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Post by gldnglv165 on Jun 29, 2007 12:45:20 GMT -6
www.nfl.com/international/story/10240905Well, this probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but this really sucks to me. I'll first say that I got to spend a week with the Frankfurt Galaxy coaching staff and players, so I go to know them pretty well, and went through a week's worth of practice, film study, team meetings, meals, etc. That aside, American football actually has a fairly good following here in Germany, so I'm surprised to see the league shut down. I took my kids to the World Bowl last weekend, and they drew something like 46,000 fans to the game. Great atmosphere, and the crowd was really into the game. I understand the move from a business perspective, if they were losing money, but the idea of moving a regular season game to an overseas location is just a stupid move for both international and American fans.
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Post by brophy on Jun 29, 2007 13:53:50 GMT -6
we will see.
The US is supposed to have a COMPETING Pro Football league in 2008.
Opening in mid-market cities without an NFL franchise.
The deal as it stands now, has a team in Mexico City......the NFL-E has way too much invested in it in the last decade to just throw away in one season. Some other investing interest will / should be able to pick up where they left off.
American Football has just now started to pick up in the EU as well as in Asia.
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Post by briangilbert on Jun 29, 2007 14:02:32 GMT -6
If I was an NFL player I would not want be living in Mexico period. Personally I hate the idea of adding more teams to the NFL and watering down the league. The league is perfect the way it is, I know it's all about the money at that level but give me a break. 17 games, Mexico City and London... The strength of the NFL is that it's not a marathon season like MLB and the NBA, don't try to do too much NFL!
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Post by CVBears on Jun 29, 2007 14:09:42 GMT -6
crushed!!!
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Post by coach79 on Jun 29, 2007 16:53:22 GMT -6
With out the NFL-E there would be so many players that would have not been able to hone their skills and become a better player.
Adam Vinateri
Kurt Warner
David Akers
Jake Delhomme
Paul Spicer
Joe Andruzzi
Marco Rivera
Dante Hall
I think that a "minor league" team is key to the success of the NFL.
I understand why they are shutting down NFL-E, but it's sad to see it go. As for a competing league I think that it's a awesome idea, but I am worried that it will not last long in the US due to the NFL.
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Post by phantom on Jun 29, 2007 20:38:47 GMT -6
It's been a long time since an NFLE player has become a good NFL player. NFLE has become a poor investment because it's no longer a developmental league. The league has died because of the change in NFL offseasons. Rather than send a young benchwarmer to Europe to get playing experience, teams prefer to keep them at home for minicamps and OTAs. Instead of sending genuine prospects NFL teams have been signing players specifically to be allocated to Europe. It wasn't a bad idea but times have changed.
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Post by tog on Jun 29, 2007 21:49:08 GMT -6
while i will miss seeing live football games almost year round
seeing the EXACT same x and o's back and forth week after week is kinda boring to me when i am in coach mode
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 29, 2007 22:33:00 GMT -6
I'm sad to see it go for selfish reasons. Our only current NFL player made his way back to the league via NFL-Europe. After 2 years with the Cardinals, he was cut, but was picked up off waivers by the 49ers who sent him to NFL-E. He started the last 6 (7?) games last year and signed a multi-year deal. If not for NFL-E, he would probably be out of the league now.
It's been a long time since an NFLE player has become a good NFL player.
And I'll respectfully disagree with this... maybe no "name players" of late, but our guy is an O-Lineman, and he's been a good (not great) steady player for SF (he primarily played Center, but started games at Guard and Tackle as well. In my book, a guy who can come in and do a good job at 5 positions is at least good).
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Post by gldnglv165 on Jun 30, 2007 2:25:40 GMT -6
As for a developmental league, some of the guys out here were trying to learn and play an NFL system. I agree a little with what Tog is saying about the same X's and O's, but when a guy goes to college where they run the option or some other type of scheme like that and he hasn't learned to master the zone schemes and pass protections, that is what he is coming to Europe for. Also, some of the guys were switching positions, etc. so not only do they need the extra practice, but that game experience is pretty valuable to them as well.
The speed of the games really surprised me...not quite at the level of the NFL, but definately faster than the college level. I'm still surprised, though, there seemed to be a pretty good fan support. The Galaxy games I went to always had great crowds, and the crowds especially liked to cheer for their national players. I think the lack of availability of the NFL Network hurt, as many locals could not watch the games on TV, therefore the teams may have had a hard time expanding their fan base. The German team that I coach has a sattelite in their clubroom where some of the guys get together and watch NFL games....sometimes at 3am. Other than that, it's very difficult to get the games on TV.
