Interesting concept for an additional league by Pat Kirwan

[Ian]

This is an interesting idea by Kirwan:

A worldwide barnstorming tour could be a win-win for everyone

 

[Fencer]

Legends tours work well in other sports, so it's not a crazy idea.

 

[hyperpat]

Like it. Lots of things that could torpedo it, but this idea is worth exploring.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I love the idea of an alternate league but don't understand why we should try to convince other countries to become interested in football, if anything I think many people's would resist it simply because its American.

 

[mcgraw_wv]

I think a NFL supported Minor League Football League in America setup like Soccer with divisions would be even better.

Imagine the drama at the end of the Year when the Division D Champion Smithville Bobcats get to challenge the worst team in Division C Huntsivlle Hunters for their Division C status.

The top 2 teams play to move up against the worst 2 in the above division, making even the worst team last game huge in order to hold on to their division status.



In all honesty, this is how I feel College football should be set up.

All the bowl games would go to the challenge games at the end of the year, Imagine the drama and interest in Miami Hurricanes playing East Carolina for a chance to have East Carolina a chance to move up into the top division of football.

It would be more dramatic for all football fans.

College Division 1 a football has roughly 100 teams.

You have 5 divisions of 20 teams.

Each divisions has 4 "brackets" of 5 teams.

You play everyone in your bracket twice a year ( home and away ), no more making your own schedule. and 2 games a year against predetermined teams in other brackets.

This would make a 8-4 season matter. No more "well 1 loss removes them from national championship" attitude. Then a small 2 round tournament at the end of the year determines the true National Championship. As well have every game a potential great matchup, no more weak schedules with only 2 or 3 real games on it.

Prior to the Champioship game you have a ton of challenge games with teams trying to move up divisions and team defending their Division status...

 

[Fencer]

And on your plan the Lions get relegated to Division 2?

 

[RayClay]

The Harlem NFL Globetrotters. We should make this happen.

It's my leegg!!!

 

[PatsChamp88]

As much as it sounds like a good idea the fact is that spending all the money to push it into other countries probably would backfire. Instead I prefer the idea of having "minor league" teams play in the United States in cities that don't already have football teams (similar to baseball but just 2 levels not 4). Setting up an optimal time frame for the season would be key, people love to watch football so not during the regular NFL season could draw more viewers (no competition from NFL, AFL, CFB, etc) or they could run it side by side but have it shorter then the NFL season so it ends in November like Kirwan suggested.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I stopped reading when I realized he wanted another NFL Europe.

 

[Urgent]

Very interesting.

If it keeps real NFL games in the US, I'm all for it.

However, I do question the impact and attractiveness for vets. Obviously this is not going to be $100mm salary caps. There is limited gate security and the television contract wouldn't be a quarter of the size, maybe not even a tenth the size. Vets, who have made millions or tens of millions, would be asked to play for very short money. Breathlessly, he notes: "maybe even Brett Favre!" Did anyone watch Brett Favre last year? You want to build a league around that?

Further, the injury rate could be huge. You've got teams with 50 aging players, spending time traveling, away from normal schedules, rehab, nutrition, etc. For every guy that gets 'called up' to the pro's, there will be 10 facing career-ending injuries - given that most any major injury in the aging vet category is career terminating. This is not golf.

There is a time zone issue he glosses over. "I'd like to see the games of my idea played on Friday night, when I don't have other things I want to watch on my TV..." (There were a bit too many references to "my" idea.) OK, so you realize that Friday night in "Paris, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona" is Friday noon EST, and Friday 9am on the west coast, right? If there is no US television audience, the revenue from television is crushed. Then, the second half of the season, in Sydney and Tokyo, time zones are a worse problem.

So, definitely some issues to address.

But the kernel of an idea is there.
Problems:
What to do with out-of-work name-brand veterans?
How to solve the lack of international awareness and growth?
How to solve the lack of a development league for young players that don't make a roster?

I'd love to see a solution that worked.

 

[Pats726]

I like the idea....I do NOT think this at all settles or addresses the development of players or the evaluation...THAT to me is totally separate...and should be different. THIS is primarily a tour to PROMOTE football!! I think it has a lot of merit...and this also gives older players a chance to play and promote a game they love in other countries. NOTHING at all wrong with this...I agree with Urgent that time zones, injuries and salaries ARE a factor..but I also think with great minds things can be worked out. It's a LOT better to have a tour and DO that for teh sake of promotion an dleave the REAL games back here.
A developmental league though...is different...THAT is more like a minot league and should be in the spring..and HERE...a different issue....GREAT idea by Kirwin!! THANKS Ian for brining it up!!

 

[Sicilian]

I really like the idea, and think it has merit. Only thing I would question is the idea of "working off a suspension" by playing in this barnstorming exhibition season. If you're trying to sell your product around the world, you don't send the black sheep to be your diplomats.

 

[JDSal45]

To me, the problem is only 2 teams. Playing each other 8 consecutive games I feel the teams will know each other so well it'll affect the quality of games and interest level of the games after 3-4 games against each other in a short period of time.

I think if he proposed 3 or 4 traveling teams with some sort of round-robin format, that its a decent idea.

J D Sal

 

[Sicilian]

To me, the problem is only 2 teams. Playing each other 8 consecutive games I feel the teams will know each other so well it'll affect the quality of games and interest level of the games after 3-4 games against each other in a short period of time.

I think if he proposed 3 or 4 traveling teams with some sort of round-robin format, that its a decent idea.

J D Sal

How about 5 team, play each team twice, top two teams play one final game in one of the traveling cities (different one each year)?

 

[mcgraw_wv]

In the end, I can not foresee no league that has it's top players continually plucked away having longevity.

Every plan about any other league, is all about using it as a way to send players to another league or polish players until they are ready?

I wouldn't care or want to follow, or dedicate myself enough to buy a T-Shirt, or follow games becuase of this.

In College, you know you have these players for a few years, there is investment in this idea that a program can grow.

Any league that has no longevity of players and no consistent motions of progression season to season will fail long term.

 

[VJCPatriot]

In the end, I can not foresee no league that has it's top players continually plucked away having longevity.

Every plan about any other league, is all about using it as a way to send players to another league or polish players until they are ready?

I wouldn't care or want to follow, or dedicate myself enough to buy a T-Shirt, or follow games becuase of this.

In College, you know you have these players for a few years, there is investment in this idea that a program can grow.

Any league that has no longevity of players and no consistent motions of progression season to season will fail long term.

Huh, Minor League baseball is based entirely on that concept, and I don't see them have a problem attracting a fanbase.

 

[Pats726]

Huh, Minor League baseball is based entirely on that concept, and I don't see them have a problem attracting a fanbase.

Very true....although THIS is more a traveling minor league...and THAT is OK...it's more ambassadors FOR the sport... I really think a developmental league is a different animal...and MORE sping HERE NOT traveling

 

[JoeSixPat]

Tremendous idea - I guarantee you'd discover some pretty exciting players

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I stopped reading when I realized he wanted another NFL Europe.

Reading that you stopped reading, made me want to read it.


anyway, I don't think its that bad of an idea. I always feel bad for guys like Troy Brown, or Lawyer. They want to still play, but just can't get on a roster.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

Why would somebody like Marvin Harrison come out of retirement to play in some slap **** league made up of a bunch of over the hill players for next to no money?

Answer: He wouldn't.

Which is why this is an interesting conversation topic, but in practice, totally ludicrous.