NFL Europe to close

[NitroGSXR]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/nfl...?urn=nfl,37603

This hasn't been announced anywhere but yahoo. I don't see how they're losing money so I'm going to assume this is just another one of Cole's inflated reports.

If this IS true then what's to become of the players out there? Will the NFL allow us to increase the sizes of our rosters in order to accomodate these people?

[The Pencil Neck]

They mentioned it on All Access on the NFLN, too.

And I would imagine that all those players just get cut loose.

[SheTexan]

And the NFL wants to waste one of our games over there, not to mention that they are trying hard to establish an NFL league someplace overseas. GO FIGURE!! GREED will come back to bite them in the butt!!

[Goldensilence]

I'm kind of confused too She. I thought NFLE was doing well enough. What they should've done is had the games better covered over here for those of us starved foootball fans here...it'd beat AFL and we might get a shot at seeing a few of our prospects. Not sure about the merchandizing that the NFL craves went over well in Europe though and that was it's ultimate undoing most likely.

Confuses me as well since they seem bent on taking a game or two overseas.I thought that'd help NFL Europe too.

[Il_Bruno]

since NFL Europe is closing why dont they just have a minor league system here in the states?

I guess there would be issues, such as wether the minor league system would run at the same time as the NFL or during the off-season, but i cant think of why a farm system couldnt work in football like it does in baseball. If that was the case maybe they would expand the draft to include prospects to fill up the minor league ranks.


just a thought. it is the off season afterall.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by SheTexan

And the NFL wants to waste one of our games over there, not to mention that they are trying hard to establish an NFL league someplace overseas. GO FIGURE!! GREED will come back to bite them in the butt!!

I agree with you 100%.

What concerns me even more about the greed factor is the future of pay-per-view games, especially if they try this with the playoffs. Obviously we're not there, yet, but I think it's just a matter of time with these greedy people.

[Mr teX]

Damn that's sad, lots of jobs lost over there.

[Yankee_In_TX]

A) open doors to Cuban's league

B) GGRRR!

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The NFL folded its development league in Europe after 15 years Friday, calling the decision a sound business move that will allow for a stronger international focus on regular-season games outside the United States

[DCSaints_fan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I agree with you 100%.

What concerns me even more about the greed factor is the future of pay-per-view games, especially if they try this with the playoffs. Obviously we're not there, yet, but I think it's just a matter of time with these greedy people.

I'd love pay-per view (assuming its somethign reasonable). It woudl avoid being forced to subscribe to DirecTV or hang out in a sports bar.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Yankee_In_TX

A) open doors to Cuban's league

B) GGRRR!

first thing that popped into my mind. In Europe the league took nothing away from NFL USA. Arena football is not even a bump in the path of the NFL juggernaut. If it becomes one, expect a buy out.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by DCSaints_fan

I'd love pay-per view (assuming its somethign reasonable). It woudl avoid being forced to subscribe to DirecTV or hang out in a sports bar.

Unless it's pay-per-view for playoff games. That would just suck.

As far as NFLE...honestly, I've always thought it hard to watch, so could never really get into it.

[Il_Bruno]

Originally Posted by Elle

That's actually a pretty good idea. Guys could rehab there after injuries, talent can be scoped, Ricky Williams and other sanctioned guys could get punished there and we'd get football all year long!

Rep to you.

well if it the minor league schedule was set up to run in the NFL off-season, they would have to make some time for minor league guys to heal if they were to be called up to the big league.

maybe an overlapping schedule, so the minor league guys would have enough time to rest and heal before NFL OTAs and training camp. There all ready pushing the atheletes with these new thursday games imo, so i think a little off-season rest would be a good idea.

[Il_Bruno]

Originally Posted by Elle

Agreed. So....give them some rest and put football back on before March Madness hits.

great! I can live with that. What would be better then football AND march madness?



are you listening NFL???

[SheTexan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I agree with you 100%.

What concerns me even more about the greed factor is the future of pay-per-view games, especially if they try this with the playoffs. Obviously we're not there, yet, but I think it's just a matter of time with these greedy people.

