The Markcast® (Best Made Videos®)

It's the debut episode of the XFL Markcast, with hosts Paul Sanchez and Reid Johnson. This week, the fellas discuss the next wave of resurgence for the XFL, now owned by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his business partner, Dany Garcia.

It's Friday, which means the sale - barring any last minute changes - is final. The Rock now owns the XFL with his partners. We discuss that AND Chad Ochocinco joins the Markcast to talk about the transaction and football in general during the pandemic!

The sale is final. The keys have been cut, with Dany and Dwayne's faces in them. So where do we go from here? Also, WWE hall of famer Mick Foley drops his two cents in on the purchase of the XFL.

One month into the XFL Markcast and The Rock has his helmets. Also, FFL talk and discussions on how teams will operate in the "new normal."

This week, Reid and Paul go over the various news from the XFL, along with the possibility that Cardale Jones listens to the Markcast?

Reid and Paul discuss Dany taking on a bit of injury, celebrating the good news of the purchase. The Rock hanging with the Queen? Also, writer Geoff Magliocchetti joins the guys to discuss the fate of the Guardians and his thoughts on the purchase.

This week on the XFL Markcast, Reid and Paul discuss the instant buzz of Dwayne Johnson's XFL workout belt... and wonder how we get one. Also, would Reid buy a cardboard cutout for the XFL season in 2021?!

*THIS PODCAST WAS RECORDED PRIOR TO THE NEWS DROPPING THAT THE XFL WAS COMING BACK IN 2022*

This week, Reid's Cameo request actually goes the right way this time with Cole Boozer. Also, we give kudos to sports leagues finishing their seasons with little to no pandemic losses.

The XFL isn't coming back til 2022, but there's plenty of news to discuss. Also... why is a man who makes $37M a year selling $20 cups of coffee?

This week's episode includes a special guest. Cole Boozer from the DC Defenders joins us to discuss what he's been up to during the shutdown and also his view on the reboot of the XFL coming soon. Reid and Paul also discuss TSL - The Spring League - starting up very soon as the next football league joining our atmosphere of sports coming back into the fold!

This week, XFL News Hub's Josh Davis joins us to chat about the league going forward and why he enjoys bringing attention to other football leagues. Chasen Nick... we know who you really are. And Paul gets heated, once again, but this time for good reason over an old incident with a St. Louis sports writer.

This week on the XFL Markcast, we're talking Spring Football League with Jai Nokes, Paul explains why analytics is ruining baseball and the latest in news from the XFL, including the potential of The Rock traveling the road during the season?

This week, we continue focusing on the Spring League, along with the scuffles and spitting, with James Larsen. Also, PJ Walker is now the starter for the Carolina Panthers?

This week, TWO special guests. 1340 AM Fox Sports Charlotte host/reporter Sheena Quick hops in to chat about Teddy Bridgewater, PJ Walker and the overall vibe with the Carolina Panthers. Josh Davis from XFL News Hub brings us up to date on TSL news and the latest on the Vince McMahon/Alpha Entertainment bankruptcy case.

There was mad drama this week, after a former Spring League player dropped a video, critiquing all of the issues with TSL. We spoke with Kent Shelby, a CFL player and attendee of TSL, along with Brian Woods, who is the commissioner of TSL and got their sides of the story.

This week on the Markcast, Sheena Quick joins us to talk about the successful debut of XFL MVP PJ Walker and Paul gets a shoutout on his birthday from the Great One? Yes. It happened.

This week, Reid and Paul discuss Dwanta Claus and the XFL's Black Friday blowout. Also, the latest on Fan Controlled Football, the new logos and jersey releases.

This week, Reid's Google Doc is only two pages long, but it's because we chat with Patrick Dees of Fan Controlled Football about their launch coming in late winter 2021. Also, a slew of XFL alums hit the NFL!

This week on the show, Spring League MVP and QB of the Champions, Bryan Scott, joins us to chat about the title game and all things Spring League. Josh Davis drops in again to chat about the final Spring League game and the latest on the Oliver Luck lawsuit.

It's Christmas Day! Seattle Dragons K Ernesto Lacayo drops in from his workouts to chat about his career. Plus, Taylor's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

(*We (Reid) misspoke in this episode. QB Josh Johnson has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and has not been cut from the 49ers. Apologies for any confusion and for being incorrect. Thanks for listening, we will do better.)

This week, D-Line Coach for the FCF, Chase Baker, joins us to talk about Fan Controlled Football. Speaking of... Johnny Manziel was franchise tagged by a team? Interesting turn of events. We also cover Taylor Heinicke potentially starting for the Washington Football Team.

Alternative football quarterbacks getting some serious playing time in the NFL... and what is happening in Carolina? A potential of FIVE quarterbacks?!

Reid finally got his (not so) bootleg PJ Walker jersey from China. Also, why Taylor Heinicke needs his own Disney movie stat... and the latest on Fan Controlled Football!

Jam packed episode! And this time, we mean it. "Jerdy" aka Jackson Erdmann from the Fan Controlled Football league joins us, as well as Vince from "The Alternative Football Scouting Report." We're covering the latest with Oliver Luck vs. Vince McMahon and potential XFL players moving up in the NFL. Last but not least, Reid's wife Dorothy drops in for a gift for the fellas.

A super-sized episode as the owner of Fan Controlled Football's Wild Aces, Greg Miller, stops by to spend some time chatting about his social media reach and his excitement/involvement with Fan Controlled Football. Major moves in the NFL being discussed, along with the latest XFL updates that will probably be dated by the time this drops! Just our luck.

This week on the show, we record late at night to get those last minute news bits and to toast the XFL 1.0 being 21 years old - the drinking age! The latest from news tied to XFL players and critiques of Fan Controlled Football.

This week on the Markcast, our king Taylor Heinicke collects the bag from the Washington Football Team. Also, Fan Controlled Football talk and former Tampa Bay Vipers QB Quinton Flowers joins us to talk about FCF!

This week, we review the first weekend of Fan Controlled Football and our critiques of what they need to do going forward. Like, maybe, not have a commentator dropping profanity over the stream? Also, the latest with the XFL and a funny story about why Paul is running at peak internets again.

This week, the guys try to make sense of the random rule changes in between games of Fan Controlled Football. Plus... Russell Wilson wants out of Seattle? Carolina clearing cap space to hold FIFTY million dollars in money on two quarterbacks? Wild.

Just when Reid thought all his angst towards FCF was out, they put it all back in. We discuss the tumultuous week for his emotions with FCF, along with the latest news from the Luck vs. McMahon wrestling ang... uhhh... lawsuit.

This week, Reid's entire plan of a jam-packed podcast falls to the big news (that we allegedly shouldn't speculate on) that the CFL and XFL are discussing a partnership. The CFL is in trouble and Redbird has money. Also, Braden Smith from the Zappers of the FCF joins us, because he is the real MVP (insert Kevin Durant meme here.)

"Well... that escalated quickly," Ron Burgundy once said. If you're looking at the total running time, don't be alarmed, because every minute is entertaining. Paul will refrain from the cliche bell this week, because the show is actually JAM-PACKED and he's getting dental surgery. Friend of the show, professional placekicker Ernesto Lacayo, steps in to guest host with Reid to give the latest news. Canadian sports talk host and CFL expert Rod Pedersen joins the crew to talk about the potential of a CFL/XFL merger, along with the hurdles to a merger and inside info on why the CFL is seemingly in trouble. Former Seattle Dragons running back and UFPA President Kenneth Farrow II hops in to discuss the UFPA's start, how it became involved with the CFL/XFL news and the solutions to player concerns going forward in their athletic careers. Finally, former Super Bowl champion running back with the Seahawks, Robert "Turbo" Turbin discusses his stint with the FCF, coming after the Beasts defeat in the semifinals of their playoffs, along with his thoughts on where Russell Wilson might end up playing in the upcoming years. *Turbin's interview does contain explicit language.*

Another two hour plus episode, so you know Paul's already not happy. Kidding. It had to be done. Edmonton Football Team color (or colour, since Canadian) analyst Dave Campbell drops in, along with new Alouettes place kicker/punter Matt Mengel. Also, Braydon from CFL Reddit covers how the fans among the internet feel about merger talk. Break out the Tim Bits, eh... there's a lot of the Great White North in this episode.

This week, the guys are fired up and wired up... on ZOA energy drink. Jim Mullin from Football Canada joins us to talk about the culture and structure of the CFL and how it needs the university and junior support to thrive. Also, podcaster and CFL fan Connor O'Neil drops in to give his perspective on the potential of the merger. Tidbits from the Luck/McMahon lawsuit and how Oliver Luck might make Paul pretty happy, IF he is the choice to replace Larry Scott in the Pac-12.

There's a showdown at high noon, between the fellas and Arash Madani, over the XFL and why he thinks the CFL doesn't need them. It's an interesting turn, to say the least, as Arash seems to be in the solutions business too. Also, Spring League head honcho Brian Woods stops in to discuss the next season of his league and the expansion of it. This is a can't miss episode.

The previous description has been deleted, thanks to Rod Pedersen blowing up our entire show at 3:30pm. Kidding. Sorta. We break down the late breaking news, as well as bringing in Farhan Lalji from TSN to talk about his opinions and perspective on the merger, prior to Pedersen dropping BOMBS. It's a crazy episode that was finished at the last minute. Hope you enjoy.

This week on the show, the guys try and somewhat fail and succeed at pronouncing AJ Jakubec's name correctly. Sorry, AJ... but we did give you a YERRRR! Dan Barnes also joins the show, as we continue to break down the news coming from north of the border and their plans to play a truncated 2021 CFL Season. Some XFL news and TSL news to round out a very full show!

This week, we make the pivot to just "The Markcast." We love the CFL, so Reid and Paul invite two of Canada's premiere print journalists, Dan Ralph and Rob Vanstone, to chat about the future of the CFL and the latest news leaking out about a potential merger. During the show, last minute news from the NFL trickled out, as well as some brief banter regarding the TSL.

It was the CFL Draft this weekend, so we brought in an old friend by the name of Connor O'Neil to break down what Canadian players to watch out for, both here and north of the border in the CFL. Also, host of the Sports Cage and the voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Derek Taylor, gives us his insight and his hopes for the CFL going forward. And despite Paul's ban on all things "Young Rock," somehow... it makes its way into the show, because the CFL is mentioned on the season finale. A great episode from top to bottom!

The age old question... well, maybe it's only a year old question... what constitutes a football league? Guess it depends on who you ask. Jason Gregor from "The Jason Gregor Show" joins the guys to talk about the CFL and... hockey?! The latest on the COVID conditions in Canada and briefly catching up to Spring League and Luck/McMahon lawsuit news.

Did I mention? We have a sponsor. Use the code "MARKCAST" at Manscaped.com to get 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Especially if that order is a BRAND NEW LAWN MOWER 4.0 that just dropped this week!

This week on The Markcast, Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press stops in to give a passionate discussion on the CFL/XFL potential and happens to talk a little hockey as well. Reid goes solo with Stan Bedwell, a player who went to lengths to further his career as a football player. The latest on Spring League as well!

A 2+ hour episode, loaded with guests. Scott Stinson from National Post joins us, as well as Greg James from CFL Radio America. Finally, Cole Boozer makes his second appearance on the Markcast, checking in from the TSL.

This week, Reid enlists Matt Lyons, XFL and CFL NewsHub writer, as the guest co-host for this episode, as Edmonton releases their new name... The Elks! That's a fierce name. You couldn't talk Edmonton football without bringing in their colour analyst, Dave Campbell, to chat about the new name and all things Edmonton. Tom Mayenknecht, host of The Sport Market on TSN, also joins Reid. And... the USFL is back?! It was a wild week!

This episode is so big... it's a DOUBLE episode. Joining us this week, Pat Steinberg from the CFL (26:57), Paul McCallum, who played in both the CFL and XFL (1:13:18), USFL Executive Director Steve Ehrhart (2:06:28), followed by a copyright and intellectual property attorney, Michael Cohen (2:34:11). Our special guests wrap up with Kyle Smith, who oversees the USFL Project (2:53:13).

We felt this episode needed a LOT of coverage, due to what we believe are lingering legal issues regarding the USFL reboot. So sit back and enjoy over 200 minutes of Markcast this week and, yes, Paul is annoyed at the length.

This week on the show, Reid dissects the CFL schedule and is joined by friends of the show, Jim Mullin and Rod Pedersen to get their insight on where the CFL goes next. Also, Jim makes a sort of foolish bet with Paul. Also, Kevin Kugler drops in to talk about the TSL Mega Bowl and the next steps for the USFL.

