New Pro football league announced..

[Va_Pats_Fan]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-07-25-new-league_x.htm


interesting concept. Use the college grads in the same city....I'd go.

 

[Pats726]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-07-25-new-league_x.htm


interesting concept. Use the college grads in the same city....I'd go.

I doubt they'll be a team here in NE...but this is interesting....I agree.

 

[upstater1]

I smell...cheating.

This is a good way for a school to cheat, that's for sure, and since it's so closely tied to the conferences, it makes college football a bigger mockery than it already is.

Quid Pro Quo. Come and play for us, when you get out, I have a fat check waiting for you.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Sounds interesting.
The nice thing is that they recruit their talent after the NFL draft is done.
So athletes that couldn't catch on with a pro team will have the chance to catch on to this so called minor league AAFL.
The level of the league probably won't be very high but it's probably also inevitable that they will catch a few gems that fall through the cracks.
It should be interesting to see if/how this develops.
I also wonder if their rulebook will be modeled on the college style or the pro style?

There's definitely also financial incentive for colleges to accomodate the teams. So it looks like it has some chance for success.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Having just read the article, I have to crow a little here sorta kinda:

In our discussion of an NFL "minor league" (completely different model was under discussion,) I pegged the amount earned at about 100K per player (and got talked down...) We talked about drawing crowds in the 30-50K range, which otherwise empty facilities getting spring $$$ (and lots of other no-brainer stuff.)

Huh. I still say make these teams NFL affiliates, but I understand how some of youze guys are into college ball enough, where this becomes almost the same kind/level of interest.

Now this is weird right here: I probably will watch a local game or two out of curiosity, depending on how hard the game is to get to... and if it's on tv, it will probably be almost like just more static to me.

UNLESS the flying elvis is on the hat!

Eh well, that's just me. You guys do know to watch Alouettes football in the CFL right?

PFnV

 

[patsox23]

My initial reaction is that that sounds pretty F-ing COOL.

 

[DarrylS]

Not a bad idea, probably will not see it in the NE, but seems more viable than previous efforts..

 

[midwestpatsfan]

Did anyone notice that the article was written july 25 of 2006. It also says it is to be a spring league starting in 2007 which is long gone. If I read this correctly, this is old news that didn't seem to take off.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Did anyone notice that the article was written july 25 of 2006. It also says it is to be a spring league starting in 2007 which is long gone. If I read this correctly, this is old news that didn't seem to take off.

Its being revived. The local news had a report on it last nite, and I found that link after I seen the report on TV. The report was about how we (UVA area) would probably not get a franchise..

 

[stinkypete]

I think it is a nice idea. Gives the kids who didn't get drafted another chance to prove themselves. It could give rise to interesting questions:

If you are an undrafted free agent, do you sign on with a team or do you play a year or two of minor league ball and try to season yourself up?

Since these teams are unafiliated with the NFL, what system would determine who can sign a player? Would there be a waiver process? A "rule 5" type draft?

Can NFL vets who can't find a team play here? Would we see the likes of Rohan Davey in this league?

 

[DaBruinz]

I smell...cheating.

This is a good way for a school to cheat, that's for sure, and since it's so closely tied to the conferences, it makes college football a bigger mockery than it already is.

Quid Pro Quo. Come and play for us, when you get out, I have a fat check waiting for you.

WOW. You didn't even read the article, did you? $100,000 is what a player will make. Yes, that is some fat check. NOT. Its squat in comparison to what players are getting in the NFL. Also, I think you over-looked the college degree requirement. Meaning that Juniors who come out and don't get drafted, won't be eligible to play either.

If anything, this is going to turn into the "MINOR LEAGUE" that many of us have been talking about.

 

[mgteich]

A player completes a college career, goes through preparations for the draft, doesn't get drafted, and then plays another season in the Spring to prove himself worthy of some NFL's teams Training Camp in July. You got to be kidding!

 

[LaBrady]

Interesting idea but 2 questions come to mind:

1. If the players are college grads than they must be sub-nfl talent hence would suck (but obviously thats why its a minor league)
2. Wouldn't those players that just graduated need a break from the college season? 12 games of college ball in the fall and then 14 in the spring? seems a little too much to me

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I smell...cheating.

