Skid Continues
Mar 10, 2020
CARSON, CA - MARCH 08: Daniel Williams #81 of the Tampa Bay Vipers while playing the // at Dignity Health Sports Park during an XFL game on March 8, 2020 in Carson, California. L.A. won 41-34. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
There was more bad ratings news for the XFL in Week 5. On Sunday, the league had a doubleheader that saw the DC Defenders beat the St. Louis BattleHawks and the Los Angeles Wildcats outduel the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Per XFL reporter Mike Mitchell, the two games averaged 800,000 viewers:
Coming off apromising start in the ratingsfor the XFL in Week 1, numbers for the league have gone down in each of the past four weeks.
By Week 3, the four gamesaveraged1.61 million, a drop of nearly 50 percent from the first week (3.1 million). That was the first week to feature two games on traditional cable television. The first two weeks had three games air on broadcast networks.
The Week 4 Sunday gamesboth averagedover 1 million viewers, which included the Defenders at Vipers on ESPN 2.
In the first matchup, DC won a 15-6 offensive struggle over St. Louis in which the teams combined for five field goals.
This week's Wildcats-Vipers game was broadcast on ESPN in prime time starting at 9 p.m. ET. Los Angeles sealed a thrilling 41-34 win in the final minute when Jack Tocho picked off Taylor Cornelius' pass from the Wildcats' 7-yard line.
XFL 2020 Results: Cardale Jones Benched in Defenders' Win, Wildcats Prevail
Mar 8, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 8: Tyree Jackson #3 of the DC Defenders during the XFL game against the St. Louis BattleHawks at Audi Field on March 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Al Drago/XFL via Getty Images)
Week 5 of the XFL season continued on Sunday, with two games on the slate: The DC Defenders taking on the St. Louis BattleHawks and the Los Angeles Wildcats hosting the Tampa Bay Vipers. Below, we'll break down those results and the top highlights from Sunday's action.
DC Defenders def. St. Louis BattleHawks, 15-6
The DC Defenders finally pulled the plug on the struggling Cardale Jones after just two passes and an interception on Sunday. No matter—Tyree Jackson was up to the task.
The Defenders' backup quarterback ended the team's two-game losing streak, finishing 9-of-14 for 64 yards and a touchdown pass in DC's 15-6 victory over the St. Louis BattleHawks (3-2).
22-year-old Tyree Jackson is in at QB for the @XFLDefenders and off to a HOT start
Jackson added seven rushes for 32 yards in the winning effort, while Jhurell Pressley and Donnel Pumphrey combined to rush for 144 yards on 30 carries in the victory. Pressley led the way with 107 yards on the ground.
The Defenders (3-2) lived up to their name, allowing the BattleHawks to accumulated yardage (319 total yards) but preventing them from extending those drives for long, holding them to 4-of-16 on third-down conversions and 0-of-2 on fourth down.
That spoiled a strong game from St. Louis wideout L'Damian Washington, who finished with five receptions for 114 yards, including a beautiful over-the-shoulder snag.
Hey, nobody said the XFL was going to be a conventional viewing experience.
Los Angeles Wildcats def. Tampa Bay Vipers, 41-34
It looked like the Tampa Bay Vipers may be the worst team in the league when they got off to an 0-3 start, but they turned heads with a dramatic bounce-back effort in a 25-point shutout victory over the Defenders in Week 4.
That short-lived momentum ended Sunday with a 41-34 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Tampa Bay picked up right where it left off when it jumped out to a commanding 17-0 lead behind rushing touchdowns from running back Jacques Patrick and quarterback Taylor Cornelius. Even when the Wildcats got on the board, Cornelius responded with a touchdown pass to help put his team up 24-6.
That's when Josh Johnson, who finished 20-of-36 for 288 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, took over.
Johnson fired touchdown passes to De'Quan Hampton, Brandon Barnes, Tre McBride and Saeed Blacknall as the Wildcats strung together 27 unanswered points to build a 33-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
Josh Johnson put this ball EXACTLY where it needed to be
Tampa Bay's comeback efforts looked all but gone when Boogie Roberts scooped up a Cornelius fumble and returned it for touchdown, although the visiting quarterback found Reece Horn for a late touchdown and set up a dramatic finish.
Los Angeles had an opportunity to tie or potentially win in the final minute trailing by seven, but Jack Tocho intercepted Cornelius in the end zone.
Next up for the Wildcats is a matchup with the Seattle Dragons, while the Vipers face the St. Louis BattleHawks.
Cardale Jones Will Remain Starting QB for XFL's Defenders After Benching
Mar 8, 2020
DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones (12) calls a play to teammates during an XFL football game against the Seattle Dragons, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Will Newton)
DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones will remain the team's starting quarterback moving forward after being benched during Sunday's 15-6 victory over the St. Louis BattleHawks, coach Pep Hamilton said after the game, per USA Today's Tom Schad.
Hamilton revealed that Jones' benching had been planned.
Jones was benched for 22-year-old Tyree Jackson in the first quarter of the team's Sunday matinee against the BattleHawks.
