WEEK SIX XFL POWER RANKINGS

2001 XFL FLASH BACK

THE FIRST XFL DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE FAIR CATCH

WRESTLING MOMENT TO REMEMBER XFL PART 1

Since St. Paddy’s day is almost upon us, we salute Roddy Piper. Got to root for the bag piper this time of the year.

WEEK SIX PRESENT TIMES

The whole sports landscape is shutting down due to the Corona Virus. XFL looks like the games must still go on. They may be playing this weekend in empty stadiums throughout the league. We know Seattle definitely is going to be playing with no fans. Stay indoors, open up a can a beer ,and watch the games and flash back to 2001 when the XFL played games all the time in front of no fans. That time the product was not good. Fans never showed up. Like Peter Brady’s birthday party when no one showed  up.

WEEK SIX POWER RANKING COMING AT YOU LIKE A BEER CUP SNAKE

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (5-0) SAME  In week five the Roughnecks maybe are bored as they spotted Seattle a 14 point lead. Superhero P.J Walker looked more human making some mistakes. Walker still chucked the ball for 371 yards with three touch down passes as Roughnecks steamrolled the Dragons and fought their way back in this contest. Running back James Butler enjoyed two rushing touchdowns. One was scratched from a penalty. Butler was handed the ball off after the penalty and still scored. Three Houston Lambeau leaps to his credit in the game.

Nick Holley put a sweet move on the Dragons defender faked him out of his shorts to get a big gainer for a Houston Touchdown.

#2.DC DEFENDERS (3-2) UP 2 SPOTS    The Defenders needed home cooking and they got it after two disaster road games. They were able to prevail with their back up Quarterback Tyree Jackson who filled in for ineffective Cardale Jones. It was not pretty numbers wise but Jackson did enough. Defenders running back Jrurell Pressley had 107 yards on the ground. It was a game combined of 407 rushing yards by both teams. The Defender defense came up big time for the Defenders. Anthony Johnson was getting lots of pressure on Jordan Ta’amu. Johnson had on sack. Tracy Sprinkle and others combined to shut down a very good Battle Hawks offense as they broke down the St. Louis wall like the Berlin wall. Special teams had a block punt. But the MVP of the day was the beer cup snake in the stands.

All the empty beer cups formed a beer snake cup that went all the way up rows and rows of seats. The Buffalo Mafia would of been proud. Perhaps Bills fans would of had theirs around the perimeter of the stadium. Amateurs.

#3. ST. LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (3-2)  DOWN 2 SPOTS    St. Louis was playing so well. Last week they lost a close game to the DC Defenders whose season is the tale of two cities.  Battle Hawks played the Defenders at their place where they do well. The Defenders on defense threw everything at the Battle Hawk offensive line even the kitchen sink and St.Louis crumbled with that type of pressure. This pressure shut down the run game completely. Battle Hawks quarterback Jordan Ta’amu had no time to set up his option play that has worked all year. Plus passing the ball Ta’amu has seen better days. St. Louis will have to adjust to that pressure because every team will now be looking to pressure the QB and stop the run game at the same time.  Can Jordan Ta’amu beat you with his arm?

#4.LA WILD CATS (2-3) UP 2 SPOTS    The Wild Cats at home can score some big time points off anybody in the league. Wild Cats broke their own record of points scored of 39 versus the Defenders as they scored 41 off a pretty good Viper defense. On the road the Wild Cats were held under 20 points from a struggling New York team. LA Wild Cats are just one dysfunctional family. The quarterback Josh Johnson continues to let the f-bombs slip berating the offense coordinator in front of a live studio audience through the head sets.

These are the same Wild Cats that fired Pepper Johnson after one game as the team’s defensive coordinator. They also traded their best defensive player who was the captain away after the first game as well. The head coach Winston Moss took over the defense play calling. Moss’ coaching style letting the crazies run the asylum.

The Wild Cats need to learn how to win on the road before I put them in the post season.

#5.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (3-2) UP 2 SPOTS   The Guardians have suddenly risen out of the tar pits or whatever a Guardian cat comes from. New York now has won two games in a row. What is head coach Kevin Gilbride thinking? It takes the number three quarterback on the depth chart to run his offense effectively. Can the Guardians and Kevin Gilbride judge talent. The first quarterback Matt McGloin has the NFL experience but he was awful in the NFL. Then you go with a running quarterback Marquise Williams who had some experience playing in AAF a few drives a game for the San Antonio Commanders. Then now you find out Luis Perez is the best quarterback out of the lot.

Luis Perez was the starter day one for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF last year. Perez played most of the games and did pretty good. Since Perez took over he has a 92.1 QB rating. Matt McGloin had 52.2 QB rating. Marquise Williams had 68.2 QB rating. That is a huge difference. Don’t give me third time is the charm either. Some of these coaches have no clue. Gilbride will keep his job because he got lucky having Luis Perez stashed away on the bench most of the season. Without Perez the Guardians looked like the worst team in the league for a few weeks.

#6.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (1-4) DOWN 3 SPOTS   The Vipers are that team you can not predict. Last week they had a very nice lead and gave it up as the Wild Cats came from behind and took care of the slithering snakes. In week four Vipers came up with a huge win both their offense and defense looked solid. They looked like a team that found their mojo. They looked like a team that could string a few wins together. Not the case. First few weeks offense could not get the ball in the end zone. The defense played well. Now the defense is regressing while the offense is putting up big numbers at Menards. The Vipers since Jaime Elizondo took over the offense this team is averaging 28 points per game. Jerry Glanville has to get his defense back to where they were in the beginning of the season.  The Vipers are still in the thick of things to snag that number two playoff spot in the West.

#7. DALLAS RENEGADES (2-3) DOWN 2 SPOTS   The fact is in Football the most important position most of the times is the man behind center. The Renegades had the guy that was the face of the  XFL in Landry Jones. The two most experienced quarterbacks in the entire XFL with a good amount of NFL seasoning are Landry Jones and Josh Johnson. The Renegades are without their man since late week 4 game. The back up Phillip Nelson is not the answer. Landry Jones gives Bob Stoops a guy that can still focus after a mistake is made. With Landry Jones behind center the Renegades could win games on the road which many teams in the XFL have failed in that department. Renegades last hope is to hang in there until he gets back in action. Renegades can still get that number two playoff spot in the West. Longer Landry Jones is out this team will slip in the standings.

#8.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-4) SAME     The Dragons have battled in every game. The one game they won was very ugly however a win is a win no matter how it rolls out. The Dragons defense is the far better unit than the offense. The defense of the Dragons call it the turn over mask.

