Does the NFL need a developmental/minor league?

[TrueBeliever]

In an article I read today about the possibility of an 18-game season, it was stated the league is considering forming a developmental league to make up for the loss of the two preseason games. This is something I've been wondering about ever since NFL Europe folded a few years ago - should the league start another minor league to get experience for players who don't get it outside of preseason games?

Any NFL coach will tell you the best way to really see what a guy's got is to see him in a real game situation. Not a scrimmage, not a practice, etc. Even though most fans couldn't tell you the names of more than one or two of its teams, the NFL coaches loved having NFL Europe to evaluate players. Heck, they even liked it when the XFL was going because they could see guys play. (Makes me wonder how many of the 18 or so fans in the stands at each XFL game were NFL scouts. )

The problem, though, is the same as it is in preseason games - most of the time you're only seeing guys play against subpar talent. I was at a preseason game between the Packers and the Saints in 1998, and there was this back-up RB for Green Bay named Travis Jervey. That night this guy looked like the next Barry Sanders. Needless to say, that didn't translate into the regular season, which is why 99% of you reading this have probably never even heard of the guy.

Likewise, when Kurt Warner exploded onto the scene in '99, the NFL promoted the heck out of the fact that he had played in NFL Europe. Problem is for every Kurt Warner, there's dozens of guys who played well in NFLE who never did anything in the real league. I remember an NFLE game that same year where the QB for my favorite team from that league, the Scottish Claymores, a guy by the name of Dameyune (sp?) Craig, set a record for the most passing yards in a pro football game in history. Ever heard of him? No. The game ball from that game is in Canton, the guy who threw it is selling insurance somewhere.

Then there's another issue - would this league be successful enough to stay in business? NFL Europe started out as the World League of American Football with teams in America, Canada and Europe; but the American and Canadian teams only lasted a few years because no one went to the games or watched them on TV. Would it be any different today?

The Arena League doesn't really count, because most NFL scouts don't feel success in the Arena game translates to traditional football. Yeah, there was Kurt Warner... but we've already discussed this.

And yes, there are those who say "That's what college is for." But look at the numbers - how many guys play college football and never even get invited to an NFL training camp? If college ball is enough, why is there such a shortage of truly good quarterbacks, O-linemen, etc.?

Oh and before I forget, yes, there is the United Football League, which is trying to set itself up as the "go-to" minor league for the NFL, but they've only played one season, so the jury's still out on that one.

 

[sbpatfan]

I love college football, and I love the NFL. I don't want to watch guys that are past college but not good enough for the NFL.

 

[RayClay]

In an article I read today about the possibility of an 18-game season, it was stated the league is considering forming a developmental league to make up for the loss of the two preseason games. This is something I've been wondering about ever since NFL Europe folded a few years ago - should the league start another minor league to get experience for players who don't get it outside of preseason games?

Any NFL coach will tell you the best way to really see what a guy's got is to see him in a real game situation. Not a scrimmage, not a practice, etc. Even though most fans couldn't tell you the names of more than one or two of its teams, the NFL coaches loved having NFL Europe to evaluate players. Heck, they even liked it when the XFL was going because they could see guys play. (Makes me wonder how many of the 18 or so fans in the stands at each XFL game were NFL scouts. )

The problem, though, is the same as it is in preseason games - most of the time you're only seeing guys play against subpar talent. I was at a preseason game between the Packers and the Saints in 1998, and there was this back-up RB for Green Bay named Travis Jervey. That night this guy looked like the next Barry Sanders. Needless to say, that didn't translate into the regular season, which is why 99% of you reading this have probably never even heard of the guy.

Likewise, when Kurt Warner exploded onto the scene in '99, the NFL promoted the heck out of the fact that he had played in NFL Europe. Problem is for every Kurt Warner, there's dozens of guys who played well in NFLE who never did anything in the real league. I remember an NFLE game that same year where the QB for my favorite team from that league, the Scottish Claymores, a guy by the name of Dameyune (sp?) Craig, set a record for the most passing yards in a pro football game in history. Ever heard of him? No. The game ball from that game is in Canton, the guy who threw it is selling insurance somewhere.

Then there's another issue - would this league be successful enough to stay in business? NFL Europe started out as the World League of American Football with teams in America, Canada and Europe; but the American and Canadian teams only lasted a few years because no one went to the games or watched them on TV. Would it be any different today?

