Watching The UFL Last Night Got Me Thinking.
by nocal81 on Oct 15, 2009 1:12 PM PDT
29 comments
Does anyone think that the UFL could actually work as a minor league system for the NFL? Not a minor league system like MLB but more in tune with the NBA developmental league. I really think this could work and be mutually beneficial. Now of course this would have to be a couple seasons away considering the UFL only have a few teams and would have to have 32 in order for this to work. But it is something the NFL should think about. This is how it could work
1. Have the farm team play in or near the city of the NFL team. For example the California Redwoods would be the 49ers minor league affiliate. Keep the mid October season start so the leagues could be played at the same time.
2. Extend the NFL draft from 7 rounds to 12 or 13 rounds. This would allow teams to fill their minor league roster pretty quickly
3. The players on the minor league team are under minor league contracts but can be traded for a player on an NFL roster (ala MLB) Once drafted the player is free to sign a contract with the minor league affiliate that he can void after three seasons to become a free agent. He would obviously have the option to sign with an NFL team or another minor league affiliate.
4. Eliminate the practice squad. There would be absolutely no need for the practice squad as the players that were on the scout team are now on your minor league roster.
I actually watched Las Vegas and Florida last night. And you know what? The quality of football was really really good. Especially Florida who had players such as Tony Parrish, Brandon Moore, Michael Pittman, Tatum Bell, Wendell Bryant and Jermaine Wiggens. Pretty good quality football if you ask me.
Also this deal would reward teams that draft good and have great scouting departments instead of penalizing them for suceeding in the draft. By expanding the draft to 13 rounds it would also give countless more pro hopefuls a chance to make it. I actually don't see any down side to doing this.
Your Thoughts!!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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I Know You Have A Hard Time Translating English
But c’mon man try.
"I Would Call It Futbal, but we have the nukes"
by nocal81 on Oct 15, 2009 1:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I did try..
The quality of football was really really good.
Again, WAT?
Well, we're waiting....
by drummer on Oct 15, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you watch the game?
Do you have a different perspective? Or are you just heckling…
You have been DFiBrillated.
by Dubs fan in Boston on Oct 16, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just Heckling
It’s his pathetic attempt to get some type of response out of me.
For what it’s worth dubs i did see some pretty good quality football in the Florida-Vegas game. Obviously not as good as the NFL but better then NFLEUROPE, AFL or XFL
"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win!!!"
by nocal81 on Oct 16, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I watched enough of it...
Before I decided it wasn’t worth watching. Kinda like watching NFL EUR.
I had more fun watching Arena Football.
But really, this League doesn’t even come close to watching NCAA football.
If you like watching scrub on scrub football, then so be it. But that’s what it is.
Well, we're waiting....
by drummer on Oct 18, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it could be good, but what would have to practice team players?
Be good to potentially bring in out of the country talent. Definitely a job creator, not a horrible idea.
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
by rlott#42 on Oct 15, 2009 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I was just thinking
Brooks Bollinger looked like a G. And Alex Smith needs some reps…
49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)
by LA49er on Oct 15, 2009 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Money
No way the NFL pays for something like this, the owners already have a padlock on their wallets, why would they pay for a another team that could potential produce 2 maybe 3 good NFL players at best?
by Hoopers Judge on Oct 15, 2009 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Some of the best players are undrafted free agents so that idea of all you'd get would be false!
"Optimist Prime"
Come along and ride the muthaship!
by rlott#42 on Oct 15, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's Why I Said More Like The NBDL
Not Minor league baseball. It would be a separate entity.
"I Would Call It Futbal, but we have the nukes"
by nocal81 on Oct 15, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Practice squad
Abolishing the practice squad leaves the pro team shorthanded in terms of practice during the week, as quite a few practice squad players take on scout team roles.
by sfgfan on Oct 15, 2009 2:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's True
Didn’t really think of that, maybe something could work out in regards to that.
"I Would Call It Futbal, but we have the nukes"
by nocal81 on Oct 15, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think that...
… even with the “minor league” teams, having guys being able to practice with the big club could be very beneficial to those guys. Just call those guys the ones that are closer to NFL level (kind of like the AAAA players in MLB). By practicing with the team, they’ll be in on the game plan and stuff, just not play unless activated.
