NEWS ARCHIVE: 16-31 March 2001
Bolts
Snake Bitten at Home
Ticker
- 2001.03.31
The
Birmingham Thunderbolts will not be making any noise in the
XFL playoffs. The Thunderbolts squandered an eight-point lead
in the fourth and became the XFL's first team to be eliminated
from playoff contention with a 29-24 loss to the Orlando Rage.
In a matchup of the XFL's best team against the worst, Birmingham
actually outplayed the Rage for much of the night and had a
24-16 lead with 6:44 remaining after Eric Sloan returned his
third interception of the contest 59 yards for a touchdown.
But behind backup quarterback Brian Kuklick, the league-leading
Rage were able to rally. ...
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Enforcers
Win the Marathon
Associated
Press - 2001.03.31
Kevin
McDougal returned from a neck injury and threw a 19-yard touchdown
pass to Willy Tate with 1:41 to play to give the Chicago Enforcers
a 23-18 victory over the New York-New Jersey Hitmen on Saturday
night in the XFL. McDougal also threw touchdown passes of 9
and 16 yards to Luke Leverson and linebacker Jamie Beasley preserved
the Enforcers' fourth win in five games by intercepting a pass
at the goal line with two seconds to play. Chicago (4-5) can
claim the second playoff berth in the Eastern Division by beating
Orlando (8-1) at home next Sunday. ...
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Orlando
Rage Game Day!
Mark
Zelakowski - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.31
We've
got an excellent collection of photos taken at the Rage's 17-12
victory over the Hitmen on Sunday March 25th, 2001 at the Citrus
Bowl. Great photos - Take a look - there are cheerleader pics
too! ...
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Rusty
Tillman Guarantees a Hitmen Victory
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.30
Not
often does a head coach stick his neck out and guarantee a victory
for his team. Rusty Tillman has been doing just that all week
ever since his team lost to The Rage 17-12 last Sunday in Orlando.
Tillman is one of the league's most maligned coaches and his
words have opened him up to more criticism. The Hitmen must
now deliver Saturday night at home against The Enforcers on
NBC.
...
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Advice
for the Home Stretch
XFL
Fantasy Doctor - FantasyRef.com - 2001.03.30
Here
we are, two weeks left in the XFL season. If you are in a Sandbox
league, which many of you are, you have two games left to either
hold on to your top spot or to gain on the leader. If you are
not in Sandbox, this is your playoff season. So, as your season
boils down to the last couple of match-ups, your anxiety is
reaching a fevered pitch. You're checking your roster every
other hour, setting and re-setting your lineup. Having been
there, and done that, let me pass along some advice.
...
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Butkus
Visits The Steel City
Bamaslammer
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.30
Dick
Butkus, arguably the greatest Linebacker that every lived and
the director of competition for the XFL drove himself into Birmingham
with his home on wheels Thursday. Dick will be attending the
game Saturday but will most likely not be announcing it as he
has recently. His primary goal was to talk to the players. He
held a players only meeting that lasted about an hour. During
that time he took questions from the players mostly about things
that concerned them as employees of the XFL. Although Dick said
that there were few questions about league stability he did
mention telling them to ignore the press reports of the league
folding. ...
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Leigh
leaps into battle for battered Birmingham
The
Birmingham News - 2001.03.30
First,
there was Casey Weldon. He's the one who looks like Joe Montana,
and accessorizes the look with his right arm in a sling. Then,
there was Jay Barker. He can't move his neck now, the aftermath
of whiplash suffered a week ago at Soldier Field. Now into the
black hole known as the Birmingham Bolts quarterback position
steps Graham Leigh. He's 25. And with a little luck, he'll live
to see 26. With a little more than a half of XFL experience
directing the offense, Leigh will try to do the improbable Saturday
night as Birmingham (2-6) plays host to the league's premier
team, Orlando (7-1). ...
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OUTLAWS:
Quarterback armed, ready
Las
Vegas Review-Journal - 2001.03.30
Outlaws
quarterback Ryan Clement grinned as he spoke, the smile a giveaway
to his soul, perhaps. Clement is proud, clearly, of the job
he has done as the Outlaws' starter, but with the biggest game
of the year only two days away, he isn't about to put his situation
ahead of the team's predicament. The Outlaws play host to the
San Francisco Demons at 4 p.m. Sunday in Sam Boyd Stadium with
a playoff berth hanging in the balance. If the Outlaws win,
they all but clinch a playoff spot. Lose, and the Demons clinch.