This week on The Markcast, another 2 hour affair. From the Toronto Sun... CFL Hall of Fame Press Member Steve Simmons joins us to discuss C-218, the Canadian bill to legalize single game betting that passed... diplomatically convey a message that Arash tried to. Nic Sulsky from PointsBet also chats with Reid about the implications of single game betting in Canada. Jackson Leonard from past Spring League showcases also discusses his current status in pro football.

It's Reid's birthday and he seems focused on the buffets, since returning from Vegas. On this week's show, Tim Baines, who covers the Redblacks joins Reid to chat about the CFL. Also, Will from the Argos Fancast also dropping in to talk to Reid about Canadian style football, eh. Also, an appearance from Josh Davis, to cover the latest with the ELF happening across the pond.

Say it ain't so? Go your own way? We are never ever, ever getting back together? (Unless single game betting doesn't work out) Break up songs are the theme of this week's episode, as the story breaks out that T̶h̶e̶ ̶C̶F̶L̶ ̶t̶o̶t̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶c̶u̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶w̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶g̶u̶e̶,̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶n̶e̶e̶d̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶,̶ ̶e̶h̶ both the CFL and XFL have mutually decided to end their potential partnership. To back up the truth and not the revisionist history, Mike Mitchell, a prominent XFL insider joins Reid to chat about what went wrong, what went right and what the XFL does now. Friend of the show and Canadian gem Farhan Lalji provides his three cents (sorry, it's the exchange rate between our currencies) about the CFL and that side of the ending of the merger. Finally, Sammy Gahagan, a scout for the Montreal Alouettes, hops on to discuss some of the players he's scouted, including Matt Mengel and Cole Boozer. It's a loaded show... with a giveaway at the end!

This week, we're leading a horse to water. Maybe. We break down the fallout from the latest Taylor Swift song written by the C̶F̶L̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶n̶e̶e̶d̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶t̶w̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶g̶u̶e̶ two parties involved in the now postponed merger. And by postponed, it's not just our opinion that we should really look at the verbiage laid out by the CFL. Canadian Press' Dan Ralph is here to chat about that (17:25). Murray McCormick from the Regina Leader-Post also drops in to update Reid on Roughriders camp and Paxton Lynch (59:10) and we wrap up our special guests, with Head Coach Hal Mumme of the Spring League champion Linemen (1:41:30).

A LATE recording session, due to Paul's weird working schedule. This week's show includes the return of one Rob. Van. Stone. I mean... Rob Vanstone. Sorry... I let my inner wrestling mark take over for a second. Also, sports agent Darren Gill talks about his clients and a few that have retired from the CFL recently, with the uncertainty. Finally, Argos historian Paul Woods drops by to give a great breakdown and with a GREAT first name like that, it's good to see that maybe Pauls think alike. Because, despite the gatekeepers over at Reddit's insistence, this IS a CFL Podcast.

This week on the show, we combat the conspiracy to take listeners away by going back into XFL coverage. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Senior Writer Ed Tait joins the show to chat with Reid about training camp from the 2019 Grey Cup - and defending - Champions. From TSN690 in Montreal, Joey Alfieri drops in to give some updates on the Montreal Alouettes. Finally, Reid's dedication to Wade Keller's Pro Wrestling Torch pays off, as Greg Parks (also from XFLBoard) chats with Reid about the potential of a PR problem with the XFL, as well as some wrestling chatter, which we used to call our "garbage" or "things that annoy Paul" segment.

We went LIVE with Football Canada President Jim Mullin after the CFL 2021 kickoff game featuring the Hamilton Tiger-Cats taking on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Markcast is celebrating its one-year anniversary of covering CFL, XFL and other alt-football news by going live, providing instant reactions and analysis of the Tiger-Cats vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers game, and taking live feedback and questions/comments from our viewers!

We also do the rest of our regular weekly show chatting the latest CFL news, XFL news and USFL news from around the interwebs! Make sure to "like" and subscribe if you enjoy our live content so we can continue experimenting with different CFL/XFL show formats in the future!

It’s your pre-game semi-live show for week 2 of the CFL season! CFL insider Dave Naylor joins the program to preview week 2 of the CFL 2021 season in including the BC Lions taking on the Calgary Stampeders, the Toronto Argonauts facing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Montreal Alouettes at the Edmonton Elks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats going up against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Dave Naylor also shares his thoughts on the QB situation in BC, how C-218 and single-game sports betting will affect the CFL business model moving forward and gives some perspective to the CFL week 1 television numbers and live attendance figures. We also gush about the CFL’s new hotness McLeod Bethel-Thompson and go over why he just might be the new “king” of the 2021 CFL season.

Plus all of your other CFL and XFL news including Cole Boozer and WFT, the new AAF documentary “Alliances Broken” and Jordan Ta’amu trying out for the New England Patriots.

We're doing another LIVE CFL show before the Edmonton Elks take on the BC Lions in their home opener.

The Markcast will be previewing the Elks/Lions matchup as well as chatting about the Montreal Alouettes taking on the Calgary Stampeders (minus a recently injured Bo Levi Mitchell), the Winnipeg Blue Bombers facing the Toronto Argonauts (hopefully with McLeod Bethel-Thompson at the helm) AND the Ottawa REDBLACKS going up against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at home.

TSN Sports reporter Darrin Bauming will join the show to chat Blue Bombers as well as help us run down the week 3 matchups in the CFL and talk about how the CFL 2021 season is going thus far.

Besides previewing week 3 of CFL play, we'll also be running down the latest CFL and XFL news as well as touching on recent USFL developments.

We preview week 4 of the CFL this week with Tim Baines talking the Ottawa REDBLACKS home opener vs. America’s CFL team the BC Lions, and Tim Capper shares his analysis on the Montreal Alouettes at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. We also cover the latest on the Edmonton Elks inability to play against the Toronto Argonauts because of an outbreak on the team and discuss the latest happenings around the CFL league when it comes to player and fan protocols and what commissioner Randy Ambrosie has to say on the matter.

We bring on CFL Hall of Fame reporter Mike Beamish to give his thoughts and analysis of the recent purchase of the BC Lions by Amar Doman and what is needed to regrow a diminishing CFL BC Lions fanbase in the greater Vancouver area.

Finally we DO cover a little XFL news including Oliver Luck potentially being brought in to help stabilize the Big 12 conference and update Jordan Ta’amu’s status with the Detroit Lions. Paul does a big unboxing of a listener sent in gift, a Toronto Argonauts jersey, and we low-key announce a potential live show in Hamilton on Grey Cup weekend in December.

*This episode was recorded before the CFL’s announcement today of the successful rescheduling of the Edmonton Elks and Tor onto Argos game which was postponed during week 4. The game is now scheduled to be played Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30 pm EST in Toronto.

It’s a Mark’s (cast) CFL Labour Day Weekend preview on this episode with BOTH Jason Gregor and Gord Randall. We run down the weekend’s matchups including the Montreal Alouettes at the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers facing the undefeated Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Toronto Argonauts taking on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Edmonton Elks coming on an official “bye” week traveling to Calgary to do battle against the Stampeders. Gord also breaks down the BC Lions season thus far, talks new owner Amar Doman and what America’s CFL team needs to do to be successful in the CFL West.

We chat the latest news coming out of Edmonton including the release of Jacob Ruby and statements from their president Chris Presson, and we cover news and notes from the rest of the CFL teams. Could the Ottawa REDBLACKS make a change at quarterback? Sounds like that was a possibility after losing to America’s CFL team the BC Lions last week.

The NFL cut down their rosters this week, and we keep track of all the latest movements from some of your favorites from the XFL and The Spring League including PJ Walker, Michael Dunn and former AAF MVP Garret Gilbert.

FINALLY, there’s some honest to goodness XFL news to chat about this week as Redbird Capital’s Rob Klein talks potential team owners, where they are at with hiring a commissioner and more.

It’s the CFL 2021 Banjo Bowl and we are here to give you all the coverage you need ahead of the Saskatchewan Roughriders heading to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers. Ted Wyman, of the Winnipeg Sun and Britton Gray of 980 CJME join us to run down the “heated” Banjo Bowl rivalry!

We also preview the rest of CFL week 6 including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats traveling to Toronto to take on the Argonauts, the Calgary Stampeders rematching against the Edmonton Elks at home and the Ottawa REDBLACKS traveling to BC to take on the Lions with Ted Wyman, Britton Gray and Adam Laskaris from Daily Hive. Adam also gives his thoughts on the CFL season thus far, and what the Hamilton Tiger-Cats need to do to keep up the momentum they are building in the 2021 CFL season.

There’s plenty of other news and notes around the CFL season and we tackle all of those as well including Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young buying beer for the Labour Day Classic attendees, the REDBLACKS hosting frontline workers, Nick Arbuckle’s status with the Argonauts and the latest TV ratings for the CFL.

Finally we run down the latest CFL power ranking which sees the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the top of the heap with Reid (and America’s) BC Lions slipping to number 7. Also Washington Football Team is close to picking their new franchise name and both Reid and Paul have some things to say about that!

Please like and subscribe, we’re close to hitting that 1,500 subscriber mark!!!

**Note from Paul: The BC Lions are NOT America's CFL team.**

Milt Stegall, Mike Hogan and Guilio Caravatta join us to preview week 7 of the CFL! Milt Stegall a CFL Hall of Fame and legend gives his thoughts on the CFL season thus far break’s down this weekend’s matchup of games including the Stampeders taking on the (now sans Dane Evans) Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts heading to Saskatchewan to take on the reeling Roughriders, America’s CFL team the BC Lions cross-country trek to face the Montreal Alouettes and the league-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers facing the Edmonton Elks who recently announced the injury of lead quarterback Trevor Harris.

Mike Hogan, play by play announcer of the Toronto Argonauts shares his thoughts on the Argos recent quarterback issues, ways the defence can improve and what he thinks about them coming into the Roughrider’s home to face the once heavily favored team coming off of two big losses.

Finally the voice of America’s CFL team the BC Lions Guilio Caravatta comes onto the program to share his feelings on the new ownership of the BC Lions franchise under Amar Doman, as well as ways the team can look to grow amongst younger viewers. Guilio also gives insight as a former quarterback into the Tiger-Cats recent struggles under center with Dane Evans’ injury and the news about Trevor Harris being placed on a 6-game injured reserve list.

We also break down the latest CFL new including Devlin “Duck” Hodges being signed by the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Chris Jones’ return to the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, recent CFL player fines of Greg Ellingson and Justin Renfrow and the latest on Montreal Alouette’s head coach Khari Jones.

Finally we break down Taylor Heinicke’s WINNING performance with the Washington Football Team in his Thursday Night Football debut against the New York Guardians and talk a little XFL with the news of Jonathan Coachman still waiting on some unpaid checks by the bankrupt league.

AND DON’T FORGET, we also announce the rules to enter our big 1,500 subscriber giveaway!!!

It’s a CFL week 8 preview show with Darrell Davis and Sean Campbell rehashing the horrendous showing from the Ottawa REDBLACKS hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday night. CFL fans are becoming upset about the lack of offense and excitement in the recent weeks of CFL gameplay and we try to figure out why.

Canadian Hall of Fame report Darrell Davis and Sean Campbell of TSN690 and Play by Play announcer of the Montreal Alouettes also preview the upcoming week of CFL games including the aforementioned Alouettes traveling to Toronto to take on the Argonauts and the 4-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders flying to BC to take on the similarly ranked BC Lions. Who will be ranked second in the CFL West division? We will soon find out.

Also Steve McAllister, a long-time Canadian sports media and communications expert stops by the program to chat about single-game sports betting as it relates to the CFL and their business model moving forward. What steps are being taken in terms of harassing the revenue that comes along with single-game sports betting and is CFL management and the on-air talent doing enough to take advantage of it?

Finally Dany Garcia had another one of her infamous Instagram stories XFL news “drops” by mentioning a dinner meeting with some of her fellow XFL business partners and Redbird Capital. We also cover the latest news of XFL darling Taylor Heinicke’s meteoric rise with the Washington Football team including his latest sponsorship deal with Bud light.

Be sure to listen to the end of the show for directions to be entered into our 1,500 subscriber giveaway!!!

