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[QUOTE=WestPhillyPunisher;5081059]That would be interesting. Unless I'm mistaken, the NFL hasn't had anything in the way of a developmental league since NFL Europe, and that's been gone for quite some time.[/QUOTE]
A “farm league” has been something that people have been interested in for a while, and it feels like minor league football should be able to make money as well... but different costs of operating issues have generally killed it off in the last few decades. The AAF showed potential... then closed. XFL 2.0 showed potential... but wasn’t quite living up to it when the virus hit.
If the Rock and co. actually get the XFL up and running, I kind of hope they stick a team back in San Antonio, as the AAF had and as XFL 2.0 didn’t. San Antonio had actually signifcant and pretty impressive attendance at their home games, and were the only AAF team to do so.
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[QUOTE=WestPhillyPunisher;5081059]That would be interesting. Unless I'm mistaken, the NFL hasn't had anything in the way of a developmental league since NFL Europe, and that's been gone for quite some time.[/QUOTE]
The league would have to be domestic and operate in markets that likely aren't in direct competition with multiple major sports depending on the time of year development will take place, so San Antonio, San Diego, Orlando, and even Oklahoma could be viable locations.
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[QUOTE=godisawesome;5081281]A “farm league” has been something that people have been interested in for a while, and it feels like minor league football should be able to make money as well... but different costs of operating issues have generally killed it off in the last few decades. The AAF showed potential... then closed. XFL 2.0 showed potential... but wasn’t quite living up to it when the virus hit.
[/QUOTE]
A farm league could be awesome so long as they pick markets that don't have NFL or major college teams in direct competition, especially on the west side of the country. I say major college teams because you can put a farm team in Columbus, Ohio but they will be dwarfed by Ohio State.
Its 600 miles to closest NFL team from where I live, 800 to the next closest. There are places on the East side of the country where you could have as many as 10 NFL teams within 600 miles. Putting teams in places like Portland, Salt Lake, Boise, Albequerque, etc where there is no major competition would be great for fans of those markets.
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[QUOTE=WestPhillyPunisher;5081059]That would be interesting. Unless I'm mistaken, the NFL hasn't had anything in the way of a developmental league since NFL Europe, and that's been gone for quite some time.[/QUOTE]
Yeah and some NFL executives have brought up how its not helped them. That some players need playing time they can't get and NFL Europe helped there. So the Rock being a very well known figure head and one who commands a respect now (so respected people wanted him to run for President for the last couple years) can walk into meetings with NFL and work a deal. Send us some players to develop during spring and with who we get from college not drafted or CFL we can build a roster each year.
The XFL brought up wanting to get a deal done with NFL for this. But Vince's name is poison like Donald Trump's name. No way do NFL executives want Vince around the NFL. But the Rock ? The man who is a certified big time action star and potential future Presidential contender.
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[QUOTE=SUPERECWFAN1;5081468]Yeah and some NFL executives have brought up how its not helped them. That some players need playing time they can't get and NFL Europe helped there. So the Rock being a very well known figure head and one who commands a respect now (so respected people wanted him to run for President for the last couple years) can walk into meetings with NFL and work a deal. Send us some players to develop during spring and with who we get from college not drafted or CFL we can build a roster each year.
The XFL brought up wanting to get a deal done with NFL for this. But Vince's name is poison like Donald Trump's name. No way do NFL executives want Vince around the NFL. But the Rock ? The man who is a certified big time action star and potential future Presidential contender.[/QUOTE]
I bet most NFL owners know Vince's word is worthless, which will make it hard to get deals done. The Rock doesn't have that problem.
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[QUOTE=Gray Lensman;5081478]I bet most NFL owners know Vince's word is worthless, which will make it hard to get deals done. The Rock doesn't have that problem.[/QUOTE]
The Rock is just the hype man. His team are the workers. That being said, this screams names for the Titans show and/or tax shelter.