...
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They
Dance for Exposure
New
York Daily News - 2001.03.30
At
first glance, it might appear that the XFL New York/New Jersey
Hitmen cheerleaders are strippers moonlighting on the gridiron.
That impression survives their performance — raunchy routines
in garters and fishnet tights. But spend an hour with them at
a practice session, and it becomes clear that these "girls"
are not bimbos or pole dancers. They're serious professionals,
many of whom hold second jobs on Broadway or in different fields.
In fact, the 13 squad members jiggle — oops, meant to
say juggle — multiple careers, such as flight attendant,
singer and choreographer. But why on earth would a Broadway
dancer earning more than $1,200 a week choose to cavort in a
crude outfit for a failing football league? For the exposure.
...
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A Look
Ahead Against the Spread
The
Masked Prognosticator - 2001.03.29
Los
Angeles has been awesome, taking advantage of the XFL rules
changes and going 4-0 straight up and ats since their inception.
They are looking for revenge for an embarrassing home loss a
few weeks back at the hands of the Maniax. L.A. is also a sweet
3-0 ats as road favorites. We see no reason that Al Luginbill's
pass attack won't light up the Ax as they make it 4 for 4 this
week! ...
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The
Hitmen Prepare For The Playoffs Before The Playoffs
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.29
In
the East, Birmingham is suprisingly still alive but they need
to win their last 2 games and get help. An Orlando win on NBC
Saturday will officially kill the Bolts hopes for a playoff
spot. This leads us to the biggest NBC Saturday Night game of
the season thus far. Who would have thunk it? The Chicago Enforcers
head to the Meadowlands to face the NY/NJ Hitmen. Both teams
are 3 and 5 and are tied for the 2nd playoff spot in the east.
...
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Rage
Head to Birmingham
Mark
Zelakowski - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.29
The
Orlando Rage (7-1) are heading to Birmingham (2-6) to play the
last place Bolts. Heading into the game at Los Angeles, the
Rage were ranked number one in the league in rushing, and was
the least penalized team in the XFL. In the past 3 games they
have been whistled for 17 penalties for 166 yards. "We need
to eliminate those mistakes," Head Coach Galen Hall says. "I
told our guys going into the New York game that we had to cut
down on penalties, avoid turnovers and win the kicking game.
We failed on two of three, but our defense stepped up and pulled
it out for us." ...
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XFL
Expansion Committee Visits Detroit
XFL
Press Release - 2001.03.29
Members
of the XFL expansion committee today visited Detroit, touring
legendary Tiger Stadium and meeting with Mayor Dennis Archer,
XFL President Basil V. DeVito, Jr., announced. "We were extremely
pleased with what we saw," said DeVito. "Detroit is a great
football town and Tiger Stadium was home to many great football
moments. Furthermore, coming on the heels of our visit to Washington,
we are impressed by how the XFL has been received by prospective
new markets." ...
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Ebersol
was Mis-quoted by Media
Vegas.com
- 2001.03.28
Despite
reports NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol may back out of the
network's contract with the XFL to broadcast games through 2002,
the end is not necessarily in sight, at least according to local
league officials. "That's not gonna happen," Outlaws general
manager Bob Ackles said Monday. "We had a conference call we
have each week with all of the general managers."Dick (Ebersol)
talked to (XFL president) Basil (DeVito) this morning and said
that's not exactly what he said (to the newspapers). So the
indication from Basil was that NBC is not going to pull out."
...
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Stop
the conspiracy against the XFL
MSNBC.com
- 2001.03.28
Just
give league a chance — it provides jobs, entertainment...
The XFL is getting screwed by the national media. I have seen
it up close and I’m confident that I’m witnessing
my first sports media conspiracy. Various newspapers and television
networks want to see Vince McMahon fail and they want to see
him fail on a large scale. I’ll be the first to admit
that the XFL has made mistakes and needs to make various improvements.
...
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Enforcer
Fans Raise Your Fists
Bob
Williams - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.27
The
Enforcers defense, with the exception of late in the game, played
very poorly yet they were able to shut out Birmingham Sunday
night. Birmingham drove the length of the field three straight
times in the first half, but in this battle of "Who wants to
win less," they were unable to cross the goal line. The Enforcers
improved to 3-5 and hold their playoff destiny in their hands
when they travel to Giants Stadium to take on the Hitmen this
Saturday, but their victory over the 'Bolts was not without
trepidation. ...
