5 reasons an NFL franchise in London won't work

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Sep 25, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; General view of the NFL shield logo on the Wembley Stadium marquee in advance of the NFL International Series game between the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Since 2007, the NFL has staged at least one regular season game at London’s Wembley Stadium each season. This Sunday, the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders will kick off the 2014 edition of the International Series.

While some see the overseas games as a move to increase international awareness and viewership for the league, commissioner Roger Goodell has a long-held desire to put a franchise in London. In fact, a London franchise seems to be Goodell’s white whale, and while many of us are hoping he suffers the same fate as Captain Ahab (metaphorically, of course), the league’s owners continue to back him.

My question is, if Goodell wanted to impress Londoners so much, why did he opt to send the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins over as the first matchup this season? I mean, sure they get the Falcons and Lions in Week 8, but then the English will have to suffer through a Cowboys-Jaguars game in Week 10. Woof.

The problem for Goodell is that putting a franchise across the pond would be a monumentally stupid enterprise. I don’t get why he is so stuck on the idea, maybe he just really likes dry humor.

There is no way it will ever happen, despite what Goodell claims.

Here are the five reasons the NFL in London would never work.

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5 reasons an NFL franchise in London won’t work

By Ryan Phillips | Sep 26, 2014