Tag: seattle dragons

Kasen Williams confident Dragons will have the best fans in the XFL

Former Seahawks receiver Kasen Williams believes the Dragons, Seattle’s new XFL team, will have the best fanbase in the league.

For the last decade, the Seattle Seahawks have been synonymous with a handful of things: the Legion of Boom, Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson and the 12’s.

The fanbase has been known as one of the loudest and rowdiest in the NFL, making CenturyLink Field a dreaded place to play for opponents.

Even though the Seahawks season is over, the 12’s still have plenty of opportunities to bring the noise to CenturyLink this Spring with the inaugural XFL season coming up.

The first home game for the Seattle Dragons is February 15, and former Seahawks receiver Kasen Williams knows the crowd is going to bring it, just like they always do.

“We’re gonna have the fans,” Williams said after Friday’s practice. “They’re gonna show out. We’re probably gonna have the best fanbase in the whole XFL. I told them get ready. It’s not gonna feel like an XFL game, when we go play away and we come back home it’s going to be a completely different vibe.”

Williams is one of six former Seahawks who is now suiting up for the Dragons, a list that includes receiver Keenan Reynolds, quarterback B.J. Daniels and tackle Isaiah Battle.

Williams also played his college ball at the University of Washington, and could not be happier to continue his playing career in Seattle.

“Gratitude (is) through the roof,” Williams said. “I’m just extremely grateful to be here. I could have been playing anywhere. The fact that I’m here and the story gets to continue to be told in Seattle, it’s dope.”

Williams played for the Seahawks in 2015 and 2016, appearing in three games, before starring in the 2017 preseason and still, to the surprise of many, getting cut on September 1. He ended up with the Browns, hauling in nine catches in his most recent NFL action.

Now, Williams hopes to resurrect his career in the XFL, with the stated goal of making his way back into the league.

But first, he wants to help establish the Dragons as the team to beat in the eight-team XFL, something he believes is very doable after seeing the other teams in camp.

“I feel confident in our team,” Williams said. “I think we’re gonna have a good squad, I really do. The way we stack up to our opponents, I think we’re gonna have the opportunity to really make a splash in this league for it being the first year. We can really be one of the teams that gives the XFL a good rap.”

The Dragons will begin their season on Saturday, February 8 in Washington, DC against the Defenders at 2:00 p.m. PT.

Their home opener will be a week later against the Tampa Bay Vipers, also at 2:00 p.m. PT.

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Keenan Reynolds excited to be back in Seattle with the Dragons

Former Seattle Seahawks receiver Keenan Reynolds will once again populate the field at CenturyLink, this time with the Dragons of the XFL.

Even after spending the previous two hours in non-stop, sideways rain, Seattle Dragons receiver Keenan Reynolds was all smiles after Friday’s practice at Memorial Stadium in downtown Seattle.

“You gotta love the weather,” Reynolds cracked. “Little bit of drizzle, little bit of wind, right in front of the Space Needle, it don’t get much more Seattle than this. It’s great to be back, great to have another opportunity.”

Reynolds, more than most of his teammates, would know. The former Navy quarterback spent the 2018 season with the Seahawks, appearing in two games while spending the majority of the year on the practice squad.

He was with the Seahawks last summer as well, competing with rookie John Ursua to replace the retired Doug Baldwin in the slot. However, he was cut just before the season began and NFL rules prohibited him from being added to the practice squad, so Reynolds hit free agency.

After a brief stint as a TV analyst for the CBS Sports Network, Reynolds was selected in the fledgling XFL Draft by the Dragons – allowing him to stay close to home.

His familiarity with the city of Seattle, and their rabid fanbase, has him prepared for this upcoming season of games played at CenturyLink Field – a preparedness he is excited to share with his teammates.

“Yeah we kinda talked about it a little bit,” Reynolds said. “Just how loud the 12’s are. I think we’re going to have the best turnout fanwise. There’s nothing else going on in Seattle and Seattle fans are relentless. I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for us to play in front of a great crowd.”

While the depth chart has yet to be released, Reynolds is expected to be a big part of Seattle’s offense, a unit that also features former Seahawks receiver Kasen Williams and quarterback B.J. Daniels, along with Texas A&M running back Trey Williams and Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers.

Reynolds wouldn’t go into detail about his specific role on the team (“I can’t give you too much information,” he joked) but he did express excitement about the kickoff rules in the XFL, which should allow for more returns and excitement in an area of the game that, frankly, has gone stale in the NFL.

Reynolds was also excited about another new rule the XFL is adopting, allowing for two forward passes on a single play. One of the most prolific college quarterbacks of all-time while at Navy, it’s no surprise he’d take an interest in a rule that allows him to throw the ball downfield after making a catch. But, like before, he’s not releasing any part of the playbook just yet.

“That’s top secret, I don’t know if I can divulge,” Reynolds said, when asked if he envisions throwing the ball this year. “But I definitely was smiling when I saw that you get two forward passes, so that’s pretty cool.”

The Dragons will begin their inaugural season on Saturday, February 8 in DC against the Defenders.

Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. PT.

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Former Saints kicker Garrett Hartley waived by XFL’s Seattle Dragons

Ex-New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley initially made the cut for the XFL Seattle Dragons team, but was waived due to poor medicals.

