How the NFL can and should learn from the XFL

The NFL should study the XFL closely.

The XFL has started fresh, with new methods for officiating, a new kickoff setup, more in-game interviews and new chance for players who flunked out of the NFL.

Opening weekend for the X football league — what does the X stand for? — has so far been surprisingly enjoyable. The opening day featured big plays, big laughs and a sense of positivity (for everyone who didn’t lose on this bad betting beat). Even on the heels of a seemingly long NFL season, fans were happy to get more football.

But as Saturday bore on, it became clear that the NFL should be monitoring the XFL not just for talent. (The XFL seemed like a natural minor league to the NFL — that much was clear from the start.) But as the XFL’s begins to reinvent itself, the league seems interested in bringing new concepts to the football field. The most successful experimentation came in how they handled their officiating. The XFL brought tremendous transparency.

Here’s a look at a review for a foul, where the booth official openly discusses whether a player used the crown of his helmet. The booth official got the field official on the same page, and the game proceeded quickly.

It wasn’t the biggest play of the game. It wasn’t an enormously complicated play to decipher. But it was almost comforting — a strange word to use in the context of this insane hit — to see the officials at work. Of course, this sort of visibility could lend itself to problems, too. If the booth official struggled to make the call or said something to cast more controversy or uncertainty on the situation, then the XFL would have a problem.

For now, the idea seems to be a step in the right direction — and it’s something the NFL should consider implementing. After all, the league’s officials took center stage every week this season. They struggled to make the proper call, and fans were not forgiving. But perhaps an extra level of transparency would help fans understand why the seemingly bad officiating occurred. Putting the officials onscreen might also help elevate the officiating to a higher standard.

Smart NFL teams will spend the next few weeks scouring XFL rosters for talent. Smart NFL officials will spend the next few weeks studying the XFL’s playbook and broadcast product to see if this new league is onto something that could improve the NFL.