Is it real football? How is the XFL different from the NFL?
Is it real football? What got you interested in the league?
What will be the role of the fans? Is it real football? What
are the rule changes? Is it real football?
Since it was announced that Birmingham had been awarded a
team in the XFL, there have been questions asked and asked
- and answered and answered - but only by Thunderbolts coaches
or front office personnel.
Finally, the players themselves are speaking out. With day
two of mini-camp in the books Wednesday, a handful Birmingham
players offered some answers.
"We put our jocks on the same way the players in the
other leagues do. It's still football with 11 people on each
side. It will be a tough, aggressive game. There's nothing
different about that."
-James Willis, linebacker and a 7-year NFL veteran
"All of the guys here have to love football because we
are not making that much. It's good money for the little time
we are here, but not that much money. We don't have those
big ole' salaries that each individual player works out. Everybody
has a base salary and that's the way it should be."
-Nicky Savoie, TE & former New Orleans Saint
"The advantage of this league is that sometimes in the
NFL there are some guys who may be overpaid. They may not
perform, but they still get their roster spot."
-James Willis, linebacker and a 7-year NFL veteran
"It's still football. We are constantly reminded that
it is real football. The way we practice tells you it is going
to be real football."
-Ozell Powell, OL and former Washington Redskin
"Any opportunity I have to play football I take it."
-Quinton Reese, former Auburn defensive end
"After seven years in the NFL I had retired. When the
pre-season games started coming on TV I started missing the
game. I knew off the bat when I heard about the XFL, I had
to get into it. I haven't played in front of the hometown
fans since college."
-James Willis, linebacker and former Auburn star
"It's exciting for players to get this opportunity. Almost
everybody in this league got fired from somewhere else and
now they have a new chance to show their talent."
-Nicky Savoie, TE & former New Orleans Saint
"Most football players are winding up their seasons and
we are just getting started. That gives the fan that much
more football to watch. They have told us it will be different
as far as the fans are concerned with cameras and access.
None of us have been involved in anything like this. It will
be a fun experience."
-Ryan Thomassie, center and former NFL Europe player
s
"It is exciting that the league has brought in a couple
of rule changes that brings football back into football."
-Nicky Savoie, TE & former New Orleans Saint
"One thing I have to get used to is receivers getting
a running start. That took me by surprise the first time I
saw it. I guess I need to get a rule book and check it out."
-James Willis, linebacker and a 7-year NFL veteran
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