NFL to shut down European league

[Coastal89]

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The irony of the league's rookie symposium is while discussion has focused on the opportunity the players are about to get, the league is about to take away an avenue for opportunity.

The NFL is expected to cease operations of NFL Europa after 17 years because of increasing costs associated with running the league, according to two league sources. That comes despite the efforts of team executives such as Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson to save the league.

After addressing the 2007 rookie class on Monday afternoon, commissioner Roger Goodell flew to Germany to meet with NFL Europa officials only days after the league held its championship game.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/nfl_experts/post/NFL-to-shut-down-European-league;_ylt=AlVR6qAPGm5KcCHwAKDj7g9DubYF?urn=nfl,3 7603

[jstate83]

Cost?

Can someone explain to me why the NFL has to run a whole dang feeder league in EUROPE in the summer when everything they need to be sucessful is right here in the U.S?

Can you imagine minor league football, backed by the NFL being played in cities/states across the U.S that are not large enough to support a TRUE PRO TEAM.xsmiley_wix

I could see a team from Mississippi going at it with a team from Alabama.xnodx

[chantster]

Cost?

Can someone explain to me why the NFL has to run a whole dang feeder league in EUROPE in the summer when everything they need to be sucessful is right here in the U.S?

Can you imagine minor league football, backed by the NFL being played in cities/states across the U.S that are not large enough to support a TRUE PRO TEAM.xsmiley_wix

I could see a team from Mississippi going at it with a team from Alabama.xnodx


Good point! xthumbsupx

[813Jag]

I hope they find another avenue, because the opportunity for game experience is valuable for players and officals.
Kind of off topic but, has anyone heard anything else about that new football league being started? The one where the teams are based in college cities.

[Cobblestone]

Cost?

Can someone explain to me why the NFL has to run a whole dang feeder league in EUROPE in the summer when everything they need to be sucessful is right here in the U.S?

Can you imagine minor league football, backed by the NFL being played in cities/states across the U.S that are not large enough to support a TRUE PRO TEAM.xsmiley_wix

I could see a team from Mississippi going at it with a team from Alabama.xnodx

I like that idea. I can recall a minor league football organization that playind in the 1960's. The name of the league was the Continental Football League. I was young and living in Virginia at the time and I can remember my father taking me to see a team called the Norfolk Neptunes. I am not sure if the league was backed by the NFL or not.

[mcveyrl]

I hope they find another avenue, because the opportunity for game experience is valuable for players and officals.
Kind of off topic but, has anyone heard anything else about that new football league being started? The one where the teams are based in college cities.

There was a thread on here not too long ago about that league, but I don't remember the name.

It was supposed to start this year (I think) but got pushed back a year.

[jstate83]

I like that idea. I can recall a minor league football organization that playind in the 1960's. The name of the league was the Continental Football League. I was young and living in Virginia at the time and I can remember my father taking me to see a team called the Norfolk Neptunes. I am not sure if the league was backed by the NFL or not.

My take.

The only reason a summer league has not worked in the U.S. is because they try to COMPETE with the NFL.
Ain't happening.

USFL, XFL, etc., was not taken seriously because of the gimmicks and stunts.............Going after the NFL.

The NFL backing a league with "Star's of tommorrow" would be a cash windfall in the summer.
There would be no competing and these players would be going all out because they know the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is the NFL.

[Cobblestone]

My take.

The only reason a summer league has not worked in the U.S. is because they try to COMPETE with the NFL.
Ain't happening.

USFL, XFL, etc., was not taken seriously because of the gimmicks and stunts.............Going after the NFL.

The NFL backing a league with "Star's of tommorrow" would be a cash windfall in the summer.
There would be no competing and these players would be going all out because they know the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is the NFL.

I think you need to raise some capital, coordinate with the NFL and start on your business venture. It's a good idea.

[NoCoDanny]

If the league was solvent then they can reemerge independently. If not, then there really isn't a need there to fill.

[Grizalltheway]

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The irony of the league's rookie symposium is while discussion has focused on the opportunity the players are about to get, the league is about to take away an avenue for opportunity.

The NFL is expected to cease operations of NFL Europa after 17 years because of increasing costs associated with running the league, and because no one attended the games according to two league sources. That comes despite the efforts of team executives such as Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson to save the league.

After addressing the 2007 rookie class on Monday afternoon, commissioner Roger Goodell flew to Germany to meet with NFL Europa officials only days after the league held its championship game.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/nfl_experts/post/NFL-to-shut-down-European-league;_ylt=AlVR6qAPGm5KcCHwAKDj7g9DubYF?urn=nfl,3 7603



They forgot that part. xwhistlex

[Fresno St. Alum]

Is there any way the new AAFL or UFL could be a NFL minor league feeder instead of trying to compete with the NFL? Kind of like the WLAF. If one of the leagues joins the NFL it would surely kill the off the other league.

[jstate83]

I think you need to raise some capital, coordinate with the NFL and start on your business venture. It's a good idea.

Wish I could before the NFL do it themselves. xnodx

[flea]

These rumours start up every off season but this year there seems to be some truth in it. It's a bummer

[NoCoDanny]

I'm a football fan but I don't watch it. Perhaps it would strike more of a cord if it was based domestically.

If the NFL teams were assigned affiliates and the season was run as sort of a JV season during the spring/summer... put it in smaller cities like Albuquerque, Omaha, etc.

Now all of a sudden if there is a team in Albuquerque playing in the spring and they have a half dozen guys from the Denver Broncos on it I'm interested.

[spelunker64]

Guess it's back to this guy for German entertainment:

http://www.manta-ray-productions.com/DavidHasselhoff.jpg

[Grizalltheway]

Guess it's back to this guy for German entertainment:

http://www.manta-ray-productions.com/DavidHasselhoff.jpg


Don't forget about these guys. xthumbsupx

http://www.wldcup.com/pictures/wld2006/0606/pic306.jpg

Oh, and since you mentioned David Hasselhoff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQVlVHsFF8

[JohnStOnge]

Cost?

Can someone explain to me why the NFL has to run a whole dang feeder league in EUROPE in the summer when everything they need to be sucessful is right here in the U.S?

Can you imagine minor league football, backed by the NFL being played in cities/states across the U.S that are not large enough to support a TRUE PRO TEAM.xsmiley_wix

I could see a team from Mississippi going at it with a team from Alabama.xnodx

A good thing about something like you suggest is it might provide an avenue for players who don't go to college. I don't know about the rest of you but I've been aware of some really great high school football players who never qualified to play in college and, as things stand, there's no way for them to take a shot at developing their skills for an NFL career. I know that not many would make it...but I still think it'd be good if there was an avenue other than college for football players to pursue their dream.

[spelunker64]

Don't forget about these guys. xthumbsupx

http://www.wldcup.com/pictures/wld2006/0606/pic306.jpg



Who are they? xconfusedx