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Columnist Sal DeFilippo: League Needs Viewers or It Will Become Ex-FL

Halfway through its first season, the XFL has suffered quite a few setbacks.

The people named Neilsen with the important TV sets aren't watching, which of course is the fledgling league's top priority. If the XFL can't improve those numbers, it'll be an ex-FL after its two-year deal is up.

The actual stadium crowds have been fairly solid, despite some bad-weather venues. Can't imagine Vince and Co. are too upset with those numbers.

There was the controversy over the long games, and the short temper of "Saturday Night Live" chief Lorne Michaels. That was fixed.

The scoring suffered, so the league adjusted pass-coverage rules to encourage offense. The average scoring was increased last week, so that seems to have worked.

Jerry Lawler, who did play-by-play on the secondary NBC game, quit the company this week. If Jesse the Bodybag and Jim Loss and Brian Bosworthless, et al, would follow suit, maybe the people who are watching the games could at least turn the volume up a little bit.

Some more pros and cons as the second half prepares to kick off:

The good

The fourth-down rule that forces punts to be returned is proving to do exactly as planned -- add some excitement. Watching a punt roll dead while seven players form a circle around it is a yawner. And the rule where a ball that hits the ground after traveling 25 yards can be recovered by either side adds an extra element of excitement.

The on-field cameras offer a different view and the microphones on the players actually let you hear some of the hits.

The nicknames on the players' jerseys -- He Hate Me, for example -- have created some publicity, which is what the league needs. No harm there.

Some of the features on the players leading in and out of commercials have been well-packaged. It's primarily an attempt to make fans more familiar with the players, but they are often compelling stories.

Chicago tight end Tyji Armstrong, for example, is a former Buccaneers tight end whose mother died of medical complications while watching him play in a 1992 game at Soldier Field against the Bears. Before each home game, he goes into the stands and leaves flowers on the seat where his mother sat. Those kinds of stories, and the second chance the league provides many of its players, are what it should focus on.

The bad

The locker-room cameras haven't proved to show anything more than a bunch of players trying to catch their breath while a coach shouts some words of encouragement. And the interviews of players right when they come off the field -- although once in a while interesting -- usually don't amount to much.

The overemphasizing of every hard tackle as if it were Jack Tatum on Darryl Stingley is annoying. Just let them play. My favorite part of each Sunday game on TNN is when the announcers stay quiet for a series so we can hear the players' mikes better. And Craig Minervini and Bob Golic are easily the most tolerable broadcasting tandem.

Big plays are few and far between. Play-calling has been conservative, almost as if coaches are afraid to risk a play that might cost their players the bonus money that comes with each victory. I can't remember one halfback pass. It has been five weeks -- the teams need to open up their offenses.

A few highlights couldn't hurt. Just ask those Neilsen folks.

For the record

A 3-1 rebound against the number improves the season mark to 12-7-1 versus the point spread.

Saturday's games

LAS VEGAS +3 at Orlando -- The health of quarterback Jeff Brohm, who was knocked out of last week's game against Memphis, is the key for the unbeaten Rage. The Outlaws' defense isn't likely to be much kinder to whomever takes snaps for Orlando, and Las Vegas should be hungry after a last-minute loss at Chicago. Las Vegas 17, Orlando 16.

CHICAGO +6 at Memphis -- The league's top running backs, Chicago's John Avery and Memphis' Rashaan Salaam, square off in Tennessee. The Enforcers finally tasted victory last week and should hang tough again. Memphis 19, Chicago 16.

Sunday's games

SAN FRANCISCO -7 vs. New York -- Pat Barnes replaced fellow Cal alum Mike Pawlawski at quarterback last week and led the Demons to a rout over Birmingham. More of the same this week. San Francisco 26, New York 12.

LOS ANGELES -3 at Birmingham -- I've been snakebitten by the Thunderbolts the past two weeks. I never make the same mistake three times. Los Angeles 24, Birmingham 19.

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