XFL Xtra - The XFLBoard.com Podcast

Last weekend we witnessed the XFL kick off its 2023 season. In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks with Greg Parks. Greg is a football fan, and an XFLBoard.com contributor who writes about the league. He is also a wrestling fan and a columnist at Pro Wrestling Torch PWTORCH.com.

Greg and Mark talk about the week that was, beer snakes and lemons, injuries to injuries to offensive lines, quarterbacks and lack of performance, game attendance and ticket sales, and differences in the broadcast from 2020 to 2023. They also run down the upcoming XFL week two. Who do they think will win? If you are smart you will never bet on their picks.

This episode is called “When life gives you lemons...” It is all about a football league resurrected from the ashes of its own demise and now making the most of an opportunity to succeed in having players hit the field to play one of America’s favorite sports.

With players from all XFL teams travelling to Arlington Texas to attend a combined training camp the excitement for the league is continuing to build. With the schedule now released, and the announcement that the Vegas Vipers will play in Cashman Field, the thought of the XFL kicking off on 18 February is drawing even closer to reality.

In this podcast we hear about the football journey of Cecil Cherry, a linebacker who excelled in college, but had his NFL Pro day cancelled because of COVID. He took it upon himself to drive from Frostproof, Florida to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to try out for the Fan Controlled Football League. Making a name for himself in the FCF, The Spring League, and the Hub football training camp, Cecil was invited to the NFL Alumni Academy, which led to an invitation to join the Vegas Vipers at the upcoming XFL training camp.  Cecil talks about making the most of his opportunities, and what the XFL can expect from his presence in Arlington.

This episode is called “Arlington Opportunity.” It features a young football player who is getting an opportunity to go further in the realm of professional football, and what he has to do to best take advantage of this opportunity.

In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks with Greg Parks. Greg is a football fan, and an XFLBoard.com contributor who writes about the league as a whole. He is also a wrestling fan and a columnist at Pro Wrestling Torch PWTORCH.com.

Greg talks talk about the supplementary draft, and recaps some of the more interesting player selections. Greg also remarks on how many players have jumped from the USFL to the XFL. and comments on the league’s relationship with the “NFL Alumni Academy” and how it looks as if the league is attempting to repair that relationship. Finally, we discuss the lack of a season schedule and of that is impacting ticket sales.

This episode is called “47 days.” It features Greg Parks giving us an idea of where the XFL stands with 47 days remaining until their opening kickoff.

With the XFL draft complete, and 442 non-quarterback players selected by eight teams, we look toward some of the players who were selected.

In this podcast Mark Nelson interviews two players. First, wide receiver Dontez Byrd who was selected by the Orlando Guardians in the sixth round of the Offensive Skills phase. Dontez is returning to the XFL after playing for the Seattle Dragons in the 2020 season. He will tell us where he was when he heard he was drafted, and talk about what he will bring to the XFL.

Second, Mark Nelson will speak to tight end Tommy Auger. Tommy will talk about his time playing in the Austrian Football League and with the Fan Controlled Football League. They will discuss how Auger has worked his way up in pro-football, leading to him being selected by the Orlando Guardians in the Specialist phase of the draft. Why was a tight end selected in the specialist phase? There is a good reason, as you will find out.

This episode is called “Guardians Times Two.” It features two players who have been selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL.

The XFL draft is now complete. The league evaluated nearly 6,000 players at XFL showcases, NFL training camps, tryouts, and via film. The top prospects from these evaluations were invited to enter the XFL Draft pool of 1,700 players who were vying for 528 spots in training camp and 400 active player roster spots.

The Draft event led off with 15 quarterbacks being assigned to 8 XFL teams, followed by two days of draft selections done by the teams.

According the league, there were 442 non-quarterback players selected in this draft, with 285 coming with NFL experience, 273 XFL player selections came from the past three NFL draft classes (171 from the 2022 NFL Draft, 33 were eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft, and 69 were eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft). The league’s draft picks also included 69 players who will be returning to the XFL from 2020.

In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks with Greg Parks. Greg is a football fan, and an XFLBoard.com contributor who writes about the league as a whole. He is also a wrestling fan and a columnist at Pro Wrestling Torch PWTORCH.com.

Greg talks talk about the XFL draft, and more specifically the quarterback and player selections. Greg lays out his take on the XFL’s plans to fill out their rosters in the coming months leading up to training camps in January 2023. And what about that XFL ball?

This episode is called “Draft 2022.” It features a smart football analyst with experience in three XFL’s, two in the past and one in the presence.

