After player curses on TV, coaches defend XFL's in-game interviews, mic'd-up tactics

Chris Bumbaca | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption XFL CEO: Expect crisp, up-tempo football from new league SportsPulse: New XFL CEO and Commissioner Oliver Luck explains how the new XFL will be nothing like the old one. He also talks about a few things they're trying out to keep the pace of the games fast.

WASHINGTON — The ABC employee on the dump button will need a quicker trigger than that!

One of the unique aspects of the XFL is the access given during the games to the broadcast crews. Cameramen are in the huddle on some plays, for example.

After the Seattle Dragons endured a tough series deep on their side of the field in the second quarter of the league's opening game against the DC Defenders, Seattle lineman Dillon Day was asked a question by ESPN/ABC's Dianna Russini right as he came off the field.

In the heat of the moment, Day did not self-censor.

The idea: Interview players as soon as they walk off the field. Gotta have that hand on the dump button. pic.twitter.com/o5tvVp87Fl — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 8, 2020

"We're just trying to do our (expletive) jobs," a breathless Day said before the network's censors finally kicked in.

The slip-up comes with the risk the league and networks are taking in an effort to give more access during the broadcasts. Boom mics on the sidelines picked up playcalls and sent them over the airwaves, an act that would cause some NFL coaches to undergo anaphylactic shock.

But XFL coaches are aware what they signed up for.

"It’s part of it. I think as a football fan myself having the opportunity to experience a part of the game that you typically don’t get to experience (is good)," Defenders coach Pep Hamilton said after the game. "Our commissioner, Commissioner (Oliver) Luck talked about the transparency that we wanted to have and the fan experience we wanted to allow. Our players, they kept their focus. They weren’t distracted."

Dragons coach Jim Zorn praised the league and broadcast partners for not crossing any boundaries.

"I never felt that today, that somebody was trying to interfere with what I was trying to do," Zorn said.