PFT: NFL Europa officially gone

[parchy]

The problem with that, is that it stops after 2-4 years when they go pro. too many times they sit on the bench for 3 and 4 years, waiting on someone to get hurt, just to get practice time. With the Minor league, it gives certain players, who maybe just need practice, to get that practice without the expense of the starting players.

And don't bring up the money, NFL has plenty of money to foot a minor league. That is the least of their worries

There aren't enough NFL players to fill up a minor league like the one you're proposing. If the ones that are NFL ready aren't forced to funnel through it, and most guys drafted don't have to, who are you left with? A bunch of guys that'll fill up practice squads. Plus, if Cuban's league ends up coming through, your pool is even smaller.

I'm sorry, but it'll end up like another NFL Europe, with a bunch of scrubs barely making 53-man cuts. Having three players in the 16-year history of the league "matter" in the NFL isn't good enough for me. If anybody can prove to me that the currently college football funnel system would be improved upon with the supplementation or addition of a minor league, I'm all ears. But the situation is so much different from baseball that I don't see how it'd be feasible at this point. It might work, but it would have to be in a completely different format, completely outside of the box we're all thinking within.

 

[PullMyFinger]

Im all for a minor league. It would also provide a way to find that diamond in the rough coach, or coordinator.

 

[VA Cowboy]

The league has needed a real minor league for sometime, not just some gimmicky international one whose main purpose was world-wide marketing and publicity.

 

[Stash]

There aren't enough NFL players to fill up a minor league like the one you're proposing. If the ones that are NFL ready aren't forced to funnel through it, and most guys drafted don't have to, who are you left with? A bunch of guys that'll fill up practice squads. Plus, if Cuban's league ends up coming through, your pool is even smaller.

I would point to the number of players on current NFL rosters. The Cowboys are carrying about 87 players right now. At one time, there was 'enough players' to have a draft of 12 rounds. College teams didn't fold up since then. The players would certainly be there.

I'm sorry, but it'll end up like another NFL Europe, with a bunch of scrubs barely making 53-man cuts. Having three players in the 16-year history of the league "matter" in the NFL isn't good enough for me. If anybody can prove to me that the currently college football funnel system would be improved upon with the supplementation or addition of a minor league, I'm all ears. But the situation is so much different from baseball that I don't see how it'd be feasible at this point. It might work, but it would have to be in a completely different format, completely outside of the box we're all thinking within.

You should check out my prior post. I'm suggesting a real minor league system. Where the 'Little Cowboys' team would use the same scheme and techniques that the 'Big Cowboys' do. That way when someone got 'called up', they would know what was going on because they had already been coached in that system.

NFL Europe was a half-assed marketing attempt aimed at giving the NFL a presence in Europe. It did little or nothing for player development.

Paying 40 players at 'practice squad rate' would cost an NFL team about $1.5 million in player salary for a 12-game minor league schedule. That's peanuts to an NFL team. And I can see any minor league NFL team making more money than that.

Heck, I doubt Jerry's losing money on the Desparados.

I think it could be a 'win-win'. The NFL could have a league to develop talent and another avenue to make money.

 

[ZeroClub]

College football is a wonderful minor league for the NFL. Thousands of players participate in college football, get excellent training, and the NFL only has to sit back and cherry-pick the most promising players. It's a perfect situation for the NFL.

There is no way that an official NFL minor league could rival the success of the major college football conferences. There wouldn't be a single minor league club that would be better than, say, USC, LSU, Texas, etc. It just wouldn't happen.

Keylon Kincade is your NFL minor league running back. McFadden is your Razoback running back. Which one is going to draw the most interest?

The quality of the on-the-field product matters.

 

[parchy]

I would point to the number of players on current NFL rosters. The Cowboys are carrying about 87 players right now. At one time, there was 'enough players' to have a draft of 12 rounds. College teams didn't fold up since then. The players would certainly be there.

But what are you getting on those developmental squads? Guys who, ostensibly, weren't good enough to play in the NFL, not even on a 53-man roster. What will another couple years make them? Jacques Reeves? I guess I didn't represent my post well when I said 'enough players.' I meant enough good players to make the league stand up. If they are continually pumping out practice squad players or guys who crack starting lineups on NFL teams all of 5% of the time, what's the point? What incentive do NFL owners have to put cash into this? The current system is netting them a mint.

You should check out my prior post. I'm suggesting a real minor league system. Where the 'Little Cowboys' team would use the same scheme and techniques that the 'Big Cowboys' do. That way when someone got 'called up', they would know what was going on because they had already been coached in that system.

NFL Europe was a half-assed marketing attempt aimed at giving the NFL a presence in Europe. It did little or nothing for player development.

