By Michael Heilman
Towards the end of Saturday’s XFL game between the Houston Roughnecks and Seattle Dragons, Roughnecks quarterback P.J Walker took a knee with the clock showing three seconds left. This should’ve been a turnover on down, and the Dragons would have had one more chance to tie the game down 32-23. In the XFL, a nine-point lead isn’t safe. There is a quote by Anonymous that says that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes, just don’t respond with an encore.
What happened was the XFL officials ran off the field with both teams looking confused, given how much time was left on the game clock. In the end, XFL Officiating Supervisor Wes Booker declared that the game was over. Booker was interviewed by ESPN XFL broadcasters Steve Levy and Greg McElroy, and he did admit his mistake, but the game was still over.
The thing about giving TV and fans access to the decision-making process is that you have to actually be able to explain your decisions when there is controversy. pic.twitter.com/dL4tUkACbL — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2020
Greg McElroy was not afraid to say what was on his mind after both Levy and McElroy interviewed Booker.
ESPN crew not shy about calling out XFL over their weird nonsensical reason for ending a game with two seconds left on the clock and a team on offense with a legitimate chance to tie. pic.twitter.com/oG5LRvaRbl — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2020
Not long after the game, the XFL put out a statement saying, “Saturday’s Seattle Dragons-Houston Roughnecks game should not have ended as it did. Replays showed clearly that the knee of Houston quarterback P.J. Walker touched the field, rendering him “down” and the fourth-down play officially completed, with approximately two seconds remaining on the clock – effectively turning the ball over to Seattle on downs. With a nine-point differential in the score, Seattle was denied an opportunity to tie the game. The XFL sincerely regrets this error.”
“In addition, Wes Booker, who served as Officiating Supervisor for Saturday’s game, has been reassigned.”
XFL statement regarding Seattle-Houston gamehttps://t.co/baKwS31q07 pic.twitter.com/X4sFlZPegp — XFL (@xfl2020) March 8, 2020
Leagues make mistakes all the time, and at least the XFL owned up to their mistake and quickly took action on the same day, so this doesn’t happen again. How many times have you watched a sporting event, and a bad call happens with no action taken by league officials for one or two days?
All the XFL can do is move on from this. Sure, this is a good lesson for them to learn, and it won’t hurt them in the long run. For people to say that this league is done is an understatement. I think those who go out of their way to rip the league are the same people that complain about the NFL not doing anything to improve the game. These people don’t want the XFL to succeed, but they want the players and rules for the NFL. At least the XFL is willing to listen to the fan’s input to make the game better.
I’ve enjoyed this season, and there is no question that this isn’t the old XFL. This new XFL is entertaining. The broadcasters on both ESPN and FOX Sports are awesome to listen too. The play is slowly getting better and by far better than the AAF. More players who were not starters in the NFL are finally able to show what they can do. There are a few players who’ve had to step in and have played well that even if they don’t make an NFL team this season, they could start in the XFL, especially if the league plans to expand to new markets.
Some of these players will find their way back to the NFL. Some of the coaches and referees will also have a shot at the NFL. However, the XFL can become a place where players can have a great career like those who’ve played in the old Arena Football League and the CFL. What I love about the XFL is how the players appreciate the league for allowing them to continue to play football. For these players, this is a second chance for them to show what they can do on the field and play the game they love.
Making mistakes is part of the growing process for the XFL. I think what they did after Saturday’s Houston vs. Seattle game was a great example of a league willing to hold themselves accountable that others won’t do.
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