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Barker,
Mitchell and Knott Out of Action
The
Birmingham Thunderbolts - 2001.03.27
The
Birmingham Bolts got a dose of bad news from the medical report
Tuesday when team medical officials confirmed that after further
testing, quarterback Jay Barker would be held out of Saturday's
game against the Orlando Rage. Preliminary reports were favorable
after the game and Monday, but upon further examination Tuesday
Bolts' medical personnel decided against allowing Barker to
play and will re-evaluate him for next week. Bolts athletic
trainer Dave Gable also said that safety David Knott and defensive
tackle Johnny Mitchell have been lost for the season due to
injuries sustained in last week's game at Chicago. ...
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The
Fan's Choose Avery, Ivy, Clark and Shay
XFLBoard.com:
Players of the Week - 2001.03.27
Again,
the fans have spoken! Their choices for XFL players of the week
are John Avery, Chicago Enforcers, (Offensive POTW), Corey Ivy,
Chicago Enforcers, (Defensive POTW), Cedric Clark, Orlando Rage,
(Lineman) and Brian Shay, Orlando Rage, (Special Teams POTW).
Congratulations! ...
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Avery
and Ivy Honored by League
XFL
Press Release - 2001.03.27
The
XFL today named Chicago Enforcers RB John Avery as its Offensive
Player of the Week and teammate DB Corey Ivy as its Defensive
Player of the Week for week eight. Avery exploded on the Birmingham
defense for an XFL-record 180 yards on 20 carries, including
touchdown runs of 73 and nine yards. Ivy had two interceptions
to lead the Chicago defense in shutting down the Birmingham
offense. The DB also added six tackles, five of them solo efforts.
...
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Bolt's
Woes
Bamaslammer
& Sonny Sanders - Bolts Team Reporters - 2001.03.26
And
I thought it couldn't get worse. I was wrong. Did anybody see
the movie "Planes Trains and Automobiles". Somehow that movie
reminds me of the Thunderbolts. Some believe that we pay in
this life for sins committed in a past life. If that is true
all of the Bolts must have been axe murderers and Dinardo must
have been the lawyer who got them off. ...
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The
Hitmen Fall Hard To The Rage
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.26
The
ride is over. Coming into yesterdays game against Orlando. The
NY/NJ Hitmen had turned around their season and put themselves
in a position to take their next step to the XFL Playoffs. Two
steps forward and by virtue of yesterday, one step back into
reality. The Orlando Rage jumped on the Hitmen early and held
on late to beat NY 17 to 12 in front of 20,000 Rage fans.
...
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Chicago
too cold for Thunderbolts
Troy
Pringle - Enforcers Team Reporter - 2001.03.26
For
the past several weeks, everyone, including me, has been ragging
the Chicago defense for sloppy play. They aren't playing tight
enough coverage. Offenses are passing all over the Enforcers
"D". Does this make us bad fans? No. In a league that the media
is avoiding or trying to push into a non-existence, we want
to see our team, the Chicago Enforcers, succeed. And succeed
is what they are beginning to do. ...
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No
Clemen(t)cy for Vegas in LA
David
Curtis - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.25
When
last they met, the Xtreme D shot down an Outlaw O piloted by
third-string quarterback Mike Cawley with a flurry of sacks
and interceptions. First-stringer Ryan Clement was back at the
controls this time around, giving the Outlaws reason to believe
things would be different. And, sure enough, they scored 17
more points than before. Clement connected for three touchdowns,
wasn’t sacked, and could blame his only pick on a deflection.
Still, his performance was hardly an aerial showcase. He remained
under 100 yards passing well into the fourth quarter and relied
for big plays on three interference calls, two of which were
questionable at best. He was, moreover, run over more times
than you’d care to count or he’d care to remember.
...
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Enforcers
Shut out Bolts
Associated
Press - 2001.03.25
John
Avery continued his NFL audition by rushing for 170 yards and
two touchdowns as the Chicago Enforcers posted their first shutout,
a 13-0 victory over the Birmingham Bolts. Avery, a former NFL
first-round pick, has been among the top players in the fledgling
minor league. He carried 20 times, including touchdown runs
of 73 yards in the first quarter and nine in the final period.
Avery's total surpassed his own league record of 157 yards against
Orlando on February 3. ...
