Jump to content

Spring Leagues   

67 members have voted

  1. 1. Which Spring Leagues will still be in existence five years from their inception?



Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

With two spring leagues starting in the next two years, The Alliance of American Football in 2019, and a revamp of the XFL in 2020, which league will have the most long term success? 

Edited by The Real Buffalo Joe
Posted

I think XFL will putter out quickly. I’m hoping the Alliance league will stick more to the script and hopefully what NFL Europe wanted to be. A place where undrafted and late round guys can be given a chance to develop and earn a bit of cash. 

 

Similar too, but far different than the AHL for the NHL. 

  • Like (+1) 2
Posted

I think the XFL is going after the good ol' boy, anti kneeling crowd that are boycotting the NFL. They'll have some initially high ratings, but will putter out quicker. The XFL will probably sign some college stars that didn't pan out in the NFL. Manziel, Tebow, etc. If they learn from their mistakes, they'll be less gimmicky than last time. They'll probably also pander to the "NFL has gotten too soft" crowd. 

 

AAF will have smaller, but much more steady viewership. They also have the advantage of starting a year earlier. They seem to have a long term goal of forming an official partnership with the NFL. An NFL Europe, without the European aspect. 

Posted

Spring ball won't succeed until the NFL signs off on a league that they run or at least support. There's definitely a market for spring football, but it needs massive marketing and TV exposure. The NFL can provide both.

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted
7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Spring ball won't succeed until the NFL signs off on a league that they run or at least support. There's definitely a market for spring football, but it needs massive marketing and TV exposure. The NFL can provide both.

If AAF survives the first two years, I can see them being absored by, or partnering with, the NFL.Their recruiting model already is based on each team only picking up players that most recently retired from certain NFL/NCAA teams. 

Posted
2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Spring ball won't succeed until the NFL signs off on a league that they run or at least support. There's definitely a market for spring football, but it needs massive marketing and TV exposure. The NFL can provide both.

 

Exactly.  The only way it works is as the NFL's minor/developmental league.

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted

It only works if they can land some actual talent. 

Think suspended NFL players, washed up guys who used to be stars.

And it only works if they emphasize the areas the NFL is screwing up.

Gotta have some elaborate celebrations that make headlines, some real rugged bonedrushing defense.

If it’s just watered down NFL nobody is gonna watch. 

Posted
8 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Spring ball won't succeed until the NFL signs off on a league that they run or at least support. There's definitely a market for spring football, but it needs massive marketing and TV exposure. The NFL can provide both.

.......and players need money. they wanna get paid.

Posted

The AAF actually has a decent chance to succeed because of the football people running it.  I wouldn't be too shocked if the XFL never even makes it to air.  Also if they do, the AAF will have beat them to the punch

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted
13 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

The AAF actually has a decent chance to succeed because of the football people running it.  I wouldn't be too shocked if the XFL never even makes it to air.  Also if they do, the AAF will have beat them to the punch

Agreed. Polian alone carries enough clout to be taken seriously. I said earlier in the thread, I wouldn't be surprised if they were absorbed by the NFL as an official developmental league. I'm sure there have been off the record conversations about it already. 

Posted

This is the first I'm hearing of the AAF, so I voted no on that.  Unfortunately for the XFL, I have already heard about it, including Vince McMahon's ad pitch for the reboot, so I voted no on that one as well.

Posted
1 hour ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

Agreed. Polian alone carries enough clout to be taken seriously. I said earlier in the thread, I wouldn't be surprised if they were absorbed by the NFL as an official developmental league. I'm sure there have been off the record conversations about it already. 

 

It would actually be a perfect development league for player that are on the fringe of making a low-end roster spot.  

Posted

 If they worked together maybe a single new league could have a go at it, but two separate fledgling leagues, they're both doomed to fail.