Dustin Nielson, Reid Wilkins and Steve Milton join us to preview and chat about week 9 of the CFL as we are HALFWAY through the season, if you can believe it!!! Reid co-host of The Markcast has laid down the gauntlet to CFL Hall of Famer and friend of the show Milt Stegall in a social media avatar vs. social media avatar challenge between the winner of the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

We’re joined by TSN1260’s Dustin Nielson to recap the Edmonton Elks surprising LOSS to the Ottawa REDBLACKS, we also preview the BC Lions hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coming into town for their Friday night matchup.

Reid Wilkins of 630CHED stops by to chat the ongoing issues with Edmonton as well as to give his thoughts on the BC Lions, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders.

Steve Milton of the Hamilton Spectator makes an appearance to run down the latest personnel changes with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as they host the Montreal Alouettes and Vernon Adams Jr. who are looking to make a run for the Grey Cup. We’re halfway through the 2021 CFL season and the teams are really starting to take shape!

Finally, the Rock finally acknowledges the XFL, we cover the latest on Cody Fajardo and his tirade against social media, Dane Evans opening up about his family lineage and how Football Canada is embracing the support of acknowledging indigenous communities throughout Canada by revamping their logo.

AND, Paul gets a surprise gift from a listener, don’t miss it!

Jeff Hamilton, Chris Walby and Matt Baker join us to preview week 10 of CFL football action. The Edmonton Elks organization is having the worst week ever (it’s not even close), and Jeff Hamilton gives his thoughts on the recent Eddie Steele firing from 630CHED and the Brock Sunderland drama involving recent personnel releases and locker room decisions. We also cover the Kenny Lawler Winnipeg Blue Bomber suspension and the other latest happenings from the Canadian Football League.

Chris Walby, former 3x Grey Cup champion with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers joins us to chat how dominant the Blue Bombers’ performance has been through 9 weeks of CFL action so far leading into their week 10 matchup against the previously mentioned Edmonton Elks and who he thinks will face the currently 7-1 Blue Bombers in the Hamilton Hosted Grey Cup in December.

Finally, Matt Baker, Manager of Communications and Content for (America’s team) the BC Lions joins us on their bye week to chat through how the team is preparing to come off of back-to-back home losses to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. We cover Lucky Whitehead’s injury/recovery and preview the Calgary Stampeders traveling to BC Place to face the Lions with Paul, Reid and Dorothy of The Markcast live in attendance!

Finally we have honest to goodness Fan Controlled Football news with an announced season 2, as well as a potential partnership (not really) between the XFL and the NFL as we dissect and debunk the latest Instagram postings from Dwayne and Danny.

CFL, USFL AND USFL news this week on a truly “jam-packed” show.

Jeffrey Pollack is out as president and CEO of the XFL, the USFL is potentially setting up shop in Birmingham, Alabama and we have all your CFL week 11 news to cover as well.

Dave Campbell, colour analyst for the Edmonton Elks joins us to figure out what the HECK is going on with the quarterback position in Edmonton. Trevor Harris is out, Taylor Cornelius (cough cough a former XFL quarterback) and Dakota Prukop will both dress as QB 1 and 2 for their game Friday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dave and Reid try to make sense of the mess in Edmonton and what they can possibly do to turn their season around.

Scott Radley of the Hamilton Spectator and 900CHML stops by on the Hamilton Ticats “bye” week to chat Grey Cup standings, Toronto attendance issues (yes it’s still worth talking about) and who he seems leading the East headed into CFL week 11. Gemma Karstens-Smith of the Canadian Press also makes an appearance to talk about America’s CFL team the BC Lions who will be facing the Calgary Stampeders at home this Saturday with Reid and Dorothy of The Markcast in attendance. Will the “bye” week help the Lions? What will the team do without Lucky Whitehead?? We discuss.

Finally Dylan Smith of Yellowhammer News graciously comes on the show to go in detail about his latest report on the USFL setting up a “bubble season” in Birmingham, Alabama with FOX Sports leading the charge. Where "Has Brian Woods name been brought up?" "Where is the money coming from?" "Where did the TV numbers come from?" "How long has this been in motion?" “Who owns the USFL trademarks now?” These questions and more asked and answered.

If that wasn’t enough, Ben Fischer from the Sports Business Journal reports that the XFL is parting ways with league President & CEO Jeffrey Pollack, effective immediately. What does that mean for the other alternative-football league, when will we see an announcement of the forever rumored “Chief Football Officer”? We discuss and break it all down.

Plus we have our big 1500 subscriber giveaway announcement, we chat Rod Black’s retirement, Hamilton hosting the 2021 AND 2023 Grey Cups, Jake Maier testing for the big “C”, Vernon Adams Jr.’s injury, the potential of Nick Arbuckle being traded, CFL TV ratings and attendance numbers, and even some FAN CONTROLLED FOOTBALL NEWS BABY for those still keeping up!

The USFL 2022 kickoff date? Potential TV partners to air 2022 USFL games and a CFL week 12 preview with Pat Steinberg, Bob McGregor and Josh Burton, this episode truly has it all!

Pat Steinberg of CFL.ca joins us to give his thoughts on the 2021 CFL season so far and to preview this weekend’s match-ups with the Toronto Argonauts traveling to Montreal to face the Alouettes, the Ottawa REDBLACKS going up against the Hamilton Ticats, America’s CFL team the BC Lions squaring off against a white-hot Winnipeg Blue Bomber team and the Roughriders of Saskatchewan repeating their rivalry with the Calgary Stampeders.

Bob McGregor, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium announcer shares his thoughts on Winnipeg’s crazy 2021 run thus far and shares some stories about working the fervent Blue Bomber home crowd. Josh Burton, AD of Video Ops for the Toronto Argonauts also stops by before hitting the road to Montreal and talks up with will most likely be the team to beat in the East as we head to a Hamilton-hosted Grey Cup in December.

We then have some BIG USFL news courtesy of AL.com’s Roy S. Johnson who gives some spicy details on the USFL’s Birmingham, Alabama bubble season, a potential kickoff date, TV networks slated to air the games and more. Is FOX devoting enough money over the next 3 years to get this USFL re-launch off the ground? Only time will tell.

Finally, what is an “IRL NFT”? Fan Controlled Football seems to think it’s worth selling and we get to the bottom of that along with your other XFL and alternative football related news.

CFL, USFL and XFL updates this week on your (hopefully) favorite weekly alt-football show!

The USFL 2.0 Spring 2022 kickoff in Birmingham is a GO, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale address the XFL’s future timeline and we preview CFL week 13 with Natey Adjei, Rob Vanstone and Paul McCallum.

CFL Toronto Argonauts colour commentator Natey Adjei joins us to preview CFL week 13 with a BC Lions vs. Toronto Argonauts preview. We also discuss Nick Arbuckle’s trade to the Edmonton Elks and more. Rob Vanstone, friend of the show returns to discuss whether or not the CFL has an entertainment problem. Are the CFL games exciting enough and should more be expected and we quickly approach the 2022 Grey Cup in Hamilton. Former BC Lions (and XFL Las Vegas Outlaws) kicker Paul McCallum gives his thoughts on the 2022 CFL season, who he sees competing in the East Final and more.

Sportico hosted a “live” Invest in Sports livestream, which featured XFL owners Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale. The two dropped some juicy tidbits about future timelines, their plans for a “global” vision and when we should be expecting news.

Finally, it appears all signs point to GO for the USFL 2.0 and a smooth path forward with local Birmingham city officials for an April 2022 kickoff with “efforts now shift to finalizing agreements”. We also have a USFL hat unboxing courtesy of the new USFL merchandise shop and a special, one-of-a-kind Book Cameo surprise for Paul and our listeners!

The USFL moves to make their official announcement about a 2022 season and we’re previewing week 14 of the CFL season with Sean Bowen, Simon Tsalikis and Ethan Ready.

Sean Bowen, Toronto Argonauts digital/in stadium host joins us to run down the teams moves heading into the East finals. The Toronto Argonauts are leading the East under the helm of McLeod Bethel Thompson and Sean Bowen talks about the excitement in the GTA surrounding the Argonauts as they look to play for the 2021 Grey Cup in their rival the Hamilton Ticats home field.

Simon Tsalikis of TSN690 joins us to give overall thoughts on the quality of play in the 2022 CFL season, what we can expect from newly acquired Montreal Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris and how far we can expect to see the Khari Joins led Alouettes headed into the 2021 CFL postseason.

Ethan Ready, a former Ticats writer and CFL freelancer with CKPG News stops by to chat about America’s CFL team the BC Lions and their horrendous overtime loss to the Toronto Argonauts last week in OT. We preview the rest of the 2021 CFL season for the BC Lions and cover the latest kicker dilemmas facing the team.

If reports are to be believed, the USFL in Birmingham is a lock to move forward with a Spring 2022 kickoff, with an official announcement coming next week via FOX Sports. Paul and Reid cover the identity crisis facing the NEW USFL and wonder if people really know the sort of Spring football league they should expect. Is the NEW USFL heading to disaster before it even kicks off? Only time will tell with this “re-imagining” of the USFL.

Lots of other alternative football tidbits including an MLFB update, Fan Controlled Football’s rumored Spring kickoff crowding the alt-football landscape, Nate Holley’s signing in Toronto, Nick Arbuckle’s contract extension, Kyran Moore’s injury status, CFL future free agents, CFL TV ratings, Edmonton Elks issues, Ottawa REDBLACKS woes and more!

The XFL officially hires their league president and executive staff, plus we are previewing week 15 of the CFL with Dan Ralph, Chris Edwards and Adam Gosse.

USFL news will most likely be coming NEXT week as we breakdown the latest XFL hires from Russ Brandon, to Janet Dutch, Jay Rothman, Doug Whaley and more. What will the former president of the Buffalo Bills or a former executive producer of Monday Night Football mean to the 2023 re-launch of the XFL? We break down all of the hires, fill you in on their extensive backgrounds and more. Plus XFL.com is updated and more career news and jobs info should be upcoming soon.

Canadian Hall of Fame Reporter Dan Ralph returns to the show to breakdown all of the matchups headed into CFL week 15. Who’s winning the battle of the east when the Hamilton Ticats travels to Toronto to face the Argonauts. We discuss McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the Argonauts fanbase and MLSE’s ownership of the team moving forward. Are the CFL games entertaining this year? Dan Ralph has been covering the CFL for 30 years and shares his feelings on the matter as well as whether or not rule changes and other alterations could or should be made to the CFL moving on from the 2021 season.

Chris Edwards, TSN Senior Live Event Producer stops by to share his thoughts on the CFL 2021 season thus far. Chris shares fun memories and personal highlights from producing CFL games of the past and gives some insights about the league that he’s gained from his decades-long involvement with the sport. Chris also gives his predictions to Hamilton/Toronto and Winnipeg/Montreal heading into the 2021 Grey Cup finale at Tim Horton’s in Hamilton.

Adam Gosse, PA Announcer for the Toronto Argonauts also stops by to share his thoughts and excitement heading into Toronto’s big game this weekend. We talk about the electricity of the Toronto Argonauts fanbase, especially with an expected capacity-filled BMO field, as well as thoughts on coach Ryan Dinwiddie and crew leading the Argonauts on the field.

It SHOULD be another fun show NEXT week as well with the (presumed) USFL launch announcement from FOX Sports, hopefully more XFL tidbits/hires and more! Make sure you’re subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform so you can stay up to date on all of the latest XFL, CFL and USFL news!

FOX Sports has officially announced the 2022 USFL launch and we have all the latest details including USFL league ownership, management and more. Prolific USFL author Jeff Pearlman joins us to break down the announcement and to give his thoughts and expertise as someone who documented the original USFL through his book - “Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL”. We break down the FOX Sports USFL press release and go through the latest additional rumors and questions involving the USFL and when we might have those answers.

We then preview/break down week 16 of the CFL season with Dave Dawson of Sports Spectrum and Aaron Korolnek of TSN Edge and TSN 1050 Toronto. How will the Toronto Argonauts fare heading into the East Division Finals? What more can be done by the BC Lions to get some growth out of this season? Are the Winnipeg Blue Bombers truly unstoppable? we tackle all of these questions and more in regards to the 2021 CFL season.

Aaron Korolnek also shares some insights into sports betting, CFL fantasy football and how the CFL league offices need to harness those new ways of thinking to help propel the CFL into growth in a new generation of fans.

The XFL is in the news as well, with both Taylor Heinicke and PJ Walker seeing starts for the Washington Football Team and the Carolina Panthers. We discuss the XFL’s plan to be “different” in 2023 compared to 2020 and whether or not an eventual partnership with the NFL makes sense. Fenway Sports Management is also back in the news with the rumored acquisition of the Pittsburg Penguins and we chat a little Fan Controlled Football thin-skinnedness.

