Oliver Luck sues XFL owner Vince McMahon

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 21, 2020) It is being reported by Darren Rovell on his Twitter page (@darrenrovell) and an article on actionnetwork.com that former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck is suing XFL and WWF owner Vince McMahon.

Luck has stated through his lawyers that he was wrongfully terminated in the suit that was files in Connecticut on Thursday, April 16. The suit further states that he (Luck) is owed by salary from his contract that was guaranteed which amounts to between $20 million and $25 million over the five years of the contract. The contract was structured that he would receive the remaining amount of his salary of he was terminated without cause.

When the XFL was shut down on April 13, Luck was not listed as one of the creditors in their bankruptcy filing. 

XFL halts day-to-day operations

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT (April 10, 2020) The XFL, the spring football league created by Vince Jim McMahon has announced it is suspending day-to-day operations and has laid off most of their employees. The announcement came at a time when most sports leagues in the United States are in a shut down mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league, which was a reboot of the original XFL from 2001, had completed half of its 2020 season when play was terminated. The Houston Roughnecks, who posted a 5-0 record when play was suspended, was the only undefeated team in the league. The league consisted of eight teams.

Steelers sign Former XFL long snapper Christian Kuntz

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (March 27, 2020) It is being reported by NBCSports.com that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former XFL Dallas Renegades long snapper Christian Kuntz. The 6-2, 237-pound alumni of Duquesne University, was with the Steelers last year during training camp and the preseason. He also has seen action as a linebacker in college and earlier in his professional career.

Kuntz began his professional career in 2017, when he signed with the New England Patriots. In addition, he spend time on the rosters of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers' signing Kuntz makes four players that that they have added to their roster from the XFL ranks. Previously, they signed defensive tackle Cavon Walker, safety Tyree Kinnel, and offensive tackle Jarron Jones.

A sad day for sports....The Day Sports Died

Story and photo by James Larken Smith
Special for TexSport Publications
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (March 12, 2020) Many times after the end of the NFL regular season, they call the following Monday 'Black Monday', because of all the coaching and front office firings. I think we can call today 'The Day Sports Died'. 

There have been strikes in individual sports, but there was at least a little something to fall back on. There is NO precedent for what happened today. Championships cancelled, not only NCAA basketball, but ALL winter and spring sports; meaning college baseball, I assume, is done for the year. The new spring football league, the XFL, is cancelled for the season. No playoffs or championship. It is to hard to finish the season because players want to try out for NFL practice squads and teams. A perfect 5-0 season for our Houston Roughnecks is done. 

Add the NBA, NHL, MLS, Pro Tennis, Pro Rugby, and Major league and Minor League Baseball to the list of sports on hold for at least close to a month. A sad day, the right call to do this, but a sad, sad day....

Controversy surrounds ending of Houston vs. Seattle XFL game

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 7, 2020) The Houston Roughnecks “received” their fifth win of the 2020 XFL season with a 32-23 victory over the Seattle Dragons at TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston. The word “received” is used because even though the game had ended, Houston may not have actually “won” the game.

With four seconds remaining on the clock, Houston had the ball, with a nine-point lead. Facing a fourth-and-23 play, quarterback P.J. Walker was instructed to run out the clock and kill the ball to end the game. Instead of back peddling in the pocket and throwing the ball out of bounds; he took a knee. Unfortunately, when he did than, there were still two seconds remaining in the game.

Instead of the clock being stopped, it ran out and the referees left the field after declaring the game was over. In reality, the Dragons should have received the ball on the Roughnecks’ 21-yard line, for a one-play drive. It would have been possible for Seattle to score a touchdown; and to go for a three-point conversion, which would have tied the game.

The mistake was noticed by on the ABC broadcast by announcer Steve Levy. “This is unbelievable. Somebody's gotta go get the officials. Clearly, two seconds are left in this game!" Unfortunately the game was called as "over" and nothing else could be done.

The XFL released a statement after the game to apologize for the error. In the statement, it was indicated that Wes Booker, who was the officiating supervisor for the game, had been reassigned.

Houston Roughnecks QB P.J. Walker press conference on 2-22-20

By Chris Price

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

TAMPA, FLORIDA (February 22, 2020) Quarterback P.J. Walker threw for a total of 304 yards and three touchdowns  as the Houston Roughnecks downed the Tampa Bay Vipers by the score of 34-17 in Week 3 action of the XFL. The game, which was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, was the first road trip for Houston, and pushed their season record to 3-0.