It’s a ski mask the players put on after they force the other team into a turn over. Like they are bank robbers. Dragons can force quite a few turnovers but they give up some big plays as well. Like live by the blitz die by the blitz. On offense the team is on quarterback number two B.J Daniels who did well in first start versus the Roughnecks. Daniels a run first quarterback. When the Dragons were down and the team had to rely just on his arm the Dragons offense went silent. Speaking of silent the Dragons home game this weekend will be played with no fans. Since Seattle seems to be the capital of the United States with the Corona virus outbreak.

With the outbreak and a team that is not as deep as other teams in the league with depth on the roster, Seattle might be the weakest link in the XFL and unfortunately having to deal with a nagging virus infecting the emerald city.

Hunting season is coming up for all the NFL teams. The quarterback hunt will be the biggest game on the menu. Above I can see Bill Belichick dressed in a rabbit suit sneaking up behind teams and preventing them to slay his prize. Will Tom Brady end his ties from Bill and the Death Star? Who will Bill Belichick pounce on if Brady leaves New England? Does your team have faith with your guy behind center? In a huge year where lots of quarterback options are to be gobbled up in off season where will these pieces fit on teams throughout the league? Will your team find the right Quarterback? Some teams it will be business as usual. Some teams believe that the quarterback is the final piece of the puzzle.  Who gets the soft Newton? What Uber drivers should be scared of Jameis Winston coming to your town? We will throw our hat in the ring and try to fit each quarterback out there through free agency or trade with a new team. We might be totally off and not get any of them right. Can anybody predict this kind of saga in the NFL? Playing the lotto is much easier and your chances to win are much greater than predicting the NFL.

Tennessee Titans

Titans win the Tom Brady sweepstakes. Titans also keep running back Derrick Henry who will become Brady’s best friend. When has Tom Brady had only one running back? Especially one of the best backs in the league. Patriots always had a slew of running backs in the back field with Brady behind center. With Henry, Brady does not have to do much. He’s aging and he needs an O’ Henry Bar. Like how John Elway when he finally won his Superbowls he had an elite back in Terrell Davis behind him in Denver. I like the connection with the Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Tom Brady cementing this new relationship together being former teammates. I think Titans make this move because  Ryan Tannehill has a history of injuries. Plus he has not put together a string of good back to back years as a starting quarterback. It’s like every other year with Tannehill.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ryan Tannehill likes to throw the deep ball and why not head back to Florida since Brady took your job. Instead of Miami, Tannehill locks up a deal with the Buccaneers. This gives Bruce Arians a veteran guy. Plus a veteran QB who will not throw a ton of interceptions like Jameis Winston. Tannehill had the deep ball working well last season in Tennessee. Buccaneers have an arsenal of weapons as well.

Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders love bringing in split personalities to their locker room. Jon Gruden will find a way to get the best out of Jameis Winston. Winston face of the franchise in Vegas; it has a ring to it. Uber prostitutes where Jameis Winston can get his hands dirty. Golden teeth with money spewing out of the slot machine or black jack tables as Winston can unleash his best side in life.

Indianapolis Colts

I like the Colts to be Phillip Rivers’ destination. Rivers has ties with head coach Frank Reich. I think Phillip Rivers would have a lot to prove. I think the Colts are nicely built and can surround Rivers with weapons he needs to be successful. Plus Colts defense could overcome Phillip Rivers’ mistakes, especially in the red zone. I think Colts keep Jacoby Brissett as a nice back up option for Rivers if needed or if this signing blows up in their face.

LA Chargers

Chargers make a move to improve their quarterback situation. I think they make a trade or pick up Cam Newton who gets dumped by Carolina. Newton with lots to improve. Chargers have Tyrod Taylor already on the roster. This could be an open competition between Taylor and Newton. It gives the Chargers at least some options just in case one goes soft.

Carolina Panthers

Panthers land Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater a guy from the Panthers division since he played with the Saints last two seasons has familiarity with all the opponents.  Panthers will want to cut ties with Cam Newton. End that chapter for good. Somebody will overpay for Bridgewater’s services. Panthers are the perfect team with a new head coach on board. Bridgewater is at a perfect age where a new head coach in the league will make his job much easier since he does not have to wait on a young draft pick to develop.  Christian McCaffrey would help Bridgewater in the short passing attack and rushing the ball. Bridgewater does not make many mistakes which Kyle Allen and Cam Newton are prone to do every game they started last season.

New England Patriots

Patriots do not stand by after losing the Brady sweepstakes.  Patriots would go bold and make a trade and bring in Andy Dalton from the Bengals. Dalton only has a year left I believe on his contract so Patriots may seek a guy like Derek Carr from the Raiders as well. It would be hard to believe the Patriots would land two guys. Why Not? If Andy Dalton does not pan out you have Derek Carr. Dalton’s contract expires so let him go or trade him to somewhere else. Patriots most likely would draft a quarterback as well.

Chicago Bears

The Bears do not have the draft capital to land an Andy Dalton or a Derek Carr. Bears will settle for a guy named Marcus Mariota, former Tennessee Titan. This gives the Bears a guy that can challenge Mitch Trubisky as they hope Trubisky prevails anyways in an actually not fair competition.  If Trubisky does not win the job Matt Nagy has another quarterback with a different set of tools than Trubisky in the quarterback room.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars will hold on to Nick Foles. No other team will want his contract. Then the Jaguars will trade away Garner Minshew once the dust settles under all the musical chairs of the quarterbacks this off season. Some team will pry Minshew’s services away from Jacksonville.

 

WEEK FIVE XFL POWER RANKINGS

OUR XFL LEAGUE ONE FLASH BACK

The Las Vegas Outlaws cheerleaders.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT OF THE XFL 1

PRESENT TIMES

Week Five XFL Power rankings has many teams playing musical chairs. Vipers on the rise. New team that lives under the stairs. Which team would Snake Plissken rather escape? Has DC gone from top tier team to just ugly in weeks? What will Renegades do without Landry Jones? Week Five XFL Power rankings are here so let’s dive in cannon ball style!!!

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (4-0)  I’m a fan of running back Nick Holley of the Roughnecks. He’s becoming a very nice weapon for the league super star quarterback P.J Walker.

Holley has 17 grabs for 195 yards and one touchdown through four weeks so far for the Roughnecks. Holley’s catches have been amazing helping his quarterback’s numbers. However Holley’s grabs move the chains and is a big part of that high octane offense that keeps on rolling. Holley is a former Kent state Golden Flashes alum.  Roughnecks defense continue to make big plays each week. Edmund Robinson had a strip sack fumble recovery for a touchdown versus Dallas last week.