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Rage
Clinch Eastern Divison Title
Associated
Press - 2001.03.25
Brian
Shay's game-opening 95-yard kickoff return set up a touchdown
and Brian Kuklick passed for another as the Orlando Rage clinched
the Eastern Division title with a 17-12 win over the New York-New
Jersey Hitmen. At 7-1, the Rage became the first team to clinch
a division title in the XFL's inaugural season and are assured
of a first-round home playoff game. ...
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Extreme
Dismantle the Outlaws
Associated
Press - 2001.03.25
One
week after dismantling the XFL's best team, the Los Angeles
Xtreme dismantled the league's best defense. Tommy Maddox threw
four touchdown passes in the first half as the Xtreme clinched
a playoff berth with an exciting 35-26 victory over the Las
Vegas Outlaws. Fresh off handing the Orlando Rage their first
loss of the season, the Xtreme were not intimidated by a defense
nicknamed the "Dealers of Doom" that was allowing 11.1 points
per game. ...
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Second
Quarter Effort Propels Demons over Maniax
Associated
Press - 2001.03.25
Mike
Pawlawski threw two of his three touchdown passes in the second
quarter when the San Francisco Demons scored 15 unanswered points
en route to a 21-12 victory over the Memphis Maniax. Pawlawski
completed 26-of-44 passes for 215 yards as San Francisco (4-4)
won for just the second time in five games and moved into a
tie with Las Vegas for second place in the Western Division.
...
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The
Playoff Race is On!
The
Masked Prognosticator - 2001.03.24
With
three games left in the XFL season, all 10 teams now play no
one but division foes who they faced before. And every player
is looking for something else besides their $2500 bonus- to
capture the top 2 spots in their divisions. mazingly, EVERY
TEAM IN THE XFL IS STILL ALIVE!!!! And mathematically, ANY TEAM
CAN STILL WIN THEIR DIVISION! How's THAT for parity?
...
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Demons
Draw Better Than Win
San
Francisco Chronicle - 2001.03.24
"If
you would have told me when I took this job in August we'd average
35,000, I would have been thrilled," Preacher said. "If not
in disbelief. The league has a tremendous foothold in San Francisco.
Our fans are into it as much as other fans (of other teams in
the league). It's been a real blessing." ...
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Hitmen
Look To Continue Their Winning Ways
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.24
Five
weeks ago, not many supporters and followers of the XFL would
have thought that an article about the Hitmen would start with
the title that you see above. Five weeks ago at the Meadowlands,
the Hitmen were 0 and 2 and coming off two brutal losses to
the Outlaws and the Bolts. Their season had gotten off to a
rocky start. ...
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A Look
Ahead Against the Spread
The
Masked Prognosticator - 2001.03.23
The
Outlaws are coming off a "let's sack Jay Barker" party to take
on Al Luginbill's high flying Xtreme. They are now one game
behind in the XFL West, and with a win over the Xtreme they
can both get revenge for their first loss of the season and
force a tie for the division lead! In week three X came to Vegas
and beat the Lawz in the last second with a cheesy Cortez especial
to take a thrilling 12-9 battle of the field goal kickers. In
that game Vegas' clunky offense was lead by third stringer what's
his name- oh yeah Mike Cawley. Those days are long gone as 2nd
string but competent Ryan Clement is back, and Vegas features
a better rushing game and a superior defense... ...
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Maniax
QB focuses on Bay Area success
The
Commercial Appeal - 2001.03.23
Jim
Druckenmiller didn't leave his heart in San Francisco. But the
Memphis Maniax quarterback did leave the Bay Area without getting
to show football fans his true ability. Druckenmiller was supposed
to be the heir apparent to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve
Young when he was drafted in the first round in the 1997 draft.
But after two years as Young's understudy, Druckenmiller was
traded to the Miami Dolphins, never getting a chance to live
up to those expectations. Druckenmiller will finally get to
show fans in San Francisco his skills -granted, it won't be
against the 49ers - when the Maniax (3-4) face the San Francisco
Demons (3-4) at 7 p.m. CST Saturday in a key XFL Western Division
matchup. ...
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McMahon
Purrs for Mike and 'Dog'
Newsday
- 2001.03.23
New
York Radio hosts Mike and the Mad Dog climbed into the ring
with WWF/XFL impresario Vince McMahon yesterday afternoon and
the encounter was strikingly non-confrontational. "The guy was
a puppy dog," Mike Francesa told a caller later. "Anything I
said to criticize him, he agreed with. What was I supposed to
do?"... The drive-time duo repeatedly admitted that they didn't
follow wrestling, so their questions focused primarily on the
XFL. Without raising his voice, McMahon acknowledged numerous
mistakes that he made in creating the league. ...
