Why not loan players?

[RustyBourneHorse]

So, I think we can all agree that there is no practice like game reps for players. However, there's not really a viable NFL minor league. To me (and I do not fault the players for this), I don't think NFL players should be allowed to play college football after signing onto an NFL roster. So, my thinking is this. While the practice squad isn't bad for player development, obviously getting players onto some kind of actual football roster to play actual football might be better. So, why not loan practice squad players?

In soccer (European Football as I call it), teams can loan players to other teams in other leagues. Typically, the team loaning the player is paying most of the contract and can call the player back when they want to, meanwhile, the team receiving the player can use the player and allows the player further development.

The CFL and UFL do receive players that are cut, however, the CFL and UFL have differing schedules. There are global leagues that have various rules on foreign players, but, loaning NFL practice squad players can be beneficial for developing players in these leagues too. And, it can be beneficial to generating further interest in the sport. And, most importantly, the players being loaned to leagues (such as the the Japanese X League and German League among others) would get playing time actual football games in similar schedules to the NFL, which is important for their development. So, my point and thought is, why not loan practice squad players to foreign leagues in leagues that have similar calendars to the NFL?

 

[Reality]

The salary cap is one major reason.

Not to mention players would have to learn the playbook, practice it for weeks to get good/reliable with it, etc.

They are also more likely to get injured since they have not been in NFL conditioning and training programs.

I do not see this happening in the NFL unless the league is completely replaced or rebooted with a completely new structure at some point.

 

[jazzcat22]

Many new upstart leagues were formed and tried to compete with the NFL.
All failed for varied reasons.
Even the NFL itself tried the NFL Europe league. It was not sustainable.

Cost is the big downfall. Even when they tried to have a structured pay. Even when they did the summer leagues. TV rights trying to compete in the fall / winter as well. They could not get the money the NFL was getting.

WFL failed in the 70's because they offered huge contracts to lure a way NFL players.
USFL failed. Several other leagues as well, whatever they were called.

The latest 2 merged, and seems ok so far. But until the NFL gets involved which I doubt they will. That is the best they can do.
But teams are not going to risk sending players to play in it and get injured.

Too much money for the NFL to create and maintain their own minor league type system.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Many new upstart leagues were formed and tried to compete with the NFL.
All failed for varied reasons.
Even the NFL itself tried the NFL Europe league. It was not sustainable.

Cost is the big downfall. Even when they tried to have a structured pay. Even when they did the summer leagues. TV rights trying to compete in the fall / winter as well. They could not get the money the NFL was getting.

WFL failed in the 70's because they offered huge contracts to lure a way NFL players.
USFL failed. Several other leagues as well, whatever they were called.

The latest 2 merged, and seems ok so far. But until the NFL gets involved which I doubt they will. That is the best they can do.
But teams are not going to risk sending players to play in it and get injured.

Too much money for the NFL to create and maintain their own minor league type system.

Sure, but I mean, if they're running parralel and not trying to compete, then that's a different thing. Kinda like why I was mentioning leagues like the X League. They play in Japan. They're not competing with the NFL. But it could help benefit PS players and generate further interest in Japan for example.