The Fall Experimental Football League has started and is looking to develop a developmental partnership with the NFL the way other sports leagues have.
The NBA has the D-League. The NHL has the IHL. MLB has MiLB. All these major sports leagues have a minor league system. The NFL is the only league that does not have a minor league. The Fall Experimental Football League, or FXFL, is hoping to change that.
The FXFL just started its season last week, and runs six weeks. advertises itself as a place where players cut from NFL training camps can stay active and gain some exposure. In its first season, there are four teams: the Omaha Mammoths, the Brooklyn Bolts and the Boston Brawlers, with one team, the Blacktips, that moves around from town to town.
Players get paid between $1,000 and $1,250 a week and basically live out of their suitcases. Private investors currently pay the bills. The league hopes that eventually it gets financial backing from the NFL and becomes its developmental league.
The NFL is already allowed to look at FXFL films and call players. It happened last week when the Chicago Bears signed Boston Brawlers safety Shamiel Gary. He was waived three days later, but then re-signed and is on the Bears’ practice squad.
With NFL Europe, the league took huge losses. When it folded, the NFL had to swallow $30 million in losses. It is understandable that they don’t want to go through that again.
The difference with the FXFL is that the costs to run the league will be low. They are going into markets that already have a minor league infrastructure, such as the Brooklyn franchise. That team partnered with the New York Mets’ minor league team and plays in their ballpark. They can attract local fans that way.
There are other minor football leagues that are popular in their own ways like the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League. The main difference between them and the FXFL is that their rules and field dimensions are different from the NFL. The FXFL is taking everything from the NFL. The rules, the fields, everything. The league wants to give their players an experience as close to the NFL as possible.
From the first idea of the league, it did not want to compete with the NFL, which is a losing proposition. It wants to be a part of the NFL, and is trying to make itself financially attractive to the NFL.
The league has gotten attention from ESPN. The network and the FXFL signed an agreement to deliver the first season on ESPN3. It’s not the ESPN that shows the NFL games, but it is a pretty big agreement in the first year.
It is important to note that this is not a league filled with 35-year-olds with beer guts. The players in this league are just a couple of years out of college, and would otherwise be working out on their own while trying to get back in the league.
A perfect example what the FXFL wants to do, and a perfect target player of the league is Tajh Boyd.
The former Clemson standout was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round this year. He was among the last cuts the Jets made in training camp. He then
signed with the Blacktips (the traveling team) of the FXFL He is looking to refine his skills, and is hoping for another shot at the NFL next season.
The commissioner of the FXFL, Brian Woods, spoke about giving players experience and develop their skills for another shot at the NFL.
“We think there is a lot of value in what we’ll offer,” Woods said. “These undrafted rookie free agents that get cut in the coming weeks, a lot of them are talented and have the ability to play in the NFL. They need a year or two of playing at a lower level to develop, or maybe they just need to stay in football shape for when the NFL needs them. We think there is a real need for that.”
With the troubles going on in college football, having a developmental league now may be perfect timing. Some of the players that get in trouble with the NCAA but aren’t eligible to play in the NFL can get into the FXFL and gain valuable experience and not have to worry about some of the rules that constrict college players. You hear that, Todd Gurley?
The league isn’t looking to just be a training ground for players only. It can train coaches and officials as well. Also, any rule changes the NFL thinks about implementing can be run in the FXFL so the league can see the ramifications of those rule changes.
The time has come for the NFL to have a developmental team. With the 2011 CBA, teams are spending less on draft picks. Therefore, a lot of underclassmen are entering the draft like never before. As a result, a lot of players who are talented enough to play in the NFL, but without the refined skills, will not make it. They deserve a chance to hone their skills and get another opportunity to make it in the NFL. Basketball, baseball and hockey have had success with their developmental leagues, and now the NFL should to do the same.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
Add us as a preferred source on Google