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XFL commissioner Oliver Luck spoke with NPR this weekend about the league's revival.
This weekend, the XFL made its official return. The league--originally launched in 2001 by WWE CEO Vince McMahon--depends on talent on the fringe of making NFL rosters. The league's commissioner, Oliver Luck, recently spoke with NPR's All Things Considered about the league's launch. Read the full article on NPR.
The show's host, Michel Martin, asked Luck about offering an opportunity to Colin Kaepernick. "Why not," Martin said, "distinguish yourself from the NFL by offering an opportunity to somebody who has a track record as a great player, who has a lot of following?" After the league's miscommunication involving its planned workout for Kaepernick, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently shut down any chance of Kaepernick returning.
Luck responded that the league did contact Colin Kaepernick's representative, but a signing is unlikely due to salary restrictions. "We gave it some thought," Luck said. "We have some pretty significant salary restrictions. We're a start-up league, so we want to make sure that we can be fiscally responsible and fiscally prudent."
Martin surmised the league reached out to representatives and discovered salary requirements were a point of contention.
"I'm saying that we spoke with his representative," Luck explained, "and the salary requirements that were broached in that conversation were exorbitant and certainly out of our range."
Luck didn't offer much of a reason for optimism about future chances of signing Kaepernick. Michel asked if Luck would consider pursuing Kaepernick if his salary requirements were reasonable.
"I don't know. That was well over a year ago, so I don't know what kind of shape Colin is in. And, we haven't followed that because, obviously, again, we want the best players who are interested in playing in our league."
H/T: CBS Sports
SOURCE: NPR
