bubba9497 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 What's the deal with NFL Europe? http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/ Now that the NFL draft is over and Mel Kiper's hair has disappeared from our TV screens, fans face the prospect of more than two months without a football fix. That is, unless they tune in to NFL Europe, which not only will satisfy their football appetite but also could introduce them to some future NFL players. You might not be familiar with members of the Berlin Thunder or Amsterdam Admirals. That's OK. You didn't know much about Adam Vinatieri or Jake Delhomme, either, when they were playing across the pond. We're not saying the next Super Bowl hero is playing in Cologne, but if you do your homework--and this is Lesson 1--you'll be ready when the next NFL Europe standout emerges in the NFL. And besides, watching any kind of football is better than sitting through a baseball game, isn't it? WORLD BOWL HOME GAME? Not likely. World Bowl 13 will be held June 11 at spanking new LTU Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, home of the last-place Rhein Fire. Unlike the Super Bowl, which never has had the team from the host city play for the title, six World Bowls have featured host teams. Their record: 3-3. COLOR AND PAGEANTRY European fans enjoy a party as much as anybody. Teams stage pregame "power parties" that feature concerts, the interactive NFL Experience and, yes, tailgating. But Eurofans don't crank up the grills and open the coolers as much as Americans. Many take public transportation to the games and arrive to enjoy the pre-planned events, which begin as early as five hours before kickoff. Your best bet for a rollicking good pregame warmup: home games involving the Frankfurt Galaxy or Rhein Fire. THE COWBOY Remember the Barcelona Dragons? So does Jack Bicknell. When NFL Europe debuted as the World League of American Football in 1991, Bicknell was there, as coach of the Dragons. He remained with Barcelona until the franchise folded after the '03 season, spent the next year with the Scottish Claymores, who then also folded, and moved on to Hamburg this season. Bicknell, 67, who coached '84 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie at Boston College, entered the 2005 season with more wins (61) than any coach in league history, four World Bowl appearances and one championship (1997). "Cowboy Jack" might find it hard to locate his beloved country music in Hamburg, but he seems to have adjusted quite well to the rest of the NFL Europe experience. GERMANY 5, REST OF EUROPE 1 With the addition of the Hamburg Sea Devils this season and the demise of the Scottish Claymores (R.I.P. 2004), NFL Europe is left with five teams in Germany and one in the Netherlands. Because the cities are relatively close, it's easy for fans to support their teams on the road--and many do. The biggest rivalry is between the Rhein Fire and the Frankfurt Galaxy, the league's lone remaining original franchise. NATIONAL PRIDE Each NFL Europe team has on its roster eight "national" players, code for non-NFL types from countries other than the United States. Players from Japan, Russia, Mexico, Finland, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom dot the lineups. None has much hope of sniffing the NFL, although the current best of the bunch already has. Hamburg receiver Scott McCready was on the Patriots' practice squad in 2001 and '02 and is the only Englishman who has won a Super Bowl ring. He led NFL Europe with 59 catches last year, becoming the first national player to top any major statistical category. McCready is at it again this season. Through six weeks, he leads the league with 37 receptions. GIVING IT A TRY Safety Eric Crouch, a former Heisman-winning quarterback from Nebraska, has had a couple fitful attempted starts to his pro career with the Rams (who drafted him in the third round in 2002) and the Packers. Once averse to playing anything other than quarterback, Crouch realizes his NFL hopes (now with the Chiefs) reside in the secondary. He is the starting free safety for Hamburg and seems devoted to the game. For now. ALUMNI GAME NFL Europe is, at its core, a developmental league. And at no time was its impact more evident than during Super Bowl 39, when 15 league alums took part, including kicker Adam Vinatieri of the Patriots and linebacker Nate Wayne of the Eagles. The 2004 postseason was a giant NFL Europe reunion, with 83 players on playoff rosters. And it's not as if the league produces only special teamers and backups. Twenty-seven NFL Europe quarterbacks have started in the NFL, including Arizona's Kurt Warner and Carolina's Jake Delhomme. TIME IS RUNNING OUT The league might provide the last hope for quarterback Akili Smith, who wants to regain the form with the Bucs that made him the third pick overall in the '99 NFL draft by the Bengals. Smith has been splitting time with another quarterback in Frankfurt. He looked solid through his first six games, but he threw only one TD pass and was intercepted twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 It's pretty sad to watch the games on NFL network and see 5 people in the stands. In my limited travels, I've yet to meet a mainland european who 'gets' it... football that is. Most I've talked to don't have the patience to learn all the rules, and grow impatient by all the breaks in the action. (huddles, penalties, etc. )... whereas soccer is one continuous flow. If the NFL wants a farm system I really think they should tap into some of the smaller markets right here at home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 awhile ago, I started a thread about bringing NFL Europe back here. and having a spring minor league system. It basically went like this. Either every team in the division created a minor league team, or we just randomly break them into teams that