What do the MLB, the NBA and the NHL all have in common?
No, it’s not that they play more games in a five week period than the NFL does all regular season, it’s something else.
Professional baseball, basketball and hockey all have developmental leagues, or D-leagues. Sometimes referred to as farming leagues, D-leagues serves as a system in which players from all different sports in their pro career can come and either rehabilitate an injury or develop their skills into a more improved player.
In a recent discussion, reports are coming in from all areas of the NFL with stories of how NFL executives are asking for some sort of farm/developmental system.
To some, it might seem like a no brainer. A win win, if you will. Fans get more football, get to see new up and coming NFL stars, players are able to grow and become better through real game experience, teams can get a better idea of how these athletes will perform in the heat of a game, not just in practice drills, and NFL execs will gain more revenue throughout merchandising, and tickets and all that comes with a sports franchise.
However, the National Football League is not willing to jump the gun on a decision like this, and for good reason. The reason, while it might seem ‘foreign’ to some, makes sense.
I know it might seem like a long time ago, but back in the early 1990’s (a little before this writer’s time) the NFL created a football league called NFL Europe.
NFL Europe, originally named The World League of American Football, was established in 1991. NFL Europe was meant to serve as a type of spring league for the National Football League. Players for the most part participated in NFL Europe to develop their skills and abilities with full blown football games. NFL teams would often pay for these players living expenses overseas so that they could improve their game.
However, this option of player improvement no longer exists, as the NFL Europe, or as it was called at its disbandment, NFL Europa ended in 2007. According to NFL.com, NFL Europa was losing approximately $30 million a season. The NFL, like any normal organization, saw this huge hit as they continued to take year after year, despite any changes they made, and decided to end American Football across the pond.
While the economic catastrophe that was NFL Europe still hangs in the minds of many NFL execs, it is time for the NFL to instead look inside of America to create a second level development league and not across the pond.
The NFL should follow the model of the NBA D-League, which has been hugely successful for the basketball association. The NBA model consists of most NBA teams having a D-League associate, (ex. Philadelphia 76ers have the Delaware 87ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the Carton Charge) where they can farm young players and allow players coming off of injuries to get back up to speed with the pace of a game.
For these U.S. based farm style teams, many players, who are now key players on their respected NBA teams, began their careers or spent a large portion of time as a D-League player.
This list includes names like: Houston’s Jeremy Lin, Washington’s Marcin Gortat, Los Angeles’ Matt Barnes, and San Antonio’s Danny Green and Patty Mills.
Not to mention Houston Rocket Troy Daniels, who made a name for himself in Houston’s first round playoff match up with the Portland Trailblazers. Daniels came right out of the Rockets’ D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and was able to make a 3-point game winner for Houston in the playoffs and put together a string of solid games in Houston’s short lived playoff run.
Although different sports, the NFL could benefit from taking some notes on how well run and how many players improve through the NBA’s D-League.
NFL Europe was a massive failure, no ones arguing that. However, with the right location, decision making, and set up, a NFL D-League could prosper in the United States. Fans, players, coaches and even NFL executives would all benefit from a NFL D-league as well the NBA’s.
Hit me up on the twitter @gavroydavis for NBA offseason questions, NFL questions, or anything at all.
I’ll see you in the YOU, in the future.
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