Well, it's Saturday evening in Mid July and the "NFL Developmental League" concept has been rattling around so here is how it could be created, and who I'd send from the Dolphins Roster: -43 man roster -8 team league with each NFL team contributing 10 players -Final 3 roster spots would go to Kicker, Punter, Long snapper -Two schedules, one in the Spring, one in the Fall -Each NFL team would negotiate who they wanted on Staff -Roster requirements: -8 Olinemen -3 qb's (though 4 would work) -8 Lb's -5 Dlinemen -2 Te's -3 rb's -5 Wr's -6 Db's It would make sense to create permanent positional roster spots, with filling them can also include trades among NFL teams, as long as they only involve intra NFLDL players for example if the Bears wish to develop a Rb, they could trade a LB roster spot with the Rams, the Bears recieve the Rb roster slot, the Rams the Lb roster spot. That would allow NFL teams that are weak at a position to develop a player they wish to develop. As for the Dolphins 10 man contribution: -2 Wr's -2 olinemen -2 lb's -1 Qb -2 db's -1 rb Roberto Wallace Julius Pruitt Lydon Murtha Dimitri Tsoumpas (as a swingman G/C/T) JD Folsom Chris McCoy Pat White Nolan Carrol Reshad Jones Tristan Davis Thoughts? I love the idea of a NFLDL, but and it's a huge butt, it would be a developmental league, possibly a Rehab league, it would be meant for longshots and the athletically gifted, but not ready to be on a NFL roster..yet. That is why they would be in that league.
Agree with all of those selections but... Is it too late to send Pat Turner? and Replace him with Reshad (SS depth)
Theoretical league, and Turner is in the mix, albeit a longshot, for the #4 or #5 Wr job. A NFLDL would have to start in the Spring with the prior yr's practice squad and injured players, or in the Fall, with players who won't make the roster, but the NFL team doesn't wish to just waive.
Dolphins trade OL spot for a DL spot Dolphins trade Wr spot for a LB spot Dolphins trade Wr spot for a DL spot QB-Pat White RB-Kory Sheets OL-Dimitri Tsoumpas DL-Lionel Dotson DL-Travis Ivey LB-Chris McCoy LB-Austin Spitler LB-JD Folsom DB-AJ Wallace DB-Jonathon Amaya
Sheets would be a great NFLDL player, give him some reps, he would be ready to step back unto the Phins roster in the Fall if someone was injured. And trading those slots does make sense if people think about it, the problem with NFLE (imho) is there was no real purpose to it, they treated it like it was the CFL or another Pro League, not a Minor League. Roberto Wallace has the makings of a Beast Wr, 6'4/225/4.4 40, but he is raw as he came up in Panama and only picked up Football later in High School.
I could see a Roberto Wallace, Grice-Mullen, or Turner. IMO if it was a developmental league It would make more since to me for this team to develop defensive players this year rather than a possible 5th wide-receiver.
The thing is, you can't look at this from the perspective of today's 53 man roster. The league schedule is going to expand and the allowed final roster will expand with it. If this D-League happens, it'll come with the new CBA along with the new schedule/rosters. Therefor, I would project a linear increase in roster size to 59. Also, you have to keep in mind that the 3-4 and 4-3 teams aren't going to want their defensive players to be playing another defense. Hell, if you really think about it, I could see different 4-3 defensive schemes not wanting to be mixed up.
I'd submit an increase in a NFL team's roster size wouldn't matter very much DD, as teams still have players they would like to see developed, especially Qb's. Well, Small College players, guys buried in the depth chart, guys on the practice squad, especially players who have rehabbed an injury and need playing time etc.
You know I would actually watch this, especially in the off-season. AFC Orlando Owls(Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers) Las Vegas Dice(Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos) Rhode Island Family Guys(New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders) Portland Peacocks(New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs) NFC Birmingham Bombers(Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles) San Antonio Sunfire (New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Green bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys) Charleston Cougars (Carolina Panthers, San Fransisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants) Boise Brigade(Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions,Washington Redskins)
Love to see this happen.... regardless of whether or not the league itself would be profitable. It would be great for every team and raise the quality of the NFL overall.
I think the league would be profitable if the teams have NFL quality stars on them. So if the teams are forced to supply 10 players there would be quality players on the teams. Justin Forsett, Ahmad Bradshaw, Julian Edelman, Bernard Scott, Marques Colston, Devin Aromashodu, Bruce Gradkowski, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel, Jay Ratliff, Derek Anderson are just some of the few players that could have been stars in this league.
Well, I'd think they would need a salary cap as even NFL Practice Squad players make 200k or more per season, 43 players, and that is a rather expensive team for a developmental league. Which would mean the guys who weren't under NFL contract would have to make less than NFL contract monies, the #7 Olineman may have to make do with 100k.
Why not just make it like baseball and each franchise gets its own farm team. Play a rotating schedule in Europe to continue to develop the fan base there, a few games every year in Mexico and Asia