The XFL draft is taking place next week. According to the league, almost 6,000 players have been evaluated at XFL showcases, NFL training camps, and tryouts. The top prospects from these evaluations have been invited to enter the XFL Draft pool of 1700 players, who are vying for 528 spots in training camp and 400 active player roster spots. Regardless of the fact only one quarter of players in the draft pool will ever play a down of XFL football, players are always on the hunt for playing opportunities and are excited to hear whether they have been selected by an XFL team.

In this podcast, host Mark Nelson speaks to two such players. First you will hear from Dwayne Wallace, an offensive lineman and a veteran of the previous XFL who played for the Los Angeles Wildcats. You will hear Dwayne talk about his football past and the fantastic story of how he convinced Wildcat head coach Winston Moss to pick him in the 2019 supplemental draft.

The second guest is wide receiver Antwane Grant, another player who is in the XFL draft pool. Antwane will tell us about his time with the NFL’s Bengals, the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the AFL’s Atlantic City Blackjacks. Between the NFL, CFL and AFL , Grant is going through the alphabet of football leagues. He just needs an “X” in his collection.

With the XFL summer showcases complete, we are now seeing players posting videos and analytics taken from their “Breakaway Data” app where they can see specifics about their showcase workouts. It’s a fascinating insight into the level of technology Breakaway Data brought to the XFL showcases.

In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks to two guests. First you will hear from Steve Gera, founder/investor of Breakaway Data. Steve will talk about how the Breakaway Data system works, and give some insight into what kinds of analytics their field labs technology can record.

The second guest is wide receiver Kyle Castilleja. Kyle recently attended the Arlington, Texas showcase, and is one of the players who has posted some of his Breakaway Data online. Kyle is an up and coming player who has a personal interest in player performance, and is someone who is always looking to improve his game. We will talk about all that, and hear the story of Kyle’s fascinating athletic career that has taken him to where he is today.

This episode is called “Breakout and Breakaway.” It features a young football player who is making strides to break out into the realm of professional football, and about a football coach, mentor and technical wizard who is providing a tool that can give players and coaches a chance to breakaway from the pack.

Since the XFL has completed their run of six player showcases draft invites continue to go out to players. Reportedly the league is also sending draft invites out to many former players from the 2020 season. The XFL draft pool is being built, however the list will likely ebb and flow all the way up to this fall’s draft.

In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks to two guests, both part of the XFL draft pool. First you will hear from quarterback Jordan Kitna, just out of college and hungry for a pro-football opportunity. Kitna attended the recent Arlington Texas showcase, and hopes his grit and determination showed through on one of the hottest Sundays in July. I should mention that Kitna’s name might sound familiar as he is the oldest son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna.

The second guest is Linebacker Brooklyn Hardiman, who is fresh off attending an XFL showcase in Tempe, Arizona. After a diverse college career, in 2021 Hardiman graduated from Colorado Mesa University where he played his senior year with the Mavericks. In 10 games he had 16 tackles, 28 assists, 1 sack.

This episode is called “Perseverance.” It features two young football players who are some of the best of what they do, and both are seeking a pro-football playing opportunity.

The XFL has completed their run of six player showcases. Draft invites are going out in an effort to build the pool of players available for the XFL draft this fall. On the same day as the last showcase, the league announced its eight cities and venues for the 2023 season. Gone are New York, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles, as they have been replaced by Orlando, San Antonio and Las Vegas. Also, Dallas is now named Arlington. Exciting news for a football league where play is just over six months away.

In this podcast Mark Nelson speaks with two guests. First you will hear from running back Steve McShane. McShane was previously signed by the Houston Roughnecks in 2020. However, due to an injury he never had the chance to play in the shortened 2020 XFL season. This past weekend he attended the player showcase in Arlington Texas, and hopes to be invited back to the XFL draft.

The second guest is Greg Parks, a well-known XFLBoard.com correspondent. We will talk about the XFL’s latest announcements, what was said, and what we can read between the lines. We also talk about XFL player recruitment and what the XFL needs to do to put the best players in their rosters.

This episode is called “Optimism.” It features two people who are relatively optimistic. One about a future playing a sport they love, and another who is following a group that is building a league full of promise.

In this podcast, Mark Nelson speaks to Kenneth Farrow, a former San Diego Chargers, San Antonio Commanders, and Seattle Dragons running back, and current chairman of the United Football Players Association (UFPA). They talk about how the UFPA is working to support USFL players currently in Birmingham, and the intention to unionize USFL  players under the United Steelworkers.

Kenneth explains how they hope to help create a work environment so that leagues like the USFL, who have been historically short-lived, can survive and strive. In doing so, his hope is to assure players are dealt with transparently, respectfully and professionally is the means to that end.

Also, we asked Kenneth about the possibility of him coming back to play with the XFL.

We call this episode “Better Together.” It’s about football players looking at more playing opportunities, and making sure those playing opportunities lead to stronger football leagues.

