They’d tank their target audience they need in order to get off the mat in year one immediately if they sign Kaepernick.
Have to agree with you on Kap. I would not walk across the street to see that banana head. I just threw him in as a name.
The game plan would be to have a "Draft" and the end of the 1st week of the NFL free agency period.
1-Each Team gets to pick two players from those "leftovers" and try to sign them away from the NFL (a lot of "fell sorry for myself" signings)
2-The League must assist in financing those players (Vince must come up with the cash)
3- The financing can come from corporate sponsors directly
4-Those players are them affiliated with the brand. In essence, the corporate brand receives naming rights for those said players
5-The player's contracts are all guaranteed.
6-The length of the contract is a minimum/maximum of 2 years. At that time said player may go back to free agency and back to the League.
7-There can be a "Hard Knocks" type show following those 16 players that can be sponsored to reduce the debt service.
8-The League would add two more franchises; one in Canada (remember the CFL Fans season is over way before the NFL. I think Canadian fans would dig this.
9-The other would be in Mexico. The NFL has been trying to cultivate that geographical game for years. The amount of Hispanics that follow the NFL is impressive in numbers.
10-This is a little remote, but the League has a taxi squad Team. What if the Team with the worst record as the season goes along gets to pick one player from that Team per week. This is where the XFL might stash some talent that are reclamation projects like AB. Randy Gregory, Kareem Hunt, Holton Hill, David Irving and perhaps Burfict or Josh Gordon who are pending offenders.
It gives them a second (third or more) chance.
Obviously QB is an important position for "brand awareness". but here is a list of possible cuts/free agents and players at that position who feel they have a few more years or are trying to re-invent themselves:
Winston
Mariota
Keenum
McCoy
Gabbert
Bortles
Geno Smith
Glennon
Siemian
McCarron
Daniel
And then Manzeil
Other possible Cuts:
Flacco
Dalton
Bradford
Rosen
Taylor
Mullens
Hoyer
Some have SB rings and have been to the playoffs. Others are tarnished but still recognizable.
Here is one or two more: How much would you have to pay Eli to become the QB for the NJ Guardians?
How about Alex Smith to D.C. if he gets released?
How much could LA Wildcats pay Phillip Rivers?
Those signings pay for themselves for the League. Would you not turn on the TV to watch what they do?
The schedule is only 10 games versus 16 so the older QB's (etc) might consider a shorter schedule.
Gronk?.............Andrew Luck? Only 10 games.
Whether they admit it or not, every NFL Scout and Player Personnel management was watching those games. It is a feeder League for talent. Think the Pats are not looking at WR Austin Proehl? Nelson Spruce?
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