NFL Minor league?

A while ago the SBN Dolphins blog Phinsider had a good article about the idea of creating an NFL minor league. basically it stemmed out of the idea that teams go through all these players during the course of the year and they can really only draw them from their/other peoples practice squads and then guys they bring in for a workout. The article is here: http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/1/20/5326224/is-it-time-for-the-nfl-to-create-a-minor-league-system

I think the idea of it is really interesting as the NFL is the only league in American sports where they have no minor league system and it seems like something that they could make money on. They could sell the broadcast rights to these games to networks or keep them on the NFL network, but still people would watch it just like they do with Thursday night football. I liked the phinsiders idea of having a 16 team league in which two NFL teams share players. I mean the NFL basically had a minor league system in NFL Europe, but this one could be here or they could even experiment with having one of the teams in London because they want that so bad. Its also something that would allow them to experiment with rule changes before implementing them in the NFL and of course guys who haven't been able to get a chance in the NFL do not automatically have to go to Canada or the arena league. It would also allow them to have more depth for the league in positions like Kicker, long snapper and Punter where those guys typically just don't do anything while they wait for a job to open. Obviously I like this idea, not least of all because an obvious location for a Patriots minor league team would be Rentchler Field in East Hartford, CT.

I think I put this in the wrong thread so I am just going to move it

A while ago the SBN Dolphins blog Phinsider had a good article about the idea of creating an NFL minor league. Basically it stemmed out of the idea that teams go through all these players during the course of the year and they can really only draw them from their/other peoples practice squads and then guys they bring in for a workout. The article is here: [url=http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/1/20/5326224/is-it-time-for-the-nfl-to-create-a-minor-league-system]Is it time for the NFL to create a minor league system? - The Phinsider[/URL]

I think the idea of it is really interesting as the NFL is the only league in American sports where they have no minor league system and it seems like something that they could make money on. They could sell the broadcast rights to these games to networks or keep them on the NFL network, but still people would watch it just like they do with Thursday night football. I liked the phinsiders idea of having a 16 team league in which two NFL teams share players. I mean the NFL basically had a minor league system in NFL Europe, but this one could be here or they could even experiment with having one of the teams in London because they want that so bad. Its also something that would allow them to experiment with rule changes before implementing them in the NFL and of course guys who haven't been able to get a chance in the NFL do not automatically have to go to Canada or the arena league. It would also allow them to have more depth for the league in positions like Kicker, long snapper and Punter where those guys typically just don't do anything while they wait for a job to open. Obviously I like this idea, not least of all because an obvious location for a Patriots minor league team would be Rentchler Field in East Hartford, CT.

They had this from 09-12. It was called the UFL. It failed.

AndyJohnson said:

They had this from 09-12. It was called the UFL. It failed.

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that was just a different league, I am talking about one that actually is tied to the NFL.

If you play flat out football is incredibly injury-prone. Why should someone risk their career for minor-league compensation? On the other hand, unless it's played at full competitiveness it's hardly worth watching.

Mike the Brit said:

If you play flat out football is incredibly injury-prone. Why should someone risk their career for minor-league compensation? On the other hand, unless it's played at full competitiveness it's hardly worth watching.

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Minor league compensation is still going to probably be 40-60 grand which isn't chump change for some people and people play fully competitive football in College for partial tuition payment.

Can Goodell charge regular prices for games?

in that case, it's definitely on tap.

I'm fine with how things are done now. There's no shortage of players to be signed when needed. I would have absolutely no interest in watching minor league NFL teams.

Do it, run it in the offseason and have a not so superbowl right before training camp opens.

Mike the Brit said:

If you play flat out football is incredibly injury-prone. Why should someone risk their career for minor-league compensation? On the other hand, unless it's played at full competitiveness it's hardly worth watching.

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College players and fringe NFLers put it all out there now anyway.

It's an interesting idea if done correctly.

So basically a domestic version of NFL Europe?

Mike the Brit said:

If you play flat out football is incredibly injury-prone. Why should someone risk their career for minor-league compensation? On the other hand, unless it's played at full competitiveness it's hardly worth watching.

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They would risk it because the whole point of a minor league is to provide players to the major league.

They already have one, and the players play for free, its called the SEC

meatface said:

that was just a different league, I am talking about one that actually is tied to the NFL.

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But it is the model that shows people won't support it.

An idea for a sustainable "minor league": Why doesn't the NFL create an official partnership with the CFL. CFL might not be interested at first, but if the NFL shares some profit with the CFL in return for allowing a larger number of "imports" on each team.

Could also expand the CFL a little bit and instead of having a farm team for each NFL team, there could be waivers or a draft specifically for CFL players' rights before the NFL Draft.

I don't think Canadians would like that. I know I don't.

FreeTedWilliams said:

They already have one, and the players play for free, its called the SEC

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Is that so?

ripatsfan91 said:

An idea for a sustainable "minor league": Why doesn't the NFL create an official partnership with the CFL. CFL might not be interested at first, but if the NFL shares some profit with the CFL in return for allowing a larger number of "imports" on each team.

Could also expand the CFL a little bit and instead of having a farm team for each NFL team, there could be waivers or a draft specifically for CFL players' rights before the NFL Draft.

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Canadian football is decently different from NFL football, so the "minor league" players wouldn't even be playing the same sport. Hard to see that making them better NFL players. I think in Canada the CFL is seen as equal to the NFL in terms of talent (probably/definitely false), so I highly doubt they'd swallow their pride enough to let us call their league our "minor league".

meatface said:

A while ago the SBN Dolphins blog Phinsider had a good article about the idea of creating an NFL minor league. basically it stemmed out of the idea that teams go through all these players during the course of the year and they can really only draw them from their/other peoples practice squads and then guys they bring in for a workout. The article is here: http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/1/20/5326224/is-it-time-for-the-nfl-to-create-a-minor-league-system

I think the idea of it is really interesting as the NFL is the only league in American sports where they have no minor league system and it seems like something that they could make money on. They could sell the broadcast rights to these games to networks or keep them on the NFL network, but still people would watch it just like they do with Thursday night football. I liked the phinsiders idea of having a 16 team league in which two NFL teams share players. I mean the NFL basically had a minor league system in NFL Europe, but this one could be here or they could even experiment with having one of the teams in London because they want that so bad. Its also something that would allow them to experiment with rule changes before implementing them in the NFL and of course guys who haven't been able to get a chance in the NFL do not automatically have to go to Canada or the arena league. It would also allow them to have more depth for the league in positions like Kicker, long snapper and Punter where those guys typically just don't do anything while they wait for a job to open. Obviously I like this idea, not least of all because an obvious location for a Patriots minor league team would be Rentchler Field in East Hartford, CT.

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I think they are discussing a D-League (developmental league) not a minor league system. I anticipate it would be similar to the NBA where each team has a D-League affiliate. Personally, I like the idea a lot because it is a place where the Jake Bequette's, Steve Beauharnais, and others could see actual snaps in competitive game action.

NFL Europe was supposed to be that type of league but it never took flight.