The USFL unveiled their team names/team logos and announced their 2022 USFL “host cities” this week and we are breaking down, ranking and analyzing all details. PLUS we are previewing CFL week 17 preview and talking all about the impending semi-finals featuring the Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton facing the Ticats and the Calgary Stampeders traveling to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The USFL 2022 team logos are here and we have all the latest details from USFL Executive Vice President Daryl Johnson. What’s the plan moving forward, what new cities should we expect in 2023 and beyond, we have all the info. We also break down the placement of the “host cities”, do they make sense for a 2022 USFL and can they co-exist when the XFL returns in 2023. What are the chances of a USFL-XFL merger? We tackle that LOADED question and more USFL news.

Davis Sanchez of CFL on TSN and TSN Edge joins us to preview the 2021 CFL semi-finals and to give his insights into the 2021 CFL season thus far. He responds to Caretake Bob Young’s comments about the excitement of the 2021 CFL and more.

Morley Scott of 630 CHED stops by to break down all the latest drama coming out from the Edmonton Elks including the firing of CEO Chris Presson, General Manager Brock Sunderland and head coach Jamie Elizondo. Can Edmonton rebound in 2022 and what steps will be necessary to get them on the right track?

Luc Mullinder, former Saskatchewan Roughrider and 620 CKRM analyst shares his thoughts on the Riders push to the 2021 Grey Cup, what he thinks their chances are against Calgary in the semi-finals and who he sees winning it all (potentially against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) at the 2021 CFL Grey Cup. 

We discuss Taylor Heinicke’s big win against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, the lack of respect PJ Walker is getting, the release of Chris Streveler from the Arizona Cardinals, the Dallas Cowboys release Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, the CFL East and West Division all-stars, CFL tv ratings, and the NFL potentially moving to St. Louis and what that means for the Battlehawks.

It’s a loaded (American) Thanksgiving episode, we hope you enjoy!

The XFL has leaked their kickoff date, The Spring League (and current USFL management) is being sued and we are previewing the CFL East and West Division Finals on this loaded episode of The Markcast.

Dany Garcia via Instagram has again leaked juicy details about the XFL’s 2023 return to the field. This time we have a proposed kickoff date, and dates for player combines (in June) as well as training camps in January of 2023. We break down the XFL 2023 timeline and talk potential conflicts with a hypothetical season 2 of the USFL.

Legendary Winnipeg Blue Bomber announcer Bob Irving then joins the show to chat about his retirement, the 2021 CFL season, the West Finals and more. Bob has been the voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 47 years and his retirement will leave a vacuum in the CFL media landscape.

Andy Bouyoukos, tv director at CFL on TSN joins the show to preview both the West Final (which he will be directing) as well as the Grey Cup in Hamilton. Andy has direct 11 of the past 12 Grey Cups as well as numerous other high-profile CFL live events and has tons of stories and insights to share from his time behind the scenes.

We then have a special roundtable featuring the crew from the Krown Gridiron Nation show on TSN with Jim Mullin, Gord Randall and Mike Hogan breaking down both the East Final (featuring the Toronto Argonauts hosting the Hamilton Ticats) and the West Final (with the Saskatchewan Roughriders traveling to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers). Lots of laughs, insights and CFL analysis to be had from this mega-roundtable!

If that wasn’t enough, we talk about the current lawsuit facing The Spring League and CEO Brian Woods from B&D Associates out of Indianapolis for unpaid bills from the 2021 May Spring League season. What does that mean for the 2022 relaunch of the USFL? We have the latest info coming out from reporters on the ground there.

Final topics include Taylor Heinicke’s big win over Russell Wilson, Cam Newton getting benched for PJ Walker, a slew of new USFL trademarks, Bob Stoops’ new job, the drama involving articles about the Toronto Argos moving to the XFL, Grey Cup activities and more!

It’s a BONUS episode of The Markcast!

We have USFL chatter, a The Spring League lawsuit update and a CFL Grey Cup 108 preview as we head north to Hamilton to cover the Grey Cup.

How will the NEW USFL make money playing all their season 1 games in Birmingham? That’s the question on our (as well as everyone else’s) mind and we’re brining on Jeff Edelstein of US Bets and Sports Handle to talk about it. Is sports betting the solution to the USFL’s potential financial woes? We break it down and prognosticate how daily fantasy could be a key to the USFL relaunch’s success.

We then bring on Mickey Shuey of IBJ News to get an update on the legal situation involving a lawsuit against The Spring League courtesy of B&D Associates, the ownership group for the Crowne Plaza Union Station, and the Capital Improvement Board of Marion County. What response does Brian Woods have and does this do anything to shake the public confidence in the USFL (Brian Woods has involvement in the new upstart league) moving forward? We talk to Mickey Shuey and get all the answers.

Then we talk to Greg Dunnett, Director of the Grey Cup Festival about what to expect for this year’s festivities. How did they have to pivot due to reduced crowds and what sorts of new ideas are they bringing to the table when Hamilton hosts the Grey Cup again in 2023? Plus how can the CFL use the Grey Cup and its festival to help grow tine Canadian game both within the Canadian borders and outside of them?

Don’t forget, we are going LIVE ahead of the 108th Grey Cup this coming Saturday from the George Hamilton Restaurant and Brewery in downtown Hamilton. Watch us online or come and visit us in person at The George Hamilton Restaurant and Brewery - 152 King St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 1A6, Canada.

We're going LIVE from The George Hamilton Restaurant and Brewery in downtown Hamilton in preparation of the 2021 108th Grey Cup game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Ticats.

On Saturday December 11th from 3pm - 4:30pm EST (12pm - 1:30p PST), we will be hosting our live CFL podcast previewing big match up and breaking down the game with some of your favorite past CFL media personalities who've appeared on our show in the past!

We'll also break down CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie's "State of the League" address, get throughts from our lineup about the CFL's future, planned revenue sharing and the league's recently announced partnership with Genius Sports.

Line up of guests:

2:20 Show Intro, Live from Hamilton for the 108th Grey Cup!
8:20 - Matt Baker - Manager of Communcations and Content, BC Lions
29:10 - Dan Ralph - Canadian Press Reporter, CFL HoF Reporter
42:30 - Darrin Bauming, Nik Kowalski - Bonfire Sports
50:00 - Dave Naylor/Farhan Lalji - CFL on TSN
1:18:30 - Darrell Davis - CFL HoF Reporter

We'll be taking questions live from those watching online and in person to those in attendance. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have the distinct honour of playing in the Grey Cup at home, what kind of advantage will they have, if any, against the juggernaut that is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Watch us online or come and visit us in person at The George Hamilton Restaurant and Brewery - 152 King St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 1A6, Canada to get your CFL Grey Cup fix before the big game!

We’re talking new USFL TV deals, Grey Cup fallout, the CFL 2022 schedule and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ celebration on this week’s episode of The Markcast. Tom Mayenknecht of The Sport Market (@TheSportMarket), Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun all make return appearances!

The 2022 CFL schedule is here! We break down the latest with CFL Hall of Fame reporter Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. We also get Ed’s thoughts on the Grey Cup championship game, the Blue Bombers celebration party and what the team needs to do to “three-peat” in 2023.

Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun stops by to share his thoughts on the Grey Cup 2021 festival, thoughts on the “State of the CFL” and the latest on Trevor Harris and Vernon Adams Jr. Tim talks about the future of the CFL, potential rule changes and what needs to be done (or definitely not done) in attempts to grow the CFL game in the off-season.

Tom Mayenknecht of The Sport Market (@TheSportMarket) then makes a return appearance to give his thoughts on Randy Ambrosie’s recent “State of the CFL” address and newly announced deal with Genius Sports. What’s the CFL’s game plan moving forward and is it enough to offset the recent below expected ratings for the 2021 Grey Cup game.

The USFL is also in the news with the “official” announcement of the FOX and NBC TV deals to carry the 2021 USFL games on FOX, NBC, USA Network and Peacock. Is there enough time to build anticipation for the 2021 USFL kickoff in April? Why would FOX want to give NBC content for their network? We answer these questions and more.

We’re launching another giveaway as we enter the CFL off-season and presumed USFL pre-season, so people subscribe to help up grow our channel! Plus we catch up on Taylor Heinicke and PJ Walker, run down the latest CFL news entering the first week of the off-season and more.

The Rock has officially broken Twitter by leaking that the XFL will be announcing “new teams, new cities” in the next 1-2 months on CNBC’s TechCheck and we have XFL insider Mike Mitchell to answer all of your XFL, USFL and CFL questions on a LOADED show.

XFL NewsHub’s XFL insider Mike Mitchell joins us for a return appearance breaking down all of the latest XFL rumors, the USFL TV deals, fallout from the CFL 2021 season and more! With the news coming out today via The Rock about potentially NEW teams and cities coming in the XFL 2023 re-launch, AND the recent crop of XFL hires including Russ Giglio, Jim Monos, Brad Campbell, we have PLENTY to talk about. PLUS we answer listener voicemails on all of the latest XFL, USFL and CFL news with Mike Mitchell.

THEN it’s the new hot debate, are you Team XFL or Team USFL? Reid channels his inner Twilight fandom to bring about the next great debate to flood the online message boards!

PLUS we tackle all of the latest CFL news including Chris Jones returning to the Edmonton Elks, the REDBLACKS officially announcing their new GM Shawn Burke, Orlando Steinauer staying put with the Hamilton Ticats, year-end CFL fines for McLeod Bethel-Thompson/Chris Edwards and more! We run down some OTHER XFL news and give some insights/analysis on the latest batch of USFL promos to air on FOX during the recent NFL slate of games.

From all of us at The Markcast, we wish you a happy holiday season, thanks for listening/watching!

It's the holiday CROSSOVER event of the year! XFL and CFL News Hub editor Mark Perry joins us on the show to run down the latest CFL, XFL and USFL news.
 
Mark Perry makes his long-awaited appearance on The Markcast to answer YOUR XFL, CFL and USFL questions and to predict what will happen for all three of the leagues heading in 2022 and beyond. Where will the XFL 2022 home cities be and what will the teams be called? What XFL teams might be returning and what XFL might not? We tackle these pressing questions as well and try to pin down the TV networks best suited to host the XFL in 2023 opposite a possible year 2 of the USFL in the impeding SPRING FOOTBALL WARS!!!
 
Then, lots of CFL off-season movements are taking place, we track the latest hires for the Toronto Argonauts, the Edmonton Elks and signings for the BC Lions. We look at Richie Leone’s comments about the lack of social media marketing for the CFL, talk through some notable CFL team releases and make fun of the Bengals/Ravens for having too many men on the field.
 
There’s also some very interesting XFL intrigue potentially unfolding as the XFL looks to patent the coach-player communications system created by XFL rules inventor Sam Schwartzstein in the original XFL. Also, EVERYone thinks the St. Louis Battlehawks are returning and we chat through what would possibly be the least shocking announcement ever when the XFL finally unveils their plans for 2023 and beyond.
 
From all of us at The Markcast, whether you are a CFL, XFL or USFL fan, happy holidays and here’s to a fresh, new, and exciting 2022 in the world of alternative football! Make sure to like and subscribe to stay up to date!

We’re talking about the USFL head coach announcements, USFL Training Camps, the USFL “draft” and USFL training camps on this week’s episode of The Markcast. PLUS does the XFL have international plans for expansion? We tackle that question and catch up with CFL Montreal Alouettes star Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

FOX Sports and the USFL have officially announced 4 of their 8 head coaches. We break down the announcement, who was left out, who should have been left in, and also give backgrounds and biography info on the USFL head coaches. The USFL also released some details this week about their “player selection meeting “ also known as the USFL draft, and announced when the USFL training camps and USFL kickoff would be.

The XFL filed some new international trademarks as well as posted a new job listing about international venues and ticketing operations. What does that mean for the upcoming XFL city and XFL team announcements? We answer all of those questions and more as we look forward to the upcoming XFL city/team announcements.

Finally, and not to bury the lead, we bring on fan-favorite CFL Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to hear about his road to recovery from an injury which derailed his 2021 season and has him set to reclaim the reigns of the Montreal Alouettes in 2022. We also talk through his journey to the CFL, answer fan/listener voicemails and get his thoughts on the recent Alouettes hires of Jeff Reinebold, formerly of the Hamilton Ticats and Anthony Calvillo as the new Montreal Alouettes Quarterbacks coach who will be working alongside Vernon Adams Jr. in 2022.