Roughnecks P.J Walker has looked cool as a cucumber in crunch time to seal the deal for Houston. Walker continues to be the MVP of the entire XFL so far.

#2.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (3-1) SAME     St. Louis fans are loving their Battle Hawks. The Battle Hawks are expected to open up the upper deck next home game to continue to put up the masses of fans who are supporting this team.

The Battle Hawks head coach Jonathan Hays I’m a big fan of. Telling the kicker to “just bang it”, on field goal try. The way he coaches his players during the game is very inteersting with the live feeds . Not that touchy feely Pete Carol, groping all his players like some pervert. Coach Hays has that laid back style but a fun style and not afraid to tell you what you did wrong or give his players confidence telling them they did something great. St.Louis is well coached in every aspect of the game.

#3.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (1-3)  UP 4 SPOTS The Vipers I thought were a part of that Python hunt in the everglades weeks ago. Vipers home cooking finally has this team playing better. Two weeks ago they took the Roughnecks to the brink of beating them, but lost by one score. Then last Sunday Jerry Glanville’s Viper defense shut down the Defenders offense. Giving the Defenders a goose egg. Offensive Coordinator Jaime Elizondo for the Vipers took over the play calling and the Snakes are slithering on offense.  Actually scoring touchdowns.

Viper quarterback Taylor Cornelius has gained confidence ever since Marc Trestman does not call the plays on offense anymore. When will the Vipers kick Trestman out the door?

 

#4.DC DEFENDERS (2-2) DOWN 1 SPOT   The Defenders season is the tale of two halves so far. At home the first two weeks, they played like the best team in the league. Then Wild Cats and Vipers get their first wins versus the Defenders in routs. Old fashioned arse kicking. Cardale Jones looked like he was going back to the NFL with those first two starts. Jones looks like he has been  taken over by the kid that was picked last in gym. Should they hand the keys to back up quarterback Tyree Jackson ?

Jackson has a nice deep ball and with the Defenders play makers could be a nice spark to turn around the road humiliation. The Defenders will be playing at home in week 5. That can help turn around things. The Defenders have a lot of talent assembled over there. Just can’t see them staying this bad.

#5.DALLAS RENEGADES (2-2 ) DOWN 1 SPOT     Renegades are in serious trouble. Losing Landry Jones to an injury last week in a tight game versus the top team in the league, the Roughnecks.

Losing by one score in the most interesting match up in week four, the Texas Bowl.  Phillip Nelson could not get it done after Jones left the game. Landry Jones had three interceptions in the first half but that did not rattle the veteran quarterback. Renegades kept fighting back until he had to exit the game.  That was the Renegades first loss with Jones as their starting quarterback. Landry Jones’ return this season is in question. He could be done. Phillip Nelson started the first game of the season and filled in after the injury. Nelson has experience from playing for the San Diego team in the AAF last season. Not impressed. This injury might implode the Dallas Renegades’ whole season.

#6. LA WILD CATS (1-3) DOWN 1 SPOT      The Wild Cats should have won last week in New York. It was the Jake Snake Plissken bowl between LA and New York in which team will snake slither away from first in an escape between those two cities.

Wild Cats were without their top receiver Nelson Spruce.

Wild Cats came off a week where they bombarded DC in a big time rout and then lay an egg in New York. Josh Johnson had plenty of weapons besides Spruce to throw to. Plus Wild Cats had their starting cornerbacks back in action that were out versus the Defenders. To let Luis Perez who’s been on the bench mostly all year drive his team  and score 17 points off your defense when the Guardians were riding the struggle bus. Wild Cats kicker Nick Novak a veteran kicker from the NFL then the AAF missed two kicks of which one was blocked.  Wild Cats should have never had to rely on their kicker. The offense made bad decisions on third down especially veteran quarterback Josh Johnson taking sacks that caused drives to implode. Lots of dropped passes. Johnson was not at his top of his game as well. Bad coaching as well were a part of this team failing on the road to beat just a bad team in the Guardians.

#7.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (2-2) UP 1 SPOT    In New York it was all about bringing in the King Pin to run the quarterback position.

Luis Perez came in late to the game last week and probably did more in a few minutes behind center than any other Guardian quarterback. Perez earned the start versus the Wild Cats. Professional bowler/learning to play quarterback from watching YouTube was quite impressive. The Guardians break a two game losing streak. Perez did enough. Wild Cats missed two field goals, one was blocked by the Guardians to help the Guardians get their second victory. Would the Guardians been able to muster up 17 points with the others behind center before Perez? Probably not. New York is probably the worse team in the XFL with a 500 record.

#8.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-3) DOWN 2 SPOTS          The Dragons have hit rock bottom in the XFL. Seattle defense is a top tier unit in this league this season. The offense still can not find themselves.  Brandon Silvers has the devil QB rating at 66.6 for the season. At one point last week Silvers was 1-9 for like 4 yards. Silvers was yanked. Silvers finished 4-10 just 40 yards passing versus St. Louis. It’s Silvers second game this season he has thrown under a 100 yards.  Dragons inserted the running man into the game.

B.J Daniels gave the Dragons a spark for Jim Zorn’s offense last week versus St.Louis. Too little too late. Daniels has a Superbowl ring playing some wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks when they won it over the Broncos. Can he operate the Dragons offense without making it one dimensional where opposing defenses could key on him?

Maybe it does not matter how many times the Cleveland Browns shuffle their deck.  Does not matter how many times they clean out their front office. After the regular season the Browns  fired their head coach and GM. This seems to be the yearly tradition in Cleveland. They replaced the gigantic stupid move of last off season and brought in Kevin Stefanski from the Minnesota Vikings. Stefanski’s football background compared to the colossal moron Freddie Kitchens, makes Stefanski look and sound like a Bill Belichick. Stefanski has credit for the one year wonder as Vanilla Ice aka Case Keenum climbing the record charts that year in Minnesota. Browns brought in another GM Andrew Berry which is another name that  the jury is still out on. The one thing we do know is the Browns decision already made letting linebacker Joe Schobert walk out the door is baffling. The new regime steps in to the batter box first at bat and is called out on third strike right down the freaking middle is what I see.

