Matt McGloin becomes early poster boy for access XFL provides

The XFL is offering incredible access to players and coaches in real-time during games, and New York Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin became a poster boy for the bad side of it on Saturday.

The New York Guardians were shutout by the DC Defenders 27-0 in the first game of the XFL’s Week 2 schedule on Saturday. New York starting quarterback Matt McGloin struggled, completing just eight of 18 passes for 44 yards with two interceptions.

McGloin was 5-for-13 for 32 yards with one interception in the first half, as DC led 12-0. ESPN sideline reporter Dianna Russini got McGloin coming off the field, and asked what needed to be done to spark the Guardians’ offense. And as could be expected, head coach Kevin Gilbride didn’t seem too thrilled with the quarterback’s comments.

McGloin threw a pick-six on New York’s next drive, and he was benched in favor of Marquise Williams. McGloin still proceeded to call out teammates and coaches during the fourth quarter.

“Listen, there’s a lot of stuff going on behind closed doors, I think we need to clean that up. Communication, especially, is one. And it showed today. At no point in time did I think we were comfortable out there. At no point in time did I think we were in a position to try to be successful.”

XFL coaches and players will be working out some kinks in these early games, that much is clear. Capturing honest moments for the television audience after good and bad plays will be a big part of driving attention for the league, and McGloin became a victim of that access on Saturday.

Even if some coaches have somehow been surprised at the level of transparency the XFL offers, players also were surely told about the level of access they’d have to be open to. But if McGloin stays on the bench next week, he might be thankful no one will be interested in what he has to say in-game.