The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[pmarachi]

Where do they get the players?
Is it just NFL drop outs?

They are trying to get Michael Vick actually...

But yeah, I am not sure.  I would assume it's guys who never made it to the NFL.  Maybe guys who want that second look...


I guess the games would be on during weekdays.  The thing is, in America, Football is huge.
There are places in the states, especially the south where highschool football is more important than the NFL.

I think there is already enough football that they don't really need a second league.

[sali,salifou]

I was going to say. Surely College football is big enough that it a)almost rivals the NFL itself, and b) would mean there can't be much of a market for another league?
Michael Vick returning would be, erm, interesting. Surely his presence would say it all?

[cdbearsfan]

The UFL sounds like shite but they should bring back the NFL Europe, and maybe have an NFL North America featuring Canadian and Mexican teams plus teams from American markets that don't have a team. The top teams from each could then compete in the end-of-season play-offs.

Obviously, the league would operate during the summer and would give a chance to some of the NFL teams' squad players to pick up some match practice, like NFL Europe used to.

[UK Redsox]

The UFL sounds like shite but they should bring back the NFL Europe, and maybe have an NFL North America featuring Canadian and Mexican teams plus teams from American markets that don't have a team. The top teams from each could then compete in the end-of-season play-offs.

Obviously, the league would operate during the summer and would give a chance to some of the NFL teams' squad players to pick up some match practice, like NFL Europe used to.

That's how NFL Europe started out in 1991 (as the "World League of American Football").

The original teams were:-

   * North American West: Birmingham Fire, Sacramento Surge, San Antonio Riders

    * North American East: Montreal Machine, New York/New Jersey Knights, Orlando Thunder, Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks (replaced by Ohio Glory in 1992)

    * European: Barcelona Dragons, Frankfurt Galaxy, London Monarchs

The 1995 relaunch saw it switch to an all-Europe format.

NFL Europe was a NFL backed league that didn't clash with the main NFL season, yet it still failed.

Also, did you see that the Arena League has canceled its 2009 season.

The USFL was a pretty good attempt at taking on the NFL. They even signed some pretty good players away from the NFL (eg Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Doug Flutie & Reggie White).

I say bring back the XFL.............

[cdbearsfan]

The NFL is considering increasing the number of regular-season games to either 17 or 18.

18 seems logical enough, each team gets an extra home game and an extra away game.

However, they are also considering the option of a 17 game season with each team playing one game on a neutral venue.

I'm not sure this would work.

Selling out Wembley once a season in easy enough. Selling out, say, four stadia in Mexico, four in Britain four in Germany and four elsewhere would be quite difficult. I can't imagine the Bills would be too happy if they started playing other teams' games in Canada.

The 18 games option seems the most sensible to me. Drop two pre-season games. Pre-season is lame.

[UK Redsox]

However, they are also considering the option of a 17 game season with each team playing one game on a neutral venue.

You won't see many "No to Game 17" banners

Adding two regular season games and dropping two pre-season make perfect sense.

[pmarachi]

However, they are also considering the option of a 17 game season with each team playing one game on a neutral venue.

You won't see many "No to Game 17" banners

Adding two regular season games and dropping two pre-season make perfect sense.

except from the players union who is representing players paid for 16 games.

how do they change the contracts now?

I for one think 16 is long enough for a few reasons

[cdbearsfan]

But don't the players already get paid for playing pre-season? Reducing pre-season by two and increasing regular-season by the same amount wouldn't be a problem, would it?

The 17 game option does seem silly. Unless we get Da Bears or the Brians at Villa Park, then I will change my mind!

[pmarachi]

But don't the players already get paid for playing pre-season? Reducing pre-season by two and increasing regular-season by the same amount wouldn't be a problem, would it?

The 17 game option does seem silly. Unless we get Da Bears or the Brians at Villa Park, then I will change my mind!

You would think so, but the star players, the ones with the pull who actually pay the players union salary don't play those games (preseason games).

Regardless, it's extra work.  A pre-season game isn't a real game.  Everyone plays a few snaps, maybe a quarter.  The rookies need it and the practice squad guys need it to make the team.

You cut that game, you risk making an improper decision somewhere at depth.

You add an extra game, the big contract guys are gonna want to get paid more.

I think 16 is more than fine.  That's 17 weeks, plus playoffs.  You do well, you are playing 20 weeks anyway.  Add it to a 6 year career, you got 6 extra games.  A big contract superstar? 10 years? That's 10 extra games.  Almost half a season extra.  That's a long time considering these guys actually die earlier than non-football players (I am being dead serious).  Most of these guys can't even walk up a flight of stairs when they are 40.  

Why does it need to be more?  The only "pro" to the situation is that the NFL gets the chance to keep the season moving and make more money.

[cdbearsfan]

I take your point but I would see it as quite a big pro to get to see two extra weeks of proper action.

With regards the injuries, each team should have two bye-weeks per season, that would give them extra time to recuperate.

They could just have a week off for all the teams before Thanksgiving so no team has to play Sunday (or even Monday), then Thursday.

[pmarachi]

I take your point but I would see it as quite a big pro to get to see two extra weeks of proper action.

With regards the injuries, each team should have two bye-weeks per season, that would give them extra time to recuperate.

They could just have a week off for all the teams before Thanksgiving so no team has to play Sunday (or even Monday), then Thursday.

The long term goal of the NFL is to eventually have an NFL game every single day of the week. They now have 2 Saturday games and about 5 Thursday games.  Just three years ago it was just Sunday and the one special game on Monday night.  I personally am not a fan.  One of the reasons I watch football is because it's all on Sunday and Monday.  Easy to watch.

So in the next 5 or so years that weird midweek thanksgiving scedule will be the norm.

[cdbearsfan]

Selfishly, I would rather they played one Friday night game, Saturdays and Sundays. That way I could stay up late and watch.

The Superbowl should definitely be on a Saturday, as should the World Cup Final. A global event should be watched by as many people as possible.

Anyway, back on-topic, should/will da Bears sign Cutler?

[pmarachi]

Selfishly, I would rather they played one Friday night game, Saturdays and Sundays. That way I could stay up late and watch.

The Superbowl should definitely be on a Saturday, as should the World Cup Final. A global event should be watched by as many people as possible.

Anyway, back on-topic, should/will da Bears sign Cutler?

I wouldn't want football on a Friday, but I do agree that the Superbowl and all major sporting events should be on a Saturday.  It's not 1945 anymore and it's not like everyone is off on Sunday's anymore.

As for Cutler?  The Broncos didn't re-vamp the whole team around him to let one of the best QB's in the game walk out the door.

[UK Redsox]

Anyway, back on-topic, should/will da Bears sign Cutler?

They have done just that

......... for Kyle Oarton and a few draft picks.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Good God - I never thought I'd see the day when Da Bears had a Quarter-Back who can throw the ball!!