Posted

Everybody wants more football but a developmental league isn’t going to Happen for a few reasons 

 

The development league already exists , it’s called the NCAA and NFL practice squad

 

and the cream does rise to the top

 

If you CANNOT stick to an NFL practice squad with 1-2 years of trying there is no need to develop because you probably aren’t good enough for the league 

 

its the best 1% of football players in the world... the cream of the crop

 

there is also a shortage of GOOD NFL line play. NFL teams struggle to find Quality NFL lineman already... the line play in these leagues will be a joke because ALL the talented lineman with a chance to succeed are scooped by the NFL

 

its a great idea but it doenst really work ... baseball is played all over the world so MLB can have a minors.. they have the #s and talent

 

there aren’t enough high end football players in America for 2 competitive leagues... there is hardly enough for 1 

 

The #s and talent just isn’t there in large #s

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted
On 9/28/2018 at 1:17 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Everybody wants more football but a developmental league isn’t going to Happen for a few reasons 

 

The development league already exists , it’s called the NCAA and NFL practice squad

 

and the cream does rise to the top

 

If you CANNOT stick to an NFL practice squad with 1-2 years of trying there is no need to develop because you probably aren’t good enough for the league 

 

its the best 1% of football players in the world... the cream of the crop

 

there is also a shortage of GOOD NFL line play. NFL teams struggle to find Quality NFL lineman already... the line play in these leagues will be a joke because ALL the talented lineman with a chance to succeed are scooped by the NFL

 

its a great idea but it doenst really work ... baseball is played all over the world so MLB can have a minors.. they have the #s and talent

 

there aren’t enough high end football players in America for 2 competitive leagues... there is hardly enough for 1 

 

The #s and talent just isn’t there in large #s

 

While you're probably 100% right, talent level would have little to do with either of them succeeding. It'll come down to marketing. In the same way that minor league baseball doesn't draw based on W/L, but what other gimmicks can draw a crowd. If the leauges signed a few big name college players, who couldn't make it in the NFL, (Tebow, Manziel, Trent Richardson, etc.) they'll draw. Hell, put a team in Alabama that recruits primarily Alabama/Auburn players, they'll have a respectable fan base who want to watch something waiting for the real season to start.

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted
1 minute ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

While you're probably 100% right, talent level would have little to do with either of them succeeding. It'll come down to marketing. In the same way that minor league baseball doesn't draw based on W/L, but what other gimmicks can draw a crowd. If the leauges signed a few big name college players, who couldn't make it in the NFL, (Tebow, Manziel, Trent Richardson, etc.) they'll draw. Hell, put a team in Alabama that recruits primarily Alabama/Auburn players, they'll have a respectable fan base who want to watch something waiting for the real season to start.

 

That’s not a bad idea with the Alabama team... fill them with undrafted Bama and Auburn guys and give them a team in that league 

 

probably be Champs lol

  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...
Posted

The more I look into these leagues, I see the AAF possibly having success. They seem to be serious about developing their players to hopefully go on to careers in the NFL. AAF seems to want to be friendly with the NFL and NCAA. 

 

On the other hand, the XFL seems to want to be an alternative to the NFL. Not necessarily a direct competitor, but definitely take the NFL boycotters away. It also seems that, although not as gimmicky as the first time, the XFL will still be all about the spectacle. I see them signing a lot of big name has beens, IE Manziel. I wouldn't even be surprised to see them sign TO to a contract. Even if he only takes a few snaps, signs some autographs, and collects his paycheck. It's the name they're paying for. 

Posted
On 9/28/2018 at 2:17 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Everybody wants more football but a developmental league isn’t going to Happen for a few reasons 

 

The development league already exists , it’s called the NCAA and NFL practice squad

 

and the cream does rise to the top

 

If you CANNOT stick to an NFL practice squad with 1-2 years of trying there is no need to develop because you probably aren’t good enough for the league 

 

its the best 1% of football players in the world... the cream of the crop

 

there is also a shortage of GOOD NFL line play. NFL teams struggle to find Quality NFL lineman already... the line play in these leagues will be a joke because ALL the talented lineman with a chance to succeed are scooped by the NFL

 

its a great idea but it doenst really work ... baseball is played all over the world so MLB can have a minors.. they have the #s and talent

 

there aren’t enough high end football players in America for 2 competitive leagues... there is hardly enough for 1 

 

The #s and talent just isn’t there in large #s

 

 

Development issues for offense linemen is due to the NFLPA.  It is the position which needs most development. It will not be an issue with the new development league unless the players are very, very stupid.

 

Plenty of players developed late - CFL, NFLE and Arena ball - and most of those opportunities are gone. There is no way all of the cream of the crop are in NFL as proved by these players coming in and excelling. 

×
×
  • Create New...