The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[ADVILLAFAN]

The trouble with an expansion team is that most British NFL fans will already support a team.

Would probably help if the expansion team was good and the Jaguars really aren't.

[cdbearsfan]

Expansion teams are always shite.

The way to go is a relocation team with a completely new identity, on the proviso that the market they are relocating from gets to keep their history, and gets an expansion team of the same name within a few seasons.

Like the Ravens/Browns situation.

That said, I think it's too early for a London/UK team at present. We need more British/European talent in the league first, and not just kickers.

[ADVILLAFAN]

25 years since the Herschel Walker trade

http://grantland.com/features/30-for-30-shorts-the-great-trade-robbery/

That said, the Cowboys obviously drafted really well. Interesting story.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Expansion teams are always shite.

The way to go is a relocation team with a completely new identity, on the proviso that the market they are relocating from gets to keep their history, and gets an expansion team of the same name within a few seasons.

Like the Ravens/Browns situation.

That said, I think it's too early for a London/UK team at present. We need more British/European talent in the league first, and not just kickers.

There must be loads of good Rugby League players who could play NFL. I always think Aussie Rules players could probably adapt to it too. Lots of untapped potential.

[UK Redsox]

The trouble with an expansion team is that most British NFL fans will already support a team.

Would probably help if the expansion team was good and the Jaguars really aren't.

The fact that most British NFL fans already support a team is why I think that an expansion team would be better.

We could support the 'London Monarchs' (or whatever the new team is called) AND our existing team.

However, thinking about the Jags; they still act/play like an expansion team anyway.

[cdbearsfan]

Monarchs is a fucking awful name. The only real name I can think of that would be good is British Lions. But I can't see the owners in Detroit allowing that.

I think "British" rather than "London" would be good anyway to try to maximise support.

I don't see the relevance of fans already supporting a team. I assume most people in Jacksonville, Baltimore and Houston already had a favoured team before their cities got franchises.

Neutrals will cheer for them, fans of the opposition will help sell tickets, and a number of new NFL fans will start to take an interest while the next generation will grow up following them. Especially if they can have one or two local players in the team.

If they have to be an expansion team, I wouldn't mind them, at least for the first few seasons, having some sort of pre-draft "Eurodraft" where they were given the chance to sign the best regional talent before the rest of the NFL could.

[ADVILLAFAN]

British Bulldogs?

The games in the UK for 2015 will probably be announced around Thanksgiving. Hoping to go to one, there may even be a game that's not at Wembley.

[cdbearsfan]

Bulldogs just makes me feel uneasy as it seems a bit BNPy. Can't see it attracting many fans in the Celtic Nations or among soft, Guardian-reading liberal pinkos like me.

British... Barbarians?

Not an uncool sounding nickname and might tempt a few rugby fans to turn up.

[taylorsworkrate]

The London Sillynannies

[cdbearsfan]

I have a horrible feeling they'd pick something really awful like London Royals or UK Crusaders.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Bored, so decided to re-arrange the NFL Divisions for more local derbies (the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins are clearly in the wrong divisions).

Pacific Division
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Mid-West Division
Arizona Cardinals
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
St. Louis Rams
Old-South Division
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints
Atlantic Division
Atlanta Falcons
Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Division
Buffalo Bills
New England Patriots
New York Giants
New York Jets
D.C. Division
Baltimore Ravens
Philadephia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins
North-Central Division
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Frozen North Division
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

Still not happy with Tennessee's placement though....

[Meanwood Villa]

The Cowboys and Dolphins have long established rivalries in their current divisions and made a big fuss of maintaining those at the last realignment.
It is weird though that, for example, the Giants and Jets rarely play each other competitively. Does this lead to indifference rather than hostility between the rival fans? Do some people support both?

[Comrade Blitz]

The Cowboys and Dolphins have long established rivalries in their current divisions and made a big fuss of maintaining those at the last realignment.
It is weird though that, for example, the Giants and Jets rarely play each other competitively. Does this lead to indifference rather than hostility between the rival fans? Do some people support both?

There's an old "joke" from Philly:

Q: "Who's your favourite NFL team?"
A: "The Eagles....and whoever's playing the Cowboys."

We hate Dallas with a passion that is completely un-reciprocated by Cowboy's fans. I reckon that fans of the Jets & Giants rarely clash - Giants' fans probably hate the Eagles and Redskins.

[cdbearsfan]

Bored, so decided to re-arrange the NFL Divisions for more local derbies (the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins are clearly in the wrong divisions).

Pacific Division
LA Raiders
LA Chargers
Santa Clara 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Mid-West Division
Arizona Cardinals
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
St. Louis Rams
Old-South Division
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints
Atlantic Division
Atlanta Falcons
London Kneesapmavverbraan Jaguars
Miami Dolphins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Division
Buffalo Bills
New England Patriots
New Jersey Giants
New Jersey Jets
D.C. Division
Baltimore Ravens
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Racists
North-Central Division
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Frozen North Division
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

FTFY.

[OCD]

The Cowboys and Dolphins have long established rivalries in their current divisions and made a big fuss of maintaining those at the last realignment.
It is weird though that, for example, the Giants and Jets rarely play each other competitively. Does this lead to indifference rather than hostility between the rival fans? Do some people support both?

Blues hardly play us but...