Minor league football?

[Mystophales]

I was just wondering how many people would be excited about the prospect of a minor league football league that is actually backed by the NFL?

Now we had NFL Europe which was a HUGE waste of time...there will be a few that like American football but soccer is king there and that will NEVER change. It would be like thinking that one day the MLS will outdraw the NFL.

However take these NFL Europe teams and transplant them to the US and I really think it would work. Of course you would have to increase the amount of teams but instead of the lame Arena Football make it like football was meant to be...outside..on grass...on a real field.

Anyone think that more football in the US would just be overkill or would this interest you?

[taltos]

Looking at teams like the Dolphins it appears that we already have minor league football. More seriously, NCAA Division 1-A has been functioning in that capacity for many years. More football would be overkill to me.

[glking]

I would go for it IF the price was reasonable. ~$20

There is no way the NFL would let that happen though.
All they are interested in is advertising money and raping fans for every dollar they can get.

[clampdown]

There is/was a local team here in Northern VA, and no one went to the games. Of course, they had no allegiance with the NFL so that could be part of it.

Also, if they were to do something like this, they would need to make it better then the NBA's developmental league. That is like watching a local rec game at the YMCA. They should follow the minor league baseball format, and make it fan friendly. That means cheap ticket prices and fan friendly stadiums. However, one fear would have to be getting people to the games. No one will watch on Saturday, Sunday, Monday because of college and the NFL. Furthermore, Friday's would be a problem because that is when high schools have their games. That would leave Tueday through Thursday (which would become a problem when the NFL shifts games to Thursdays later in the season) as times to go and watch the games. Finally, when would the season take place? I wouldnt mind seeing teams being allowed more players on practice squads and maybe letting these squads play one another. You would see dedication from guys wanting to prove themselves for scouts and to their teams.

Now some may argue that arena games work, but that is a different game then maybe what the original post is about. They have their own gimmick (as does the NFL) and I think it works. The sad thing is, that you can say college football is already a minor league for the NFL. Espeically with the amount of money that is being thrown into college football and making kids stick around for three years (which dont get me wrong, is a good thing). But, this is an interesting topic and I would be all for it. I love football and wish they could just play it all year long. Maybe then the Skins could win more then 7-9 games a year.

[Mystophales]

I would have them play during the NFL off season just like they did in NFL Europe. There is no way it would survive during the regular season. I really think that teams filled with players from NFL practice squads would actually draw pretty well. Increase the amount of players that can be kept by NFL teams on said practice squad to help fill out these teams.

I think the biggest reason this would work is simply the popularity of football here in the US. I LOVE football but damn is it expensive to actually go to a professional game. I think having a "local" team to cheer for would work extremely well. I have friends that have been out of high school for 20+ years and they still keep up with the scores of their teams on friday nights.

I really don't see a downside to this...there must be though because if there would be a way for the NFL to make some more money I am sure they would be all over it.

Just imagine having a system like europes soccer leagues where the champ of a lower division moves up while the team in last from the upper division has to move down...now that would be SWEET!

[clampdown]

Interesting point on the soccer reference. However, that would mean we would be without the Lions, Cardinals, Dolphins, Jets, wait, that actually might be good for football. (im joking my team, the Redskins suck to).