It wasn't on TV from Day One, like the XFL was, and it took a long time to build up. The AFL took years before it was accepted. Center David Diaz-Infante, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos, said he never understood criticism of the league's level of play. He said the league was good for the players, who made far more money in the XFL than those playing in NFL Europe did. This league was such a good idea for so many reasons, not the least of which was what it did for players.
Guys take time to develop, and after getting some experience, they can turn into good players.
This league had a lot of very good, high-quality players. A lot of guys had already played in the NFL, but there were a lot of other guys I feel bad for who are good enough to be there and were hoping to use this league as a springboard to getting there. The Outlaws' coaches were hit harder than the players because most coaching jobs are filled. Jim Criner was on his way home from a league meeting when he was called while at the Newark, N.J., airport and got the news. He could not be reached for comment.