With the NFL continuing its flirtation with London, many of you have asked where this is all heading.
So since it's easier to talk than it is to type, we added the topic to this week's list of PFTV segments.
Bottom line? Get ready to eventually root for (or against) the English Muffins.
PFTV closes the 2009 book on British football
Posted by Mike Florio on October 29, 2009 11:37 AM ET
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Though corny, the English Muffins is pretty funny.
Remember the NFLE ? Nobody else does. On this topic I think you're full of shizznit Florio. We have a better chance of getting a professional synchronized swim League in the U.S. before a NFL Team sets up shop in the U.K.
Free agents would avoid being on a U.K. Team as if they were the Browns.
T.O. has a better chance of being Super Bowl MVP with the Bills this year.
It's the 3rd year with a game in London, not the 2nd.
Yes, it is the third year.. as Levito has pointed out. Anyhow, I had the privilage of going to the London game this past weekend and was pretty surprised at how motivated many of the British fans were. While waiting in line to enter Wembley there were a number of guys wearing their (American) football jerseys to the game; and I mean their local team ones. I'm not sure how large the league is there but clearly there is one. Obviously, the travel will be a significant hurdle for any London based team.. and their opponent, but I don't think you would have to worry about an attendance problem. There are a few Premiere League games on Sunday, in so far as competition, but the tickets to the majority of those matches are usually soldout.
Look, London is HUGE. The support was clearly there and as was pointed out.. some NFL teams are having a hard time breaking 40k attendance. Figure out a way to work the schedule and it would certainly fly.
And next time you are in front of the camera Mike, give a mention to Germany. In particular.. Frankfurt. I still see people walking around here with Galaxy shirts on and wishing they still had their team.
The NFL already tried having a team in London...it was the London Monarchs of NFL Europe. That worked out pretty well, didn't it??
Florio, just look at the logistics of having a football team in London. The London team would have a 5-hour time differential if they played a game on the East Coast...the London players would still think it would be 6 PM when in fact it would be 1 PM and time to start hitting other people.
It's even worse if they travel to the West Coast, and their bodies are telling them that it's 9 PM when it's 1 PM.
The problem also occurs when NFL teams travel to London...kickoff will be 5 or 8 hours LATER that what their bodies are trained for.
This team would go 8-8 every year, winning all their home games and tanking on the road. Goodell needs a brain transplant if the thinks this can work logistically.
You know, after reading through my post and all of the Commish's dropped hints.. why not bring back the NFLE in a limited fashion but with a twist. Have the NFLE teams play in the NFL preseason and also the UFL teams.
The NFLE was a great development tool for many teams and now the people where the teams did play realize what they lost. I think it's definately worth exploring.
When all else fails look at the money.
In a revenue-sharing league, all the teams will have to pay for the trans-Atlantic flights and super promotional costs for an English or German team.
I can't imagine all the owners are on board with this. The NFL doesn't even have Los Angeles figured out yet.
Remember George Allen? He coached the Redskins waaaay back. Then he was one of the founders of the USFL. When they started that league, he gave interviews promising the new league would never try to hurt the NFL. It would only play in summer and never go head-to-head with the NFL.
It took three years to break those promises and move to a fall season. I was a kid and terrified they were going to kill my joy (the NFL). Instead they went belly-up. So did the European league. So will this stupidity for all the reasons I've posted before based on my own years living in the UK and other logistical considerations the NFL wants to ignore.
So I'm going to stop worrying. Let them do it, spend a fortune on it, and fail. Let them shoot themselves in the foot. Hope it hurts like heck. Then maybe they'll be grateful for the fans and the billions they already have.
Remember George Allen? He coached the Redskins waaaay back. Then he was one of the founders of the USFL. When they started that league, he gave interviews promising the new league would never try to hurt the NFL. It would only play in summer and never go head-to-head with the NFL.
It took three years to break those promises and move to a fall season. I was a kid and terrified they were going to kill my joy (the NFL). Instead they went belly-up. So did the European league. So will this stupidity for all the reasons I've posted before based on my own years living in the UK and other logistical considerations the NFL wants to ignore.
So I'm going to stop worrying. Let them do it, spend a fortune on it, and fail. Let them shoot themselves in the foot. Hope it hurts like heck. Then maybe they'll be grateful for the fans and the billions they already have.
The NFL in Canada or Alaska makes more sense. You wont have to deal with travel delays.
The Toronto or Montreal Vikings
This is just wrong.
Before the NFL considers putting a team in London they really need to consider putting an NFL Franchise in US Cities that deserve them.
For example: Cleveland.