The NFL is delusional

[DaveThePanther2008]

30 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

The logistics to prepare for, say, a team from California to play a team in Europe (or vice versa) would make it untenable.

If they insist on playing this out then a new version of NFL Europe would be better, but that's already failed once.

My only take divisionally would be that you would have to create two divisions.  9 Divisions don't work mathematically. 

If you had another division in Europe you have 6 games in Europe against European teams the remaining 11 games 5 to 6 teams annually would travel to Europe.

They could add 2 teams and be line the NFC West was when we were in it.  All division have 4 team except one in each conference.  The NFL worked hard to get 4 x 4 and don't think they want to go back to an odd division in each conference. 

[LinvilleGorge]

4 minutes ago, Brooklyn 3.0 said:

Why do you think a regular player would choose to not live in London for a time? It'd be like a vacation. Better everything than your nowhere US city.

For the same reason a lot of folks with the opportunity to relocate internationally ultimately choose not to. Distance from family and friends, totally different culture, climate, etc. There's also the tax implications and need for two households if you're not uprooting your entire family. That's a significant financial burden for a rank and file NFL player who is trying to make enough money in his NFL career to be set for life.

[LinvilleGorge]

Also, if you make an entire division in Europe, what does that look like? The best expansion plan would be to go to 36 teams and six divisions of six teams. But six teams in Europe? No way that's happening right out of the gate. I think if they do dip their toes in Europe it'll be two existing teams relocating to Europe, one in London and one in Germany. It'll be the Jags going to London. Tepper will be fighting hard to take the Panthers to Germany. Other teams I could see being in that fight would probably be the Bengals, maybe the Bucs, potentially the Titans, the Jets wouldn't be a total shocker.

[frankw]

3 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

For the same reason a lot of folks with the opportunity to relocate internationally ultimately choose not to. Distance from family and friends, totally different culture, climate, etc. There's also the tax implications and need for two households if you're not uprooting your entire family. That's a significant financial burden for a rank and file NFL player who is trying to make enough money in his NFL career to be set for life.

Considering the majority of the NFL players are African American and most of Europe in general is anything but fully welcoming to minority players (see bananas thrown on soccer fields) I can see how some players would just rather stay in the states and not uproot their families.

[rayzor]

how about their own league.

Could call it NFL Europe and you could kind of use it as a farm league for the NFL.

[TheSpecialJuan]

[LinvilleGorge]

11 minutes ago, rayzor said:

how about their own league.

Could call it NFL Europe and you could kind of use it as a farm league for the NFL.

Unfortunately, it failed for a reason. People don't want to watch a second rate feeder league and constantly lose their best players to the NFL.

[Brooklyn 3.0]

32 minutes ago, frankw said:

Considering the majority of the NFL players are African American and most of Europe in general is anything but fully welcoming to minority players (see bananas thrown on soccer fields) I can see how some players would just rather stay in the states and not uproot their families.

I think it'd only work in London. But they don't have to uproot anything. Military families are used to a spouse being gone for a good duration of the year. Daddy would just be "working in London" for six months basically. I get what Linville is saying about the guys making bottom tier pay, but those guys are usually young so I think they could acheive the proper work/life balance. And top tier pay guys usually have more than one house anyway. Didn't Cam live in Atlanta and Charlotte? But yeah, Germany ... nah, man, I'm good.

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

He's right it would be easier as a division simply because it would alleviate some of the very significant logistical problems with scheduling. Still, the logistical problems are MASSIVE. On the field, the Euro teams will have a huge home field advantage and a massive away game disadvantage due to those logistics. In terms of luring free agents... man, the Euro teams are going to be at a huge disadvantage. No legit star is gonna wanna go there. They're already doing fine here. You could have an advantage luring in good but not star level talent with the pitch of potentially becoming a star in Europe. But your real disadvantage is with rank and file roster players. Low level starters, good backups. Why would they go to Europe unless you're significantly overpaying?

The NFL just sees $$$ but I see a lot of issues, both logistically and competitively.

 

 

 

 

Let's not even talk about the tax disadvantage players would have with UK taxes vs US ones. Geez that would get so complicated. 

Of course, for the pack of billionaires that own teams in the league will just waive their hands and make it happen if it is in their favor.

[UnluckyforSome]

.They could maybe make a go of it with a 6 team league or so. A smaller version of NFL Europe. It wouldn't be easy though, as evident from the continuous failures that alternative leagues here have experienced. Ideally they would be able to use homegrown talent, but there is not enough. So there is the problem, teams are made up of has beens and never weres, and once the initial novelty wears off it's just poor quality sport with teams that have funny uniforms and odd names.

[AlphabetsEnd]

4-8 team European division that gets one wildcard spot a season. 

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

They’ve been talking about this for years. I think it’s a bad idea, honestly. Does the English Football League want a team in the US? Maybe, maybe not. Besides a little extra money, what is the point exactly? It would be a huge pain in the ass for little return IMO.

Side note, my personal interest in the NFL has somewhat nosedived. They are messing with the game too much and they could eventually kill the golden goose

[bigdog10]

I like the way they are doing it now but I’d just expand it to where the 17th game on the schedule is an international game for every team and add a second bye. 
 

give London 8 games

give Germany 4 games

give Mexico 2 games

give Canada 2 games 

[Ornias]

Travelling teams would have to have a bye before or after.