Joe Schobert was one of the few good draft picks out of the many the Browns had and got it right. The Browns hit on a 4th rounder from Wisconsin  University in 2016 by picking Joe Schobert. University of Wisconsin, a Big Ten school where they grow defensive players like the corn crop. In 2017 Joe Schobert was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Last season Schobert was Johnny on the spot for the Browns with four interceptions. Schobert had 133 tackles for the Browns defense. Two sacks and broke up nine passes. Last season where the Browns will be remembered mostly because Myles Garrett used Mason Rudolf’s helmet as a weapon like in some kind of zombie apocalypse world. Then to see the STUPID reek out of the pores of all the Cleveland players on the roster every week except a Joe Schobert and few others.

This does not shock me the Browns would pass on Schobert’s services. This is the same Browns that passed on Carson Wentz services and chose Corey Coleman. The same Browns that took Johnny Manziel because Johnny Football told them they should draft him. The signing of Kareem Hunt then trading of Duke Johnson. Then bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. through a trade. Your quarterback Baker Mayfield has done nothing but regressed in his second year. He probably led the division in commercial appearances. All’s the Browns have going on is that this team as a group is a circus. The Browns should not be playing in the NFL with this team. They should be going town to town to set up their big top. Have kids feed peanuts to Myles Garrett. Perhaps a snickers bar would calm his nerves. He may think I’m racist against him.

Joe Schobert is a pure football player. Every team needs as many Joe Schoberts as they can get. Guys that play the team concept. Guys that understand the game and have the heart of the lion. Schobert’s asking price may be too large for the Browns. Browns want to address their offensive line which what team does not want to do that. Maybe Schobert’s asking price is high because he wants out of Cleveland. Which you would not blame him.The Browns could have and should have extended Schobert’s contract before it got to this point.  Schobert himself might want his services to go with a team with better coaching and more football players around him. If you strike gold on a linebacker you hold on to them. They are the heartbeat of the defensive unit. The Browns are too busy looking for their next trapeze act instead of keeping parts of their actually foundation of a football team. Schobert will resurface somewhere next season. Perhaps he will go home and play for the Green Bay Packers next season. A team that made the playoffs last season. A team with new coaching staff that went out last off season and added defense. Joe Schobert would be a nice solid piece to have on many defensive units around the league. In Cleveland Schobert may have to grow another head on his shoulders to stick with that circus act. It’s probably better off to go elsewhere. The Browns have done him a favor. Some may say a solid.

 

Karl Malone will always be on the list as one of the best NBA players of all-time. You can say Malone might be the best power forward to ever play the game. Malone is ranked number two in points scored all-time. Malone a two time MVP award winner. Malone made 14 all-star appearances in 19 seasons in the NBA. Malone was nicknamed the mailman because he always delivered. The only thing you can say he could not deliver was a NBA championship. Malone and John Stockton were able to get the Utah Jazz to the NBA finals two seasons in back to back years. Only to be defeated by those great Michael Jordan teams of the 1990’s.  Malone played 18 seasons in Utah and played in a lot of playoff games over those years. Malone was able to get one more chance at the holy grail when he signed with the LA Lakers in 2004. Those Lakers teams with, recently passed away, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Lakers made it to the championship but the result was another negative for Malone. Detroit Pistons took the series versus the Lakers and won the whole Enchilada.

In the NHL another Karl Malone story has taken place but this time the player is on skates not the hardwood of the courts and he plays for the San Jose Sharks. Joe Thornton has skated in the NHL for 22 seasons. Thornton was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins. Thornton played in bean town for eight seasons where he emerged as the captain of the Bruins squad. Bruins and Thornton suddenly did not see eye to eye on things. Thornton was shipped off to the west coast to the San Jose Sharks. Thornton has spent 14 seasons in San Jose since that trade which gives him 22 seasons of playing in the NHL and is still active.  Joe Thornton though only made the Stanley Cup finals once in his career. It was in 2016 versus the Penguins. Pittsburgh won that series 4 games to 2.

Joe Thornton and the Sharks last season in the playoffs were able to knock off one of best teams in the league in the first round. Sharks prevailed over Vegas Golden Knights then got past Colorado Avalanche and met the Blues in the Western conference finals. St. Louis might have knocked Joe Thornton’s quest for the cup out completely when they dispatched the Sharks. The Sharks had a loaded veteran team last season. It was the win or bust type of season because the Sharks knew they could not keep all of their players in the off season. They lost some goal scorers before this season even started. This year the Sharks started off bad. They never really got on track and had all kinds of problems. Joe Thornton did resign with the team. Sharks were unable to trade Joe Thornton to a contender at the trade deadline. Does he have another year in him? Sharks problems will not be fixed over night or over the off season. Next season could Thornton latch on to some team that could use his help like how Karl Malone tried after leaving Utah?

In 22 years Joe Thornton has only missed seven seasons of playoffs. Thornton has played in a lot of post season action with his playoff beard. Thornton is considered one of the best passers of all-time as he is one out of 13 players ever to have dished out 1000 or more assists in regular season play over his career. Thornton is the only NHL player to win the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies in one year splitting time with two teams. Thornton won those trophies in 2005-06 where he led the league in points and was the MVP that season. Thornton has scored 418 goals with the 1088 assists adds up to 1506 points. Thornton is the San Jose Sharks all-time leader is assists.

Both Joe Thornton and Karl Malone will go down as one of the best in their sport in small market cities. Both have played in bigger markets. Both will be remembered most from the time they called home most of their careers.  Both Malone and Thornton brought playoffs to two cities almost every year they were in the organization. We do not know if Joe Thornton will hang up the skates for good after this season. If he does he will be the Karl Malone of the NHL. Both never won a ring or hoisted the cup. Both played a very long time in their respective leagues. Add all the postseason games and you could tack on a few more regular seasons to their resume. Plus to be able to grind out that many years in a professional sport takes heart, motivation, and dedication. To play through all the wounds and injuries of their sport during decades of playing professionally, both these guys showed up every day. Sometimes the best land on lists that they do not want to be on. Both Thornton and Malone would  be guys anybody would like to build their team around because of the hard work they put into the sport that we watched them play the right way.

 

WEEK 4 XFL POWER RANKINGS

OUR XFL FLASH BACK

No coin toss in the original XFL. Just a mad scramble to get the ball to start the game.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT

Jake the Snake Roberts was legend in the ring with that freaking python.

PRESENT TIMES

XFL week four power ranking we have a change at the top of the food chain. We have a new bottom feeder as well. After a wacky week three we are here to sort all of it out for the best we can. ENJOY!!!!!