With the XFL under the new ownership group of Dany Garcia, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Jerry Cardinale with the RedBird Capital group, the league is planning to kick off in 317 days, on 18 February 2023. Meanwhile, fans who are awaiting solid news of league progress were excited to hear the league planned a big announcement today. However, once the announcement was released it consisted of a new league logo and a description of the over-arching tenets of the league. While the league’s overall plans seem exciting, and curiously ambitious, the lack of real information had fans perplexed.

While the XFL exists in name only, the new ownership group of Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and RedBird Capital have decided to pause their plan to kickoff in Spring 2022. Instead, the league has entered into talks with the Canadian Football League with hopes of a merger, and creating a new International league. While the many challenges in such a merger are obvious, and the merger talks are tight-lipped, players, coaches and fans await any news of the outcome.

In this episode you will hear two interviews.

First, host Mark Nelson speaks to Steve McShane, a Houston Roughnecks running back the host first planned to interview in the weeks leading up to the XFL 2020 season, until he was injured. With the complication of the injury, Steve's appearance was cancelled, with the thought the interview would be done later. Steve is completely rehabbed now, stronger and faster than ever, and he is here to talk about his plan to capitalize on his next football opportunity.

In the second interview, Mark speaks to TSN journalist Dave Naylor. Dave bills himself as a football insider and he feels he has decoded the clues that point to the underpinning of the merger of the XFL and CFL, being a desire to build a lucrative new international league. Plus, we will talk about a very contentious subject, "Will the new league play 3-down or 4-down football?" The truth, is we don't now the answer, but Dave has a theory that makes some sense. And "The Rock?" Is it his star power that made the CFL take notice of a merger proposal, or does the CFL need this deal to thrive? We cover a lot!

I call this episode Matchmaker, Matchmaker make me a Match. It's about a great running back who is waiting to be matched with a football opportunity, and two football leagues who are doing a courting dance in the hope of a long lasting, and profitable union.

Since the transfer of the XFL to the new ownership group of Dany Garcia, Dwayne The Rock Johnson and RedBird Capital has taken place, the sports world awaits news of when the XFL will return to play. There has been false rumors, which is always frustrating. However, reliable sources have said to expect something soon, and it will be exciting. So, we continue to wait patiently.

In this episode host Mark Nelson interviews Ernesto Lacayo, placekicker for the Seattle Dragons. 

Ernesto talks about his kicking origins through high school and college, and a nine-year career that took him through the indoor leagues, before he was called in to kick for the Seattle Dragons just prior to their first XFL game. Ernesto tells the story of how the Dragons hired him, what it was like to kick in the home opener at Seattle's CenturyLink Field, and remarks about how he is positive toward the XFL's future. 

Plus, how did kickers feel about the XFL footballs? You might be surprised.

A few days ago, the transfer of ownership of the XFL to the new ownership group of Dany Garcia, Dwayne The Rock Johnson and RedBird Capital was completed. As a symbol of taking over the league, Garcia and "The Rock" placed images of "keys" on their social media accounts. The excitement of these new owners taking over the league spread over social media and on fan websites kike wildfire. Surely there are better times in store for the league.

In this episode host Mark Nelson interviews two guests.

First, he speaks with Ranthony Texada, a former New York Guardians Defensive Back. They discuss Ranthony's football upbringing, and the winding path that has taken him from one football opportunity to another.

Second, Mark speaks with Mike Ellison, an XFLBoard.com team reporter for the St. Louis BattleHawks. They discuss the XFL's new ownership group, and break down the process the league may take to rehire staff and put players back on the field. Plus, Dany Garcia promised an XFL that was 24/7/365. What does she mean by that?

XFL fans have received good news in the purchase of the league by Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and RedBird Capital. We are not yet sure when and how the XFL will hit the field for their next game. This is exactly what we will talk about in this podcast.

First, host Mark Nelson introduces Randy Mueller, former Director of Pro Personnel for the Houston Roughnecks. They discuss the XFL's player recruitment process, the accomplishments of the league, and more specifically the success of the Houston Roughnecks. Then they touch upon how Randy feels the league may continue forward, and whether he might be a part of that process.

Second, you will hear a discussion with Greg Parks, an XFLBoard.com team reporter for the Tampa Bay Vipers, and Mike Mitchell, a writer with XFLNewsHub and XFLBoard.com, as the team reporter for the NY Guardians. They discuss the purchase of the XFL, possible league startup schedules, which XFL personnel will probably return, and the broadcast possibilities that might now be on the table. Plus, Dany Garcia mentioned expansion. What did she mean by this?

This podcast is our longest one yet, at over one hour and forty minutes. We dissect a lot of important topics in this one. Sit back and relax, as you are in for plenty of exciting XFL news and views.