The Markcast®

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!!

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!!

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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!!!

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!

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!