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Along with other leagues suspending their seasons (like the NBA and NCAA), the XFL decided to stop playing their regular season games out of concern for public safety. Though the new professional football league only had a few weeks to show us a splendid on-the-field product with transparency, expanded opportunities for lots of folks, and even gracious handling of embarrassing officiating errors, it closes out its first season the same way:
Official statement from The XFL: pic.twitter.com/cFNoqAkqZF
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) March 12, 2020
In addition to honoring the full pay and benefits for the players and refunding/crediting fans, the XFL is maximizing their players’ chances at continuing their professional careers with NFL free agency approaching:
Getting full pay and benefits, and with the ability to sign with NFL teams immediately? That’s as good as it could get in this situation as a revived startup league. https://t.co/X5XPxMqPxN
— Benjamin Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) March 13, 2020
This is just really solid handling all around by the leadership in the XFL when they were put in an unfortunate situation. I don’t know about anyone else, but I will miss having the XFL in 2020 and absolutely look forward to its return in 2021. It was a short run this year, but such fun to watch.
And now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:
- Locally in Detroit, the interruption of sporting events means more than just wins and losses:
The Detroit Sports Commission says the lost of several NCAA championship events, including Frozen Four in Detroit, will cost the Metro Detroit region upward of $10 million in economic impact.
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) March 12, 2020
- ESPN’s Michael Rothstein reported that three Michigan players eligible for the draft will hold their own private workout and tape the session in Ohio in lieu of Michigan’s canceled Pro Day today. An interesting side note about all the canceled Pro Days and how that could affect the quantity of information available to teams on prospects for the draft:
Potentially, yes.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 12, 2020
Rothstein also had a separate piece in which he think about how the next few weeks could remake the defensive line of the Lions.
- Dave Birkett with the Detroit Free Press looked at the team’s current situation in the defensive secondary and concludes that the Lions need help even if they still have Slaytumbo on the roster when Training Camp rolls around.
- Quick hit update on the looming NFLPA vote on the new collective bargaining agreement:
Per sources last night and this morning:
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) March 13, 2020
-NFL has no plans to move back the start of the league year.
-NFLPA vote on CBA still scheduled to wrap up Saturday 11:59 pm ET.
-No plans for NFLPA to reconsider Monday’s resolution that would have allowed players to change their votes.
The full text of the new CBA being voted on by the players is available online here.
- MLive’s Kyle Meinke went through the offense position by position and previewed team needs and potential free agents of interest to the Lions.
- A fun reminder from the social media managers:
All love for Detroit! #313Day pic.twitter.com/BdYgYdVbp3
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 13, 2020