XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck has tried to "make clear that the XFL isn’t AAF 2.0," saying the spring football league is on its way to a successful launch in February '20, according to Michael David Smith of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. Luck said the XFL has a "great business plan." He said that the league has deals with "'two very powerful media companies' and the XFL will have two games a week on over-the-air network television and two games on major cable channels." If Luck can "deliver on that promise," it will be "significantly better coverage than the AAF had" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/18).
Some believe the St. Louis team could have made a more high-profile hire than Jonathan Hayes getty images
MISSED OPPORTUNITY? The XFL on Thursday announced former Bengals assistant coach Jonathan Hayes will coach the league's St. Louis franchise, but the POST-DISPATCH's Ben Frederickson wrote the XFL "made some mistakes" in setting up the team. The league's "lack of interest in exploring potential coaching hires who have direct ties to the St. Louis area should count as a needless penalty." Marketing is "key when starting a new league." Making a St. Louis "splash would have been a step in the right direction," but this hire "barely made ripples." The XFL "never tried to gauge the interest -- let alone interview -- some names that would have" attracted fans when the season starts. Frederickson listed potential coaching candidates with local ties like Mike Martz, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Proehl and Gary Pinkel. The XFL "made what could have been an easy touchdown significantly more complicated" (STLTODAY.com, 4/18).
