PFT: NFL Europa finished [merged] - New England Patriots Forums

***pats1*** · 06-22-2007, 02:06 PM

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

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POSTED 3:01 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2007

ADIEU, NFL EUROPA?

An industry source tells us that this weekend's World Bowl is expected to be the last act for NFL Europa, before it is flushed down the Toilet Bowl.

If that happens, it will mean the end to an experiment that began back in 1991, named the World League of American Football. The league, which was initially run by the guy who pulled the trigger on the Herschel Walker trade, originally had 10 teams, with six in the U.S. and four on foreign soil (Montral, Barcelona, London, Frankfurt).

We recall being mildly fascinated by the helmet cam, but thoroughly disinterested in the on-field product.

By 1995, the league went fully European, and eventually picked up the brand-building moniker "NFL Europe." In 2007, a local flair was added to the title, with the "Europe" becoming "Europa," thereby giving heterosexual American men yet another reason not to pay attention to it.

Perhaps the best evidence of the coming NFL Europa euthanasia is the fact that (as one reader points out) the Yello Strom World Bowl XV will be held this weekend, and there's not a peep about it on the NFL's official web site.

So why isn't it mentioned? If no one knows about it, no one will watch it, and the league's anemic ratings will be even lower, making it easier to justify putting it out of our misery.

Besides, who needs watered-down NFL football in Europa when the real thing is coming in 2007? With the league fully committed to hitting the pads overseas, and with Fins owner Wayne Huizenga recently suggesting that London could end up with three or four regular-season NFL games per year, there's no reason to export a lesser product.

Finally, the developmental benefits aren't as compelling as they used to be. Players allocated to NFL Europa miss out on their teams' entire offseason program, during which upwards of 90 percent of the offense and defense is installed in advance of the coming season. So while the allocated players have more "live" game reps come August, they're woefully behind the other guys with whom they are competing for roster spots.

Think about it -- at one point a list of European success stories could be rattled off pretty quickly (Brad Johnson, Kurt Warner, etc.). We can't think of the last guy who starred in Europe before becoming a big deal in the States.

So adieu, NFL Europa. We can't say that we'll miss you, because we barely even noticed you.

***BelichickFan*** · 06-22-2007, 02:09 PM

Hopefully in 10 years we'll read the same thing about playing NFL games in Europe.

MetalBleachers · 06-22-2007, 03:30 PM

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Finally, the developmental benefits aren't as compelling as they used to be. Players allocated to NFL Europa miss out on their teams' entire offseason program, during which upwards of 90 percent of the offense and defense is installed in advance of the coming season. So while the allocated players have more "live" game reps come August, they're woefully behind the other guys with whom they are competing for roster spots.

This means the most, I think. I used to enjoy NFL Europe because the Pats would send a half-dozen players and I could keep an eye on them, but as the years went on, very few New England allocated players made the final 53. Rohan Davey getting cut after making NFLE MVP the season before was the surest sign that overseas success meant little.

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Originally Posted by BelichickFan

Hopefully in 10 years we'll read the same thing about playing NFL games in Europe.

Agreed. It seems as though only Germans enjoy the NFL (note the current team locations), and that's only a relative few. Most Europeans seem more than happy with their version of football.

Pujo · 06-22-2007, 04:05 PM

I don't know what the mean by there being nothing about the World Bowl on NFL.com, it's one of the main headlines on their front page.

***KontradictioN*** · 06-22-2007, 04:11 PM

I've never watched this anyway. Nor Arena football.

***pats1*** · 06-22-2007, 07:42 PM

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Originally Posted by Pujo

I don't know what the mean by there being nothing about the World Bowl on NFL.com, it's one of the main headlines on their front page.

Florio has corrected that.

PATRIOT64 · 06-22-2007, 11:01 PM

Joins the USFL, XFL and soon to be Arena Football for all wannabes in the sport known as the NFL - often imitated, never duplicated.

VJCPatriot · 06-22-2007, 11:06 PM

Didn't Mark Cuban want to come up with an NFL copycat league? He should heed the death knell of NFL Europe before he lays down the cash. Just my opinion. I suppose he's got money to burn so he can waste it if he wants to.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 06-22-2007, 11:19 PM

The product gets bad reviews because the early season games are raw, more practice then game. You don't start getting a more professional product until mid-season, by then folks have turned away from it because the early games are so shaky. Hopefully this is another empty obituary.

SoonerPatriot · 06-23-2007, 12:22 AM

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Originally Posted by PATRIOT64

Joins the USFL, XFL and soon to be Arena Football for all wannabes in the sport known as the NFL - often imitated, never duplicated.

I disagree with you about Arena Ball. It's been around since 1987 and attendance has been rising. The league average is 12,000 per game at last count and ESPN bought a stake in it last year, ensuring games are on TV regularly, usally on the duece.

You may not like it, and honestly my interest in it is light, but that doesn't mean its a failure like the XFL and USFL. 20 years is a long time. Those leagues were in business for about 5 minutes.