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Post by davecisar on Jun 30, 2007 5:51:58 GMT -6
I saw Amsterdam play Bareclona in 1999 in Amsterdam. Couple of local guys took me. It was fun and I got to explain football to 2 guys with limited English skills ( for us both).
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Post by phantom on Jun 30, 2007 9:28:33 GMT -6
Bluto, I overstated by saying "long time". The fact is, though, that the NFL wasn't getting the bang for the buck out of NFLE. NFL teams simply changed the way they handled their offseasons. The league was supposed to be a place to get playing experience for practice squadders and other young players who didn't play much and a place for unsigned marginal prospects to show their stuff. In the beginning it did those things well. I thought that it was especially helpful for young QBs, who don't get many practice reps.
Lately, though, NFL coaches have preferred to keep the guys who they considered true prospects at home. They want their guys staying in town in the offseason and working on conditioning and working on their system in OTAs. Some agents were advising their players to avoid Europe if they could to avoid the wear and tear on their bodies, since the NFLE season ends shortly before NFL camps open.
I'm sorry to see NFLE go. It was fun to have football to watch in the fall (arena ball doesn't do it for me). I still think that actual game experience is more helpful for young QBs than OTAs but that's not my call. It's too bad that coaches and players are losing the opportunity to impress. We had a player who went to NFLE and he's playing in Canada now. The NFL isn't paying to produce CFL players, though.
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crl
Junior Member
Pick me , pick me... I want to be on the RNC location scout team.
Posts: 476
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Post by crl on Jul 1, 2007 11:26:02 GMT -6
Yep gone....why not? Well all American league opening back east, and Mark Cuban opening a league, owners say "why should we pay for prospects, let these suckers do it!"
I will miss the NFLE, and just when I made a freaking connection here in Germany!
Their is now a huge opportunity for pro ball here, but the powers tat be Will shot it down, guess why...they want American football as an olympic sport, what a riot! Firstly where are they even going to develop the talent? Maybe Bochem? Glaydlyn, its a {censored} for us all.
CRL
In the land of reindeer.
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Post by wingt74 on Jul 4, 2007 19:41:51 GMT -6
XFL BABY!!!
Seriously...D league in the states is essentially college football though. Many of your mid-level cities already have football. Big time barrier to entry, even for a guy like Cuban. 50+ players per team, expensive stadiums and equipment...and you can't have a schedule like a BBall team or baseball.
US is saturated with football...the next XFL is going to die. Arena league is for the Kurt Warner's and kickers.
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tedseay
Sophomore Member
Posts: 165
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Post by tedseay on Jul 10, 2007 7:33:37 GMT -6
www.nfl.com/international/story/10240905Well, this probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but this really sucks to me. I'll first say that I got to spend a week with the Frankfurt Galaxy coaching staff and players, so I go to know them pretty well, and went through a week's worth of practice, film study, team meetings, meals, etc. ...and there's no telling how much longer this site will be up, so download 'em while you can, boys... www.play-football.net/de/tv/coaches_videos/ |
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Post by dolomite on Jul 10, 2007 19:20:52 GMT -6
It's a sad day in the world of football.  |
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Post by tog on Jul 10, 2007 19:27:08 GMT -6
It's been a long time since an NFLE player has become a good NFL player. NFLE has become a poor investment because it's no longer a developmental league. The league has died because of the change in NFL offseasons. Rather than send a young benchwarmer to Europe to get playing experience, teams prefer to keep them at home for minicamps and OTAs. Instead of sending genuine prospects NFL teams have been signing players specifically to be allocated to Europe. It wasn't a bad idea but times have changed. i think you are right it does annoy me somewhat that this is how it has turned out it's not like all the teams run stuff that is so much different than what nfle did |
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Post by tog on Jul 10, 2007 19:31:33 GMT -6
www.nfl.com/international/story/10240905Well, this probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but this really sucks to me. I'll first say that I got to spend a week with the Frankfurt Galaxy coaching staff and players, so I go to know them pretty well, and went through a week's worth of practice, film study, team meetings, meals, etc. ...and there's no telling how much longer this site will be up, so download 'em while you can, boys... www.play-football.net/de/tv/coaches_videos/ted i am having trouble downloading the videos do they still work for you? |
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tedseay
Sophomore Member
Posts: 165
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Post by tedseay on Jul 11, 2007 4:31:38 GMT -6
ted i am having trouble downloading the videos do they still work for you? tog -- very sorry, looks like they took it down faster than I thought... |
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