Tag: xfl seattle

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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