I’m intrigued by the idea of having a some quasi-minor-league system for the NFL. I don’t think it means that the practice squad should be removed.
by sfgfan on Oct 15, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't this basicaly how the European League
was set up? I can’t see either the UFL wanting to do something like this or the NFL. You’re competing in the same marketplace for some of the same players.
by smileyman on Oct 15, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
NFL Europe...
… was kind of like it, but not exactly. Each NFL team sent X number of players to NFL-E, but I’m pretty sure a lot of the players in the league didn’t have any NFL affiliations in general.
by sfgfan on Oct 15, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was under the impression that the UFL was created with exactly this in mind.
It was talked about early on during the formation of the league that one of their ultimate goals was to be bought out by the NFL and used as a developmental league for younger players and unknown prospects that wouldn’t normally get a chance to crack 53-man rosters.
My pessimism goes to the point of suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists.
by shlecko on Oct 15, 2009 2:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That what I remember reading
Alaska is a state, dammit! Can I get a Niner game on TV up here?
by kinglouie33 on Oct 15, 2009 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*That's
Alaska is a state, dammit! Can I get a Niner game on TV up here?
by kinglouie33 on Oct 15, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh.
I think that college is a poor example of a minor league system because the NFL teams have no control over what college teams run. By having a minor league system, it allows players who come from spread offenses and funky defenses (and whatever other gimmicks) a place where they can adjust. This is assuming that the minor league teams wouldn’t go all XFL and be all about “the show” and continue the whole gimmick thing.
by sfgfan on Oct 15, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also...
the level of competition/athleticism would be closer to the NFL than college is.
I think the big issue to work out would simply be how you deal with the need to still have scout/practice-squad members at the NFL level. Also, getting the players union to agree to something like this may be a very tough sell (you’re further restricting player movement by locking rookies into a 3-yr deal in an inferior league).
by cabz on Oct 15, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Three Year Rule
Would enable teams to actually build a system in the UFL. If you limit it to 1 year then there would be no reason to have franchise entitlement. Maybe allow them to opt our if they catch on with an NFL teams 53 man roster.
"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win!!!"
by nocal81 on Oct 16, 2009 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
3-year deal.
I think you can look at the 3-year deal in the same light as the three year limitation on the practice squad players. Maybe the rules on the new league can allow a player to sign anywhere (i.e. like the practice squad) after their second year. I mean, honestly, if a player ended up in the “minor league,” they probably won’t be very ready before two years are up, anyway.
by sfgfan on Oct 16, 2009 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
its a good idea...
the hurdles are getting the owners and nfl to agree on…not an easy thing to do in this day and age…
the reason they Would do this is $$$$$…football is very, very popular..the $$$ is in the tv contracts..currently that encompases oh all of Sunday but no other day of the week except maybe a good monday night football game..usually even these can get predictable especially later in the season when (yawn) postseason is esentially determined..
If you had a friday night or thursday night NFL hopeful league…that would be really nice and to norcal’s point, you’d actually be rewarding good drafting teams by allowing their players to stay with them..
by 11allstar on Oct 15, 2009 8:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't see how they could afford this
Probably too expensive and whatnot.
It would still be cool though….we can dream.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by chikmagnet_565 on Oct 15, 2009 10:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
The NFL teams can partially contribute to the funds (I mean the NFL is one of the only businesses in the country still rolling in a ridiculous amount of dough), and the UFL teams themselves can try to generate their own revenue (much like minor league teams do in baseball).
by sfgfan on Oct 16, 2009 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Their doesn't need to be 32 teams in the UFL for it to be minor league NFL
The NBA shares teams in the DNBA. For example, the Utah Flash have players from both the Jazz and Celtics. Plus, their are players who aren’t signed with any team. Eight teams would be enough. 4 NFL teams could share 1 UFL team with each putting about 5-10 players on the team. The rest of the players would be unaffiliated. With the short UFL season, it gives players a chance to be called up when NFL teams have holes that need to be filled late in the season because of injuries or poor play.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
by urnext on Oct 15, 2009 11:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't see why...
… NFL teams can’t share a UFL team. The Raiders and 49ers can share the Redwoods (or whatever they’re called). That way, teams only have to contribute to contracts for 20-something players, rather than up to 50-something players.
by sfgfan on Oct 16, 2009 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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