Jackson threw a touchdown pass soon after taking over under center:
22-year-old Tyree Jackson is in at QB for the @XFLDefenders and off to a HOT start
Jones went 0-of-2 with one interception before exiting the game. Jackson finished the game with 39 yards, one touchdown and no picks on 9-of-14 passing.
Jones made his name at Ohio State. The 27-year-old led the Buckeyes to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where they upset the No. 2 Oregon Ducks 42-20.
Rather than capitalize on his national buzz and enter the 2015 NFL draft, Jones returned for his junior campaign. He struggled and was benched in favor of J.T. Barrett, finishing the season with 1,459 yards, eight touchdowns and five picks across 10 games.
The Buffalo Bills selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, and Jones never found footing in the NFL. He appeared in one game for the Bills, completing six passes for 96 yards and one interception.
"Everybody's going to make a decision based on what they think is important to them, what they value, what they want to see their life end up (like) in the long run," Jones told Schad in December, answering whether he regrets forgoing the 2015 NFL draft.
"You’re not wrong or right for declaring or leaving early, or going back," he continued. "It's just what you think was right for you at that time in your life and your career."
Once landing in the XFL with the Defenders, Jones began rebuilding his NFL stock through the team's first two games. Jones led DC to a 2-0 start by going a combined 39-of-63 passing for 499 yards, four touchdowns and one pick:
Cardale Jones got the job done in his first @xfl2020 game 💪
⚔️ 16/26 comp/att ⚔️ 319 total yards ⚔️ 2 pass TDs ⚔️ W against Seattle Dragons pic.twitter.com/RBJJhzVO7e
However, similar to his trajectory at Ohio State, Jones saw his productivity eventually dwindle. He has not thrown a touchdown pass in the three games since the Defenders' 27-0 Week 2 win over the New York Guardians while tossing six interceptions in that span. That included a four-pick outing in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Wildcats.
By beating the BattleHawks 15-6, the Defenders improved to 3-2 and moved into a three-way tie with the BattleHawks and New York Guardians atop the XFL East division.
XFL 2020 Results: P.J. Walker Helps Roughnecks Improve to 5-0, More Highlights
Mar 7, 2020
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 7: Cam Phillips #14 of the Houston Roughnecks with Sam Mobley #3 during the XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at TDECU Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michael Starghill/XFL via Getty Images)
Week 5 marks the halfway point of the XFL regular season, with the Houston Roughnecks entering Saturday's matchup against the Seattle Dragons as the only remaining undefeated team.
Houston (4-0) has been the most dominant team in the league through the first four weeks. It leads the XFL with 16 touchdowns scored and a plus-five touchdown differential.
The Dragons (1-3) are trying to get their season turned around coming off consecutive losses. B.J. Daniels took over as the starting quarterback after showing promise in the second half of last week's 23-16 defeat against St. Louis.
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, the New York Guardians (2-2) and Dallas Defenders (2-2) are both trying to get over the .500 mark and build some momentum heading into the second half of the season.
XFL Week 5 Results (Saturday, March 7)
Houston Roughnecks def. Seattle Dragons, 32-23
New York Guardians def. Dallas Defenders, 30-12
New York Guardians 30, Dallas Defenders 12
The Guardians used a potent rushing attack and an opportunistic defense in a 30-12 victory over Dallas and earn their first road win of the season.
On a day when Luis Perez struggled to get things going through the air, Darius Victor and Justin Stockton picked up the slack with their legs, combining for 99 yards on 20 carries.
New York's quarterback finished 16-of-30 for 229 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Perez's touchdown pass was an 80-yard hook-up with Colby Pearson in the third quarter to put New York up by two scores.
That was one of three second-half turnovers by Dallas. The second came on Flynn Nagel's fumbled punt return early in the fourth quarter that allowed New York to increase its lead to 30-12 and seal the victory.
Dallas quarterback Philip Nelson, starting for the injured Landry Jones, had a rough showing. He completed 28 of his 49 attempts for 210 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked three times.
Since a rough two-game stretch against the St. Louis BattleHawks and DC Defenders, who combined for 56 points, New York's defense has rebounded nicely over the past two weeks. The Guardians are allowing an average of 9.7 points per game in their three wins.
Saturday's victory moves New York over the .500 mark and briefly into sole possession of second place in the East Division. The Guardians could end the weekend tied for first depending on the result of Sunday's St. Louis-DC matchup.
Houston Roughnecks 32, Seattle Dragons 23
Houston scored 18 unanswered points over the final 22 minutes to earn a 32-23 win over Seattle and run its record to 5-0.
Trailing 23-14 midway through the third quarter, P.J. Walker engineered scoring drives on three of the Roughnecks' next four possessions. His five-yard touchdown pass to Cam Phillips with 9:08 remaining in the fourth gave Houston its first lead of the game.
Walker didn't have his best game of the season, committing three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble), but stepped up to make plays down the stretch when his team needed a score. He also threw for a career-high 351 yards.
Phillips, who entered Week 5 with an XFL-high 455 receiving yards, added to that total in a big way. The 24-year-old had 122 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches.
