I didn't even know that there was such a league trying to enter the TV market and such. Does any one know more about this developmental league?

Is this such a league that could/would take kids out of HS? If so, perhaps it could help level the playing field a little. Instead of wasting college roster spots, those spots could go to more academically advanced athletes.

Let's face it, several of the top athletes only go to college for exposure and hopes of making a great living after their college days are done.

The SEC would lose out on the superior athletes they get by (illegally?) paying these athletes to play at their schools.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fxfl-satisf...--nfl.html

No development league will ever work until these millionaire idiots realize you cant run it at the same time as Pro and College.

They should really start a summer league and base the teams in non-NFL cities. Orlando had a team a few years back and did ok with it.
Summer works best because people will be in a state of deprivation from not having football for a few months... and then you can also use MLS and other small stadiums. Orlando is getting an MLS team and they could use the smaller stadium. They could also use college stadiums in certain cities.

But instead, they try each time to go head to head with college and NFL and fail within a few years.

(11-24-2014 10:51 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  No development league will ever work until these millionaire idiots realize you cant run it at the same time as Pro and College.

They should really start a summer league and base the teams in non-NFL cities. Orlando had a team a few years back and did ok with it.
Summer works best because people will be in a state of deprivation from not having football for a few months... and then you can also use MLS and other small stadiums. Orlando is getting an MLS team and they could use the smaller stadium. They could also use college stadiums in certain cities.

But instead, they try each time to go head to head with college and NFL and fail within a few years.

Agreed... besides AAA sized cities, they could also be located in emerging higher income suburbs and smaller cities...Frisco or Allen by Dallas, Cobb County outside Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, college towns...the stadiums could be 10-30k in size. They need at least 8 cities with a 7-8 week season to start and should keep it confined to cities within a 1 days bus ride of each other.

Its already been proven the best time to start a 2nd football league: Spring

Heck, when the USFL was around, Baseball seemed to be much more popular than it is now yet many USFL teams were successful.

Only reason USFL died was because Donald Trump tried to get his Generals into the NFL by trying to move the league to the fall (which he thought scare the NFL, which wasn't as popular back then as it is now).

spring pro football worked, the USFL was gaining traction and it was only derailed by sheer idiocy. the NFL could castrate college football and have it all by bringing the USFL back

(11-25-2014 09:36 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  spring pro football worked, the USFL was gaining traction and it was only derailed by sheer idiocy. the NFL could castrate college football and have it all by bringing the USFL back

They could but I see it almost like baseball where there is AA and AAA (and host of others). There really is room for that in between. Only the elite go straight from college to pro and few of those really make an immediate impact.

A league that was spring or summer could really develop those kids who maybe didnt make it in the NFL but have potential and just need some time.

I bet they could work with the CFL to lineup their schedules and then have the Canadian Champ play the US for a "North American Championship".

Once the billionaires figure out that youll never compete with the NFL but that theres money to be made in between then you might see this. TV revenue and stadium revenue wouldnt be a ton but a bet decent. Add in buyouts on contracts and I bet the ROI is there.

Id personally go after markets that have no pro team and markets that are typically underserved...

Orlando (getting an MLS stadium)
Birmingham, AL. ( Could fill a roster with Auburn/Bama players that didnt make it in the nfl, and their building a dome)
Greenville, SC - Possible baseball field use or College stadium
Jackson, MS. - Use Veterans Stadium
Memphis - already have a stadium
Texas- Multiple locations are possible.

These six would be a good start and all are southern, which typically has a more passionate football fanbase.... along with the advantage of better weather year round. All of these locations have strong football history, no NFL team and have a ton of College players who didnt make it in the NFL who would get local support.

build in roster room for up to 4 new "developmental" guys per year. 3 year guaranteed contract at 45-50k per year. dont count against roster limits unless activated. that way you get time to mature high school kids and you have a league where rookies and borderline roster guys can develop.

(11-25-2014 10:07 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(11-25-2014 09:36 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  spring pro football worked, the USFL was gaining traction and it was only derailed by sheer idiocy. the NFL could castrate college football and have it all by bringing the USFL back

They could but I see it almost like baseball where there is AA and AAA (and host of others). There really is room for that in between. Only the elite go straight from college to pro and few of those really make an immediate impact.

A league that was spring or summer could really develop those kids who maybe didnt make it in the NFL but have potential and just need some time.

I bet they could work with the CFL to lineup their schedules and then have the Canadian Champ play the US for a "North American Championship".

Once the billionaires figure out that youll never compete with the NFL but that theres money to be made in between then you might see this. TV revenue and stadium revenue wouldnt be a ton but a bet decent. Add in buyouts on contracts and I bet the ROI is there.

It's already been tried kind of... CFL expanded into the US. The problem is that the CFL championship is played in late November / early December when NFL playoff race is really heating up. IT just can't compete in the USA on that time line. The Canadians are OK with that though. THey aren't trying to compete with the NFL.

I actually stumbled upon this league several times while channel surfing. It is on some obscure network and seemed to have teams mainly in the northeast. The QB of one of the teams was Taj Boyd from Clemson.

(11-25-2014 10:41 AM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(11-25-2014 10:07 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  

(11-25-2014 09:36 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  spring pro football worked, the USFL was gaining traction and it was only derailed by sheer idiocy. the NFL could castrate college football and have it all by bringing the USFL back

They could but I see it almost like baseball where there is AA and AAA (and host of others). There really is room for that in between. Only the elite go straight from college to pro and few of those really make an immediate impact.

A league that was spring or summer could really develop those kids who maybe didnt make it in the NFL but have potential and just need some time.

I bet they could work with the CFL to lineup their schedules and then have the Canadian Champ play the US for a "North American Championship".

Once the billionaires figure out that youll never compete with the NFL but that theres money to be made in between then you might see this. TV revenue and stadium revenue wouldnt be a ton but a bet decent. Add in buyouts on contracts and I bet the ROI is there.

It's already been tried kind of... CFL expanded into the US. The problem is that the CFL championship is played in late November / early December when NFL playoff race is really heating up. IT just can't compete in the USA on that time line. The Canadians are OK with that though. THey aren't trying to compete with the NFL.

Thats why I said to line up their schedules. It would be important for both to start earlier. I gurantee the Candians would go for it if there was any money or exposure for it.

You essentially get three chapionship games to sell... CFL, this new league and the North American championship. The summer is diminated by baseball and for those that arent into it, this would really make a nice break.

I love my Cubs but I cant watch 100+ games and still be into it.

The XFL was doomed from the start. Cool camera angles and all but ya cant hire strippers for cheerleaders and expect to get family friendly tv time.

If that had been run a bit different, it really could have worked.

The problem with the XFL was how it was marketed. McMahon screwed it up. You can't build a full fan base marketing only your slutty cheerleaders.

They actually had ideas I could work with:

You get paid for wins
Set salaries per games.
Not PATs, you had to go for 2 points after a touchdown.

I paid attention to this league this fall. Players could only be out of college for 3 years, they tried some experimental rules (longer PATs), QBs only played 1 half each(I think). It wasn't going to succeed, but the idea is one worth exploring. The actual football wasn't that bad, but the only way it or something like that could work is if it had actual NFL backing. Pick 32 cities near NFL teams and start a true minor league. Ex: AFC north, cincy gets Louisville, Cleveland gets columbus, Pittsburgh gets erie, Baltimore gets Annapolis. Never will happen but since there is so much potential money to be made, I hope it does.

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