It was a working holiday Monday for Seattle Sea Dragons coach Jim Haslett, quarterback Ben DiNucci and receiver Josh Gordon, who took a brief break from XFL training-camp practices in Arlington, Texas, to come to Seattle to meet fans and sign autographs at Xtadium lounge in Pioneer Square.
“I’ve heard a lot about the fan base and the city so getting to do a quick 24- hour round trip up here has been fun, just seeing the support from everybody and trying to bring some fire and some excitement to the season,” said DiNucci, a seventh-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
The Sea Dragons began practicing last week for their season-opening game at the D.C. Defenders on Feb. 19. Four days later, the Sea Dragons will play their first home game, hosting the St. Louis BattleHawks on Thursday, Feb. 23, at Lumen Field.
Haslett, who was NFL Coach of the Year in 2000 when he led the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever postseason victory, said he has been pleased with what he has seen from his new team.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys that have played in the NFL who are not up there for one reason or another right now,” Haslett said. “So hopefully we can help them get back.”
Haslett said Seattle fans should expect a lot of passing from the Sea Dragons. That’s because Haslett’s offensive coordinator is June Jones, who has been a head coach in the NFL, Division I, the Canadian Football League and the XFL, and is known for his pass-dominant run-and-shoot offense.
Jones was 5-0 with the Houston Roughnecks in 2020 in the first reboot of the XFL. That season ended prematurely because of the pandemic and soon after, the league went into bankruptcy.
Haslett figured Jones would get a head coaching job in the league’s latest return — with new owners — this year. When that didn’t happen, Haslett hired Jones to run the Sea Dragons offense and let Jones bring his Roughnecks offensive staff with him.
“If you like to see the ball in the air, it’s going to be in the air and hopefully we’re going to score a lot of points,” Haslett said, when asked why people should come to games. “I think it will be fun and it’s going to look like NFL-caliber football.”
Gordon knows what it’s like to excel in the NFL, leading the league in receiving yards in 2013 and earning All-Pro honors. Several drug-related suspensions in the years since derailed his career.
Gordon, 31, played for the Seahawks for two seasons (2019-20) and said he is looking forward to again playing in Seattle, a “home away from home.” He has been impressed with the talent level of his new team.
