In the dynamism of American football, the much-anticipated merger of two prominent leagues, XFL and USFL, has grabbed major attention in recent times.
Approved nearly a month ago, the air of uncertainty hovering around this proposed amalgamation has finally started to weaken, with some inside details emerging from various quarters.
As the curious spectators remained largely in the dark over the proposed integration, one daring player recharged the environment by providing certain otherwise confidential details.
Jahcour Pearson, a former XFL dynamo, managed to stir the pot when he reached out on the misunderstood social platform X (a Twitter substitute) to question the XFL’s participation.
Player leaks unannounced details of XFL-USFL merger on social media https://t.co/vD0dT7st57 pic.twitter.com/GmzMV5o4ln
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 21, 2023
Joining the debate was fellow XFL star and Vegas Vipers’ player, Jeff Badet, who responded with an unexpected disclosure.
Badet shared what seemed to be an inside email, revealing the selected four XFL teams – Arlington, D.C., San Antonio, and St. Louis – due to participate in the eight-team league.
Interestingly, this deliberate revelation wasn’t just a quiet note to Pearson; Badet reposted his message, involving several XFL reporters and news accounts.
His bold act served as a surprising announcement, possibly approved by no one but the player himself. Badet’s opened Pandora’s box contains crucial information that fans and stakeholders had been waiting for.
As per the details, players from the dissolved leagues will be involved in a mini-dispersal draft due for Dec. 27. The players will be eligible for selection only by their former league teams.
After the mini-dispersal draft, a super-dispersal draft is scheduled for Jan. 15. Players not picked in the first draft could find themselves playing for teams from either of the leagues, expanding their opportunities.
Badet’s spillage included specific logistical aspects as well. Interestingly, Arlington will function as the center of practicing activities for the teams.
However, the home games will still be held in the teams’ respective markets.
The proposed league, potentially titled the United Football League (UFL), will comprise two distinct conferences – the XFL and the USFL.
The regular-season schedule will feature 10 games sans any bye weeks, aiming to hold a compact and continuous action for the fans.
The discourse wouldn’t have been complete without the mention of player pay. The leaked information indicated weekly $400 stipends for players during training camp, with inactive players receiving $2,500 per game, and active ones procuring $5,350 per match.
As per the shared schedule, training camps are due to begin on Feb. 23. And the regular season will kick off on March 30, in line with an earlier announcement.
