XFL promises real football in `ultimate TV reality show'.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

DETROIT _ It's not your father's football league. That will be clear from the start this weekend, when the most recent indirect challenge to the mighty NFL kicks off without kicking off.

That's right. The football will be placed at the 50-yard line at the start of each game, and one player from each team will line up at his 30-yard line. Whoever gets to the ball first, gets the ball first. This could be fun. This could be farce.

With something of a wink _ and the same skillfully straight face XFL founder Vince McMahon has used in building his World Wrestling Federation into a corporate giant _ the XFL promises to keep it real rather than scripted.

Unlike the NFL, the XFL owns its eight 38-player franchises, which are separated into two divisions and play 10-game schedules. Each division's top two teams make the playoffs, which end with the April 21 title game at a site to be determined.

It all starts Saturday at 8 p.m., when XFL partner NBC gives prime-time treatment to the New York/New Jersey Hitmen's visit to the Las Vegas Outlaws.

McMahon, at least sounding like the XFL is in for the long haul instead of the quick buck, said he expects to lose $100 million in the league's first two seasons before breaking even in the third. How will McMahon keep player salaries from body-slamming the league? By not negotiating.

Salaries are set at $50,000 for quarterbacks, $35,000 for kickers and $45,000 for everyone else. But for every victory, a team splits a $100,000 bonus. The bonus pool for the championship is $1 million. So a quarterback who starts and wins every game, including the championship, will make no more than $110,000. The NFL rookie minimum salary is $193,000.