That plus all your other CFL, USFL and XFL news on this week’s The Markcast, hope you enjoy!!!

Is the XFL at “ground level” when it comes to planning for their 2023 season? XFL and USFL scouts are making the rounds, Lucky Whitehead from the BC Lions, Danny Austin from the Calgary Sun & Herald plus USFL historian and author Paul Reeths join the show!
 
In his recent podcast “Go Long”, Jim Monos the Senior Director of Football Operations spoke about the XFL being at “ground level” moving into the 2023 season, should fans be alarmed? We play the clip and chat through our thoughts and welcome your own. Plus XFL and USFL scouts are on the move, as the USFL goes another week without announcing the remainder of their head coaches for the 2022 season due to kick off in April.
 
We welcome Lucky Whitehead onto the show! The recently re-signed BC Lions star wide receiver talks through his injury and return to the field, plans to excel and succeed in 2022 and what it means for his team, the BC Lions to put their faith and trust in him moving into the 2022 CFL season.
 
Danny Austin, longtime “frenemy” of the show from the Calgary Sun & Herald stops by to chat about the recent roster moves for the Calgary Stampeders. From Derek Dennis being re-signed to the reworked contract of Bo Levi Mitchell to help retain backup QB Jake Maier, there’s plenty to chew on in terms of off-season moves for Calgary as they look ahead to the 2022 CFL season. We also take a deep-dive into how the CFL could improve their marketing efforts with or without the XFL moving forward, and what, if anything the recently announced Genius Sports deal means for the CFL’s attempt to grow its fanbase.
 
Finally, USFL historian and author Paul Reeths of the book The United States Football League, 1982-1986 joins the program to chat through some recent potential missteps involving the USFL’s return to play, was the lack of information heading into a spring 2022 USFL kickoff means, and what the USFL should be doing to incorporate in its past, which is seems ready to take advantage of, but hesitant to acknowledge.

This all plus recent CFL off-season notes and movements, USFL and XFL scouts are in the news, Fan Controlled Football has a recent cash influx, is Antonio Brown headed to the USFL, FCF or neither and why the FCF social media should stop bullying its fans online. Strap in and grab a sandwich, it’s a jam-packed show!

The USFL has officially announced TWO more of their head coaches for the 2022 season, we have interviews with former USFL QB Mike Hohensee and Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman Derek Dennis, PLUS we have a new feud in the world of alternative football coverage by way of Colin Cowherd and The Herd program!

Via The Herd, the USFL has announced Skip Holtz as the USFL Birmingham Stallions head coach and Kirby Wilson as the USFL Pittsburgh Maulers head coach. We break down two recent hires plus figure out what the heck happened to the TWO other rumored head coach announcements today. What do we think of the current USFL coaching staff which also includes Mike Riley with the New Jersey Generals, Kevin Summon with the Houston Gamblers, Todd Haley helming the Tampa Bay Bandits and Bart Andrus with the Philadelphia Stars. We run down some other USFL news and notes to prepare you for the upcoming April 2022 kickoff in Birmingham.

Former USFL Washington Federals QB Mike Hohensee joins the show to talk through his past history with the USFL, CFL and AFL. Mike has been around the block coaching and playing in MANY forms of alternative football, so he knows the importance these leagues have for developing players, coaches and staff. We also get the Arena Football League Hall of Famer’s thoughts on the NEW USFL and Fan Control Football while we’re at it.

CFL standout and newly re-signed Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman Derek Dennis also stops by the program. We cover his feelings about returning to Calgary, his thoughts about the 2021 CFL season and what he believes more CFL players should be doing to look out for themselves when it comes to getting paid OFF the field. The CFL has many ways in which it could and should improve, what does Derek Dennis thin are the most pressing issues facing the CFL headed into their 2022 season and what would he do to help solve them.

We run down the latest CFL off-season news and notes, talk through the latest CFL signings both on the field with players and on the sidelines with staff, chat the latest XFL news and give our thoughts on The Rock’s Monday Night Football appearance on the Manningcast to talk about the XFL.

Final USFL head coaching announcements, official USFL Birmingham kickoff game details with Roy S. Johnson, talking NFL/alt-football rules with XFL rules creator Sam Schwartzstein, and analyzing/dissecting all the latest CFL news with recently re-signed Edmonton Elks running back James Wilder Jr. and former Edmonton Elks standout Eddie Steele, this episode has it all!

The USFL is officially coming to Birmingham, Alabama. With the official announcement of Birmingham as their host city, and debut game featuring the New Jersey Generals taking on the “home” Birmingham Stallions, the USFL April launch appears to be a go! We also got the announcement of 2 new and final USFL head coaches in Jeff Fisher and Larry Fedora, we breakdown all of the week’s USFL news and chat with local al.com reporter Roy S. Johnson who attended the official USFL announcement. We also get Roy’s thoughts and insights on the potential for new owners of USFL team franchises moving into year 2 and 3, you don’t want to miss it.

With all of the talk of NFL overtime rules and CFL overtime rules following the Buffalo Bills loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, we bring XFL rules godfather Sam Schwartzstein to give his thoughts and insights on the matter. What work went into developing the XFL rules and what insights can the NFL take in terms of progressing the game forward. Sam Schwartzstein put thousands of hours into developing the XFL rules and his knowledge of the inner-workings of a football game are truly unmatched, a must-listen!

We then bring in recently re-signed star running back for the CFL’s Edmonton Elks James Wilder Jr. onto the program. James just re-signed with the team on Monday and has thoughts and insights into the new team direction moving forward. We also chat with James about Edmonton’s new president and CEO Victor Cut and get his feelings on head coach Chris Jones.

Eddie Steele, former Edmonton Elks defensive tackle joins the program to break down some of the CFL’s most interesting off-season notes for the week. From the retirement of Michael Reilly from the BC Lions, to new Edmonton Elks signings and the departure of Brandon Banks from the Hamilton Ticats, Eddie Steele is the perfect guest to bring on this week to crunch the latest CFL news and notes.

Finally we round out the rest of the week’s alt-football news, the simulcast of the initial USFL kickoff game between NBC and FOX Sports, the potential of Alex Rodriguez being a future USFL team owner, Trevor Harris potentially winding up as the backup QB for BC Lions’ Nathan Rourke and Zach Collaros on one year CFL contracts.

We have LEAKED USFL contract details/player pay, TONS of CFL off-season notes and signings plus XFL speculation on this week’s loaded show.

Breaking news just into the newsroom courtesy of USFL news on Twitter we have player play and contract details for the 2022 USFL season in Birmingham. We break down the USFL player pay compared to other alt-football leagues including the CFL and XFL and talk about what that means for the USFL and their seriousness to compete moving forward.

We’re joined by CFL Calgary Stampeders QB Jake Maier who talks about his 2021 CFL journey and his goals to compete as the eventual QB1 for the Calgary Stampeders moving forward. Jake Maier is already a big name in the CFL, and someone you should keep your eyes on moving forward as a perennial star in the league.

CFL.ca’s Kristina Costabile also stops by the show to run down some of the juiciest CFL off-season notes including congratulating the recently re-signed Toronto Argonauts’ McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the future of Jeremiah Masoli, Trevor Harris, and more! Plus we discuss the Ottawa REDBLACKS phenomenal behind the scenes documentary that was released over the weekend #BehindTheR and discuss the BC Lions aggressive pre-season signings and movements.

There’s TONs of other alt-football news to sift through as we await The Rock’s big XFL news drop including the USFL wanting to “compete” with the XFL in 2023, the latest USFL commercial/promo and the viewership it got, and even Fan Controlled Football is in the news this week with their big NFT blunder and a new arena they appear to be building.

We’re talking USFL player contracts with XFL/USFL insider Mike Mitchell, catching up with BC Lions’ starting quarterback Nathan Rourke and breaking down CFL free agency with Rob Vanstone, it’s a jam-packed show!

Mike Mitchell joins the show this week to go in-depth on his recent article outlining the USFL player contracts for the 2022 season. Is the USFL paying enough to attract star talent? Should the USFL be taking care of room and board for their players? Is the USFL doing enough this close to their April kickoff to inspire decent viewership and fan engagement? We tackle all of these questions and many more!

BC Lions start quarterback Nathan Rourke stops by the program to recount him being named the BC Lions starting quarterback and what it means to him as a Canadian to represent his country (and America lol) in the Canadian Football League. We also talk about personal and team goals for the 2022 CFL season and what would define the 2022 CFL season as a “success”.

Finally longtime friend of the program Rob Vanstone stops by to run down all of the latest and biggest transactions taking place during the 2022 CFL free agency. Which teams “won” their free agency and what teams “lost”? We also talk about 1 year player contracts, Andrew Harris, Trevor Harris, Vernon Adams Jr., Kenny Lawler and many more CFL stars.

Besides all of this we have your regular USFL and CFL news including comments from USFL management about the upcoming USFL season, their plans moving forward into year 2 and what strategies they have to build fan engagement in the 8 “home” USFL cities even though the teams are playing in a HUB in Birmingham, Alabama. A can’t miss show!

We have USFL uniform reveals, USFL draft details, and USFL playoff changes plus all of your weekly CFL news and notes on this week’s OVERLOADED episode of The Markcast.

The USFL has revealed the uniforms for their 8 inaugural 2022 teams including the New Orleans Breakers, Pittsburgh Maulers, Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Jersey General, Philadelphia Stars, Tampa Bay Bandits, and Michigan Panthers. CFL and XFL News Hub writer Pat Rifino joins the show to break down and rank all 8 teams' uniforms/helmets and to provide some other thoughts and analysis about the USFL uniform unveilings. We also chat through the newly announced USFL draft order and recent changes to the location of the USFL playoffs and championship game.

CFL Super Agent Darren Gill returns to the program to give his thoughts on the USFL’s pay structure and how the existence of another alternative football league might affect the CFL going forward. Will CFL players be enticed to stay in the United States to play in the USFL as opposed to heading north to play in the CFL? Only time will tell but Darren gives some great analysis and insights.

Brandon Alexander, standout defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers stops by to take about potentially competing for ANOTHER Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers. We also talk about what makes Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers such a premier club to play for in the Canadian Football League.

Neil McEvoy, CO-General Manager and Director of Football Operations for America’s CFL team the BC Lions also makes an appearance on the show. We talk about building a competitive BC Lions team for the 2022 CFL season and what it would take for them to go all the way to the 2022 Grey Cup.

Long-time friend of the program Darrell Davis, CFL Hall of Fame reporter also swings by to give his thoughts on the CFL news of the week. We discuss Will Ferrell in a BC Lions jersey at the Super Bowl, the rebuilding work the Edmonton Elks are taking on, and the lack of “elite” quarterbacks in the modern CFL.

Finally longtime Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) defensive end and linebacker Jed Roberts makes an appearance to talk through some marketing efforts the CFL should be using to connect with younger throughout Canada and beyond. We heap praise on new Edmonton Elks President and CEO Victor Cut and discuss the immediate, positive impact he is making in that football team’s organization.

Tons of work, USFL, CFL, and (hopefully soon) XFL news this week. If you enjoyed please consider subscribing on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice. Check back next week for your next fix of alternative football news via The Markcast, take care!!

All your USFL, XFL and CFL news on The Markcast this week, your (hopefully) favorite one-stop stop for alternative football news. We’re joined by TSN’s Dave Naylor to talk USFL + XFL/NFL, recently drafted USFL #1 pick Matt Mengel, Jay Nokes of XFL News Hub, Kamar Joden of the Calgary Stampeders, AJ Jakubec from the REDBLACKS and Derrick Jones on the show!

CFL insider Dave Naylor stops by the show to give insights into the new relaunch of the USFL in Birmingham, Alabama and whether or not the CFL has anything to worry about with this newest venture into the spring football landscape. I also get Dave Naylor’s thoughts on the newly announced partnership between the NFL/XFL and where that leaves the CFL in the equation. Is the XFL a more formidable foe to the CFL with this newly announced partnership? Only time will tell!

Then Matt Mengel, long-time friend of the show and #1 special teams draft pick for the USFL Philadelphia Stars comes on the show to share his thoughts and goals headed into the USFL 2022 season. What should fans of alternative football expect when the USFL hits the field in 2022, Matt gives his thoughts and what he’s doing to prepare for his next big career step! We also chat with Derrick Jones, the recently drafted USFL Breakers pick who is also under contract with the CFL Calgary Stampeders and his thoughts about wanting to be let out of his contract to pursue his USFL goals.