Super Bowl XLIV-winning New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley received tough news Wednesday: the XFL’s Seattle Dragons waived the 33-year-old, which Hartley explained was due to medical concerns. XFL News Hub’s Konnor Fulk first reported that Hartley would be waived. He recently joined the XFL’s Seattle branch last weekend.

Hartley announced his departure from Seattle on Instagram in an emotional two-minute video. He expressed frustration with the process, saying, “Unfortunately my time in Seattle has been cut short. Even with a world renowned spine surgeon’s backing as well as other experts, the XFL wouldn’t clear me to play.”

He was a long shot to stick in the XFL anyway, having last kicked professionally in the 2015 presesaon with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But a hamstring injury ended his NFL hopes, and it appears a spine issue will keep him out of the XFL. It’s a tough break for someone who has worked hard to get back to this stage, and appeared to get so close before the XFL’s doctors shut that door. It’s puzzling that Hartley’s medicals were cleared for his XFL workout and that he made it so far into the process as to be assigned a uniform before someone pulled the plug.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B76MBiQlbjZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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6 former Seahawks make Seattle Dragons 52-man roster

The Seattle Dragons will go into their first XFL season with six former Seattle Seahawks on the roster.

Football in Seattle is not over, even though the Seahawks fell to the Packers in Green Bay in the NFC Divisional Round a few weeks ago.

On February 8, one week after the Super Bowl, the XFL’s Seattle Dragons will kick off their inaugural season against the DC Defenders in Washington DC, before hosting their first home game at CenturyLink Field on February 15 at 2:00 p.m. PT. against the Tampa Bay Vipers.

While fans will immediately notice some differences in gameplay between the NFL and the XFL, namely in the pace of play and extra point rules, they may see some familiar names – at least for those who root for the Seahawks.

The Dragons released their final 52-man roster (54 if you count the two players on injured reserve) Monday morning, just 12 days before their season opener.

Headlined by receivers Keenan Reynolds and Kasen Williams, the roster features six former Seahawks and a handful of local players.

Reynolds was in training camp with the Seahawks this past season, after spending most of 2018 on the practice squad. He did not make the team out of camp this year, and because he was out of options on the practice squad he was released and found his way to the Dragons via the XFL draft.

Williams caught fire in the 2017 preseason, but was ultimately released and caught on with the Browns before fizzling out and joining the XFL.

Quarterback B.J. Daniels, cornerback Mohammed Seisay, tackle Isaiah Battle and defensive tackle Tani Tupou (who was placed on the IR) round out the former Seahawks who will suit up for the Dragons in 2020.

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Garrett Hartley joins XFL’s Seattle Dragons

Garrett Hartley, the kicker who helped win Super Bowl 44 with the New Orleans Saints, officially signed with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.

Here’s big news from one former member of the New Orleans Saints: Garrett Hartley, the kicker who sent the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV with his overtime field goal against the Minnesota Vikings, has signed with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL. Funnily enough, it’s the same mascot as represented him at Southlake High School in Texas. Hartley announced his big move in posts from his official Instagram account.

Hartley, who turns 34 in May, last kicked professionally in 2014 with the Cleveland Brown, though he spent the 2015 preseason with the Pittsburg Steelers before a hamstring injury ended his year. He’s spent the years since trying to stay in shape and preparing for his next opportunity, while also logging a lot of hours in his turkey blind. He’s clearly grateful for this shot in the XFL.

Now, he’ll get to compete again as a professional football player when the XFL kicks off its 2020 season on Feb. 8, with Hartley’s Dragons starting on the road against the D.C. Defenders (in a game that will be broadcast on ABC). Their home opener is scheduled for Feb. 16 and will take place at CenturyLink Field, also the home of the Seattle Seahawks. More than 20,000 tickets have reportedly already been sold, and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX, so Hartley will have quite the audience when it’s his time to shine. It’ll be easy to cheer for him and the other Saints players trying their hand at the startup league, which includes Dallas Renegades XFL draft picks Hau’oli Kikaha and Tommylee Lewis.

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XFL’s Seattle Dragons reveal uniforms for inaugural season

The XFL’s Seattle Dragons revealed their uniform combinations on Tuesday, with roughly three months until their season is set to begin.

Fans finally know what the Seattle Dragons, the newest football team to start up in the Pacific Northwest, will be wearing when they take the field in February as part of the upstart XFL.

The team revealed their uniform combination at a dinner event on Tuesday evening, hosted by the team’s head coach and general manager, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn.

The uniform combines the classic green and blue coloring of nearly every Seattle sports team, while also adding an orange dragon-like flair that somewhat resembles the color scheme at the University of Miami.

The XFL will wear navy blue home jerseys, and white jerseys with orange numbers on the road.

“I love them,” former Seahawks receiver and current Dragon Kasen Williams told media members on Tuesday. “I think my favorite part is the helmet, most definitely. The whites flow. The home jerseys with the all blue, they go, too. I’m a big fan.”

The Dragons are set to begin their training camp this week, and will look to evaluate their roster and make changes before the season begins on February 8, 2020 – one week after the Super Bowl.

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