#1.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (3-0) Are the Roughnecks stealing signs? That would be a sports epidemic to have two of your professional teams in the same city cheating. Look at Boston Red Sox & Patriots. Red Sox have not been convicted yet. They may be the OJ Simpson of the league when the investigation comes to a close. P.J. Walker continues his excellence behind center. Walker has now ten touchdown passes in only three games so far. Coach June Jones has the old run and shoot offense running like a well Oiled machine.

Just like those Oiler teams in the NFL. The thing I worry about with the Roughnecks is will they have to continue to outscore teams every week. The run and shoot offense is not a clock killer. If your team is up and drives stall it can get the opponent back in the game because you’re not killing the clock. The Vipers offense came to life versus the Roughnecks. Before that game it was dormant.  Last two games the Roughnecks have won the shoot outs. It’s hard to continue that pace throughout an entire season.

#2.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (2-1) UP 1 SPOT    Football was back in St. Louis for the first time since Rams skipped town.

St. Louis fans look more in to their team than most LA sports teams. Maybe the Chargers would be appreciated if they moved to St. Louis. Why would you even want that crap of an ownership in your town after the other piece of dung left town with his ugly mustache? Battle Hawks easily prevailed over the Guardians from New York. Nice rebound after losing a week before to a very good Houston team. Battle Hawks are very fundamentally strong on both sides of the ball. Well coached. Should be in the thick of things when this regular season comes to an end.

#3.DC DEFENDERS (2-1) DOWN 2 SPOTS    Hopefully the Defenders have not fallen and can’t get up. I would have to change my favorite Atari game from Defender to Missile command.

LA Wild Cats destroyed the Defenders with ease.

Defenders looked the best in all phases of their game in the first two weeks of the season. Last Sunday the Defenders had none of the phases of their game working for them. Cardale Jones was horrible. He tried to force things into coverage which resulted in turnovers. It was Jones’ first loss as a starting quarterback that dates back to his high school team. Jones was undefeated in his lone year as a starter at Ohio State. I feel the Defenders will bounce back. Plenty of talent DC has assembled and I’m not talking congress either.

#4.DALLAS RENEGADES (2-1) SAME  The Renegades have the best road record in the XFL. It has been a struggle bus for teams on the road this season. Ask the Defenders about their LA trip. Quarterback Landry Jones was originally the face of the XFL. A guy who has played for the Steelers and has some games under his belt. Jones does not have to do it all. The Renegades have a pretty good defense. They also have a quarterback’s best friend in a nice rushing attack. Cameron Artis-Payne is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Second in the league in rushing after three weeks.The Renegades also have the Gronk of the league. A big tight end, Donald Parham Jr., who has some after burners.

Parham Jr. gutted the Dragon secondary bouncing off tackles and then out running his defenders. So far Parham Jr. is the best tight end in the league with 14 grabs 217 yards with three touchdowns.

#5.LA WILD CATS (1-2) UP 1 SPOT After three weeks of play, P.J Walker for the Roughnecks may be the best quarterback. At the end of the season it may be Josh Johnson of the Wild Cats. Johnson is a journeyman in the NFL. Johnson is like the Crash Davis of the XFL as players want to hear about his NFL stories. Johnson not too long ago almost had the Redskins in the playoffs a couple years back. In that crap NFC East division, Johnson was brought in because of injuries. Johnson played pretty well. Johnson and the Wild Cats put up an UGLY over the Defenders.

The biggest upset so far after three weeks of play. Plus they took out the best team in the league, the Defenders. In a 39-9 rout. Wild Cats wide Receiver Tre McBride who does not look Irish gets the first douche bag award.

After he scored he takes his helmet off like he is the ring master at the circus. He not only did this once but twice. Somebody will pop him down the line for his Odell Beckham Jr act. Act like you been there. Go celebrate with team. Not bow like you did everything yourself. Team game.

#6.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-2) DOWN 1 SPOT   I like lots of things about the Seattle Dragons. The defense has to be one of the top units in the league. The Dragons are able to get turn overs. Steven Johnson, the Dragons’ Linebacker, is one of the best in the league.

Steven Johnson leads the league in tackles. On offense Brandon Silvers is a streaky quarterback. He’s going through more cold periods than hot periods. Dragons lack a play maker that can stretch the defense. Running game is not there yet. I feel defenses can key and exploit the Dragons weaknesses.  Last week the Dragons were right there eye to eye versus the Renegades and when the second half came around, Renegades adjusted and pulled ahead to win the game.

#7.TAMPA BAY VIPERS (0-3) UP 1 SPOT    The Vipers looked a lot better last week especially on the offensive side of the ball. To me it looked like the play calling on offense was taken away from head coach Marc Trestman. If that is the case the Vipers found the end zone more than once versus the best team now in the league, Houston Roughnecks. The Vipers scored 27 points last weekend when they only scored 12 points the first two weeks. The Vipers only lost by one score versus the Roughnecks, taking the game down to the wire as well. Vipers defense has been pretty solid all year if the offense can do what they did last week this team could turn things around. I thought the Viper crowd was pretty excited about their first home game.

#8.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (1-2)   DOWN 1 SPOT       The Guardians take over the basement of my XFL power rankings. Even though the Guardians have won their first game versus the Vipers. I moved the Vipers up because last week they played better even though they have no wins and loss to the Guardians . Since the Guardians win, the New York team has been the worst team in the league. The offensive line is looser than a whore in a whore house. The Guardians are on their third quarterback who learned how to play the position watching you tube.

Luis Perez did get the Guardian offense into the end zone late in the 4th quarter. The same Luis Perez who started last season for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF. YouTube videos helped him land a spot on a  college football roster and he learned how to change a leaky pipe in the same day. The Guardian defense I worry about as well. That unit looked like the team’s strength to start the season.

The San Diego Chargers has always been a team I pulled for. From Hall-of Famer Dan Fouts lighting up the league with Charlie Joiner. From the great Stan Humpries that led the Chargers to their only Superbowl appearance with Natran Means running over people with a nice rushing attack that season. Then you wondered why the Oakland Raiders fans always had more fans in Chargers at their home games. Even with the move to LA visiting fans outnumbered Charger fans the last two years in their soccer stadium. Chargers fans are like extinct from the football world. They may have a small cult following. Chargers should be compared to the Tampa Bay Rays or Florida Marlin fans of the baseball owner.  Marlins it was the way ownership ran that team. Even though they won some World Series titles, Marlin fans have had less happy years and more painful years. Ownership has changed for the Marlins so times it may change for them. The LA Chargers times have “It’s still business as usual” for their ownership. If you look closely at the Chargers organization, you can see they have left a stench so bad to irritate fans and sour their stomachs for good. You completely understand why they don’t have a following. They Chargers deserve the results every year regarding what takes place on the field because of how the ownership runs things .