The Arena League doesn't really count, because most NFL scouts don't feel success in the Arena game translates to traditional football. Yeah, there was Kurt Warner... but we've already discussed this.

And yes, there are those who say "That's what college is for." But look at the numbers - how many guys play college football and never even get invited to an NFL training camp? If college ball is enough, why is there such a shortage of truly good quarterbacks, O-linemen, etc.?

Oh and before I forget, yes, there is the United Football League, which is trying to set itself up as the "go-to" minor league for the NFL, but they've only played one season, so the jury's still out on that one.

That's how we found our future quarterback, Rohan Davey. When he won players of the year and the World Bowl, it was obvious he had the stuff to be a star in the NFL.:bricks:

Guess I agree with the second part of your post.

 

[RayClay]

A minor league is fine, if people pay to see it. Teams have trouble evaluating players against real NFL 2nd stringers, playing a bunch of part timers doesn't tell you much IMO.

Preseason games have a purpose, 18 games are to much, we need a commissioner that understands it's a tough game with some superior players who are made of bones and ligaments and are competing at the highest level quite enough presently.

Cut the excess travel crap, leave the schedule and the rules alone and let us watch quality football with relatively healthy players.

 

[Angry Man]

Honestly I think it would be a good idea since it would give chances for players coming out of college that don't get drafted a chance to play even if its a minor league team. Plus the NFL can place the minor league teams into smaller markets as well which would be a big benefit for those areas. The only down side would be more than likely the league would have to run during the spring/summer since I can't imagine the NFL wanting to run a minor league the same time the real NFL is going on.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

It will never happen because of the risk of injuries.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I love college football, and I love the NFL. I don't want to watch guys that are past college but not good enough for the NFL.

I agree 100%.

 

[TheComeback]

It's a good idea. I think it would speed the development of younger players, especially if they could do it like baseball, where every team has a minor league counterpart. That way you could get young players acclimated to your system without having to use a roster spot on them in the NFL.

Plus, they might develop faster because they'll get more reps, and playing experience, on a minor league team. A competent team, such as the Patriots, could take great advantage of a farm system.

 

[smg93]

I love college football, and I love the NFL. I don't want to watch guys that are past college but not good enough for the NFL.

You don't have to, just like most people who watch MLB don't watch the minor leagues.

For me, the bigger question is whether there's a need to have a league to develop NFL players who aren't quite ready yet right after college. It's like getting the teams' practice squads to play games instead of just being active during practice.

 

[patsfan-1982]

i don't see any reason to watch summer football played by undrafted rookies and JAGS it would cost the NFL more money then it would make.



just to see maybe one player each year. make a real NFL roster

 

[patsfan-1982]

You don't have to, just like most people who watch MLB don't watch the minor leagues.

For me, the bigger question is whether there's a need to have a league to develop NFL players who aren't quite ready yet right after college. It's like getting the teams' practice squads to play games instead of just being active during practice.

the NFL dose not care about developing players they care about makeing money and if no one is watching they wont make money

 

[TealSox]

Not enough talent ever made its way from the NFL Europe to prove it was worth the cost as a minor league system. At the same time, I don't think that was the primary reason for creating NFLE. It was an attempt to promote the game globally and it failed. Now one team a year has to forfeit a home game to play in some other country to do what NFLE couldn't do.

I have hope for the UFL as a minor league system for the NFL, but I'm starting to wonder if the NFL even needs a minor league system.

Off the top of my head I would suggest: 1.) expanding rosters or practice squads so team can retain younger talent to develop in house, 2.) continue the trend of quality scouting and player evaluation (this way, talent doesn't slip through the cracks) and 3.) create some sort of off-season competition/games between teams.

My third suggestion has its issues. Players run the risk of getting hurt. It would only add to how long a season it would be for those players eligible to participate. Lastly, there just isn't enough time between the draft and mini camps to fit in a season between seasons, let alone coach these guys up.

I'm not suggesting that they allow veterans to participate, but somehow limit it to players on the cusp of making a roster and maybe, make those players ineligible to play in the following regular season till, say, week 10 when, like in baseball, the roster could be expanded.

Don't be too harsh on my suggestion as I am making this up as I go.