are connected to only 4 NFL teams. Then once every 4 years, your home stadium hosts the "home" games for that season. So, you can see some guys from your team, and others. Who wouldn't go see football at Fedex on Saturday or Sunday afternoon? Image the tickets being super cheap, sitting where in the stands..... you can afford to take the whole family. Etc, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 I'm surprised the NFL has invested in a farm system at all... why would they? college does it for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 why would they? to sell tickets and make the NFL more of a year round "thing" The infrastructure is already in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by Bufford why would they? to sell tickets and make the NFL more of a year round "thing" The infrastructure is already in place. MLB loses its shirt on their farm system, don't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by zoony I'm surprised the NFL has invested in a farm system at all... why would they? college does it for free. Not the same thing. Baseball has college baseball as well, but they still have a farm system in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by Mickalino Not the same thing. Baseball has college baseball as well, but they still have a farm system in between. The best high school prospects go straight to the minors, don't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by zoony MLB loses its shirt on their farm system, don't they? No, MLB loses its shirt because its a distant third behind the NFL and NBA for what American's are into right now. Their farm system isn't designed to make money. Its designed to make players who will be fun to watch when/if they're on a major league roster in October hitting homeruns to win a series. The NFL is making money on NFL Europe? Sending guys over there, sending crews and refs and getting all those soccer stadiums lined up. They have all this stuff here for so much less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by zoony The best high school prospects go straight to the minors, don't they? Baseball has a draft just like the NFL does. It just doesnt get all the media coverage that football does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofer Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by zoony It's pretty sad to watch the games on NFL network and see 5 people in the stands. It's not only the empty stands; it's that fake cheering track that is constantly running in the background that I find most annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 I think the NFLE is a great thing for fringe players. If not for the NFLE or Arena League these guys that are now considered Super Bowl heroes would've been flipping burgers. Or in Kurt Warner's case, stocking groceries on shelves. Some players just don't find their groove or fully mature until after 25 years old. I agree that they should move the NFLE to the US and field teams in non-NFL, football crazy markets. Tallahassee, Knoxville and Lincoln, NE come to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Gut Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by zoony It's pretty sad to watch the games on NFL network and see 5 people in the stands. In my limited travels, I've yet to meet a mainland european who 'gets' it... football that is. Most I've talked to don't have the patience to learn all the rules, and grow impatient by all the breaks in the action. (huddles, penalties, etc. )... whereas soccer is one continuous flow. If the NFL wants a farm system I really think they should tap into some of the smaller markets right here at home... Real talk. There's a reason why in America we love football, and in Europe, they love soccer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panel Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Eric Crouch trying to get back in it huh? We'll see how long that last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by panel Eric Crouch trying to get back in it huh? We'll see how long that last. As a receiver or QB ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by SlinginSammy HOF '63 DB Yea. Thats what I meant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsFTW Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hard to believe that the NFL has had that league in Europe for 15 years now. Its never been successful either. I don't see how it would be as bad if they just played the games in 2nd tier cities here in the states and got the games on espn 2 or something. I know if there was a team in Norfolk or Virginia Beach when I move back I would go to a few of the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Didnt the XFL have more fans show up than NFLE ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlamVR Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 As a European .. well from the UK anyway I feal the problem is the NFLE is given no respect and nor should it be . It is a 6 week last chance gasp for NFL players who probably shouldn't be playing int the NFL anyway to show in the most part they shouldn't be playing. Players are allocated at random not selected by coaching staff there is no continuity from year to year, it is now based almost soleiy in Germany, there are few local media contracts, few local players and therefore little local interest. How can it be sucessful ? The NFL needs to nurture support for European home leuges if they want to spread football to the unwashed masses . They need to make sure the teams they want to suport are high profile and in cities throughout Europe . How popular would you think the NFL would be if it consisted akmost totally of Alasakan teams and one from Seatle. The problem with the NFLE is no-one really knows what it is for . Is it a farm leugue if so why trasplant it 10000 miles away from home . Why not play it in