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- Thread starter SoapyCy
- Start date
Cool idea, could really help some kids. But curious as to how this would effect college football, if this gained some traction.
Ya that's odd.
Also some discussion earlier today:
http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/threads/football-minor-league.225243/
Interesting format. I guess its viability would depend on the quality of the players participating.
It still doesn't do anything to address the problem of the NFL's stupid three years out of high school rule, but it gives players a little more leverage if they want to take on the risk. All it takes is one five star recruit to decide they don't want to deal with the NCAA to give this thing some legitimacy.
It still doesn't do anything to address the problem of the NFL's stupid three years out of high school rule, but it gives players a little more leverage if they want to take on the risk. All it takes is one five star recruit to decide they don't want to deal with the NCAA to give this thing some legitimacy.
Just like Brandon Jennings going to Europe for a year to play basketball instead of playing college ball did to that idea? Or Emmanuel Mudiay going to China?
No...Different sport and different continent, for starters.
Over/Under on this folding faster than the XFL
In the end, the only way it will be successful is if they can make enough money to keep it going.
Colleges are an effective minor league for the NFL because they have an existing fan base and people come to watch the games based on their loyalty to the school.
No one cares about these teams other than the people trying to run them. They will struggle to get fans to come to their games and without any support by the NFL, they will likely fold.
The NFL has no interest in supporting a minor league because they have a minor league with NCAA football.
Colleges are an effective minor league for the NFL because they have an existing fan base and people come to watch the games based on their loyalty to the school.
No one cares about these teams other than the people trying to run them. They will struggle to get fans to come to their games and without any support by the NFL, they will likely fold.
The NFL has no interest in supporting a minor league because they have a minor league with NCAA football.
XFL at least had some flash and tried to build a buzz. In the end it just wasn't very good football.
Same concept though. Skipping college to play professionally before they are able to be drafted by the top tier professional league in their chosen sport.
One 5* recruit choosing that league over college football before the NFL doesn't legitimize it any more than either of those 2 players going overseas for a year legitimized that route to the NBA.
Unless this gets backed by the NFL, it will never make it. The NBA D league sticks around because they have NBA franchises backing it. Same with any developmental league for MLB, NHL, etc. I think there should be a pro football developmental league, but without the NFL backing it, it won't matter.
Especially since this "minor league" will probably not last the 3 years that 5 star has to wait until he can go to the NFL.
Then that kid is ineligible to play at any college because he took money and he has to hope he can get a shot at being drafted after not playing for a while.
There's absolutely no guarantee that this league lasts more than a season. A 5 star kid would be stupid to put his future at risk just to avoid going to a real college.
Just curious, how popular/successful is the NBA-D league? The NBA, like the NFL, drafts primarily through the NCAA. Fans follow their NCAA school a lot more than the NBA-D league. If the NFL wants to create a minor league, they'll need to monitor the NBA-D league's origins and current state.
I'm sure the NFL will pay attention, but they aren't going to pay for it.
The D league is going towards a model where every franchise has their own affiliate. They are pretty close to this now with 22 teams. The league itself isn't necessarily popular, but it gives the franchise's good tape of guys to call up for 10 day contracts, trains potential assistant coaches, etc.
The D-League only exists because it is subsidized by the NBA. I'm not sure if any of the teams make a profit on their own.
Just think about how much money this is going to cost to run.
How big will the rosters be? No way they'll have 85 "scholarship" players like colleges have. I doubt they will be able to afford 53 like NFL teams either.
They have to pay coaches too.
They have to pay for stadiums to play in.
They have to pay for front offices and league officials
They have to pay for marketing teams and advertising to try and get people to come to games.
I doubt they will have enough interest in 4 teams to get national TV coverage.
It's an interesting idea, but there is no existing infrastructure for it. Without the backing of the NFL, it will fold.