I forgot about the threat of PPV games! That would really s*ck!!! Bet ya one thing for sure. If the NFL is determined to stage a game or two in Europe, you can bet your sweet pahouchy they will succeed. Maybe the NFL instigated the closure. Take NFLE away and then bring on the BIG BOYS of the NFL. Knock um off their seats with the BIG SHOW!! Start some big time marketing, prizes, cheap seats, whatever it takes to stimlulate interest, and then slam um with playoff quality teams! It ain't over guys. This is just the beginning.

[Double Barrel]

Yep. And it won't surprise me if they turn our 4th pre-season game into the 17th regular season game, but instead of us getting an extra home game every other year, they export all the 17th games throughout the regular season.

[vtech9]

my problem with NFL Europe was that it was hard to pick a favorite and follow it. When we sent players over there, they would be split up to the different teams. Even if a player went back to play for a 2nd or 3rd year, there was no guarantee that they would play for the same team they played for the previous seasons.

[Speedy]

Originally Posted by Goldensilence

I'm kind of confused too She. I thought NFLE was doing well enough. What they should've done is had the games better covered over here for those of us starved foootball fans here...it'd beat AFL and we might get a shot at seeing a few of our prospects. Not sure about the merchandizing that the NFL craves went over well in Europe though and that was it's ultimate undoing most likely.

Confuses me as well since they seem bent on taking a game or two overseas.I thought that'd help NFL Europe too.

Well, I guess if you want to have the games better covered for people here starved for football, then why don't they just have the damn thing here? What difference would it make whether they played in Frankfurt, Germany or Birmingham or San Antonio or Oklahoma City? Actually the difference would be that you would get better coverage.

Screw overseas. Bring it back home and have it in cities like the ones mentioned. Maybe Los Angeles could finally get a football team.

I think a spring developmental league in smaller market cities that don't have an NFL team like Louisville, San Antonio, OKC, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Jose, hell even Monterrey, Mexico, could be very successful.

It could also squash any hope of a rival league starting up, in case someone like Mark Cuban got an itch.

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by Speedy

Well, I guess if you want to have the games better covered for people here starved for football, then why don't they just have the damn thing here? What difference would it make whether they played in Frankfurt, Germany or Birmingham or San Antonio or Oklahoma City? Actually the difference would be that you would get better coverage.

Screw overseas. Bring it back home and have it in cities like the ones mentioned. Maybe Los Angeles could finally get a football team.

I think a spring developmental league in smaller market cities that don't have an NFL team like Louisville, San Antonio, OKC, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Jose, hell even Monterrey, Mexico, could be very successful.



It could also squash any hope of a rival league starting up, in case someone like Mark Cuban got an itch.

Actually i think you're right. You could bring some mid market teams areas into the fold. It'd give some people in other outlying areas someone to cheer for like baseball has done.

[GermanTexan]

I am just sad and disappointed about this decision...
Now I just can sit down and watch TV... No chance to go to rheinenergy stadium in Cologne and have a nice football party...
I cant say any more...
I cant believe it´s over...

I wont use any smiley, cause there is no one, which could emote...

[Il_Bruno]

Originally Posted by GermanTexan

I am just sad and disappointed about this decision...
Now I just can sit down and watch TV... No chance to go to rheinenergy stadium in Cologne and have a nice football party...
I cant say any more...
I cant believe it´s over...

I wont use any smiley, cause there is no one, which could emote...

im sorry, from what ive heard football is actually getting quite following in Germany. Perhaps a league could start on its own over there, independent of the NFL, like how European basketball leagues have. I suppose it would be hard initially, but if some rich German guys decided to start teams, there could be an 8 team league operating before too long. Maybe start small and see if it can grow on its own (maybe the NFL would be some sort of affiliate but not actually run the entire thing on its own).

It would also open up Europe more to the draft. Maybe it would be possible to draft European prospects and bring them over a year later? I dont see anything wrong with expanding the pool of football talent either, could be good for the game, and maybe even allow an expansion of the league to canada and mexico (more talent to go around so the league wouldnt get too diluted). maybe im just grabbing a loose straws here, but i think between a minor league system here and an international system in Europe football could be improved, in exposure and in the ability to cure the "football itch".