FWST: NFL NOTES: NFL closes European league after 16 years

[Cbz40]

NFL NOTES

NFL closes European league after 16 years

From wire reports

The National Football League closed its development league in Europe on Friday after 16 years, changing its international strategy that now includes playing NFL regular-season games in other countries.


The NFL will shutter Europa, which played its World Bowl title game in Frankfurt, Germany, last week, to focus on "presenting the NFL to the widest possible global audience, including broader media visibility and the staging of international regular-season games," the league said in a news release.


NFL Europa lost about $400 million since it began operating under the name World League of America http://www.star-telegram.com/329/story/154318.html# in 1991.


The league, which switched to its current format in 1995, played its season from April to June. It produced players such as quarterback Kurt Warner, who led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl title in the 1999 season and won two NFL Most Valuable Player awards; Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme; and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, a two-time Pro Bowl pick.


Grievance postponed
Daunte Culpepper's grievance hearing, scheduled for Friday, was postponed and will be held July 18, according to a source.


However, all parties were not available. The NFLPA said it would be in Los Angeles, but Culpepper preferred Florida.


The hearing was postponed because the flight of arbitrator John Feerick was disrupted by weather.

 

[tunahelper]

I hope the farm league takes it place?

 

[Crown Royal]

I'm insulted it mentioned Jake Delhomme over La'Roi Glover.

Mostly because I think Delhomme is an overrated QB and Glover is a media-underrated DT.

 

[THUMPER]

changing its international strategy that now includes playing NFL regular-season games in other countries.

This is an incredibly stupid idea that will fail miserably. The players will hate it, the fans will hate it, and it won't draw like they hope it will.

Greed makes people do some really stupid things.
:bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

 

[Crown Royal]

This is an incredibly stupid idea that will fail miserably. The players will hate it, the fans will hate it, and it won't draw like they hope it will.

Greed makes people do some really stupid things.
:bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

I agree. If the world wants football, they'll ask for it. You can't make it the New Soccer.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Can you imagine losing $400 million ?

 

[Yeagermeister]

I agree. If the world wants football, they'll ask for it. You can't make it the New Soccer.

At least it would be more exciting.

 

[burmafrd]

$400 million in 16 years is only 25 mill a year so its not as bad as it looks. BUT since it has NEVER come close to breaking even, and never showed any signs of doing so, enough was enough. I wonder if the money that was spent there will be added to the cap, or better yet- EARMARK IT FOR THE OLD PLAYERS.

 

[ZeroClub]

This is an incredibly stupid idea that will fail miserably. The players will hate it, the fans will hate it, and it won't draw like they hope it will.

Greed makes people do some really stupid things.
:bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

Bingo!


The single greatest threat to the NFL is its own greed.

 

[burmafrd]

One thing I would be curious of: everyone talks about the players- have any really good coaches come out of there- getting their starts or being head coaches and doing well her?e

 

[SupermanXx]

At least it would be more exciting.

always throwing in your needless two cents on your opinion of soccer that nobody gives a rotten damn about... well, except me.

 

[Hailmary]

I hope the farm league takes it place?

Has there been talk of a farm league? That would be awesome if they can develop a true minor league system.

 

[iceberg]

i mentioned this in the farm league thread that it was officially closed. glad to see it finally got noticed. : )

 

[THUMPER]

If Europeans didn't support NFLEL then why would they come out to watch a regular season game between teams they have zero interest or stake in?

I'm sure the Chinese will come out in the millions to watch a game between the Eagles and Bears and spend billions of dollars on merchandise. Yeah right.

 

[percyhoward]

NFL NOTES
The NFL will focus on "presenting the NFL to the widest possible global audience, including broader media visibility and the staging of international regular-season games," the league said in a news release.

Regular season play on foreign soil obviously puts the teams involved at a disadvantage. It shouldn't really happen, until and unless you're able to pick 16 foreign sites for a weekend of games during the regular season when nobody has a bye week. Because of the different time zones, you could end up with 24 hours of football. An octuple-header.

And you'd have to do it twice a season, so the number of road and home games stayed equal for everyone. (Or else add a 17th regular season game.) If there were two such weekends of games per season, a division head-to-head could be split between two different foreign sites.

It may be the only way for the Cowboys to avoid those late season trips to Washington. Boys vs. Skins from Mumbai...

 

[JackMagist]

Can you imagine losing $400 million ?

That is like $800,000 per year for each of the NFL teams. Like having 1 bottom rung FA not pan out each year for each team...It is almost chump change to the NFL owners.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

This is an incredibly stupid idea that will fail miserably. The players will hate it, the fans will hate it, and it won't draw like they hope it will.

Greed makes people do some really stupid things.
:bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

With the criminal records many of the players have, they probably won't be able to fly to Europe to play

As an aside, a free trip to Paris, London etc is not a bad thing so I doubt the players will mind all that much.

Vive La France