Paying 40 players at 'practice squad rate' would cost an NFL team about $1.5 million in player salary for a 12-game minor league schedule. That's peanuts to an NFL team. And I can see any minor league NFL team making more money than that.

Heck, I doubt Jerry's losing money on the Desparados.

I think it could be a 'win-win'. The NFL could have a league to develop talent and another avenue to make money.

I just don't see the point, personally. Players do absolutely fine with integration now. The system works, and it works beautifully. I think the bottom line on those bank statements Roger Goodell pours over on the NFL's operating budget would back me up.

Lookit, playbooks aren't that complicated. You don't need 3-4 years to figure it out. Literally the only position on the field that I see this being the least bit beneficial to players that matter is at quarterback, and I don't think it's worth it for one position. The way I see it, you're sinking a whole lot of money into, 1.) something that basically already exists, and 2.) will make a bunch of people who weren't good enough for the NFL in the first place marginally better -- and I emphasize marginally. It's not a bad idea, but I don't think it's good enough of one to execute.

 

[AtlCB]

College football is a wonderful minor league for the NFL. Thousands of players participate in college football, get excellent training, and the NFL only has to sit back and cherry-pick the most promising players. It's a perfect situation for the NFL.

There is no way that an official NFL minor league could rival the success of the major college football conferences. There wouldn't be a single minor league club that would be better than, say, USC, LSU, Texas, etc. It just wouldn't happen.

Keylon Kincade is your NFL minor league running back. McFadden is your Razoback running back. Which one is going to draw the most interest?

The quality of the on-the-field product matters.

The minor leagues wouldn't compete with college football. They'd get killed. That's why the games will be shown on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Salaries would be low, so the owners wouldn't have to make as much revenue. If the teams were placed in middle market cities without teams in an area where the major team has a big following, the minor league could make money. I would bet that people in San Antonio or Austin would support a minor league Cowboys team. Hampton Roads would support a minor league deadskins team. Birmingham would support a minor league Falcons team.

 

[BouncingCheese]

It will sorely be missed.

hehehe

 

[ZeroClub]

Albany Patroons, Indiana Alley Cats, Minot Sky Rockets, Pittsburg Xplosion, Butte Daredevils, Great Falls Explorers, and the Yakama Sun Kings.

Can't say that I have any interest in any of them.

 

[Go Big D!]

NFL Europa to cease operations


NFL.com wire reports



FRANKFURT, Germany (June 29, 2007) -- The NFL's development league in Europe has ended with immediate effect, spokesman Maik Matischak said.

The decision came less than a week after the Hamburg Sea Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in World Bowl XV in Frankfurt, attended by 48,125.

The league, most recently known as NFL Europa, began in 1991.

...............By scheduling regular-season NFL games outside the United States, it was time to develop a new international strategy, Goodell said, adding that folding NFL Europa was the "best business decision."

"From now on, we will focus on regular-season games and use new technologies to make NFL more popular worldwide," he said.

....................................

I don't like the sound of that. I really despise the thought of the Cowboys playing regular season games in places like China, France, Russia, etc.

I'm like a jealous lover....and I don't want to share!

 

[joseephuss]

I would point to the number of players on current NFL rosters. The Cowboys are carrying about 87 players right now. At one time, there was 'enough players' to have a draft of 12 rounds. College teams didn't fold up since then. The players would certainly be there.



You should check out my prior post. I'm suggesting a real minor league system. Where the 'Little Cowboys' team would use the same scheme and techniques that the 'Big Cowboys' do. That way when someone got 'called up', they would know what was going on because they had already been coached in that system.

NFL Europe was a half-assed marketing attempt aimed at giving the NFL a presence in Europe. It did little or nothing for player development.

Paying 40 players at 'practice squad rate' would cost an NFL team about $1.5 million in player salary for a 12-game minor league schedule. That's peanuts to an NFL team. And I can see any minor league NFL team making more money than that.

Heck, I doubt Jerry's losing money on the Desparados.

I think it could be a 'win-win'. The NFL could have a league to develop talent and another avenue to make money.

Players salaries
Practice facilities: Even if the minor league team used the parent teams facilities, those would need to be upgraded to house about twice amount of players. If played in another city, they would have to find a place.
Stadium: Same as practice facilities
Trainers
Transportation
Equipment
Coaches
Scouts: You would need more scouts. Your regular scouts would continue with their own duties and new scouts would be needed to see the other minor league teams.

The NFL makes money and they enjoy doing it. They are not going to rush to spend some of that money into something that may garner them maybe 2 players a year for their main squad. And even if it is more than just 2, it probably won't be much more.

They could probably accomplish the same thing by just expanding the practice squad by a few players, pushing back cut down days in the pre-season, expanding the final rosters by a few players and expanding the game day active rosters by a few players(5 or so).