The first few weeks of February are usually used by yours truly to plan my spring and summertime travels. But because the Bears have trips to Nashville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles (again) on their schedule, I might kick the can down the road and see if I can create a lane for what could be some warm-weather trips in fall and winter. Here’s hoping the NFL schedule makers are on the same line of thinking as me.
Vince McMahon’s XFL re-boot is back today, and it has a lot of things going for it this time around. There are television partnerships with ESPN and FOX, a talent pool features fringe NFL prospects. a collection of coaches with name-brand appeal (Bob Stoops! June Jones!), and a bunch of unique tweaks that promise to make games interesting. I’m curious to see how it plays out.
The potential to have multiple forward passes on one play? Yep. Check it out:
An overtime wrinkle? Neat. OT is a bit like hockey-style shootouts where teams have five rounds to score from the 5-yard line. The team with the most points at the end of those rounds wins. Simple enough.
No extra points? Cool. Fewer kicks is better for football, says this Bears fan. Instead, teams have an option to run an offensive play from the 2, 5, or 10-yard line, which are worth 1, 2, or 3 points respectively.
Pace of play stands to be better in the XFL as the league implements a t25-second play clock that starts when the ball is spotted.
Speaking of clock management, the XFL promises teams cannot run out the clock (at least until the opponent has no timeouts And there is also something called the “comeback period” which happens at the two-minute warning of each half. In an attempt to maximize scoring potential for a team on the comeback trail, plays that end in the field of play will be met with clock stoppage until the ball has been spotted and five seconds have run off the play clock.
Who’s your rooting interest?
Today is the last day you can claim an XFL team without becoming a bandwagon fan.
Still unsure who to cheer for based on logos and team nicknames similar to what you could find in the old Madden NFL create-a-team option? Every team has an ex-Bear connection.
Dallas Renegades (OL Willie Beavers)
D.C. Defenders (Head Coach Pep Hamilton, Personnel Director Greg Gabriel, CB Doran Grant, TE Khari Lee, WR Rashad Ross, LB Jameer Thurman)
Houston Roughnecks (OL Marquez Tucker)
L.A. Wildcats (WR Tre McBride, S Ahmad Dixon, WR Nelson Spruce)
N.Y. Guardians (WR Mekale McKay, DL Bunmi Rotimi)
St. Louis Battlehawks (OL Dejon Allen, LS Tanner Carew, Tanner Carew, DL Dewayne Hendrix, LB Ro’Derrick Hoskins, OL Matt McCants)
Seattle Dragons (OL Cyril Richardson, TE Evan Rodriguez, DL Will Sutton)
Tampa Bay Vipers (Head Coach Marc Trestman, CB Demontre Hurst, OL Jordan McCray, TE Colin Thompson)
When I was a young boy, I was introduced to the “Ex-Cubs Factor,” which was a theory popularized by the late, great Mike Royko. The gist: In a World Series showdown, the team with more ex-Cubs on it was destined to lose. I have no idea if there is an ex-Bears factor to be had in the new XFL. But if you want to apply that theory to ex-Bears, then be my guest.
You better believe you can bet on the XFL in 2020:
The XFL is back for its 2nd try, 19 years after making it through just 1 season. The pro football league brings with it several rule changes that point to more scoring.@Covers_Vegas checks in with multiple sportsbooks for insight on the XFL odds:https://t.co/TEC1jSfgKFpic.twitter.com/A9RYYZXsus
As for my predictions for how long the league will last, I won’t go there. I’ll check in as part of my duties as a football fan and writer. But to be completely honest, my hope is for this league to give the NFL some perspective on how to better the highest level of the game. And if it means taking broadcast components, game rules, or other aspects of the XFL and applying them to the NFL to make that league more entertaining, then I am on board!
Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.
If Travis Kelce wants to rebuild the burned-down Lover house, he'll have the money to do so. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is signing a two-year extension with the team, keeping the two-time Super Bowl champion in lock-step with...
Reporters emptying their notebooks after the NFL Draft makes the Monday after the dust settles one of my favorite days of the year. And while I figured we would get some good Chicago Bears anecdotes, I didn't see this one...
I love post-NFL Draft behind-the-scenes content. Hook that stuff straight to my veins and hope that it carries me through until the football year begins again in earnest when training camps open in July. And while the Chicago Bears traditionally...
The Chicago Bears wrapped up NFL Draft weekend by making 5 picks. They didn't check every box on their to-do list, but General Manager Ryan Poles looks to have solidified a busy offseason with immediate impact starters and depth. We'll...
Do you really want to know where I was April 29th? Or do you just want to read the rest of Bears Bullets? Patrick got the ball rolling this week with early grades from the Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft...
The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books and the Chicago Bears should be feeling pretty good about the haul of picks that will now call Soldier Field home. It’s a new era of Bears football led by rookie quarterback...
That post-NFL Draft hangover is real. Let's sort through some things I like about the new guys before brunch. Meet the newest members of the Chicago Bears: https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1784590895670845852 All things considered: I like what Bears General Manager Ryan Poles and...
In addition to drafting five players over the weekend, the Chicago Bears are bringing in all sorts of undrafted free agents to fill out their roster. But few are as notable as Keith Randolph Jr., a product of the University...
The 2024 NFL Draft is OVAH! All 257 picks are in the books. Here are the picks made by Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles and the rest of his staff: Bears Draft Picks Night 1 Round 1, Pick 1:...
Tory Taylor, the University of Iowa punter, figured to be the first special teams player to be taken in the draft. And with the Chicago Bears having notable punting issues last year, the fit was perfect. Almost too perfect. The...
The New York Mets (14-13), who will give the start to Sean Manaea, host the Chicago Cubs (17-11) with Javier Assad on the hill, Tuesday at 7:10 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for TV and...
In a series opener on Tuesday, Daulton Varsho and the Toronto Blue Jays (14-15) take on Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals (17-12), with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 PM ET at Rogers Centre.Keep scrolling to find out all...
Simeon Woods Richardson will take the mound for the Minnesota Twins (14-13) when they visit starter Mike Soroka and the Chicago White Sox (6-22) in a series opener on Tuesday, with first pitch at 7:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find...
On Tuesday at 8:10 PM ET, Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (9-19) play Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians (19-9) at Minute Maid Park.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Houston-Cleveland matchup below.When is Astros vs. Guardians...
The New York Yankees (19-10), who will give the ball to Nestor Cortes Jr., visit the Baltimore Orioles (17-10) with Dean Kremer on the hill, Tuesday at 6:35 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to...
On Tuesday, Michael Conforto and the San Francisco Giants (14-15) take on Tyler O'Neill and the Boston Red Sox (16-13), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park.Find out how to watch the San Francisco-Boston matchup below.When...
The New York Knicks bring a 3-1 series record into a decisive Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Knicks are favored by 4 points in the matchup, which airs on TNT at 7:00 PM ET....
The New Orleans Pelicans face the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 PM ET on Monday, in Game 4 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this clash requires only one trifecta...
On Tuesday, April 30 at 6:40 PM ET, a three-game series between the Miami Marlins and the visiting Colorado Rockies will begin.Marlins vs. Rockies Series Info Rockies @ Marlins Time: Tuesday, April 30 at 6:40 PM ET Rockies Starting Pitcher:...
The Boston Red Sox will be hosting the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series, with the action getting underway at 7:10 PM ET on Tuesday, April 30.Red Sox vs. Giants Series Info Giants @ Red Sox Time: Tuesday, April...
NEWSLETTER