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Brohm's
Season Over
The
Orlando Rage - 2001.03.23
Orlando
Rage quarterback Jeff Brohm saw his 2001 XFL season officially
come to a halt on Thursday when the team announced the he would
undergo surgery on Monday. Brohm separated his right shoulder
on Sunday during the first play of the second quarter in a 30-6
loss to the Los Angeles Xtreme. Preliminary on-field diagnosis
was a grade two separation that would sideline him two to four
weeks. But a Tuesday MRI disclosed that Brohm suffered grade
three acromio-clavicular separation -- a tear of the ligament
that holds the collarbone to the scapula. Rage team physician
Dr. Tom Winters referred Brohm to Dr. Lemak at the HEALTHSOUTH
facility in Birmingham, Alabama for a second opinion. Dr. Lemak
confirmed the diagnosis and will perform the surgery on Monday.
...
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Butkus
Believes XFL Had Bad Marketing
LA
Times - 2001.03.23
The
impression at times has been that the XFL is more about cheerleaders
in the stands and strippers in hot tubs than it is about football.
The XFL encouraged that sort of thinking when the league hit
the scene, but it irritates the league's football people, who
say that's not what the XFL is all about. And there are plenty
of football people in the XFL. Dick Butkus is a top executive,
and nobody is more "football" than Butkus, the Chicago Bear
hall of fame linebacker. ...
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XFL
Expansion Committee to Visit Washington D.C.
XFL
Press Release - 2001.03.22
With
an eye towards adding at least two teams as early as next season,
members of the newly created XFL expansion committee will visit
Washington, D.C. Tuesday, March 27, XFL President Basil V. DeVito,
Jr., announced today. "Our business plan calls for league expansion
in either year two or three so we have formed an expansion committee
to examine the feasibility of adding at least two-to-four teams
in that time frame," said DeVito. "We have had requests from
a number of cities who would like to join the XFL, and we have
targeted several for early visits. First on the list is the
nation's capital." ...
Click Here to View the Official XFL Press Release
Demons
Add to Roster
San
Francisco Demons - 2001.03.22
Starting
defensive tackle Emile Palmer joined five other teammates on
the injured reserve list Wednesday and San Francisco added two
defenders to its injury-ravaged roster for its final three XFL
contests... Claimed by San Francisco to try to bolster the defense
was all-CFL cornerback Marvin Coleman and defensive tackle Pene
Talamaivao. ...
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Coach
Galen Hall: "We certainly still control our own destiny"
Mark
Zelakowski - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.21
"The
most important thing will be for this team to re-focus and get
ready for a good New York team", OL Sean Love said. "They gave
us a tough game up there a few weeks ago and they have been
playing better ever since. I really don't see where any team
in this league is a whole lot more talented than any other team.
How you approach the game mentally has a lot to do with it."
...Are the Rage worried this week? Coach Hall said. "The fact
of the matter is that we still have the best record in this
league and we certainly still control our own destiny."
...
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Let
The Games Begin
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.21
The
Hitmen have turned around their season after starting out 0
and 3, They have won 3 out of their last 4 and now have sole
possesion of The 2nd playoff spot in the East. They control
their own playoff destiny. Orlando is the first team ever in
the XFL to clinch a playoff spot. They have yet to clinch the
eastern division title but that is seen as simply an eventuality.
There is still a very tiny possibility that the NY/NJ Hitmen
can win the Eastern Division if they run the table and win all
3 games and Orlando who will be without Jeff Brohm for at least
the regular season loses all of it's remaining regular season
games. ...
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Outlaws
cry foul to NBC
Las
Vegas Review-Journal - 2001.03.21
Outlaws
safety Brandon Sanders was bug-eyed when he heard the reason
he played only two series in Saturday's 34-12 victory over the
Birmingham Bolts at Sam Boyd Stadium. Of course, it should be
noted that the explanation came not from Outlaws coach Jim Criner
but from NBC announcers Matt Vasgersian, Jesse Ventura and Mike
Adamle. The three -- in particular, Vasgersian and Ventura --
reported during Saturday's national broadcast that Sanders didn't
start and played little because Criner was sending a message
to his team. Sanders, in fact, was used sparingly because of
tired legs caused from an extremely heavy workload and lingering
effects from a hit he took in Chicago. ...
