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Developmental League

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gafin

Practice Squad
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I'm all for this. This would give young players a chance to develop by playing. I'm not sure why they did away with NFL Europe but a few good players came through there, like Brent Grimes. It should really help developing QB's.

When Troy Vincent mentioned in April the NFL's interest in establishing a developmental league, he couldn't have imagined the response it would get.

"I got more than 100 proposals," he said with a laugh. "I think that shows it is worth a look."

And that is what it will get, although the NFL has no timetable for establishing such a league.

Why is it likely to get off the ground? Vincent, who recently became the NFL's head of football operations, cites a bunch of reasons, from training coaches and officials to finding players to testing rules.

"It would be an opportunity to enhance our game on many levels, to develop the future, preserve and innovate the game," he said.
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http://pro32.ap.org/article/developmental-league-has-support-no-launch-plan
 
It's a great idea. They need to make it a spring league, and it would probably rake in some cash too.
 
Sorry, if there was, I must have missed it.
 
Why would the NFL want to risk more earnings for future lawsuits?

NFL Europe did not succeed. Nor has any other venture that doesn't play from Sept to Jan.
 
Is this not pretty much what the Practice Squad is for?

8 Players per team

256 Practice Squad Players league wide that can be "called up" by ANY team at any time.


If anything just expand the PS to say....12 players per team or whatever.

NFL D-League would be a failure and nothing short of MAYBE getting better ratings than AFL or UFL (do they even still exist?)

College ball is the real D league and with all the "pay for play" movements going around and the NCAA running for the hills, it's only a matter of time before college ball players get paid.
 
I've been an advocate of this for years now. Every team should have a "minor league" team where you can send players to rehab injuries, get in game shape, develop and train to eventually become NFL players etc...

It would easily be the most popular "minor league" sport and the NFL could stand to cash in big time. The interest is there, the 16 week regular season isn't enough for most fans, which is why the draft and FA is so highly anticipated. Most of us just want football in some form or another.

There's alot of things that would need to be figured out but personally I would be very excited for something like a minor league for the NFL
 
DolfanDuBbZ~ said:
Why would the NFL want to risk more earnings for future lawsuits?

NFL Europe did not succeed. Nor has any other venture that doesn't play from Sept to Jan.
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Because the earnings would probably dwarf any lawsuit the NFL would possibly face. A spring league for the NFL would get higher Nelson ratings than MLB games played at the same time. No question in my mind.
 
Think it would be smart and alot of these college guys that don't get a chance could help to show if they have "it". Also could help get quality reps for people like Pat Devlin. Now another question would be could players coming back from injuries go down and play there to rehab somewhat like what the MLB does?
 
finfanaz said:
Because the earnings would probably dwarf any lawsuit the NFL would possibly face. A spring league for the NFL would get higher Nelson ratings than MLB games played at the same time. No question in my mind.
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Doubtfull,

It's not as if the house-hold NFL names will be playing or anyone resembling a legitamite NFL caliber player will.

It would succeed for maybe 2-3 seasons until TV deals dry up because of low viewer ratings. (Much like NFL Europe)

AFL clings to life every season and UFL can't even get national TV slots.

Sure, football is the #1 sport in the United States, but I think we are kidding ourselves if people will tune in to watch a league of UDFA that could't even make a NFL practice squad compete.

This is like asking MLB to start televising AAA, AA ball on national market.
 
MRojas4 said:
Doubtfull,

It's not as if the house-hold NFL names will be playing or anyone resembling a legitamite NFL caliber player will.

It would succeed for maybe 2-3 seasons until TV deals dry up because of low viewer ratings. (Much like NFL Europe)

AFL clings to life every season and UFL can't even get national TV slots.

Sure, football is the #1 sport in the United States, but I think we are kidding ourselves if people will tune in to watch a league of UDFA that could't even make a NFL practice squad compete.

This is like asking MLB to start televising AAA, AA ball on national market.
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Actually, its nothing like that. Comparing the NFL to the MLB isn't a good choice. And comparing American NFL fans to fans in Europe is similarly not a good stance.

AFL and the UFL aren't backed by the NFL. It would be different as you have a rooting interest in the league since every NFL team would have a sister team.

Also, it wouldn't be a league of UDFA, if you read anything I said above.
 
finfanaz said:
Actually, its nothing like that. Comparing the NFL to the MLB isn't a good choice. And comparing American NFL fans to fans in Europe is similarly not a good stance.

AFL and the UFL aren't backed by the NFL. It would be different as you have a rooting interest in the league since every NFL team would have a sister team.

Also, it wouldn't be a league of UDFA, if you read anything I said above.
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So who would be playing in "Spring Ball" games if not UDFA?

No "Pro" NFL team would even sniff the at the idea of letting anyone on the 90 man, much less 53 man roster step foot onto the field of NFL D-League.

Not to mention the insurance complications that would come from that basically turn any player off from stepping down in the D-league and playing just to "gain experience".
 
finfanaz said:
Because the earnings would probably dwarf any lawsuit the NFL would possibly face. A spring league for the NFL would get higher Nelson ratings than MLB games played at the same time. No question in my mind.
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It has never succeeded in any form. Ever.

If the NFL isn't playing, the masses don't care. Watching semi pros isn't the same as watching the real thing.

And with your theory, please explain past failures. Starting with NFL Europe.
 
I think it's a no-brainer, especially for guys who want to work for it. Some players value their free time in the offseason — and it doesn't have to be a huge production. Make eight teams, eight games. Let whichever NFL coaches want to coach those teams coach those teams. Fans, like myself, always quip that the offseason is way too long...I'd certainly follow it, especially if I knew there were some players from the Dolphins practice squad playing.

Look at what Cam Wake did in Canada after flaming out in the NFL on his first try. Went up there, developed, and now has a place here in Miami.

There's young players who flame out every year. This would give them a chance to get more experience and learn. It would also give guys a chance to keep playing football.
 
Wasn't there like a twenty page debate on this about a month ago?
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was there? if there was, and it is so easy to find, [20 pages shouldnt be hard to find] why didnt you post a link since you took time and posted on this anyways?

just sayin'.... thats all.
 
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