Seattle jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter thanks to the defense putting pressure on Walker. Jacquies Smith got things started with a strip-sack of the Roughnecks quarterback, setting his offense up deep in Houston territory.
Before Daniels took over as the starter in the second half last week, Seattle's offense scored a total of 51 points in the first 3.5 games. He's led them to 36 points in six quarters.
Despite their 1-4 record, the Dragons are set up well moving forward with Daniels under center. Their schedule also sets up well to make a run with two games against the Los Angeles Wildcats (1-3) in the next four weeks.
XFL 2020 Week 5 Fantasy Rankings, Schedule, Live Stream and Odds
Mar 6, 2020
Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker (11) looks to pass as he scrambles during an XFL football game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
The XFL and NFL are different in many ways, but the one glaring similarity is that strong quarterback play drives success.
P.J, Walker has displayed that over the first four weeks with the Houston Roughnecks, as they have won all four games.
Walker is the only signal-caller you can fully trust from a fantasy perspective, and he should be in line for more success against the Seattle Dragons in Week 5.
Week 5's marquee game takes place in the Eastern Conference, where the first-place St. Louis BattleHawks visit the second-place D.C. Defenders.
St. Louis is one of two road favorites, while Houston owns the largest line in its favor at 12.5 for its home meeting with the Dragons.
Walker is the most reliable XFL player from a fantasy perspective.
The Houston quarterback leads the league in passing with 987 yards, and he has thrown 12 touchdown passes.
The Temple product has thrown for multiple touchdowns in each of his four appearances and has at least 200 yards in three of those outings.
Walker is also throwing the ball on a consistent basis, as he has attempted 30 passes in each of Houston's four wins.
He is facing a Dragons defense that conceded 47 points over the last two weeks to Dallas and St. Louis.
Until Walker shows any signs of slowing down, he is the No. 1 fantasy option in the XFL.
If you want to look away from the passing leader, St. Louis' Jordan Ta'amu and LA's Josh Johnson are the best bets, as they rank second and third in passing yards.
Ta'amu hits the road to play a D.C. defense that is the only Eastern Conference team to allow more than 10 touchdowns.
Johnson leads the Los Angeles Wildcats against the Tampa Bay Vipers Sunday, and if his connection with Tre McBride continues to grow, he should achieve a good bit of success.
Cardale Jones might be worth a shot since the Defenders are at home, but after that, it is hard to justify starting one of the other four quarterbacks because of how inconsistent their respective teams have been.
Running Back
1. De'Veon Smith, Tampa Bay
2. Matt Jones, St. Louis
3. Lance Dunbar, Dallas
4. Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas
5. Christine Michael, St. Louis
6. Donnel Pumphrey, D.C.
7. James Butler, Houston
8. Jacques Patrick, Tampa Bay
9. Darius Victor, New York
10. Kenneth Farrow, Seattle
Even though Tampa Bay sits at the bottom of the East, it has two of the top three rushers in De'Veon Smith and Jacques Patrick.
Smith owns a league-best 296 rushing yards, while Patrick is third with 231. St. Louis' Matt Jones and Dallas' Cameron Artis-Payne are the only other running backs over 200 yards.
The Vipers could be in for a tough Sunday against the Wildcats, who held D.C. to nine points in their last home game.
In that contest, the Defenders only managed 107 passing yards, while a handful of running backs had shots at breaking downfield.
One of Tampa Bay's top weaknesses has been quarterback play, so if the Wildcats shut down that aspect of the game again, Smith and Patrick could receive the bulk of the touches.
Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar could benefit from Dallas' home matchup with the New York Guardians, but the only concern there is how often they can find the end zone.
The Guardians have let up eight touchdowns over four games, which is the second-lowest total behind St. Louis.
Wide Receiver
1. Cam Phillips, Houston
2. Tre McBride, L.A.
3. Dan Williams, Tampa Bay
4. Khalil Lewis, Houston
5. Donald Parham, Dallas
6. Eli Rogers, D.C.
7. Flynn Nagel, Dallas
8. Nick Holley, Houston
9. Austin Proehl, Seattle
10. De'Mornay Pierson-El, St. Louis
Until Walker displays inconsistencies in his game, Cam Phillips has to be considered one of the best wide receiver options.
Phillips leads the XFL with 333 receiving yards, which is 60 better than Dallas' Donald Parham in second place.
Parham is the only tight end who has done much damage in the passing game, but his production may suffer with Landry Jones out for Dallas.
The development of McBride's relationship with Johnson will likely continue to pay off for the Wildcats in the favorable home matchup with the Vipers.
Dan Williams has been one of the bright spots for Tampa Bay, as he sits fourth on the league receiving chart.
The primary concern with starting him is what the Vipers quarterback play will look like after L.A. shut down D.C.'s signal-callers in Week 3.
Eli Rogers could be a sleeper option for the Defenders since they have played much better at Audi Field.
Fifty-eight of D.C.'s 65 points have come on home soil, but to keep that run alive, it has to resurrect an offense that put up nine points on the road over the previous two weeks.