Chargers arrived in LA and played one season in 1960 in the AFL. After one season Chargers picked up and moved to San Diego. They say San Diego is one of those cities with the best climate. All year around great weather. Laid back people enjoying beautiful beaches and enjoying life. The Chargers and their owner Alex Spanos could not get a deal done to build them a new stadium. The talks have been going on with the city of San Diego and the Chargers for a very long time. After decades in San Diego, Chargers move once again back to LA. The Chargers joined the Rams in LA and instantly became the second fiddle of that town. Rams obviously moved back to LA from St. Louis and had bigger roots in LA for decades which were established. Chargers have been playing at a soccer stadium since 2018 and get outdrawn by the opposing fans and can never even fill up a soccer stadium. These are two cities now that the Chargers have fans that are just turned off by their existence.

I thought about Eli Manning and my first opinion on that was, “What is this primadonna doing?” In 2004 Eli Manning was originally drafted by the Chargers. Manning’s agent said he does not want to play in San Diego. Manning would rather sit out the entire season than put the bolt helmet on. The Chargers ended up getting Phillip Rivers who was drafted after Manning by the New York Giants. Manning went on to win two Superbowls for the Giants. Rivers has been a main staple behind center since but after a horrible 2019 season Chargers released perhaps their second best quarterback of all-time.  I give Dan Fouts the edge over Rivers. Would Rivers have won a Superbowl with the Giants? Some franchises have the luck and turn anything into gold while the Chargers are still evaluating scrap metal they collected on their roster. That year Chargers blamed Archie Manning for Eli not wanting to go to San Diego. Archie played in the small market of New Orleans. I think Archie Manning knew the owner of the Chargers is not worthy of his son’s talents because of way things were ran. Which now you think about it, now he was very correct.

That year when the Chargers were drafting Eli Manning and settled for Phillip Rivers, they had a starting quarterback. They had a guy better than both Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers. His name was Drew Brees. Why were they drafting a quarterback that year in the first place?  Brees ended up hurting himself so that helped the Chargers justify their release of Brees back then. Rivers would play 16 seasons with the Chargers and never reach a Superbowl. Rivers played in only 11 playoff games through his career as a Charger. Rivers would pass for 59, 271 yards with 397 touchdown passes and 198 interceptions. Last season it was rock bottom for Rivers. 23 touchdown tosses but 20 interceptions is what people will still talk about. Rivers went 123-101 as a starter. I remember some great playoff games Rivers had. However Rivers could not beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady with consistency and those two were the kings of the AFC conference .While Rivers won nothing for the Chargers, Drew Brees resurfaced in New Orleans and won a Superbowl. The Saints have been a powerhouse almost every year with Brees behind center. Rivers might be better off with a new organization. Perhaps he looked and will do well in a Colts uniform.

Now the Chargers in 2020 are talking that Tyrod Taylor will be their starting quarterback. The same Tyrod Taylor who got benched in Cleveland after only three games in that city. Taylor is just a game manager who can make plays with his legs. Taylor can not throw the ball downfield if the team gets behind. Taylor is more of a dink and dunk type of guy in the passing game. All safe throws. Taylor had success in Buffalo helping them get to playoffs a few years ago that broke a very long drought in Western New York for the Bills. Taylor is just two games over his career record as a starting quarterback at 23-21-1. With all the quarterbacks available this off season you are putting your faith in Taylor. This is what the Chargers do. These are reasons fans just give up on Charger football.

Former Charger Eric Weddle was fined ten grand because he wanted see his daughter perform at halftime. No wonder it was a blessing for Weddle when he signed with the Ravens after his career with Chargers came to an end. They traded away Junior Seau thinking he had nothing left in the tank. Seau went on to Miami and the Patriots and was very productive after his Chargers days. No wonder the Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf. The way the Chargers do things they need to get socked in their face with picks like Leaf. Chargers remind me of the LA Clippers when they had David Duke aka Donald Sterling running things. Alex Spanos has passed away but the Spanos family still run the Chargers. Not sure how long this team will last in LA. If you don’t have a following and you’re putting Tyrod Taylor in as your starting QB next season, it does not sound like a good business move. I see the Chargers moving again sometime in the future where they escape LA after the new LA XFL team draws more interest than Charger football. Any city desperate for an NFL team they need to be aware of this Charger ownership. Maybe London, England will be the way to go if the Queen can buy them out. CHEERIO CHARGERS!!! You have a future Monarch name change coming your way.

The Blackhawks General Manager, Stan Bowman, should be taken to the scrap yard where all former Chicago sports GM’s go. Rusting away and wore out their welcome in the Windy City. Bowman, who suddenly has become injected with the Chicago Bulls influenza ,as his thought process has gone to Beavis and Butthead standards. John Paxton and Gar Forman should have been melted down years ago. The guy that walks on water in Cubland, Theo Epstein’s decisions have crumbled that dynasty before it ever took off. The Bears’ Ryan Pace could not pick a quarterback if his life depended on it. Now Stan the Man has been in control of a hockey dynasty that he never even created. Could he maintain it? No… Two moves by Stan at the NHL deadline that leave you scratching your head. Two moves and they got nothing in return.

The Blackhawks were sellers at the NHL trade deadline. The Blackhawks sent Defenseman Erik Gustafsson to the Calgary Flames for a 2020 3rd round draft pick. Originally from the Swedish National team and played for the Swedish Hockey League before coming to the NHL. The Blackhawks also traded goaltender Robin Lehner in a three team deal. Lehner heads to the Vegas Golden Knights. Blackhawks receive a second round 2020 draft pick. Defenseman Slava Demin who is a prospect. Plus  goaltender Malcolm Subban. The Toronto Maple leafs was the other team involved. Blackhawks will pay half of Lehner’s salary to fit the whole deal under the salary caps.

Blackhawks signed Robin Lehner  in the off-season. Lehner came off a great season in New York playing for the Islanders last year. Lehner was one of the best netminders in the league. Lehner continued to play well as he had a great first half of the season in a Blackhawks uniform. The Blackhawks signed him to a a one year deal which did not come cheap. When your team, one of your heroes from those three Stanley Cups, goalie Corey Crawford has been injured for long periods of time over the  last few seasons, it’s time to react. Those periods Crawford missed, the team was horrible. Crawford has stayed healthy this season as the Blackhawks had a nice one two punch in front of the net. Both goalies wanted to come back with the Blackhawks next year and beyond. Goalie is obviously not the problem with this team that stays at the.500 mark and will again miss another post-season berth. Crawford’s history of dealing with concussions is not the goalie I would have extended. Now that idea you had in off season will need to be addressed once again.