the US during the barren summer months ? Is it a marketing exrsise ? If so then why no local media contracts, why put all the teams in one country? Why no team in the UK for example or Scandavian countries where interest in the NFL is the highest? And why no home interest by linking the teams into the domestic leugues to bring on European countries. There is no prize or even point to the NFLE or the players . Some like Warner etc have been showcased by NFLE play and gone on to do great things but that seems to be conincedental to the NFLE's purpose. Most NFLE players are taken back to thier respective teams to compete as camp fodder which brings up the question why?...again. If NFL really wants the NFLE to suceed as a football spectical then it needs to look at itself as a model. It needs to make the teams meen something to thier host cities . Even hold a NFLE draft at the end of the season to reward the best players, give them the be best chance to land with teams where they are needed and the best chance to make the roster which would give more penetration to the NFL viewers from the NFLE markets. But untill the NFL owners decide what they want the NFLE to be it will always be the white elephant it is now and leave supporters on both sides of the atlantic scratching thier heads and asking why ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by bedlamVR As a European .. well from the UK anyway I feal the problem is the NFLE is given no respect and nor should it be . It is a 6 week last chance gasp for NFL players who probably shouldn't be playing int the NFL anyway to show in the most part they shouldn't be playing. Players are allocated at random not selected by coaching staff there is no continuity from year to year, it is now based almost soleiy in Germany, there are few local media contracts, few local players and therefore little local interest. How can it be sucessful ? The NFL needs to nurture support for European home leuges if they want to spread football to the unwashed masses . They need to make sure the teams they want to suport are high profile and in cities throughout Europe . How popular would you think the NFL would be if it consisted akmost totally of Alasakan teams and one from Seatle. The problem with the NFLE is no-one really knows what it is for . Is it a farm leugue if so why trasplant it 10000 miles away from home . Why not play it in the US during the barren summer months ? Is it a marketing exrsise ? If so then why no local media contracts, why put all the teams in one country? Why no team in the UK for example or Scandavian countries where interest in the NFL is the highest? And why no home interest by linking the teams into the domestic leugues to bring on European countries. There is no prize or even point to the NFLE or the players . Some like Warner etc have been showcased by NFLE play and gone on to do great things but that seems to be conincedental to the NFLE's purpose. Most NFLE players are taken back to thier respective teams to compete as camp fodder which brings up the question why?...again. If NFL really wants the NFLE to suceed as a football spectical then it needs to look at itself as a model. It needs to make the teams meen something to thier host cities . Even hold a NFLE draft at the end of the season to reward the best players, give them the be best chance to land with teams where they are needed and the best chance to make the roster which would give more penetration to the NFL viewers from the NFLE markets. But untill the NFL owners decide what they want the NFLE to be it will always be the white elephant it is now and leave supporters on both sides of the atlantic scratching thier heads and asking why ? Interesting post. Question for you though... do you think American Football could catch on in Europe? Seems like most Europeans I've run into despise the game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlamVR Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 I think it would have a hard time to be honest because people over here are very snobby about their sport and urrrgh Soccer is king and anything other than that, snooker, cricket, golf and athletics not much gets TV time and that is key . I hate having the same conversation trying to justify a sport I enjoy and have done since I was 9. That said There is a growing suport for the game . The NFL is trying to build grass roots suport . I think the UK and Germany are the bigest markets so far but the NFLE is on its last legs though for reasons stated before . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Originally posted by bedlamVR I think it would have a hard time to be honest because people over here are very snobby about their sport and urrrgh Soccer is king and anything other than that, snooker, cricket, golf and athletics not much gets TV time and that is key . I hate having the same conversation trying to justify a sport I enjoy and have done since I was 9. That said There is a growing suport for the game . The NFL is trying to build grass roots suport . I think the UK and Germany are the bigest markets so far but the NFLE is on its last legs though for reasons stated before . how did you become a football fan? chance, or something the nfl did in your market? these are the questions that nfl execs need to be asking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlamVR Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Just as an aside can I ask all you soccer moms and dad to disuade your kids from soccer is a cancer . I would hate to see one of the native american sports being pushed out for a poor import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 :laugh: I actually enjoy watching the occasional soccer match... world cup especially. i.e. Brazil vs Germany. good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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