NFL Development League

[Big Z Man 1990]

For decades, all the other major sports leagues have had proper development leagues where each of the major league franchises has at least one farm team in a lower-level league.

The NFL should start thinking about launching such a league. It would give younger players a chance to hone their skills more and give players who failed previously a second chance.

Here are some ideas for where each NFL team's development league affiliate could go:

American Football Conference
East
Hartford (New England)
New Haven (NY Jets)
Orlando (Miami)
Syracuse (Buffalo)

North
Annapolis (Baltimore)
Columbus (Cleveland)
Louisville (Cincinnati)
State College (Pittsburgh)

South
College Station (Houston)
Memphis (Tennessee)
South Bend (Indianapolis)
Tallahassee (Jacksonville)

West
Colorado Springs (Denver)
Reno (Las Vegas)
Saint Louis (Kansas City)*
San Diego (LA Chargers)

National Football Conference
East
Charlottesville (Washington)
Fort Worth (Dallas)
New Brunswick (NY Giants)
Philadelphia (at Franklin Field) (Philadelphia)

North
Champaign (Chicago)
Lansing (Detroit)
Madison (Green Bay)
Minneapolis (at TCF Bank Stadium) (Minnesota)

South
Baton Rouge (New Orleans)
Birmingham (Atlanta)
Columbia (Carolina)
Gainesville (Tampa Bay)

West
Berkeley (San Francisco)
Eugene (Seattle)
Fresno (LA Rams)
Tucson (Arizona)

*they really deserve a football team, they've had 2 leagues desert the city in the last 5 years, putting the Chiefs minor league affiliate here would mend some of the wounds opened by the NFL in 2016.

Many of these cities host a college football team. Most of these games would be played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to avoid competing with the parent league on Thursday, Sunday and Monday, HS football on Friday, and CFB on Saturday.

These exact cities wouldn't have to be used, but it gives an idea on where the farm teams could possibly play.

Click to read more...

 

[alko]

In 2-3 years NFL will eat XFL. And then maybe create such lower league.

 

[GKJ]

The NFL did launch that league, NFL Europe, and they ended it because it was a money loser.

They definitely don’t need a full-scale 32-team league.

 

[alko]

The NFL did launch that league, NFL Europe, and they ended it because it was a money loser.

Because it was in Europe. They should made something in US states like Texas, Florida ... Not big. As i heard, there are two important things in those states - church and football.
But maybe im wrong, im from Europe.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Because it was in Europe. They should made something in US states like Texas, Florida ... Not big. As i heard, there are two important things in those states - church and football.
But maybe im wrong, im from Europe.

People will not pay to see 2nd rate football, the NFL already has its developmental league, it's called College Football

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

People will not pay to see 2nd rate football

People already pay to see second rate baseball (IL and PCL), basketball (G League) and hockey (AHL).

St. Louis will take any football it can get at this point after the loss of its second team in 5 years. With the Chiefs' minor-league affiliate based in St. Louis, it would settle the lawsuit between the city and the NFL.

 

[Unholy Diver]

People already pay to see second rate baseball (IL and PCL), basketball (G League) and hockey (AHL).

St. Louis will take any football it can get at this point after the loss of its second team in 5 years. With the Chiefs' minor-league affiliate based in St. Louis, it would settle the lawsuit between the city and the NFL.

I can't speak for the hockey end of it but tons of minor league baseball teams fold and move all the time, and the G league is about the 48th minor basketball league in the last 30 or so years

As for football there have been a ton of football leagues that have tried and failed

XFL - twice
AAF
World League of American Football
The CFL's expansion into the US
American Football Association
USFL
UFL
World Football League - 1974 version
World Football League - Late 2000's version
Spring Football League
Professional Spring Football League
Fall Experimental Football League
A-11 Football League


And these are not even counting the Indoor/Arena leagues which there were a ton of as well.


So with all of these leagues, some of which were backed by billionaires and even future US Presidents failing, why would anyone in their right mind or even their wrong mind keep trying?

 

[DaaaaB's]

NFL teams don't need a farm system anyhow. They already have 10 guys on the practice roster who usually end up amounting to nothing. I'm pretty sure the new cba is increasing the practice roster size next year as well.