With NFL Europa Dying, A New Idea is Born

In just about every popular sport, there is something of a minor league. Whether it be in NBADL, or any of the minor league baseball levels, or even the hockey minor leagues, every major sport has a minor league, minus NFL. Well that all may now change.

The idea of an NFL minor league was first proposed in 2004 by an agent by the name of Ron Del Duca. The idea was simply overlooked, but three years have passed since the initial proposal, and the idea is catching on. Word around the league is that many NFL management types are very interested in an NFL minor league.

The basic idea of the league is that instead of members of a team's practice squad doing nothing while waiting for their chance, they could spend their time in the minors. The players would still participate in the offseason workouts, but midseason instead of walking the sidelines in street clothes, they could get action in the minors.

The minor league teams would be located in cities without NFL teams. Every NFL team would place its eight man practice squad somewhere in the minor league system. The practice squad players make up a league of 256 players, add that with guys still trying to hack it in the NFL, or NFL Europa guys, and you now have a minor league system.

The plan is for the games to be played in the fall, during the NFL season, but in the middle of the week, with Tuesday and Wednesday being the targeted days. Eight teams appears to be the magic number.

Other than an overall approval from the league, the only thing stopping an NFL minor league is the development of the UFL. Not only would this be a league that takes place at the same time, it would also take away many players from the minors who would rather showcase their skills in the UFL.

The bottom line is that the creation of an NFL minor league is a brilliant idea, but until the UFL goes away, do not expect a minor league. So with the track record of league attempts in the past, expect the start of an NFL minor league within the next five years.

Brandon