Then XFL News Hub writer Jay Nokes returns to the show after a long delay to share some of his insights into the big XFL/NFL partnership and where he sees the 2023 league headed when the XFL kicks of next February. Jay also shares some opinions of the USFL and how they can compete with the XFL moving forward.

Kamar Jorden stops by the program courtesy of the CFL Calgary Stampeders to talk through his excitement for the 2022 season. We also get a great dose of Ottawa REDBLACKS coverage by way of AJ Jakubec of TSN 1200. AJ also has some HOT takes regarding the XFL/NFL and CFL relationships that you don’t want to miss, did the CFL miss out not partnering with the XFL?!? Time will tell!!

The USFL is suing…THEMSELVES?!? Sort of, but not really. We’ll break down the latest USFL trademark lawsuit updates plus your latest XFL and CFL talk on this week’s episode of The Markcast.

The “Real USFL” comprised of Steve Ehrhart and some of the previous stakeholders in the original 1980’s version of the USFL is suing FOX Sports and company based on trademark infringement related to their “reboot” or “relaunch/reimagining” however you choose to look at it taking place this upcoming April in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s a tricky and convoluted case and we bring in all of the experts to see if this lawsuit actually has a chance of derailing or postponing the upcoming 2022 USFL April hub season.

Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal who originally broke the story of the big USFL lawsuit joins the show to give his thoughts on the merits of the case, the motivations of the stakeholders and what potential possible outcomes could take place because of the ongoing litigation. Ben also shares his thoughts on FOX’s reboot of the USFL in general and the recently announced XFL/NFL partnership.

Michael Cohen, trademark and IP lawyer out of Beverly Hills who originally joined the program back in May to talk through this very potential issues, returns to the program to give his updated thoughts on the merits of the “Real USFL’s” claims based on his knowledge of trademark and IP law. I also twist Michael’s arm and get him to call his shot about how HE sees all of this unfolding.

Finally we get a little CFL talk with Ottawa REDBLACKS’ punter Richie Leone. Richie has been apart of the CFL for years including stints with the BC Lions and the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Richie shares why he would choose a “career” in the CFL versus simply playing in the USFL or other upstart leagues.

Lots of fun topics to chew through this week from a USFL, XFL and CFL standpoint. Please like and subscribe and help us reach out 2,000 subscriber goal. Thanks and take care!!

Is the XFL moving to San Antonio? PLUS more USFL lawsuit news, a new court date pending and a question of who the “real” USFL is in the hearts and minds of USFL fans on this week’s episode of The Markcast. The XFL is in the news with some new hires as well as a potential head coach lined up, plus we also have a slate of fantastic interviews including USFL historian Paul Reeths, newly drafted USFL Philadelphia Stars OL Sean Brown and Henoc Muamba on this week’s show.

The “real” USFL has come out to defend the right and legacy of the original USFL, but it seems that most new USFL fans don’t really care. Who is and should be the rightful holder of the USFL trademarks moving forward? We chat with USFL historian Paul Reeths who’s worked with and spoken to those involved in the USFL for his projects in the past. Why is the “real” USFL alienating themselves amongst new USFL fans and what can the “real” USFL do to fix it?

Recently signed USFL Philadelphia Stars OL Sean Brown joins the program to talk signing up to play in the USFL in Birmingham in 2022. We talk through Sean’s journey which includes stints in the AAF, the XFL AND The Spring League before finally winding up in the USFL with Bart Andrus and the USFL Stars. We talk about the importance of spring and alternative football leagues to give players more opportunities and places to succeed moving forward.

There’s also a bunch of XFL news in the world with the league formally announcing 3 new hires within the XFL office and a report out of a new head coach potentially heading to the XFL in 2023. We also chat through the XFL’s resurgence on Twitter and if that has anything to do with trying to counter-program against the USFL’s gaining momentum.

***It came out last last Thursday night that the potential new XFL coach is heading to San Antonio to head up the XFL team there. We don't yet know if it's a team relocation, expansion, or something else. Redbird and XFL have yet to confirm or dispute the infomation as of this recording.***

Finally, Henoc Muamba of the Toronto Argonauts joins the show. The newly-elected CFLPA member talks through goals for the CBA headed into 2022, why he loves playing in his hometown of Toronto and more. Henoc has played football both in the CFL and NFL and has a tremendous story and legacy to share with new and veteran players alike, don’t miss this interview!

Reid also gives an update on The Markcast and show plans moving forward.

0:00 Show Intro, Guest Introductions
3:15 Paul Reeths, USFL Historian Interview
32:05 Sean Brown, USFL Philadelphia Stars OL Interview
47:20 XFL to San Antonio?, XFL New Hires, New XFL Head Coach? USFL NFTs
1:01:42 Henoc Muamba, Toronto Argonauts Interview
1:17:27 The Markcast Show Update Moving Forward

This is the audio version of our USFL supplemental draft livestream on March 10, 2022. Vince from Pro Level Agents + Evan and Andrew of XFL and CFL News Hub joined me to break down all 10 rounds and 80 picks of the USFL supplemental draft.

We had cameos from friend of the show Matt Mengel, Sean Brown and Jojo Tillery as he was selected in the 2022 USFL supplemental draft.

Check out the YouTube version of our USFL supplemental draft coverage:
https://youtu.be/IvoNh8uOcnk

Check back Friday morning for a brand new episode!

The “real” USFL v. USFL lawsuit is heating up as we are ONE month away from the USFL kickoff kickoff plus the CFL to 4 down chatter just won’t quit on this week’s episode of The Markcast. We bring on IP/Trademark Lawyer Tim Billick, TSN 1260’s Jason Gregor, USFL Stars’ Defensive Back Solomon Wise and BC Lion’s Offensive Lineman Andrew Peirson onto the program.

The “real” USFL and the FOX Sports USFL have met now twice via conference to try to settle the ongoing litigation and things seem to be escalating even further. We chat with intellectual/patent and trademark prosecution lawyer Tim Billick who helps us try to make sense of the declarations that were filed this week from both the “real” USFL and the FOX owned USFL. What are the next steps in this ongoing case and what effects/ramifications will this continuing case have on the upcoming USFL kickoff, we find out.

Is the CFL moving to 4 downs? Haven’t we been down this road before?? The Genius Sports/CFL talk is heating up and MANY talking points have arisen, one of which is the CFL moving to 4 downs by way of not-so friend of the show Arash Madani. What does TSN 1260’s Jason Gregor think of the move to 4 downs and the effects that might and will have on the Canadian game. Plus we chat through the Genius Sports/CFL partnership and figure out the next steps for commissioner Randy Ambrosie and the league growing and promoting the CFL game moving into 2022 and beyond. Would a CFL version of “Drive to Survive” work to grow the Canadian game and should Randy Ambrosie and the CFL go down that route? We discuss.

We have a couple of wonderful player interviews this week including recently drafted USFL defensive back Solomon Wise from the USFL Philadelphia Stars and Andrew Peirson from the BC Lions. Solomon shares his experiences getting drafted into the league, thoughts on the USFL thus far and next steps as he gets ready to head to Birmingham for the USFL training camps next week. Andrew talks off-season CFL training, thoughts on Henry Burris’ being added as an offensive consultant, his impressions of Nathan Rourke leading the team into the 2022 CFL season and we get a spoiler-free review of “The Batman” from Andrew as he continues to bond with his teammates in the CFL offseason.

Finally the MLFB is in the news with the announcement of Jerry Glanville as one of their head coaches and potentially late-breaking news of potential cities/States. As they plan to kick off their inaugural season (finally) in May, are there enough players and talent coaches/staff to justify ANOTHER spring football league, we discuss.

Thanks for checking out the program, be sure to like and subscribe either on our YouTube channel or from your podcast platform of choice. Thanks and take care!!

Tim Billick’s website -
www.tbillicklaw.com

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:30 Show Intro, Guest Lineup
7:34 Tim Billick, IP/Trademark Lawyer on USFL Lawsuit
42:09 Jason Gregor, TSN 1260 on CFL Marketing, Moving to 4 Downs
1:08:21 MLFB News, Coach Hired, Cities Announced?, USFL Staff Rosters Released
1:17:07 Solomon Wise, USFL Philadelphia Stars Interview
1:29:27 Andrew Peirson, CFL BC Lions Interview
1:47:09 Listener Voicemails!!!
1:51:50 Show Outro

The USFL rulebook is here, another sports entity is trying to take down the USFL in court and we are STILL trying to figure out how to “save” the CFL on this week’s episode of The Markcast. Farhan Lalji of TSN, Andrew Murray of XFL, USFL and CFL News Hub along wide William Stanback of the Montreal Alouettes join us for this week of the show, which is decidedly a very PRO-USFL podcast. ;)

The USFL players have arrived for training camps in Birmingham, Alabama and the USFL has released their playbook for their 2022 season. Lots of carried over NFL rules but a few tweaks and inspirations from spring and alternative football leagues past makes an intriguing rulebook which should be fascinating to see hit the field when the USFL kicks off in April.

Another legal battle for the USFL is on the horizon with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL taking umbrage to the USFL (actually The Spring League’s) ownership of the “Michigan Panthers” trademark and have filed an opposition agains The Spring League LLC. Should fans of the USFL be worried? Why won’t people just leave the USFL alone?? We discuss.

TSN’s Farhan Lalji makes a return appearance on the program to chat both USFL and CFL football. The CFL fanbase is in hysterics over the notion of potentially, hypothetically changing the Canadian Football game to 4 downs, but how likely is that REALLY? We chat with Farhan and also get his thoughts on what needs to be done, if not going to 4 downs, to help propel and grow the CFL game. Farhan also shares his thoughts on the USFL’s return, or relaunch however the courts want us to refer to it as, and what effects if any he sees the USFL having on the Canadian Football game either this year, or in the years to come.

Andrew Murray of USFL/XFL/CFL News Hub stops by the show to give his thoughts on the USFL relaunch thus far, we also break down the recently released USFL rulebook and talk about the tweaks and oddities. We also break down the Carolina Panthers opposition against The Spring League’s ownership of the “Michigan Panthers” trademark as well as give an update to the “real” USFL v. USFL lawsuit.

Finally William Stanback of the Montreal Alouettes sits down to preview the upcoming CFL season, talk about his off-season workout routine and his love for his family who will be joining him in Montreal for the upcoming 2022 CFL season.

0:00 The Markcast Show Promo
2:29 Show Intro, Guest Lineup
7:46 Farhan Lalji, CFL Insider Interview, CFL Marketing, Moving to 4 Downs, USFL
36:29 Andrew Murray, USFL / XFL / CFL News Hub USFL Interview
39:40 “Real” USFL v. USFL Lawsuit Update
49:50 Carolina Panthers v. The Spring League LLC Trademark Opposition
55:45 USFL Sports-Betting, AGA Partnership
1:00:26 USFL Training Camp Update, Player Arriving, “Hard Knocks”
1:06:46 USFL Rulebook Released, Analysis on USFL Rules
1:35:35 USFL Cheerleader/National Anthem Singer Tryouts
1:36:26 MLFB Update, New Head Coach Hired, Thoughts on MLFB Season
1:41:20 Fan Controlled Football Thoughts, Schedule Release, Ticket Info
1:55:59 William Stanback, CFL Montreal Alouettes Interview
2:13:58 Show Outro

It’s a jam-packed, double-loaded show today as we welcome FIVE guests to the program this week, Sam Schwartzstein, creator of the XFL rulebook returns to dissect the new USFL rules, IP/Trademark Lawyer Michael Cohen gives an update on the “real” USFL v. FOX Sports lawsuit, Football Canada President Jim Mullin talks CFL marketing and USFL plus player interviews with former Edmonton/Hamilton/Winnipegger Greg Peach and XFL Roughnecks/now Edmonton Elks Sergio Castillo.

There’s been lots of XFL vs. AAF vs. USFL rules with the announcement of the new USFL rulebook, lots of accusations of “borrowing” ideas from other leagues and who should have the right to use them, and we go to the source of the XFL rulebook Sam Schwartzstein to get his thoughts on the matter. We talk with Sam Schwartzstein about the pros and cons of the new USFL rules and dissect everything that may or may not have gone into the decisions to use certain other alt-football rules in the soon to kick off USFL rulebook. If you’re into football rule psychology, this is a MUST-listen interview!

