NFL Off Topic

[rangerrick012]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Maybe extend the practice squad roster size and have them play a short season? Provides an environment for teams to evaluate players in an actual game compared to them being the practice fodder.

Yes, I guess basically that's the short version of my long post, lol. MLB has Spring Training, NBA has the D-League and Summer League, I know preseason is used now to do that somewhat, but I still think you could have a 4-5 week period from mid-June to mid/late-July with basically a minor league for the NFL to give those undrafted FAs and veterans looking for one last shot to show themselves in game, and not just rely on training camp and preseason games.

Basically I guess what NFL Europe used to be, only in America instead.

EDIT: Just read this article about why NFL Europe failed, basically it wasn't profitable.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2920635

I'm not a business major, lol, but if you had a league where the top rookies were out there for a bit of seasoning before the preseason and regular season, let guys like RGIII and Luck get out there and run a bit of their offense before playing against the best of the best to get their feet wet, while also letting other guys get a shot, I think it could work and would draw enough attention and money given the right circumstances.

I know you're probably not going to have a fully 32 team league with such a short amt of time, but a 12-16 team league where teams designate guys based on how they feel about them and let guys get out there to play early on could work.

[av7]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Yes, I guess basically that's the short version of my long post, lol. MLB has Spring Training, NBA has the D-League and Summer League, I know preseason is used now to do that somewhat, but I still think you could have a 4-5 week period from mid-June to mid/late-July with basically a minor league for the NFL to give those undrafted FAs and veterans looking for one last shot to show themselves in game, and not just rely on training camp and preseason games.

Basically I guess what NFL Europe used to be, only in America instead.

One problem would be playing at the stadiums for some teams because of MLS and Lacrosse using it also. Mile High gets pretty torn up at the beginning of the season because of the other sports using it. I think the high school championships happen right around the same time as well.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

The rookies and teams that just drafted them would never go for a league like that. Even if it was some kind of no/low contact set of rules, why on Earth would they want to put themselves in an unnecessary injury risk situation? There's way too many millions at stake on both sides of the equation.

[av7]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

The rookies and teams that just drafted them would never go for a league like that. Even if it was some kind of no/low contact set of rules, why on Earth would they want to put themselves in an unnecessary injury risk situation? There's way too many millions at stake on both sides of the equation.

How many practice squad players go on to make a lucrative contract in the NFL? There's still an injury risk for them just participating in practice so a no/low contact set of rules would be a similar deal as to practice.

[TracerBullet]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Random question/thought - was watching some old vids of Vince McMahon talking about the XFL and how the NFL was becoming too soft and ticket prices being too high for the fans, both of which are issues still today. I know the NFL is a colossus, but does anyone think that if a good alternative came that didn't try to compete with the NFL, but instead tried to do things differently and maybe even acted as an official minor league for the NFL, would it be able to work?

I know the UFL and AFL both exist and are floundering somewhat, but I think during the summer you could still have a league that was similar to the USFL but not trying to compete w/ the NFL, maybe offered a bit different rules on the field, and perhaps even had the NFL's blessing somewhat as a feeder system similar to the NBA-DL and NBA Summer League, come along and be successful.

You've got this 1-2 month period between mini-camps and training camps where there's practically nothing on the sporting landscape outside of MLB. If done right, it could work and give rookies a chance to get on the field sooner and playing, even if it's against lower level competition.

I guess I'm asking if there was an NFL Developmental League for rookies and practice squad players, could it work? Or if there was an independent league that had the NFL's blessing somewhat as a league for FAs and undrafted rookies still looking for a job to showcase themselves, could it work?

Well, the USFL is supposed to start March of next year and is supposed to be a minor league to the NFL.

http://www.theusfl.net/index.php

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7916459/usfl-return-fred-biletnikoff-advisers

[ImTellinTim]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

How many practice squad players go on to make a lucrative contract in the NFL? There's still an injury risk for them just participating in practice so a no/low contact set of rules would be a similar deal as to practice.

He was talking about Luck/RGIII playing in it. Can you imagone the backlash if they blew out a knee playing in the rookie/scrub league? The preseason is already enough for meaningless games.

[rangerrick012]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Yeah, the injuries are probably the biggest obstacle to getting big name guys to play in it. That's why I'd say give teams the option of which players they want to assign - if they don't want to risk a big name guy, they don't have to, but you still could send some of your mid to late round picks there for extra seasoning.