Then a young defenseman Erik Gustafsson who is only 27 years old was dealt. He had a breakout season last year with a 60 point season.  Gustafsson was the sixth highest scoring defenseman in the entire league. His numbers had dropped this season. If the Blackhawks knew they would not resign him after this season with his contract expiring, why not trade him during the off season and get more back for his talent when the ceiling was high. The Blackhawks were trying to squeeze one more playoff run with the Stanley Cup core. Gustafsson will be like one of those players that always happens to leave Chicago and turn into something special for another city.

The Blackhawks continue and will always be a 500 team the way they are doing things. Stan Bowman continues to shuffle players in and out of Chicago to work with that Stanley Cup core. It has not worked as they even keep bringing back players from the cup days they already traded away. When the Blackhawks young players start doing well they can not afford them. The firing of Joe Quenneville how is that working out for them? The Blackhawks are stuck in the middle with jokers to the right clowns to the left which the biggest is Stan Bowman. The Blackhawks need a tear down and complete make over. The way things are going they are heading down Chicago Bulls avenue.Just because you share the building with the Bulls  does not mean you have to operate the same way.

 

 

It’s time for the Chicago Blackhawks to come up with another plan. This team should be very busy at the trade deadline selling off pieces. Since Marian Hossa left town the Blackhawks  have continued to spiral out of control. They are having the same problems with the salary cap. Handcuffed by some mega contracts that need to come off the books. They fired legend Joe Quenneville who led those great Blackhawks to be three time Stanley Cup winners. The new leader, Jeremy Colliton, has not fared well. Perhaps his leadership skills are more suited coaching younger players like he did in the AHL.  The Blackhawks are not supplying enough young talent from the minors either. This team does not have to do a complete overhaul. It’s time to get rid of the old heroes and start bringing a young nucleus to build a solid core out of. I would build this thing around Patrick Kane. The rest of the core has to go which includes the captain Jonathon Toews.

I loved in the beginning of the season to have the luxury of two very talented goalies. If my team is in the playoff hunt and beyond, this idea speaks to me. Ride the hotter hand in the playoffs. St.Louis did with their goalie last season and won the cup. From now and to the end of the season the Blackhawks are not going any where. Cory Crawford is finally a piece you can trade. He has not been sidelined for months with an injury or those concussions that resurface over the last few seasons. He has a .915% save rate which he’s been in the net with a very bad team. That save percentage on a good team  instantly he would have a better record. I would trade him immediately before an injury can occur. I would hold on to Robin Lehner and give him an extension. He would be the new mask in front of the net even though he has played this season for the team. Crawford can help another team do well in the playoffs and have a better chance to reach the Stanley Cup finals that way. Plus now you’re not paying two net minders a good chunk of the cap.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook in their prime were fun to watch. They were two guys that helped the Blackhawks with all three Stanley Cups. Who can forget Duncan Keith spitting out teeth like chiclets? Asking the crowd on parade day, “Does anyone know a good dentist?” Seabrook scoring laser shots from half ice. Both of these guys make a ton of money. Both have no trade clauses. Both are on the decline. Both are older and with all the playoff games these two have been involved in with their regular seasons in hockey years turn into dog years. Seabrook has only played in 32 games this season. Some games he has been a healthy scratch. Duncan Keith one of my favorites throughout this run has played in 52 games. Combined between the two they have 4 goals scored. I know they play defense but they used to provide more scoring. Plus the defensive skills are in question. Both these guys need to come off the books somehow, even if you have to pay part of their contracts in a trade with another team.

Brandon Sadd is only 27 years old. This season he has 18 goals in 49 games for the Blackhawks. He will end up with twenty-something goals by the end of the regular season. Brandon Sadd should land the Blackhawks a nice return. He’s young and is a nice offensive threat to have. With plenty of playoff experience. Plus we know in the playoffs his game got better as he scored some big goals in his career. This will help clear some salary and can get you some draft picks or a talented guy on the verge of coming up to the NHL.

The Captain has to go and is the biggest move this team should make. I know it’s like getting rid of Captain America. I love what Jonathan Toews brings to the table every night. An obvious leader. A grinder. A very important cog in the machine. A guy that can win face offs. A guy you do not want to see go anywhere else. What would he look like not wearing the indian on his sweater? The problem is they pay him like the Penguins pay Sidney Crosby. Toews’ numbers should be higher than what they pay him. He has already played 13 seasons in the NHL. He is only 31 years old but hockey years are like dog years for him as well. Last season Toews scored 35 goals. This season he only has 16. If you are able to trade Toews, there’s a huge chunk of cap relief in an instant. The amount you pay Toews, the Blackhawks can pay three talented younger players and build a deeper roster.

I think the Blackhawks could take a page out of the Pittsburgh Penguins book with their superstar, Sidney Crosby.  Crosby came into the league playing and learning  from hockey great  Mario Lemieux. Sidney Crosby quickly took over Penguins hockey. When Marion Hossa came to the Blackhawks that was when the team took off with all the young talent they had. Building around Patrick Kane with plenty of youngsters, a salary cap not holding you hostage can turn this team around very quickly. Love to see the Blackhawks get rid of Stan Bowman. I think I’ve seen enough from him as general manager. Maybe Jeremy Colliton can still work out. Rather have Joel Quenneville with this plan. Robin Lehner as the goalie. Patrick Kane your superstar you’re building around. You have some nice young pieces like the rise of 22 year old Alex DeBruincat. Plus 19 year old rookie Kirby Dach has been a nice addition and looks to have a very talented future ahead.

WEEK THREE XFL POWER RANKINGS

Down memory lane of XFL part one, they had the Cheerleaders from the local strip clubs it seemed performing on the sidelines.

OUR WRESTLING MOMENT TRIBUTE XFL PART ONE

We went with an NFL legend for our wrestling moment for the XFL. Refrigerator Perry is no dumb cookie. He did the Superbowl shuffle as well.

PRESENT TIMES

XFL WEEK THREE WE KEPT IT FOOTBALL

#1.DC DEFENDERS (2-0) SAME  Defenders beat up the Guardians like the tar pits sucking up the saber cats in prehistorical times. Cardale Jones is right now the best quarterback in the league. Eli Rodgers’ mother passed away and on the funeral day last Saturday, Rodgers dedicated the game to her. Rodgers elected to play the game instead of going to the funeral as he was going to meet up with the family afterwards . Rodgers played very well and the Defenders remain undefeated. Defenders unleashed another weapon. Wide Receiver DeAndre Tompkins caught a touchdown pass in his first game of the season.

