The XFL is back in action, and Week 2 certainly brought in a ton of oomph and excitement to the revamped league. With both the San Antonio Brahmas and the Orlando Guardians looking for their first wins of the season, the matchup was well anticipated. However, it was something off-the-game that caught the eye of fans.
The end result of the match was a pure disappointment for the Guardians as they found themselves completely outclassed by the San Antonio team. The Guardians eventually succumbed to a 30-12 defeat at the hands of the Brahmas, and the coach was absolutely livid with the results. In addition to their performance, he also questioned the competitive integrity of the team, garnering mixed reactions from the footballing community.
The will to win
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The home opener for the Orlando Guardians saw them fall to their second consecutive defeat. But that was not the only common thread as former Broncos’ number one pick, Paxton Lynch found himself benched all over again in game 2. Lynch has been one of the most pivotal names in the XFL, owing to the vast experience he has gathered over the years. His veteran leadership is, however, not paying up as he is known to make bad decisions out on the field. In addition to Paxton, the team has also built up a habit of giving up the ball too easily and is susceptible to an uncoordinated attacking style.
Read More: “Needs to Copy”: Dwyane Johnson’s XFL Introduced a New System Which Fans Want to See in the NFL Too
The coach of the Orlando Guardians shared his frustration with the team during an interaction.
We got coaches in the XFL throwing their entire team under the bus 😂pic.twitter.com/f0w0LhZq3G
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 26, 2023
“We gotta get different guys, obviously we got guys out there that are not competing, that are not making plays. So, we gotta get people in there, young men who wanna play, wanna compete and make plays. I am seeing guys not performing, I mean look at the scoreboard. They gotta perform,” said the coach with a relatively angry tone.
Twitter appreciates the honesty
Even though the coach airing out his team’s dirty laundry in the public might not sit well with the players, the fans certainly loved the honesty.
Truth hurts. 🤷🏿♂️
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) February 26, 2023
Several fans that the coach was absolutely right for calling his players out, “Step up or step out”.
No issue here. Step up or step out.
— USC Trojan Empire (@usctrojanempire) February 27, 2023
One user, in particular, felt that this is what authenticity looks like, something that is lacking in the NFL.
Yeah this is authentic unlike the NFL, where everyone is afraid to say what they are thinking
— Arlando Walker (@ArlandoWalker) February 27, 2023
Others categorized this as tough coaching and came out supporting the man.
So a guy who covers the NFL calls this throwing players under the bus. I’m not sure what level you’ve played at or if you’ve ever played, but this is what tough coaching sounds like. This is what the truth sounds like.
— Tory Humphrey (@toryhumphrey) February 27, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Many disagreed with the narrative of him throwing the players under the bus.
He didn’t throw anyone under the bus. He just said they aren’t playing hard
— Jake Nixon (@JakeNixonnn) February 26, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
These outright comments in the media might have either an extremely positive effect on the team, making them play hard, or end up pushing them to even deeper depths. No matter how we look at it, the team certainly needs to improve and it is up to the coach to find a solution.
Watch This Story: Darren Wallers’ statement fuels speculation of NFL GOAT Tom Brady joining the Raiders