Walker, who was the first-ever XFL Star of the Week, talked to the press after the game. Below is video, via the XFL, on YouTube.com, of the press conference.

P.J. Walker leads Houston into Week 3 game against Tampa Bay in XFL action

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 21, 2020) Going into Week 3 of the 2020 XFL season, Houston  quarterback P.J. Walker (shown left) in making a name for himself and positioning the Roughnecks into the team to beat in the upstart league. 

After leading Houston to a 37-17 win over the Los Angeles Wildcats, Walker was named the XFL's first-ever Star of the Week. He passed for 272 yards and four touchdowns against the Wildcats, with both achievements leading the league after Week 1. In addition, he posted a career-high and game-high 111.0 rating in Houston's Week 2 win over St. Louis. He was rated 106.5 in Week 1 versus Los Angeles and a 108.5 rating for the season.

Walker and his Houston teammates will face off against the Tampa Bay Vipers in Week 3, who have posted an 0-2 record through their first two games. In their first game of the season, the Vipers dropped a 23-3 decision to the New York Guardians; followed by a 17-6 loss to the Seattle Dragons. The Roughnecks-Vipers game, scheduled for 2 p.m. CST kickoff on Saturday, January 22 in Tampa Bay. The game will be the first road trip for Houston and the first home game for Tampa Bay.

Houston is leading the XFL in scoring, averaging 32.5 points per game with Walker's completion of a 50-yard TD pass to Cam Phillips, in Week 1, was the longest touchdown of the season for Houston. The Roughnecks rank No. 1 in the XFL in total touchdown with nine. In addition, Houston is second in the XFL in turnover margin at +4.  Phillips leads the XFL with four touchdown while the Roughnecks are 2-2 in scoring on its opening drive. 

Saturday's game will be broadcast on live on ABC.

Walker leads Houston Roughnecks to first XFL win

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 8, 2020) The Houston Roughnecks kicked off the 2020 XFL football season by downing the Los Angeles Wildcats by the score of 37-17 n Houston on Saturday night. The 17,815 fans in attendance at TDECU Stadium saw the Roughnecks come back from a 17-12 deficit late in the second quarter in route to their 20-point win. 

Quarterback Phillip (P.J.) Walker (shown right) completed 23-of-39 passes for 272 yards, and threw for four touchdowns. His longest of the day was a 50-yard completion to wide receiver Cam Phillips at the 13:44 mark of the first quarter. His other TD passes were to James Butler (16 yards), Sam Mobley (39 yards), and Kahlil Lewis (No. 1 shown below) for four yards. 

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

Walker was allocated to to the Roughnecks prior to the XFL Draft, and signed with Houston on October 16, 2019. On May 3, 2017, Walker was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 2, 2017 and was signed to the Colts' practice squad the next day. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts on January 1, 2018.

On September 1, 2018, Walker was waived by the Colts and was signed to the practice squad the next day. He spent time on and off the Colts practice squad before being released on December 26, 2018, but was re-signed three days later. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2019.

On August 31, 2019, Walker was waived by the Colts and signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be released two days later.

In college, he played for the Temple Owls from 2013 to 2016.

XFL names Houston's team

Photo by Kristine Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 21, 2019) "Resolute. Rippling with heat. Railing against fatigue. Unceasing and often unseen, they labor deep in the trenches. Mercenaries in the muck. Brawlers in blackened dirt. Not just for three hours. Not just when the lights are bright. These are the scratching, grinding, never-bending few. The Houston Roughnecks. Going to work for you."

And there you have it. Houston's XFL team will be called the Roughnecks. Kicking off in February, 2020, the next edition of "professional football" comes to Houston. The announcement was made at Houston City Hall, via a live feed from XFL Headquarters by commissioner Oliver Luck. 

June Jones, a former coach for the NFL’s Houston Oilers and USFL’s Houston Gamblers, and a former head coach in the NFL, CFL and at the major college level, was named head coach and general manager of the Roughnecks earlier this

Photo by Kristine Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

year. Jones comes to the XFL after two seasons with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Hired as the team’s assistant head coach in 2017, he was elevated to interim head coach after an 0-8 start that year. The Tiger-Cats went 6-4 under Jones the rest of the way, and he was appointed head coach for 2018, and took the team to the second round of the playoffs.

Season ticket deposits are being take at the time, with full payment being made as the season gets closer. Seat selection will begin in September. Chick here for information on tickets.

Houston will play five home games at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium.