Matt McGloin dissects brutal game, benching in real time on live TV: 'Is this not the access that everybody has asked for?'

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Can the XFL really succeed after smashing debut? What I'm Hearing: USA TODAY's Lorenzo Reyes was at the XFL's first game in New Jersey and spoke with fans, players and coaches about the league's sustainability. After one week, at least, there is some promise it can last.

WASHINGTON — One of the marquee promises that the XFL made to its fans before the season was to provide unprecedented — and unvarnished — access during games, with the help of its television broadcast partners.

Well, that promise was certainly upheld Saturday.

As the New York Guardians stumbled to a 27-0 loss on the road against the DC Defenders, the ABC broadcast checked in early and often on the Guardians and their struggling quarterback, Matt McGloin.

McGloin was interviewed going into halftime, after a rough first-half performance in which he threw for just 32 yards. ("We need to change the whole entire gameplan at halftime," he told ABC.) He was interviewed minutes after tossing one of his two interceptions. ("Just a poor decision on my part," he said.) And he was interviewed after being benched in the final minutes of the game.

"At no point in time did I think we were comfortable out there," McGloin told sideline reporter Dianna Russini in part of that final interview. "At no point in time did I think we were in a position to try to be successful. I think it was pretty easy to see."

The frequent conversations with McGloin gave viewers a rare look behind the curtain at a starting quarterback's brutal day; the former Penn State and Oakland Raiders quarterback completed just 8 of 19 passes for 44 yards, with two picks and two sacks.

ABC also televised a sideline conversation between McGloin, who was mic'd up, and coach Kevin Gilbride. The quarterback expressed frustration about the offense. Gilbride tried to calm him down.

MORE: DC Defenders player skips his mom's funeral to play XFL game

OLIVER LUCK: XFL commissioner suggests teams could sign college freshmen or sophomores in future

It was the kind of conversation that happens all the time in professional sports, but rarely right there, live, on national television.

"I'm going to get bashed, probably for the rest of the week on social media because people don't agree that I said this or that I said that," McGloin told USA TODAY Sports. "This is my job, and I work too damn hard to go out there and play like that and be embarrassed.

"So I don't care what people may think about the way I act on a football field. I really don't. That's not who I am as a person — it's not — but when I play, I'm competitive and I want to win. Because I know how hard I work, personally, and I know how hard everyone else works."

McGloin said he didn't regret his halftime comments about needing to revamp the gameplan, which was interpreted by many viewers as a shot at the coaching staff. He said he was talking about the kind of halftime adjustments that are made in every game.

Gilbride said he benched McGloin in search of "a spark" and did not frame it as a long-term switch. When asked about McGloin's in-game interactions with ABC's reporters, he shrugged.

"It's certainly raw, right? It's out there for everybody to see and hear," Gilbride said. "I think sometimes when you're frustrated, things come out that you probably, upon further reflection, wish maybe didn't come out.

"But hey, as I've said, we've got to all do a better job. For us to single out one aspect or one component or one person or one player is foolish, because all aspects needed to do better."

McGloin said he knew all along that this would be part of the deal in the XFL. He knew that if he threw an interception, a television reporter would be waiting to ask him about it. He knew the league was putting a premium on access. And he said he isn't about to hide the natural emotions that arise during the course of a game.

"Is this not the access that everybody has asked for?" McGloin said. "This is the stuff that goes on through the course of a professional football game. It gets hot out there. It gets frustrating. That's the way it is."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.