[RJTurneR]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Living in England I've always loved how our football leagues work (Or soccer..) and I think it could work anywhere.

4 leagues. The Premier League, The Championship League, League One, League Two.. Then there's Non-league, mainly filled with very small towns. At the end of each season, some teams get promoted to the next league either through winning their league (Which gains automatic promotion) or through winning the play-off final. Then the teams who finish bottom get relegated to the league below (Usually between 2-4 teams depending on which league).

Then there are various other tournaments throughout the year. (FA Cup, Carling Cup, Europa League, Champions League). Only teams in the Premier League can qualify for European tournaments depending on where they finish, or if they have won their country's domestic up (In this case, the FA Cup).

There a couple of other countries that have more than one league (Spain, France, Italy, Germany), but England has the biggest. The system works very well though, and if most sports embraced the same system, the competition every year is kept fresh and we get to see new teams every season. Plus each league works as a feeder system for the next.

If the NFL was only slightly bigger, this could work. And I think everyone would enjoy it.

[mestevo]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

I've always loved the concept of promotion/relegation.

[wwharton]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Living in England I've always loved how our football leagues work (Or soccer..) and I think it could work anywhere.

4 leagues. The Premier League, The Championship League, League One, League Two.. Then there's Non-league, mainly filled with very small towns. At the end of each season, some teams get promoted to the next league either through winning their league (Which gains automatic promotion) or through winning the play-off final. Then the teams who finish bottom get relegated to the league below (Usually between 2-4 teams depending on which league).

Then there are various other tournaments throughout the year. (FA Cup, Carling Cup, Europa League, Champions League). Only teams in the Premier League can qualify for European tournaments depending on where they finish, or if they have won their country's domestic up (In this case, the FA Cup).

There a couple of other countries that have more than one league (Spain, France, Italy, Germany), but England has the biggest. The system works very well though, and if most sports embraced the same system, the competition every year is kept fresh and we get to see new teams every season. Plus each league works as a feeder system for the next.

If the NFL was only slightly bigger, this could work. And I think everyone would enjoy it.

I'm definitely ignorant to how it all works but don't see how it could work with the NFL. For one, it's not something that could be year round. I also don't know how the draft works with soccer (pretty sure there are high school age kids that could play professionally if they're good enough, no?) or other requirements that HAVE to be different with the NFL. But also, since it can't be year round, teams that get bumped to "lesser" leagues wouldn't be able to compete for air time with teams fighting to go to the SB. Owners wouldn't be having that. Just a ton of logistic issues, imo. That may work for something like basketball though.

[8and9]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Chad Johnson is back!

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8191660/chad-ochocinco-miami-dolphins-says-last-name-johnson-again

Finally, was never a fan of his name change anyways.

[RJTurneR]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

I'm definitely ignorant to how it all works but don't see how it could work with the NFL. For one, it's not something that could be year round. I also don't know how the draft works with soccer (pretty sure there are high school age kids that could play professionally if they're good enough, no?) or other requirements that HAVE to be different with the NFL. But also, since it can't be year round, teams that get bumped to "lesser" leagues wouldn't be able to compete for air time with teams fighting to go to the SB. Owners wouldn't be having that. Just a ton of logistic issues, imo. That may work for something like basketball though.

Agree with most of the points you make, especially the TV time. That's something that is sometimes an issue over here. It would be hard to implement.

We don't have a draft. Instead majority of teams of have youth academy's. These guys would play reserve games against another reserve squad or a lesser team, and occasionally see real playing time.

It's a great system that I'd love to see everywhere, and it could work in basketball. I'm not a follower of the sport, but it sounds like there are a lot of teams that are always not very good, or just not as good.

[N51_rob]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Lions cut Berry.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8191512/detroit-lions-cut-cb-aaron-berry-latest-arrest

[av7]

He was talking about Luck/RGIII playing in it. Can you imagone the backlash if they blew out a knee playing in the rookie/scrub league? The preseason is already enough for meaningless games.

Ah my bad, just glanced at a few posts before posting. In that case, thats definitely under the "no chance" category.

Priority #1: grow brains for some of the pro football population before regular people get killed

[N51_rob]

Re: NFL Off Topic 2012

Just bought NFL Game Rewind for the upcoming season. The coaches film for all plays this year did it for me. I am super excited about that. Finally the NFL got this one right. I've been campaigning for this one for about three years now.