Maddox Passes Xtreme to a Win

Vince McMahon says his XFL will be back next year, with or without NBC, but with a different marketing approach. The emphasis will be put on the football and the players.

One player who figures to rate high on any marketing campaign is Los Angeles Xtreme quarterback Tommy Maddox, provided he doesn’t hook on with an NFL team.

Maddox completed 25 of 36 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Xtreme to a 35-26 victory over the Las Vegas Outlaws on Saturday night before an announced crowd of 20,138 at the Coliseum.

All four of Maddox’s touchdown passes came in the first half, as the Xtreme (6-2) built a 26-14 lead on its way to clinching a playoff berth.

What has been particularly impressive about Maddox in recent weeks is a lack of interceptions. The former UCLA quarterback had one Saturday night, his first in four games. He had a streak of 107 passes without an interception and leads the XFL with 17 touchdown passes.

As good as Maddox’s numbers are, Xtreme Coach Al Luginbill said there are other intangibles that explain Maddox’s emergence.

“He had to give up some individualism for the team, and he’s done that,” Luginbill said. “The difference among quarterbacks is not statistics but wins.”

Xtreme running back Saladin McCullough also has made an impression in recent weeks. Saturday night he rushed for 54 yards in 15 carries against the Outlaws (4-4), but his most dazzling play came on a pass early in the second quarter. He took a short lob from Maddox over the middle, ran over two defenders, juked another and scored.

The 19-yard touchdown gave the Xtreme a 12-7 lead.

Xtreme kicker Jose Cortez had field goals of 42, 32 and 44 yards in the second half and now has made 15 of his last 16 attempts, including seven from at least 40 yards.

His last one Saturday night came with 47 seconds left. With 39 seconds remaining, NBC announced the Xtreme had the game in hand and went off the air. It was 11 p.m. in the East, and time for NBC affiliates to go to their local news shows.

“That was my call,” McMahon said after the game. “This is a partnership, and I want to be a good partner.”