Just not fair with Rodgers, Ross and Tomkins in the mix a triple threat. DE Anthony Johnson who the Defenders got from LA in a trade chipped in with a sack. DC in two games overall defensive and offensive sides of the ball look to be beyond the best of the rest of the league.

#2.HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (2-0) SAME  P.J Walker is slinging the ball for the Roughnecks. Walker has already thrown 7 touchdowns for 449 yards in two games. One interception on Walker’s resume in two games. Lets talk about Roughnecks Wide Receiver Cam Phillips who has hauled in 4 of those seven touch downs that Walker has thrown.

Phillips has 130 yards tallied up so far with 12 grabs in two weeks. Phillips has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the league. The Walker Phillips combo is the most lethal in the XFL. Houston looks to be a top team in this league all year.

#3.ST.LOUIS BATTLE HAWKS (1-1)  SAME  Battle Hawks split their two Texas road games to start their season with the hand they were dealt. Houston Roughnecks may be one of the top teams in the league when everything is said and done for the year. Right now Roughnecks are tops in their division. Battle Hawks battled them in week two to lose by 4 points. Maybe Houston stole all their signs using the garbage can banging on side lines for more than banging on the drums all day. Right now if you’re the Battle Hawks your quarterback has two starts under his belt. Jordan Ta’amu has the best completion rate in the XFL. Plus he has razzled and dazzled using his legs. Plus running back Matt Jones has the most yards rushing in the XFL.

Now the Battle Hawks come home to a town that needs some good football which this team is providing. In a town that was abandoned by those nasty Rams. The Battle Hawks will now be the new girlfriend with new moves in the bedroom that will blow their minds away.

#4.DALLAS RENEGADES (1-1)  UP 1 SPOT   Insert Landry Jones at quarterback in week two and the Renegades and head coach Bob Stoops are in the win column. The Renegades came in as the favorites to win the whole enchilada this first year in the XFL. The team played a sloppy game with the LA Wild Cats for three quarters. In the 4th quarter suddenly it was GO time. Both teams came to life. Landry Jones at the end in an 18-18 game led the Renegades to the final score to put the team on top for good. Renegades have a nice defense. The offense final got going as Landry Jones hammered off the dry wall dust from his construction days inbetween the Steeler days and leading up to the XFL.

#5.SEATTLE DRAGONS (1-1) UP 1 SPOT

Former Seahawk great Steve Largent was on hand for the Dragons’ first home game ever. Largent, an NFL Hall-of Famer, lit the torch for this Dragon history. Dragons won the game. Brandon Silvers had a very bad day at the office. His quarterback numbers were dreadful at 7-18 91 yards a touchdown pass and interception. 68 of those yards came on one pass play to former Navy Quarterback converted into wide receiver Keenan Reynolds.

That touchdown was the only thing Seattle could get off that stingy Viper defense. The Dragons defense had three interceptions one of them for a score with four sacks. Dragons were lucky Vipers have no offense but it’s a victory and that’s all that counts.

#6.LA WILD CATS (0-2) UP 1 SPOT         Wild Cats looked a lot better in week two than they did in week one. Even though they played in a very sloppy game for three filled quarters with the Renegades.  Wild Cats made some changes as they traded their captain of their defense Anthony Johnson a DE to the Defenders. Johnson needed a time out. Wild Cats get a cornerback in return, Bradley Sylve. This move coming after they got rid of their Defensive Coordinator as well, after their first game. Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson who was hurt in week one made his first start for the Wild Cats.

Wild Cats overall had a better performance and lost by one score to the Renegades in a game tied late in the 4th quarter.  Head coach of the Wild Cats, Winston Moss, to me sounds like he has nothing intelligent to contribute in the live feeds.

Plus he walks off to the very back of the sideline to take a load off during the game last Sunday. Sits by himself resting. He may factor in at being the problem of the team not the others who the Wild Cats dispatched.

 

#7.NEW YORK GUARDIANS (1-1) DOWN THREE SPOTS  After the first week I said the Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin was a vocal leader out there on the field. Like a Phillip Rivers before his last season in Chargers uniform. I thought McGloin overthrew his receivers in week one and he would get better. I was wrong. Remember when the Oakland Raiders were rolling with Derek Carr in the beginning of his career? Raiders were able to win the AFC West with games still yet to be played. Carr had an injury occur which sidelined him for the remaining of that season. Matt McGloin took over the rest of the way and the Raiders collapsed like a house of cards. They were quickly dispatched in the first round as well with McGloin behind center. In week two McGloin looked the part of Phillips Rivers from last season and himself in the Raiders uniform years ago. Interceptions. McGloin is only completing 47.9% of his passes. Overthrowing wide open receivers that are wide open. He should not be the one bitching on the sidelines. Guardians should start Marquise Williams this weekend. Last season in the AAF he came in part time for the Commanders and did pretty well.  With Williams running the Commanders as a team they did not look like they were stuck in quicksand. Like what the Guardians looked like in week two.

#8. TAMPA BAY VIPERS (0-2) SAME       A friend I have who is originally from Tampa Bay, Florida said he hated the name Vipers. His thoughts on the name was they should have called this new team in his town he was born, something to do with the history of Tampa Bay. Like weather. The hockey team Lightning. The Arena football team named their squad the Storm. In baseball the Devil Rays were sting rays swimming in the ocean. Later Devil was taken out of the equation.

Locals lashed out so they became the Rays. The Ray of sunshine. The Buccaneers were pirates. What about pirates or Marauders as the name of the new XFL team in town? I said what about Pythons instead of Vipers like after the big hunt in the Everglades. No dice because Pythons are an invasive species to the glades.

The Vipers need more than just a name change right now. Marc Trestman has used already three quarterbacks and the struggles are for real on the offensive side of the ball. In  the Redzone  the Vipers have no clue how to get the football over the goal line. This friend of mine had to deal with Trestman as I did as head coach of the Bears a few years back. How he resurfaced on another one of your teams is just gut wrenching.

When will the owner of the Vipers Cobra Commander step in and end this experiment gone bad?  The Vipers defense is the best in the league. With a guy who has his own video game named after him, you know why his unit is the best.

Yes, send in the troll, Jerry Glanville. Out with the dwarf Trestman. Then change your uniforms while you’re at it. Maybe call yourself the Marauders in week three just for my friend’s sake.