 

[smg93]

the NFL dose not care about developing players they care about makeing money and if no one is watching they wont make money

Making money was not the point of my post. But since you brought it up, why do you assume that no one would watch? I don't watch the minor leagues but many of those teams seem to do alright in their markets. You don't pay minor leaguers much so it wouldn't take nearly as many seats to turn a profit as compared with a team in the NFL.

 

[Snake Eyes]

-An alternate league would allow phenom athletes to get better training against better competition consisting of former NFL pros and the best of those that didn’t get drafted, these guys together would be a lot better than the average college team they’re facing.

-The guys coming into the league would be a lot more mature. Right now the guys coming in have been told by everyone their whole careers how great they are, then they get into a much bigger pond and they find out they’re not such big fish, an alternate league with plenty of former pros would put them in their place much quicker, when they did enter the league they would have as much less mental/emotional baggage and could start producing much quicker

-There might not be quite as much pressure on players to demand huge contracts if there was an alternate league they could play in when the NFl didn’t want their services anymore.

-Players would be more NFL ready by playing in a more pro-style system.

-Less talent would fall through the cracks. Wes Welker, Antonio Gates, Jeff Saturday, Kurt Warner, Pierre Thomas, Tony Romo, etc, were all undrafted. How many other potentially great players have been out there that we never heard of simply because the NFL didn’t think them good enough? An Alternate league would allow you to capture a lot of that talent that could then filter up to the NFL.

-By playing in a much more pro-style system against better competition you’d more easily weed out potential busts, less money and resources to the Ryan Leafs and Jamarcus Russells of the world means more money for the guys that are the glue of the team but don’t get much press

- It would also give fans something to watch in the Spring/Summer when we're dying for football

 

[RayClay]

It's not worth paying for, but it could possibly be a money maker, with possibly a provision that the NFL would sponsor certain players to retain their rights.

I think some sort of spring football with teams in secondary large cities might actually turn a profit.

Austin Tx, Raleigh or Durham NC, the type of towns that do well with minor league baseball/hockey/soccer. Just avoid big cities that already have NFL.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Does the NFL need a minor league????

It already has a de facto minor league system in Canada.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Does the NFL need a minor league????

It already has a de facto minor league system in Canada.

Good point. CFL is pretty big, and players join NFL teams all the time. Between college, UFL, and CFL, players have more than enough opportunities to prove themselves. If you're really that good, you'll make it. Look at Fred Jackson, for example: he played in a low-level arena league until the Bills discovered him, and last year he was their leading rushing.

 

[TrueBeliever]

Good point. CFL is pretty big, and players join NFL teams all the time. Between college, UFL, and CFL, players have more than enough opportunities to prove themselves. If you're really that good, you'll make it. Look at Fred Jackson, for example: he played in a low-level arena league until the Bills discovered him, and last year he was their leading rushing.

I'll admit I left the CFL out of the equation, but I hardly hear it talked about anymore, except when some total NFL washout (like Charles Rodgers) goes there and can't make it in that league either. You just never seem to hear about some breakout guy coming out of the CFL, or at least I don't. If I'm missing anyone feel free to give examples. And Warren Moon doesn't count, because everyone knew he would be good, but wouldn't start him for other reasons. And anyway I'm talking about recent players.

 

[Snake Eyes]

The CFL stipulates that > 50% of the players must be Canadian. With all the guys out of college that don't make the NFL in addition to former NFL players that get cut you'd be looking at a number well in excess of what the CFL allows.

A well executed minor league that plays in the Spring/Summer would be a boon to football fans.

 

[Schmo]

I guess expanding the practice squad would be a good compromise, but I think there are so many talented athletes with the potential to play in the NFL. The problem for them is that if they don't get that chance to play in their first year on an NFL roster, the chances for them to ever play in the NFL drops to practically nothing. A farm system would be a huge undertaking, but ultimately would be a positive thing. Besides chasing the dream to play in the NFL, many players would appreciate the chance to continue to do what they love, even if it is for chump change. And no, I don't think the CFL is comparable to what a minor league system would bring simply because of the ties of an NFL franchise to that of its minor league counterpart. There would be more interest from good players because they would know that they are one step away from the NFL.

A farm system would be a great thing BECAUSE of the frequency of injuries in the NFL. There would be a lot more options to choose from when a player goes down with an injury. I would rather bring up a guy who has been playing full out than have to resort to pulling a Hank Poteat off of his couch every year.