NFL Farm Teams

[Doktor Ivel]

An NFL minor league (aside from the NCAA) is a nice idea, but is impractical for a few reasons:
1. the NFLPA would likely be vehemently opposed to anything like it. Look at all the concessions David Stern has had to make to the NBA union in his quest for a viable minor league. The prospect of NFL players being demoted to a minor league franchise is unthinkable. Moreover, current NFL players have enough competition fending off the kids from the college ranks. Adding a successful minor league would just be one more source of cheap labor.
2. what would it show? A minor league would likely end up being populated almost completely by undrafted free agents and washouts. The best players from each draft class would still be going right to the NFL. It might end up being just a very long training camp audition. What's Brock Berlin going to prove going against a bunch of has-beens and never-will-bes that he didn't prove by playing against Florida and Florida State?
3. the NCAA would not like it. The NFL and NCAA have an uneasy alliance as it is. The NCAA might see a minor league as a step towards getting rid of the age limit. After three or four years in college, a player is pretty well-developed physically and mentally, and a minor league run probably isn't going to help that much; he needs to compete against the best. But a minor league would be most effective if it was run for 18 and 19 year old kids. The sooner these kids learned NFL schemes, the more ready they'll be to contribute right away. Think of how much more effective someone like Alex Smith might be if he was exposed to a pro-style offense and coaching sooner. Of course, this would have the end result of stealing talent away from the NCAA, much like the NBA has done. The NFL needs the cooperation of the NCAA, and vice versa.
4. when would it play? Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays are likely out. Will people turn out to watch minor league football on Tuesdays? I'm skeptical.

you hit that on the head, i found another type of minor league site that NFL players have played in
www.nafl.org

 

[Predaphin]

hey I was thinking about this......wouldnt it be cool if each team in the NFL would have a minor league team, much like the MLB?

NFL europe is basically a minor NFL league, but it would be sweet if each team, had a minor team, where alll of their unexpirianced players would play.

i just think it would be cool watching a game, where Brock Berlin, started at QB

and Travis Minor, and Kay Jay Harris would be all playing....it would be sweet seeing all of the teams back ups, starting.

Sorry but I have to disagree....first of all I have to say that I'm happy as heck the NFL is nowhere near the likes MLB...Baseball sucks plain and simple, besides the point, that is all we need, more injuries.

 

[Lazy1]

The only way a farm system would seriously work and even be questioned was if there was no age limit in entering our league. Baseball players often go straight outa highschool into a farm system or most of the top prospects go for 1 or 2 years of college jsut like in basketball. The NFL career is too short to be wasting in a minor league... unlike baseball where you can play the sport FOREVER. Think about it like this... say a reg. NFL rookie goes to a "minor league" or farm system for 3 years already he is 26 or 27 leaving only about 3-5 years while he is actually in his prime and playing for a major league team. A farm system would never work... NFL is too physical and would be too many injuries and shorten to many careers.

 

[bakedmatt]

hey I was thinking about this......wouldnt it be cool if each team in the NFL would have a minor league team, much like the MLB?

NFL europe is basically a minor NFL league, but it would be sweet if each team, had a minor team, where alll of their unexpirianced players would play.

i just think it would be cool watching a game, where Brock Berlin, started at QB

and Travis Minor, and Kay Jay Harris would be all playing....it would be sweet seeing all of the teams back ups, starting.

we have one. they're called the new orleans saints.