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XFL
Looks at Portland Oregon
The
Oregonian - 2001.03.21
The
talks are preliminary and the visit exploratory, but a group
of representatives from the XFL will tour Portland on Thursday.
Drew Mahalic, director of the Portland Oregon Sports Authority,
said the XFL is in the process of making a decision about expansion
and his group is in the business of considering what might work
in Portland. "We just want to talk to them and see whether this
makes sense down the road," Mahalic said. ...
Click Here for More Information
Can
you smell it?
Troy
Pringle - Enforcers Team Reporter - 2001.03.20
Once
again, the Chicago Enforcers took control at Soldier Field.
The offense looked superb featuring the dominant John Avery-LeShon
Johnson connection. And the Chicago "D" roughed up…let
me repeat that…the Chicago defense roughed up one of the
best quarterbacks in the XFL, Mike Pawlawski... Can you smell
a playoff game in the Enforcer's future? ...
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XFLBoard.com
Players of the Week
XFLBoard.com:
Players of the Week - 2001.03.20
At
XFLBoard.com we'd like to think that the fans are the most important
commodity in the equation. Who is better than to choose the
XFL players of the Week than the same fans who cheer them on?
Week 7 Results:
Offensive Player of the Week: Tommy Maddox
Defensive Player of the Week: Jamel Williams
Lineman of the Week: Carl Simpson
Special teams Player of the Week: Damon Gibson
...
Click Here for More Information
Maddox
and Simpson XFL POTW
XFL
Press Release - 2001.03.20
Maddox
completed 19 of 25 passes for 199 yards, tossing for two touchdowns
and running for another, all in just over three quarters of
work. Simpson registered two sacks and five tackles in the Outlaws'
34-12 win over the Birmingham Bolts last Saturday, with four
of the five tackles for losses. ...
Click Here for More Information
Week
10 Schedule Changes
XFL.COM
- 2001.03.20
The
dates and times for games during Week 10 have changed. Here
are the new dates and times for the final week of regular season
play this year:
Saturday, April 7 - San Francisco @ Los Angeles,
8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Saturday, April 7 - Memphis @ Las Vegas, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, April 8 - New York/New Jersey @ Birmingham, 4 p.m. ET
(TNN)
Sunday, April 8 - Orlando @ Chicago, 7 p.m. ET (UPN)
Birmingham
Thunderbolts Cheerleaders
Mad
Samoan - 2001.03.20
Are
these the hottest Cheerleaders in the XFL or what? Twenty-three
high quality images of the Birmingham Bolts Cheerleaders in
action, provided to you as a shameless plug to increase our
web site hits. If you are thinking "how hot is this" when you
view these photos, just think of the poor guy who stood only
feet away from these babes and snapped these puppies. His name
is "Mad Samoan" and we thank him for putting himelf in certain
peril by providing this wonderful photographic display.
...
Click Here to See the Photos
Raise
Your Fists!
Bob
Williams - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.19
The
Chicago Enforcers dominated the San Francisco Demons Sunday
night. Dominated? They won by a mere six points. The game was
in doubt (as usual) heading into the final minute. The domination
I speak of was in the trenches. The sure sign of football supremacy.
...
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Xtreme
Outrage Orlando
David
Curtis - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.19
Sunday
afternoon’s game between the Los Angeles Xtreme and the
Orlando Rage figured to be a seesaw affair. Orlando came in
as the league leader in rushing and points, while LA boasted
the leading passer and receivers with the best individual marks
for catches and touchdowns. So it was an especially good sign
that the Xtreme scored first. And second. And third. And fourth.
And fifth. And sixth. ...
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Enforcers
shake off Demons
Associated
Press - 2001.03.18
LeShon
Johnson ran for two touchdowns, and the Chicago Enforcers withstood
San Francisco's second-half surge Sunday night to beat the Demons
25-19 in the XFL. John Avery ran for 110 yards, and Kevin McDougal
completed 11 of 14 for 175 yards and a score for Chicago (2-5)
before an announced Soldier Field crowd of 11,428. San Francisco
(3-4) trailing by 19 points in the second half and made a big
comeback. But its final drive was stopped with less than a minute
left on an interception by Dorian Brew. ...
