Mavs' Cuban hopes to create league to rival NFL

[broadwayjoe]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2887465

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6863932

Cuban said in his e-mail he believes the salary cap makes it easier to compete financially with the NFL because of the salary imbalance that leaves lower-level players with lower salaries. That would allow the new league to fill its rosters with players taken lower than the second round, as well as late NFL cuts and free agents who escape the NFL draft.

Oh well here we go again.

So far, the UFL has decided to put teams in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Mexico City. Cuban, unsurprisingly, is considering buying the team in Vegas, according to the report.

 

[zippo59]

Mark Cuban is just annoying. Did he learn nothing from he tried to make his own version of the Apprentice?

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Two words: Good luck.

 

[patchick]

I'd guess this is dead in the water. The economic angle (that the NFL's current salary structure leaves a large group of players underpaid) is kind of intriguing. Kind of. But the problem with that theory is evident in the very guy they chose to illustrate it.

Does anybody think that Tom Brady -- the guy who turned down a sure starter spot at Cal to compete with crazy depth at Michigan; Mr. "I'm the best decision this organization has ever made" -- would have turned his back on the NFL to play in a scrub league, just to boost his rookie contract a little? The most talented and confident players will just want a chance to prove their worth, knowing that it's the second contract that really counts. Brady wasn't paid like a 6th-rounder for long. If a new league doesn't offer that possibility of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it will never attract better than the dregs.

Oh, and Mark Cuban, mark of quality.

 

[Fixit]

Two words: Good luck.

Two more words: [babble]I totally hope it's a mini-success and that it runs in the NFL offseason because it's football and I loved the XFL too so that'd be awesome.[/babble]

 

[zippo59]

Two more words: [babble]I totally hope it's a mini-success and that it runs in the NFL offseason because it's football and I loved the XFL too so that'd be awesome.[/babble]

Then watch NFL Europe.

That essentially what it would be. No half decent player would leave the NFL to go play in some expansion league.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Anyone think a player like Dillon, staring at the end of his career, looking to prove he can still play and make some money while he's at it, would give this league a shot?

 

[Double G]

Anything that annoying assclown thinks is a good idea has disaster written all over it................

 

[BB_dynasty]

I really don't mind Cuban, at least he enjoys the game. But he is annoying, and would be stupid trying to do this. I doubt it would work, or last longer than 2 seasons, if it gets to one game.

 

[Pats726]

I heard only a part of a blurb that the fans might own part of a team??? I LIKE that idea...but this is a losing proposition...Friday nights?? High school football..and....tried it and it fails ALL the time..Would have a better shot if it was spring football...

 

[primetime]

I heard only a part of a blurb that the fans might own part of a team???

If you're looking for a team to own, you could always buy a portion of the Green Bay Packers. They're publicly owned.

This won't work, though. I actually like Mark Cuban quite a bit (think he's funny, and an owner having some passion for his team/acting like a normal fan is a good thing), but Vince McMahon tried the same thing and failed pretty miserably, despite already having credentials in the entertainment industry (unlike Cuban, is a highly shrewd businessman but made his money off a dotcom).

 

[PonyExpress]

I don't know alot about Cuban beyond how he presents himself on television. In that forum he is obnoxious, arrogant, and extremely irritating. That doesn't necessarily make him a bad human being, just one who it is impossible to root for. If this "league" sees the light of day, it will likely have been the product more of avarice than love, unlike the old USFL which I enjoyed. I recommend they move the games to the spring, where it can compete vs baseball and basketball. Otherwise the league will die on the vine. There is no way they will successfully compete against college/NFL football.

 

[Fixit]

Then watch NFL Europe.

No, and you can't make me.

 

[zippo59]

By the way, does New England have an Arena Football team?

EDIT: I just looked it up and we don't. Not that I'd watch it anyway...

 

[stcjones]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2887465

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6863932

Cuban said in his e-mail he believes the salary cap makes it easier to compete financially with the NFL because of the salary imbalance that leaves lower-level players with lower salaries. That would allow the new league to fill its rosters with players taken lower than the second round, as well as late NFL cuts and free agents who escape the NFL draft.

Oh well here we go again.

So far, the UFL has decided to put teams in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Mexico City. Cuban, unsurprisingly, is considering buying the team in Vegas, according to the report.

I f'in hate Cuban....what a douche bag....that having been said.....I think it is still very possible for another Pro football league to succeed in the US....if scheduled properly around the NFL......It could definitely work.......F' Cuban.....GO PATS!!!!

 

[RayClay]

Anyone think a player like Dillon, staring at the end of his career, looking to prove he can still play and make some money while he's at it, would give this league a shot?

no.............

I think Dillon's made enough money. Enough that it's not worth the pain.

The only reason he'll come back, IMO, is a realistic shot at passing 4-5 running backs including, Jim Brown, and getting a shot at the HOF.

He'd need less than 1100 yds. I believe.

Yards in the CFL, (cuban football league), wouldn't count.

 

[TMoney]

I'd guess this is dead in the water. The economic angle (that the NFL's current salary structure leaves a large group of players underpaid) is kind of intriguing. Kind of. But the problem with that theory is evident in the very guy they chose to illustrate it.

Does anybody think that Tom Brady -- the guy who turned down a sure starter spot at Cal to compete with crazy depth at Michigan; Mr. "I'm the best decision this organization has ever made" -- would have turned his back on the NFL to play in a scrub league, just to boost his rookie contract a little? The most talented and confident players will just want a chance to prove their worth, knowing that it's the second contract that really counts. Brady wasn't paid like a 6th-rounder for long. If a new league doesn't offer that possibility of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it will never attract better than the dregs.

Oh, and Mark Cuban, mark of quality.

I agree, anyone that wants to get paid.....screw em

 

[spacecrime]

Anyone think a player like Dillon, staring at the end of his career, looking to prove he can still play and make some money while he's at it, would give this league a shot?

If Dillon wanted to make money, he could have stayed with the Patriots. Or for that matter he would have tried out for the Bills and Titans, both of whom wanted him to.

I don't think Dillon is looking to prove anything. I think he wants to be a lead back again.

No one expect the desparate will go to this league unless it is unfused with a LOT of money. The AFL was able to compete because salaries were low, and to a degree the USFL also. If the USFL had stayed in the off-season a couple more years, they would have had something. Going hed-to-head against the NFL too soon is what killed them.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If they had hot chearleaders and slightly different rules and gave it a catchy name like "XFL" it might just work... seems like an idea worth throwing a few billion $$ at

 

[Rob0729]

I think there is no way he can get this thing off the ground. He will still need to invest a ton of money and get others to do the same. I don't think many will with so many failures in the past.

I don't think the Vince McMahon comparisons are fair though. McMahon so poorly executed the XFL that it was doomed by day one. He didn't have a preseason and by the time teams were actually playing like cohesive units, no one was watching. He also tried to use WWE techniques in the sport. No one cared about a bunch of players with no charisma whatsoever doing their own personal introductions. It was painful to watch. Also, his sliding pay structure where you made next to nothing if you continued to lose was not going to attract any talent.