A football minor league...thoughts????

[patfanken]

The problem with any new league is that the ultimate exit strategy is a merger after if the league becomes viable after 5 years. While I was a big AFL fan, I would be against a new league because the quality of players is getting thin. The league now has 32 teams, where back in the AFL days the NFL had merely half that. There are arent 32 NFL quality starting QBs now.

What I would be interested in is a minor league where the top team goes to the NFL league replacing the bottom team in the NFL. Its been mentioned before how a system like this is used in Soccer. I think it would be cool, and force teams to produce quality teams to stay in the league. Plus would give the minor league owners a real incentive to pay as well as possible in their own league.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Mark Cuban and friends may be a large obstacle to establishing a

football minor league. I expect his league will compete with the NFL

for college players who are rated as mid to lower round draft picks.

The salaries for these players are pretty much set. All the new league

has to do is offer more money to join them. I'm sure the

new league will have a player draft of their own.

Bingo! And, the NFl owners will ultimately never set up a "minor league" because the next logical question will be: why is it a minor league? If there are so many talented players around, why not another league? As I've said in other posts, I think that another league is inevitable given the economics of the NFL and the US today.

 

[Pats726]

The idea of a rotation like in soccer...is interesting..but hardly anything close to a minor league...so they'd be 40 teams in the NFL..an added 8 and those at the bottom would play in another league??? Do not like it al all...NOT a true minor league.
I do not think the Cuban league will make it. The NFL is run solidly so why even think of ANOTHER league..WFL, USFL, XFL...LOL.....If the NFL was poorly run, they'd have a shot at it..but why now?? The NFL product is solid..and good..what many have said was that A REAL minor league would happen post-the Cuban league. in 1-2 years...NOT IN competetion with it.
Maybe the exonomics are there..but why would people go for another league?? A league that is competeing against the NFL.it's like something not even close...and players may gamble putting time in a lesser league..Maybe more money short term...but does anyone remember many of teh XFL players?? I think a shot at teh REAL league might still hold some water.
...A true minor league is totally different and to me the best option.

 

[captain stone]

Increasing roster size favors teams like the patriots. As of now, we can protect 53 and a few more. With a minor league, the patriots would have control over 90 or more players.

If a minor league is not practical, then the league should at least, beginning next season:

1) Expand the size of TC rosters to 100. (I seem to remember TC rosters of that size into the '70s, or am I off-base by some years?) Then a more gradual reduction of TC rosters should be implemented; e.g.: 90 after 1st exhibition game, 80 after 2nd, 70 after 3rd, 55 (the new limit) after the 4th.

2) Expand the size of practice squads to at least 10.

3) Liberalize the PUP/IR rules to more closely follow the Disabled List rules of the NHL, NBA and MLB. This would allow a player injured early in the year to return late in the year, and allow a vet or rookie an opportunity to cash a big-league paycheck, at minimal personnel risk to the FO.

My bottom line, similar to MGT's, is: the more players that superior talent evaluators have under contract, the better their chances of continued success