This is a good way for a school to cheat, that's for sure, and since it's so closely tied to the conferences, it makes college football a bigger mockery than it already is.

Quid Pro Quo. Come and play for us, when you get out, I have a fat check waiting for you.

Actually it might reduce the already rampant cheating. You hardly hear about scandals in NCAA hockey or baseball. That's because there is a legit minor league system for those players who are NOT college material. Only in football and basketball do they relaistically have to attend ( used loosely) college before going pro.
If you eliminate the charade of college, maybe we can set up a minor league and just pay the guys above board instead of archaic rules where a guy loses eligibility for trivial offenses and coaches skate off to another school while the school loses scholarships or is penalized....

 

[brdmaverick]

Did anyone notice that the article was written july 25 of 2006. It also says it is to be a spring league starting in 2007 which is long gone. If I read this correctly, this is old news that didn't seem to take off.

ya, I did notice that and thought it was pretty funny but my initial reaction is that it was merely a typo and meant to be 2008

 

[brdmaverick]

does anybody fear football overkill?

We all love football, and we all think we want more of it, but I think in doing so the game could lose some of its luster. In the fall, I cannot get enough football between the Pats, local high school football, and college ball. Each season is so highly anticipated because of the OFFSEASON.


Even during the season I fear that the NFLN's Thursday and Saturday games could lead to overkill. While I am a hardcore football fan, most of us do not have wives or families that share that same passion. It's tough trying to sell watching the NFL on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

I would hate to see the NFL lose it's luster.

Sure, I know that this new league would in no way challenge the NFL in terms of popularity or quality, but it could actually lead to a little football overkill in the eyes of the public.

 

[pheenix11]

Wake me up when they fold. :bricks:

 

[PatsFanInVa]

does anybody fear football overkill?

We all love football, and we all think we want more of it, but I think in doing so the game could lose some of its luster. In the fall, I cannot get enough football between the Pats, local high school football, and college ball. Each season is so highly anticipated because of the OFFSEASON.


Even during the season I fear that the NFLN's Thursday and Saturday games could lead to overkill. While I am a hardcore football fan, most of us do not have wives or families that share that same passion. It's tough trying to sell watching the NFL on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

I would hate to see the NFL lose it's luster.

Sure, I know that this new league would in no way challenge the NFL in terms of popularity or quality, but it could actually lead to a little football overkill in the eyes of the public.

Listen, I hear what you're saying.

But those people would neglect or leave their wives and families to watch more football, in a perfect world.

If the family members interfere from Thursday to Monday in the current NFL season, lots of people are already drawing a line in the sand and demanding they be allowed their paltry 20 hours per week of televised football, for five scant months a year, plus maybe 6-8 hours of SportsCenter and similar activities. It's not much to ask, and I think society is getting to a point where these small pleasures are allowed their place in family life, just higher on the priority order than basic property maintenance and breadwinning, and perhaps just beneath the priority you'd give an armed intruder.

It's all about balance, man.

PFnV

 

[mgteich]

There is nothing to fear from a Spring league. The effect should be no different than the other Spring leagues: the CFL, AFL and NFLE; that is, if it ever gets off the ground.

NFL teams can consider whether they prefer their UDFA's playing three consecutive seasons: NCAA, the new league, and the NFL TC and the season.
I suspect that most teams will sign up their UDFA's right after the draft and expect them to learn systems and participate in minicamps rather than playing in a league where they are likely gain no valuable experience beyond their college careers. If there is a league, some will indeed graduate to the NFL, as has been the case for the other leagues.

does anybody fear football overkill?

We all love football, and we all think we want more of it, but I think in doing so the game could lose some of its luster. In the fall, I cannot get enough football between the Pats, local high school football, and college ball. Each season is so highly anticipated because of the OFFSEASON.


Even during the season I fear that the NFLN's Thursday and Saturday games could lead to overkill. While I am a hardcore football fan, most of us do not have wives or families that share that same passion. It's tough trying to sell watching the NFL on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

I would hate to see the NFL lose it's luster.

Sure, I know that this new league would in no way challenge the NFL in terms of popularity or quality, but it could actually lead to a little football overkill in the eyes of the public.