Click Here for More Information
Xtreme
hands Rage first loss
Associated
Press - 2001.03.18
Tommy
Maddox threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score
as the Los Angeles Xtreme handed the Orlando Rage its first
loss of the season, 31-6 Sunday. Jose Cortez added 29- and 31-yard
field goals in the first half and Saladin McCullough ran 3 yards
for a fourth-quarter touchdown for the Western Division-leading
Xtreme (5-2) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Eastern Division-leading
Orlando (6-1) lost quarterback Jeff Brohm for the rest of the
regular season on the first play of the second quarter with
a separated right shoulder. He was sacked by Los Angeles linebacker
Juan Long. Brohm completed five of 10 passes for 46 yards.
...
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Dealers
of Doom Deliver
TheGrandonGang
- Las Vegas Team Reporter - 2001.03.18
As
the 1st quarter wound down on a beautiful evening in the Jewel
of the Desert, it was announced that the outstanding Las Vegas
Outlaws' defense, as the result of a local contest, had been
named "The Dealers of Doom". And did they ever deliver! In their
first home appearance in a month, this "lights out" style defense
proved a toilet bowl had a better chance to keep running against
them than did the Birmingham offense. Allowing only 17 yards
rushing, the defense sparked the Outlaws to their dominating
victory over the Bolts. ...
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Situation
Desperate in Birmingham
Bamaslammer
& Sonny Sanders - Bolts Team Reporters - 2001.03.18
The
Birmingham Bolts Players, Coaches, Staff and Management have
their backs to the wall in the Steel City. Another week has
brought another humiliating loss. Another backup running back
looking like a champion, Another laundry list of mistakes and
missed opportunities. If the XFL had a welfare line, with a
4 game losing streak the Bolts would be standing in it.
...
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Rage
GM: Like it or not, we'll be around for a while
Orlando
Sentinel - 2001.03.18
A
newspaper column last Sunday by NFL columnist Charles Bricker
is a case in point of the negative editorial writing that has
plagued the XFL since its inception. Bricker, with little or
no knowledge of the inner workings of the XFL, contends that
we may not be here for the remainder of this season, much less
the next. He states we are not selling football, and that you
will never again hear from most of our players. Unfortunately,
Bricker's article is opinion and not fact. ...
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The
Hitmen Outlast The Maniax
Mike
Mitchell - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.18
They
say good things come to those who wait. Well the wait is over
for NY/NJ Hitmen fans. The Hitmen finally defended their home
turf by beating the Memphis Maniax 16-15 in a dramatic come
from behind victory at the Meadowlands Saturday Night. The Hitmen
are now 3 and 4 and they now have sole possesion of The 2nd
playoff spot in the east with only 3 weeks remaining in the
regular season. The playoff picture is starting to clear up
for the Hitmen and they now have complete control of their playoff
destiny. ...
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Las
Vegas defense shuts down Birmingham
Associated
Press - 2001.03.17
Ryan
Clement led Las Vegas to 22 straight points, and the Outlaws
used a stingy defense to beat the Birmingham Bolts 34-12 Saturday
night. The Las Vegas defense allowed just 17 rushing yards and
95 passing yards. at Sam Boyd Stadium in front of an announced
crowd of 23,558. Clement passed for 104 yards and three touchdowns,
while completing 13 of 22 passes. The Outlaws (4-3) created
three turnovers, had seven quarterback sacks and immobilized
Birmingham (2-5) after it tied the game at 12 with 9:06 left
in the third quarter. ...
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Hitmen
win with nine seconds left
Associated
Press - 2001.03.17
Wally
Richardson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Zola Davis in the
corner of the end zone with nine seconds left Saturday night,
giving the New York/New Jersey Hitmen a 16-15 victory over the
Memphis Maniax in the XFL. It was the second TD hookup of the
night for the Richardson and Davis, who combined for a 9-yarder
to the third quarter after Memphis had taken a 15-3 lead. The
Hitmen (3-4), who overcame three quarters of turnovers, penalties
and missed opportunities, drove downfield 64 yards in nine plays
for the win. ...
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Hot-Cold
Demons Face Enforcers
San
Francisco Chronicle - 2001.03.17
The
Demons continue to harbor visions of taking the XFL's Western
Division title, if not going further than that, but they've
hardly had the look of championship outfit through the first
six games of the season. They so far have been the archetype
of mediocrity, alternating wins and losses every week, with
a 2-2 record at home and 1-1 on the road. San Francisco shares
its 3-3 record with Las Vegas and Memphis in the West, one game
behind front-running Los Angeles. The Demons can scale the .500
barrier with a win tomorrow against the host Chicago Enforcers,
whose 1-5 mark belies their moniker. ...