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[QUOTE=JDogindy;5081289]The league would have to be domestic and operate in markets that likely aren't in direct competition with multiple major sports depending on the time of year development will take place, so San Antonio, San Diego, Orlando, and even Oklahoma could be viable locations.[/QUOTE]
Yes, if they went similar to MLBaseball's Minor League Class A teams. But that model can't make very much money and doesn't involve TV revenue. Its basically family-friendly fare whose main draw is that you get to see a game on the cheap and may see a Major Leaguer on the mound or in the outfield once in a while. Thats fine, but not what the XFL has traditionally gone after. They and other starter leagues have all basically directly competed with the NFL in spirit, albeit not head to head. The biggest benefit to going this route is that you get partially funded by the big dogs.
Be interesting to see if they go all in again or if they become some kind of a mini-NFL. Fans probably don't care what route is taken.
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The league never needs to reopen. One decent selling video game would turn a profit.
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[QUOTE=Scott Taylor;5082524]Yes, if they went similar to MLBaseball's Minor League Class A teams. But that model can't make very much money and doesn't involve TV revenue. Its basically family-friendly fare whose main draw is that you get to see a game on the cheap and may see a Major Leaguer on the mound or in the outfield once in a while. Thats fine, but not what the XFL has traditionally gone after. They and other starter leagues have all basically directly competed with the NFL in spirit, albeit not head to head. The biggest benefit to going this route is that you get partially funded by the big dogs.
Be interesting to see if they go all in again or if they become some kind of a mini-NFL. Fans probably don't care what route is taken.[/QUOTE]
Minor league football is never going to be a thing, because the NFL already a perfect developmental system in college football, which is simultaneously far more profitable than any rival league ever could be and doesn't cost them a dime because apparently we're still pretending that the principles of amateurism actually matter in 2020. Besides, football relies a lot more on team chemistry than other sports, you can't just grab a few dozen guys off the street and expect them to be able to play a credible and entertaining game after a few weeks of practicing together. Most of these startup leagues can't even guarantee to their players that they'll get paid with any regularity or even that they'll be able to finish out their current season, so it's impossible to expect the level of commitment necessarily to put out a compelling product.
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The NFL may have a big issue next spring. The Big 10 and other colleges are looking at cancelling the season and we may see the NCAA just cancel the season outright due to virus. The NFL won't be able to hold NFL draft due to no college games being held to scout players.
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[QUOTE=SUPERECWFAN1;5090437]The NFL may have a big issue next spring. The Big 10 and other colleges are looking at cancelling the season and we may see the NCAA just cancel the season outright due to virus. The NFL won't be able to hold NFL draft due to no college games being held to scout players.[/QUOTE]
If the NCAA cancels the football season outright, it stands to reason they could follow through on basketball which would screw things up for the NBA. However, if we're talking postponement, there might not be college hoops until early 2021.
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[QUOTE=SUPERECWFAN1;5090437]The NFL may have a big issue next spring. The Big 10 and other colleges are looking at cancelling the season and we may see the NCAA just cancel the season outright due to virus. The NFL won't be able to hold NFL draft due to no college games being held to scout players.[/QUOTE]
Unless scouts are comfortable using year old tape to draft guys prior to a potentially late and HUGE combine after vaccinations are out for Covid-19.
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[QUOTE=SUPERECWFAN1;5090437]The NFL may have a big issue next spring. The Big 10 and other colleges are looking at cancelling the season and we may see the NCAA just cancel the season outright due to virus. The NFL won't be able to hold NFL draft due to no college games being held to scout players.[/QUOTE]
The NFL will still hold the draft. It will just be the wildest most risk taking draft ever because with so many players they'll be drafting having very limited tape. It will be largely be a workout warrior draft based on combine performances.
A spring college football season will also be very diluted because there is no way that guys like Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and others who have done enough already to merit a top of the 1st rd pick play at all.
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Yah the thing is, a spring league could be a big opportunity for a lot of players to get noticed who might not otherwise have gotten a shot.
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NFL News ...
- The Baltimore Ravens days ago sent Earl Thomas (safety) home after a fight he had with Chuck Clark. On Sunday they released him as they felt this was the final straw as its said there was issues last year. Thomas is now a free agent again and last time wanted to play for Dallas. He may get his wish as its reported the Cowboys are interested.