Potential Developmental League
Structure
- Retired and FA/ Recently fired NFL Coaches and Players and Scouts and General Managers and make up the team organization structures.
- Teams would be divided into regions. North West, South West, Mid North, Mid South, North East, South East. This is subject to change, many variables.
- College players on scholarship are required to have at least 2 years of college before applying for the league.
- Monetary Status: All players receive equal pay in the league. The payment is based off a percentage of league profits/NFL contribution to the league (think sort of like a salary cap) included is living expenses, (Apartments, transportation, food, etc.) and the full cost of tuition for a degree.
- Players who are accepted to the league who are not on scholarship (walk-ons, graduates, etc.) and all other accepted non-collegiate athletes will be required to use the tuition and obtain a degree/finish their degree/further their degree. Part of the League Guidelines. Main reason stated further down[**]
- Training Camps would go from late March to Early April.
- The Season would start in May and end Late July.
- August to Early March Structure: This time is set aside for the players to attend their college classes and for team film room sessions.
Film Room Sessions/Classes
- These Film Room Sessions can be done online in a virtual classroom where the coaches can teach players by position group and then the coordinators can teach the 3 units, and finally the Head Coaches can teach the whole team. I am over simplifying here, basically coaches would be able to break down and teach everything from entire schemes/philosophies to the smallest of details.
- This would give young developing players around 8 months to truly learn and understand NFL schemes, concepts, plays, work ethic, demand, focus, etc. before having to get out their and perform. At that point the training camps would be more about making sure the players bodies are in football shape and developing timing and rhythm.
Issues/Logistics
- The exact structure of how the players are paid.
- Facility Locations, 6-8 regional teams mean players will need to be flown in to facilities from late march until the end of July and housed and fed during this time.
- Stadium Locations, must be domed/indoor facilities due to games being played during summer months.
**League Promotion/Advertising/Social Following-Interest
- If the NFL is serious about increasing player safety and improving the on field product, a Developmental League can be a solution. To gain the Public's interest and not create a backlash from the NCAA, the NFL should promote this as a League focused on Education and Player Safety. Paying/Requiring all players to obtain a degree sets each player up for a career after football leaving the NCAA little to no room to claim higher ground. The league's profits going towards education and player safety would also endear the NFL and the League to the public. This would also allow the NFL to promote/advertise public attendance and interest as directly being a part of these players obtaining degrees and possibly becoming doctors, scientists, engineers, architects etc. in our communities.
Any Thoughts?
[ Edited by NinerLegionnaire on Jan 13, 2018 at 10:49 PM ]