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Hitmen
Set for More Razzle-Dazzle
NY
Post - 2001.03.17
Rusty
Tillman and his Hitmen return home to Giants Stadium tonight
for what the team considers its most important game of the year.
With a win in the "Hell Hole" last week in San Francisco, the
Hitmen now find themselves tied for a spot in the playoffs.
But before anyone gets carried away with that kind of talk,
the Hitmen have to win more than two games to be in.
...
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Outlaws
hope for Smart play today
Las
Vegas Review-Journal - 2001.03.17
Running
back Rod Smart, arguably the Las Vegas Outlaws' most important
offensive player, remains questionable for today's game against
the Birmingham Thunderbolts at Sam Boyd Stadium because of a
bad knee. The Outlaws offense remains questionable as well for
the 5 p.m. nationally televised game. Las Vegas (3-3) has struggled
offensively all year. Despite flashes of what coach Jim Criner
believes it can be, it is still the XFL's poorest offensive
team. Losing Smart would multiply the problems against Birmingham
(2-4). ...
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Win
a Trip to the Big Game at the End
CastrolUSA.com
- 2001.03.16
Ready
for more BONE-CRUSHING, hard hitting, ROUGH AND READY ACTION?
Ready for ALL-ACCESS COVERAGE on and off the field? Ready for
CHEERLEADING like you've never seen before? Then you're ready
for XFL football. CastrolUSA.com wants to send you and a friend
to the "Big Game at the End", the first ever XFL championship
game of the season! Location depends on who hits the hardest
all season long. Second prize is an official XFL football. Enter
to win! ...
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Secondary
Costing the Enforcers
Bob
Williams - XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.16
As
the Enforcers prepare to battle the Demons Sunday night at Soldier
Field, the spotlight is on the defensive secondary. The Enforcer
pass defense ranks dead last in the league allowing 218.8 yards
per game. This was evidenced in the LA game in which Tommy Maddox
threw for over 400 yards in a come-from-behind win and this
past week's Memphis game in which Jim Druckenmiller won player
of the week honors. The secondary is going to have to hold against
the Demons who throw the ball almost exclusively.
...
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Will
The Maniax Drive The Hitmen Crazy?
Mike Mitchell
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.03.16
The
NY/NJ Hitmen defense may face their toughest challenge to date.
On Saturday night, the XFL's hottest offense rolls into Giants
Stadium to clash with the Hitmen. The league's hottest offense
right now belongs to the Memphis Maniax led by Kippy Brown.
The Hitmen are coming off a stunning 20-12 upset of the Demons
at Pac Bell Park. They now stand at 2 and 4 after 6 games and
are tied for the 2nd playoff spot in the east with Birmingham.
Only 4 weeks remain in the regular season and half the teams
in the XFL will be in the playoffs, while the other half will
head home. ...
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A Look
Ahead Against the Spread
The Masked
Prognosticator - 2001.03.16
The
Maniax are burning like a flame off their first home win with
a last minute victory against Chicago. The Ax now travel to
the swamps of New Jersey to face the hapless Hitmen. Rusty Tillman
and Company have been less like men and more like "sopranos"
with a home record of 0-3 straight up and ats. On the road Memphis
have been heartbreakers at 2-0 ats and straight up. Memphis
is from the West, a better football team, and is the road favorite.
Adding it all up, the odds of NY-NJ covering the spread is about
the same as Sammy "the Bull" Gravano sharing a beer with John
Gotti Junior! The line in this game was originally Memphis by
3. Now it's down to only 2 points, most likely due to injuries
to Memphis QB Marcus Crandell (probable with a bad foot) and
star running back Rashaan Salaam (questionable shoulder).
...
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Barker
to roll dice against XFL's top defense in Vegas
The Birmingham
News - 2001.03.16
There
are slot machines at the airport and in every mini-mart around.
Ever since Bugsy Siegel came to town, Las Vegas' bread and butter
has been legal vice. Yet despite all the temptations along the
Strip, the biggest gamble in Vegas this weekend will occur at
Sam Boyd Stadium, where the Birmingham Bolts try to keep their
XFL playoff hopes alive without quarterback Casey Weldon. Trussville
native and former University of Alabama star Jay Barker gets
his first XFL start as the Bolts (2-4) try to discover what
only Orlando has done: how to score more than a couple of touchdowns
on the Las Vegas Outlaws (3-3). ...
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