FOX Sports has responded to the “real” USFL’s updated lawsuit and things aren’t looking good for the old stead of Steve Ehrhart and company, but just HOW bad do things appear? We bring back fan-favorite and friend of the program Michael Cohen, IP and trademark lawyer out of Beverly Hills to share his knowledge and expertise on the situation.

4-time returning guest Jim Mullin, President of Football Canada and host of Krown Gridiron Nation on TSN stops by to talk about his RELIEF that the talks of the CFL moving to 4 downs has finally subsided. We chat about the Genius Marketing deal, off-season notes regarding the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks plus we cover the USFL “relaunch” and what they need to do to stand apart from other spring alternative football leagues and the NFL.

We wrap the show today with two wonderful player interviews, Greg Peach and Sergio Castillo. Greg Peach, former Edmonton/Hamilton/Winnipeg CFL alum joins us from his home in Spokane, Wa to talk a little March Madness (or sadness if you’re a Gonzaga fan) plus what the CFL needs to do to attract youth and to build stronger relations between the players on the field and the fans in the stands. Finally, long-time fan favorite Sergio Castillo of the Houston Roughnecks, BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Edmonton Elks makes an appearance to preview the upcoming CFL season and to discuss his journey as a professional football player including all of his ups and downs along the way. We concentrate on the support of his family, his sources of strength and advice for future players wanting to play professional football, and OF COURSE, we talk Bud Light Seltzer and his infamous post-game moment in the XFL.

0:00 The Markcast Show Promo
2:29 Show Intro, New Facebook Group, Twitter Community
9:20 Sam Schwartzstein, XFL Rulebook Creator on USFL Rules
54:24 Michael Cohen, IP/Trademark Lawyer on “real” USFL v. USFL Lawsuit
1:15:37 USFL Live Show Announcement, USFL News, “Hard Knock” / United By Football Show
1:24:21 Jim Mullin, Football Canada President, Krown Gridiron Nation Host Interview
2:01:50 Greg Peach, Former Edmonton, Hamilton, Winnipeg CFL Player Interview
2:25:39 Sergio Castillo, Current Edmonton Elks, Former Houston Roughnecks Player Interview
2:39:53 Show Outro

We're reacting LIVE to the conclusion of the XFL.com countdown and social media blackout. Join us LIVE Wednesday at 8:45a PST / 11:45 EST as well react live to the first step towards XFL 2023.

A new logo? New XFL cities and teams?!? We'll find out LIVE together!!! The Rock has promised the beginning of XFL’s new vision, direction & CULTURE.

New XFL cities and coaches? A Potential XFL bubble/hub season in Texas?? XFL logo announcement fallout plus interviews with Victor Cui, Nic Sulsky and Jake Wieneke on this week’s episode of The Markcast.

We bring on XFL News Hub’s Matt Lyons to break down all of the major XFL news breaking and circulating this week. Could the XFL potentially be setting up shop for a 2023 hub season in Dallas, Texas? We chat through the pros and cons of that decision and how the XFL fanbase will response. Matt and I also chat through the rumored XFL city movements and what teams might be left out in the cold when the XFL returns in 2023. There’s also multiple coaching hires being reported for XFL head coach position including many other rumored names from XFL insider Mike Mitchell so we breakdown and chat though all of those potential possibilities.

Victor Cui, President and CEO of the Edmonton Elks then stops by the program to fill us in on the work he’s been doing since taking his position 2 months ago to rebuild the Elks franchise in the CFL. We talk about repairing the “fractured” relationship between the team and their fans, what the other CFL teams and ownerships can do to help grow their respective fanbases and I even pitch my own new slogan for the Edmonton Elks.

Nic Sulsky, Chief Commercial Officer of PointsBet Canada returns to the program to discuss their newly announced sports-betting partnership with the Ottawa REDBLACKS. We chat about their goal to improve the CFL fan’s on-site experience as it relates to sports-betting while attending CFL games, and what things can be pivoted to help improve CFL fan retention and engagement across Canada and down into the United States as well.

Finally, Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Jake Wieneke makes an appearance courtesy of the team to fill us in on his ongoings during the CFL off-season and how he plans to get game ready by the time the CFL kicks off in just a few months. Besides visiting teammates Vernon Adams Jr. on the west coast with fellow teammate William Stanback, Jake also gives back to his community through teaching, a fantastic individual!

Be sure to tune in next SATURDAY for our big USFL kickoff pre-game show!

Your guests include: Roy S. Johnson of al.com Ron Frederick, former USFL Birmingham Stallion Mike Mitchell Mark Perry Dustin of Royal Retros Andrew Murray of XFL News Hub

0:00 The Markcast Show Promo
2:29 Show Intro
7:17 Matt Lyons, XFL News Hub Interview
8:38 XFL Logo Announcement, XFL Merch Shop, XFL Logo Memes
18:32 New XFL Coach Signings
21:15 New Potential XFL Cities
25:05 XFL Potential Hub/Bubble Season
31:30 More Potential Rumored XFL Head Coaches
41:40 Final XFL Thoughts, Negative/Positive Thoughts?
47:00 USFL News and Notes, Broadcasters
54:00 USFL Kickoff TV Ratings Predictions
58:27 Victor Cui, Edmonton Elks President/CEO Interview
1:24:14 Nic Sulsky, Chief Commercial Officer, PointsBet Canada
1:47:32 Jake Wieneke, Montreal Alouettes Interview
2:03:46 Show Outro

We're going LIVE from the USFL 2022 kickoff from Protective Stadium at The Southern Kitchen and Bar in Birmingham on Saturday April 16, 2022.

Come stop by live or watch us online, we'll have suprise USFL guests, USFL commentary and USFL analysis to get you all set for the 2022 USFL kickoff featuring the New Jersey Generals taking on the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Your guests include:

Roy S. Johnson of al.com
Ron Frederick, former USFL Birmingham Stallion
Mike Mitchell
Mark Perry
Dustin of Royal Retros
Andrew Murray of XFL News Hub

We're going LIVE to conclude USFL week 1! Join us before the Monday night game between the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Pittsburgh Maulers on FS1 to discuss everything week 1 in the USFL!! We'll be taking calls and listener comments, so hop on an hour before kickoff to share your stories from your weekend watching USFL football!

The XFL is moving to Texas to set up shop for the 2023 season, but why? Is it going to be a base for their operations or are they setting up a “hub” season? Plus your USFL week 1 recap and week 2 preview along with a stellar guest-list with Greg Parks of xflboard.com, trademark and IP lawyer Michael Cohen, Pat Rifino of USFL News Hub and Ja’Gared Davis of the Toronto Argonauts!

The XFL is in Texas and meeting with their head coaches. The Rock has tweeted about a new “XFL HQ” and Dany is Instagramming photos of downtown Dallas, but what does it all mean? We bring back friend of the program Greg Parks of xflboard.com to chat through some possibilities. What does Greg think of the rumored XFL “bubble” season? We dissect the pros and cons and chat the latest XFL news including the new head coach hires, rumored 2023 XFL cities and get Greg’s feedback on the XFL relaunch thus far.

The “real” USFL lawsuit against FOX Sports came to a quiet halt before the USFL kickoff last week but is that the last we’ll hear of Steve Ehrhart and crew? We welcome back Michael Cohen, trademark and IP lawyer out of Beverly Hills who’s been following the case alongside us from the beginning to weigh in.

Pat Rifino of USFL News Hub joins us to recap week 1 of the USFL season, including all of the games, standout players and drama that has emerged thus far. We talk USFL tv ratings, USFL attendance, USFL players to watch and preview week 2 of the USFL season. Pat also shares his thoughts on the XFL news today including a potential Texas base for 2023 XFL operations.

Finally, Ja’Gared Davis of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts calls into the program to fill us in on his off-season CFL activities and to share what he believes the CFL could be doing to expand their audience even further in 2023 and beyond. Is the CFL doing enough with all the new opportunities that are being presented to them? We discuss.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:29 Show Intro
8:11 Greg Parks, xflboard.com Interview, XFL to Texas? Recap of XFL News
46:34 Michael Cohen Trademark and IP Lawyer, Recap of USFL Lawsuit
59:18 Pat Rifino USFL News Hub Interview, USFL Week 1 Recap, USFL Week 2 Preview
1:44:56 Ja’Gared Davis CFL Toronto Argonauts Interview
2:00:13 Show Outro

Link to Pat’s QB Salary Article -
https://themarkcast.com/articles/pro-football-quarterback-earnings-as-it-relates-to-alternative-football-leagues

Is the XFL headed to back to Seattle AND Las Vegas?!? Did June Jones accidentally confirm the XFL’s return to Seattle? Is The Rock busy in Las Vegas setting up a new XFL franchise? Plus Amar Doman, owner of America’s CFL team the BC Lions joins the show, you cannot miss this week’s episode! We also recap week 2 of the USFL and preview week 3 with FOX Sports announcer Kevin Kugler, welcome CFL/XFL/USFL Newshub writer Evan Willsmore onto the program and chat with Edmonton Elks defensive end Jake Ceresna on a truly can’t miss episode of The Markcast!

More 2023 XFL news has begun to leak and we have you covered with ALL the latest XFL news, notes and speculation on this week’s program. We chat June Jones returning to the XFL under head coach Jim Haslett for the XFL’s Seattle team, plus The Rock hanging out in Las Vegas talking “future plans”. Does that include an XFL franchise there? We’ll find out soon enough.

Then we are incredibly blessed to welcome CFL team OWNER Amar Doman of the BC Lions onto the program. We spend 30 min chatting all things CFL including growing the CFL game, the Genius Sports deal, single-game sports betting, working with the other CFL ownership groups, future plans for the BC Lions and more. A phenomenal deep-dive interview that you won’t want to miss!

Lots of USFL news to dissect as well including United by Football takeaways, week 2 USFL TV ratings and more. We welcome back friend of the program Kevin Kugler from FOX Sports to share his excitement and experiences thus far 2 weeks in to the USFL season. We also discuss FOX’s excitement and commitment to their brand of spring football. Lots of other USFL discussions with USFL Newshub writer Evan Willsmore who also shares his thoughts on the quality of play thus far in the USFL and games to look forward to in week 3. We also break down and analyze the recently announced CFL rule changes ahead of their training camps starting soon.

Finally, with all the BC Lions love on the podcast, we sit down with Edmonton Elks defensive end Jake Ceresna to talk his motivations heading into the 2022 CFL season. With the recent passing of his mother, Jake had a heavy chip on his shoulder to excel and find success on the CFL field this season, we wish him the best of luck!

Here’s a link to the Edmonton Elks’ fundraiser benefiting women’s ovarian cancer -
https://www.goelks.com/2022/04/25/elks-ceresna-honours-late-mother-by-making-the-most-of-life/

0:00 The Markcast Show Promo
2:27 Show Intro
7:30 Amar Doman, CFL BC Lions Owner, Interview
36:19 Kevin Kugler, USFL Play-By-Play Announcer, USFL
1:02:25 June Jones Spoils XFL to Seattle, XFL to Vegas
1:21:35 USFL Week 2 Recap, USFL Week 3 Preview, USFL TV Ratings
1:44:22 CFL Rule Changes, Analyzing New CFL Rules
1:53:12 Jake Ceresna, Edmonton Elks, Interview
2:06:38 Show Outro

The XFL has announced their XFL Player Showcases and they are hitting the road to find the best talent to join their 2023 XFL relaunch. We are talking USFL with FOX Sports Sideline Reporter Brock Huard, discussing the USFL player unionizing with UFPA president Kenneth Farrow II and chatting CFL draft fallout and CBA negations with Canadian Press and CFL Hall of Fame reporter Dan Ralph. We’re also joined by Quan Bray of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes and we learn about the American 7s Football League with commentator and producer Matt Ryan on this JAM-PACKED show!

The XFL is continuing to make moves ahead of their 2023 relaunch including a new hire to the executive board with a new Senior Vice President of Team Services and the announcement of their 2023 XFL Player Showcases. We break down what this recent hire means as it relates to the potential for an XFL 2023 “hub” season or if the evidence points towards a “hybrid-bubble” season for the league’s 2023 return. We also update you on the 6 locations feature player showcase events for hopefuls trying to play in the 2023 XFL relaunch and the next steps to participate with the league’s return.

