5 Potential Big Name XFL Quarterbacks
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 2:11 pm
Right off the bat, people are going to mention NFL names from the past as potential XFL players in 2020. Some in jest like a Freddie Mitchell or Brett Favre. Hell, Tommy Maddox is 2 years younger than Favre, perhaps he can come out of retirement as well. In all seriousness.... (Not the craziest idea...….)
While the league seems positioned with Doug Whaley and Optimum Scouting to be targeting young pro football prospects. It's hard to sell the public on a new pro football league without having some marquee name value players, at least for the 2020 relaunch. It's a fine line because you run the risk of not being taken seriously if your rosters are headed by washed up names from the past, just to sell tickets. The XFL's higher tiered pay scale hints at them potentially targeting quarterbacks with some name value. While a Division 3 MVP QB like Joe Callahan may be on the XFL's radar. He'd be a good get but he doesn't have the cache that these players have below. There are actual young qb's with high nfl draft pedigrees who are not included on this list that, I can see getting the league's attention like Paxton Lynch, EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones for example.
QB- Colin Kaepernick
Not one player will provide more media attention and eye balls to the league than Colin. The highest tier pay scale of 300k may or may not entice him to play 10 games in the XFL. Playing on the west coast like California or Vegas could also sway him since he played for the Niners and for Nevada in college. The league would have to do an about face on their national anthem. Unless Kaepernick is contracted to play only 5 home games for a Toronto based XFL team. No move would be more divisive than this one by the XFL. Half the country will praise the XFL for sticking it to the NFL and standing up for freedom of expression and social justice. The other half will frown upon the XFL for selling out and having someone who is not patriotic be the face of their league. From a business standpoint, you risk alienating potential fans unless Vince McMahon can come to some sort of working agreement to get Colin to stand for the national anthem. Perhaps some kind of financial backing by McMahon towards charities designed to help disadvantaged minorities and creating awareness and programs where the local authorities and communities unite.
QB- Tim Tebow
Currently the Mets biggest and MLB's biggest cash cow for minor league baseball. Tebow like Kaepernick is in his early 30's and is a polarizing figure. This guy would sell tickets and garner attention, no matter where he ended up playing. 300k may not be enough to entice him. Unless he completely falters as a baseball player and starts batting 190. By 2020, you have to hope that Tebow completely flops in the minors and has an about face and decides that football is calling out to him for one last shot.
QB- Johnny Manziel
This is probably the most likely of the first 3 players. Manziel would be a big draw for the league especially in Texas. He is currently on the 2nd year of a 2 year CFL contract. Montreal is going to pick up his option for the 2019 season even though "Johnny Football" didn't light the world on fire up there. Manziel will be a free agent after the 2019 CFL season but the XFL would have to wait till mid February to sign him unless they move back the season a month or two to March or April. Not out of the realm of possibility. Johnny could demand a release from his CFL contract to play in the XFL sooner. It would be in Manziel's best interest to come back to the states. A 300k a season salary not counting incentives and bonuses would be a good fit. Manziel can play at home presumably in Houston or even Austin. This player is a must get for the league.
QB-Vince Young
This is probably a fall back move for the league if they can't get Manziel. Young most recently came out of retirement to try and make the Roughriders in the CFL last season. He got injured and released. Vince Young is from Houston and could theoretically play for his home team in the XFL. He's a hero in the state of Texas and Vince Young seems like he has unfinished business.
QB- Matt Leinart
An outside the box idea for an outside the box type league. Leinart seems very comfortable in his post pro football life but if he were to ever stage a comeback at 35 years old. This would be the time and place to do it. Heading up an LA or California based XFL franchise would seem ideal. I wonder if Leinart has the same unfinished business attitude that Vince Young has. He doesn't need it but it would be cool to see him try.
While the league seems positioned with Doug Whaley and Optimum Scouting to be targeting young pro football prospects. It's hard to sell the public on a new pro football league without having some marquee name value players, at least for the 2020 relaunch. It's a fine line because you run the risk of not being taken seriously if your rosters are headed by washed up names from the past, just to sell tickets. The XFL's higher tiered pay scale hints at them potentially targeting quarterbacks with some name value. While a Division 3 MVP QB like Joe Callahan may be on the XFL's radar. He'd be a good get but he doesn't have the cache that these players have below. There are actual young qb's with high nfl draft pedigrees who are not included on this list that, I can see getting the league's attention like Paxton Lynch, EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones for example.
QB- Colin Kaepernick
Not one player will provide more media attention and eye balls to the league than Colin. The highest tier pay scale of 300k may or may not entice him to play 10 games in the XFL. Playing on the west coast like California or Vegas could also sway him since he played for the Niners and for Nevada in college. The league would have to do an about face on their national anthem. Unless Kaepernick is contracted to play only 5 home games for a Toronto based XFL team. No move would be more divisive than this one by the XFL. Half the country will praise the XFL for sticking it to the NFL and standing up for freedom of expression and social justice. The other half will frown upon the XFL for selling out and having someone who is not patriotic be the face of their league. From a business standpoint, you risk alienating potential fans unless Vince McMahon can come to some sort of working agreement to get Colin to stand for the national anthem. Perhaps some kind of financial backing by McMahon towards charities designed to help disadvantaged minorities and creating awareness and programs where the local authorities and communities unite.
QB- Tim Tebow
Currently the Mets biggest and MLB's biggest cash cow for minor league baseball. Tebow like Kaepernick is in his early 30's and is a polarizing figure. This guy would sell tickets and garner attention, no matter where he ended up playing. 300k may not be enough to entice him. Unless he completely falters as a baseball player and starts batting 190. By 2020, you have to hope that Tebow completely flops in the minors and has an about face and decides that football is calling out to him for one last shot.
QB- Johnny Manziel
This is probably the most likely of the first 3 players. Manziel would be a big draw for the league especially in Texas. He is currently on the 2nd year of a 2 year CFL contract. Montreal is going to pick up his option for the 2019 season even though "Johnny Football" didn't light the world on fire up there. Manziel will be a free agent after the 2019 CFL season but the XFL would have to wait till mid February to sign him unless they move back the season a month or two to March or April. Not out of the realm of possibility. Johnny could demand a release from his CFL contract to play in the XFL sooner. It would be in Manziel's best interest to come back to the states. A 300k a season salary not counting incentives and bonuses would be a good fit. Manziel can play at home presumably in Houston or even Austin. This player is a must get for the league.
QB-Vince Young
This is probably a fall back move for the league if they can't get Manziel. Young most recently came out of retirement to try and make the Roughriders in the CFL last season. He got injured and released. Vince Young is from Houston and could theoretically play for his home team in the XFL. He's a hero in the state of Texas and Vince Young seems like he has unfinished business.
QB- Matt Leinart
An outside the box idea for an outside the box type league. Leinart seems very comfortable in his post pro football life but if he were to ever stage a comeback at 35 years old. This would be the time and place to do it. Heading up an LA or California based XFL franchise would seem ideal. I wonder if Leinart has the same unfinished business attitude that Vince Young has. He doesn't need it but it would be cool to see him try.