LOTS of USFL chatter on the show as well as we welcome FOX Sports Sideline Reporter (and Pacific Northwest football legend) Brock Huard onto the show. We discuss Brock’s involvement in the 2022 USFL launch, his thoughts on the season thus far and get insights into the USFL broadcast. Brock also rates the quality of play coming out of the USFL and talks the importance of alt-football leagues to player development. United Football Players Association president Kenneth Farrow II returns to the program to give updates on the news coming out this week with the USFL players signing up to unionize with the help of United Steelworkers. Kenneth shares the importance of a union as it relates to players in alt, non-NFL football leagues and lets us know the goals they hope to accomplish with their unionization.

Plenty of CFL discussion as well this week with Canadian Press reporter Dan Ralph making a return to update us on the 2022 CFL Draft fallout and the upcoming expiration of the CFLPA current collective bargaining agreement. Is the 2022 CFL season in jeopardy? We discuss. Dan Ralph also gives the rundown for the 2022 CFL Draft and 2022 CFL Global Draft including notable players drafted and stories coming out of this week’s affair. Quan Bray of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes also sits down to talk his CFL off-season thus far, retuning to Montreal for the 2022 CFL season and the nature walks (?) he likes to enjoy in his spare time!

Finally Matt Ryan, commentator and producer for A7FL fills our listeners in on the great work the league is doing growing their specific brand of American football and why purveyors of alt-football would enjoy and should think about checking out their unique take on the game!

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:19 Show Intro
8:02 Brock Huard, USFL FOX Sports Sideline Reporter Interview
46:26 Kenneth Farrow II, UFPA President Interview, USFL Union Talks
1:04:07 USFL Rule Updates, New Time Clock Thoughts
1:07:36 XFL News, XFL Player Showcase Announcements, New XFL Hire, No “Hub” Season???
1:20:56 Dan Ralph, Canadian Press, CFL Hall of Fame Reporter Interview, CFL Draft and CFLPA CBA
1:47:46 Quan Bray, CFL Montreal Alouettes Interview
1:59:21 Matt Ryan, A7FL Interview
2:21:07 Show Outro

We’re talking XFL + USFL talent wars, USFL week 5, the XFL’s 2023 timeline and more on your (hopefully) number 1 stop for XFL, USFL and CFL news. We welcome former XFL Director of Player Personnel Eric Galko and current Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel for the Shrine Bowl onto the show as well as Run The Sims creator Justin Freeman and USFL historian Paul Reeths to weigh in on the USFL season thus far, what they are doing right and what changes could be made to increase fan engagement and interest moving forward. With the USFL and Fan Controlled Football already in season and the XFL close behind, is there enough quality non-NFL football talent to satisfy all three leagues? What can the USFL do to retain their talent and what can the XFL do to procure it before it’s too late?

The USFL is almost midway through their inaugural 2022 season but have they hit a wall when it comes to quality talent to enter the league? With reduced roster sizes because of cost-cutting measures, the USFL has been forced to have special teams players do double duty and some of the teams are playing without a backup quarterback on the roster. We bring on former XFL Director of Player Personnel Eric Galko, current Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel for the Shrine Bowl to give his 2 cents on the USFL’s place in the spring football landscape and to talk about their quality of play. With the XFL looming on the horizon, are there enough quality non-NFL players to fill BOTH an XFL and USFL roster in 2023? We discuss. Plus Eric Galko talks the XFL’s return to the field in 2023 and what steps they should take from a player scouting and personnel point of view to compete with the USFL when both alt-football leagues are on the field in 2023.

Justin Freeman, founder of Run The Sims to talk the USFL’s accessibility for fantasy players and single-sports game bettors who want to follow and play along with the league. Is the USFL’s lack of information a hindrance to USFL fantasy play, should timely and accurate roster reporters be a requirement for the new spring football league and is there more they could be doing to cultivate fan engagement between USFL games? Justin weighs in and gives tangible ways the USFL could work to improve even during their 2022 season.

Finally, long time friend of the show USFL historian Paul Reeths stops by to weigh in on the inaugural 2022 USFL season thus far. Is the USFL hitting his expectations in terms of quality of play on the field? What are the negative effects of the USFL’s short-term cost cutting measures on their longterm growth and what could and should be done both now during the 2022 USFL season and during the offseason to best set up the USFL for success as they hopefully enter their local city markets for the 2023 USFL season? The USFL is appealing to hardcore alt and spring football fans, now what can be done to push the USFL into the casual football fan’s mindset as the USFL moves forward to their inaugural championship game in Canton, Ohio?

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:24 Show Intro
7:55 Former XFL Director of Player Personnel Eric Galko Interview
47:25 Justin Freeman, Run The Sims USFL Fantasy Interview
1:21:16 USFL Historian Paul Reeths Interview
1:58:50 Show Outro

The XFL is back in the news in a BIG way! A brand new TV partnership and chatter coming out of both Houston and St. Louis of XFL teams returning there. We bring on Evan Willsmore of XFL News Hub to break down the latest XFL TV announcements, potentially confirmed XFL cities and more! Plus we’re at the midway point of the 2022 USFL season and to recap 5 weeks of USFL action we welcome Ian Hartitz of PFF and Adam Levitan of Establish The Run to break down all of the action. Finally, with the CFLPA coming to an agreement with CFL management for the 2022 CFL season, Jim Mullin, president of Football Canada makes his return to chat the future for the CFL and the healing that needs to take place between players, fans and management to get the CFL back on track for the future.

Could the XFL’s return to Houston and St. Louis have been spoiled? Sure seems like it. With rumors of the both cities preparing for the XFL’s return in 2023 we welcome Evan Willsmore of XFL News Hub onto the program to give his thoughts and analysis on all of the action. We also break down the new XFL TV deal, compare it with the current broadcast slate of the USFL and dissect the future of both league’s potentials with their broadcast partners moving forward.

We are halfway through the USFL 2022 season and we have tons of USFL action to break down this week with TWO special USFL guests. Ian Hartitz of PFF and Adam Levitan of Establish The Run join the program to give their hits and misses of the 2022 USFL season thus far. We talk standout players, the best and worst teams of the league, what the USFL is doing right and also what the USFL could do to improve. Both Ian and Adam are involved fantasy/DFS/sports-betting and bring a unique outlook and opinion of the 2022 USFL season, good voices to bring into the mix in our 2022 USFL coverage.

With the CFLPA coming to an agreement with CFL management ending their players strike ahead of the 2022 CFL season, a rift has been caused between CFL players, CFL management and CFL fans. With the players agreeing to return to the CFL field in 2022, what can be done now to repair the trust that has been potentially lost during CBA negotiations. Jim Mullin, president of Football Canada and host of KGN on TSN makes a return to the program to give his thoughts, analysis and feedback about what all signs of the CFL 2022 negotiations can do moving forward to look out for CFL player safety, while also allowing the owners to put a quality football product on the field for the CFL fans.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:14 Show Intro
7:39 XFL News, New XFL TV Deal, XFL to Houston + St. Louis?
33:09 Ian Hartitz, PFF, USFL Interview
1:11:17 Adam Levitan, Establish The Run, USFL Interview
1:41:06 Jim Mullin, Football Canada President, CFL/CFLPA Negotiations Interview
2:11:46 Show Outro

The CFL is returning, finally, again! The CFLPA and their players have voted to ratify the CBA headed into their 2022 CFL season and we have all of the latest to keep you informed with Football Canada president Jim Mullin and CFL Hall of Fame reporter Darrell Davis. We’re also previewing week 7 of the USFL and chatting all things USFL with Eric Eager of PFF and Cody Main of Establish The Run plus with big XFL news on the horizon, we have all sights set to next week!

In a late-night, last-minute ordeal, the CFL players have voted to ratify the CBA ahead of the 2022 CFL season. The good news is that the CFL season rolls on, big is it all good news as it relates to the CFL Canadian ratio, player pay and salary caps heading in the 2023 season and beyond? We bring on Football Canada president Jim Mullin to provide some breaking analysis and the news came out on Twitter. Jim has reservations that the players might have given up TOO much of the “Canadian” in the Canadian Football League in an attempt the get the 2022 CFL season underway. What long-term ramifications with the changes to the Canadian ratio have on the CFL moving forward and what could have been done alternatively? We discuss. Darrell Davis, Canadian Hall of Fame reporter also joins the show to explain why this was the correct time for the CFL players to take a stand and what goals they were hoping to achieve with their work stoppage.

The USFL season is past the halfway point and we welcome two fantastic guests to share their thoughts on the 2022 USFL season thus far. Eric Eager of PFF and Cody Main of Establish The Run stop by to talk all things USFL. We cover the latest USFL player transactions, rank the 8 USFL teams heading into the USFL playoffs, grade the quality of play by the USFL players and talk things the USFL can do to improve fan engagement moving forward. The USFL recently implemented a contract addendum prohibiting players in the USFL from transition to the CFL or the XFL, we discuss that and whether the USFL season timing is the ideal time for players transitioning from the USFL to an NFL practice squad this summer. There’s TONs of news in the world of the USFL right now and we have you covered with two of the best covering the USFL 2022 season, I hope you enjoy! Thanks for listening!!

0:00 The Markcast Show Promo
2:23 Jim Mullin, Football Canada President on CFL CBA Ratification
24:27 Darrell Davis, CFL HoF Reporter on CFL vs. CFLPA Issues
50:04 Eric Eager, PFF USFL Week 7 Preview
1:18:33 Cody Main, Establish The Run USFL Interview
2:03:33 Show Outro, XFL TV Deal Rant, Redbird To Buy AC Milan

The XFL is being sued! TOGETHXR, owned in part by Sue Bird is suing “The Rock’s XFL” over trademark infringement. Plus we welcome ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, XFL News Hub’s Mike Mitchell, and Mark Drumheller of Yahoo! Sports to chat XFL, CFL, preview week 8 of USFL action, and more!

TOGETHXR, with a founding group comprised of Sue Bird, Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel is suing the XFL over trademark infringement. They claim the XFL’s recently rebranded logos look and feel “confusingly similar” to TOGETHXR’s logos. The group claims to have made repeated attempts to contact the XFL and the XFL’s legal teams and has now resorted to a lawsuit as a way to remedy the situation. Is the XFL’s new rebrand in danger? Time will tell but this is another wrinkle in the already stretched out and fatigued relaunch of the XFL property under the helm of Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Redbird Capital.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN joins the show to share his thoughts on the ongoing XFL 3.0 launch as it relates to the alternative football landscape. Kevin Seifert spent years covering the XFL 2.0 relaunch in 2019 and 2020 and has loads of insights to provide when looking at the new regime's relaunch as it relates to Oliver Luck and Company’s 2020 efforts. Is the XFL working behind the scenes to provide a stellar on-field experience for their 2023 XFL relaunch, or should more be known by the public at this stage in time? We discuss.

Yahoo! Sports Betting Analyst Mark Drumheller stops by the program to give his thoughts on 7 weeks of USFL action thus far as we head into USFL Week 8 this weekend. Mark has an in-depth knowledge of the USFL team rosters (due in part to his own research necessitated by lack of information provided by the USFL) and has a ton to say in regards to this weekend’s matchups. We also talk, as we normally do in regards to the USFL, at ways the USFL could increase fan engagement by providing and sharing more content from the crowd-sourced alternative football media that covers the league. Mark provides times of sports-betting content that the league could be used to grow the USFL fanbase, we pontificate as to why the USFL chooses not the embrace that.

Finally, long-time friend of the show and contributor to XFL, USFL, and CFL News Hub Mike Mitchell joins the program for a late-night record session covering EVERYTHING XFL, USFL, CFL, and more. We cover the XFL-TOGETHXR lawsuit, go over the latest XFL coaching rumors including Bob Stoops to Dallas and Anthony Becht to St. Louis and wonder “what the heck ever happened to that rumored June 1st announcement date?” Lots to go over with Mike Mitchell in what should prove to be an extended and in-depth look into the world of the XFL, USFL, and CFL.

0:00 The Markcast Episode Promo
2:26 Show Intro
7:14 Kevin Seifert, ESPN Reporter XFL / USFL Interview
39:03 Mark Drumheller, Yahoo! Sports Betting Analyst USFL Interview
1:19:34 Mike Mitchell, XFL News Hub XFL / USFL / CFL Interview

We are going LIVE for the week 1 kickoff of the CFL 2022 season featuring the Montreal Alouettes facing the Calgary Stampeders at home.

We'll be going live at 430pm PST / 730pm EST for the 2022 CFL kickoff and taking viewer calls with Tim and Cliffy of the Montreal Alouettes Flightdeck podcast and some of the crew over at CFL News Hub, so LET 'EM KNOW!!!

Be sure to stop by before the 2022 CFL kickoff and hang out, should be fun!!