Dirk for QB

Quote :

"Press Release Source: The New York Times Company PLAY: The New York Times Sports Magazine Breaks United Football League Story Wednesday May 30, 9:05 am ET NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PLAY: The New York Times Sports Magazine reports in its June 3 issue that Wall Streeter Bill Hambrecht and Google executive Tim Armstrong are launching a professional football league to compete with the N.F.L., and have lined up billionaire Mark Cuban as their first team owner."

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070530/20070530005349.html?.v=1

6/1/2007 11:13:58 AM

if he wanted to throw away millions i would take them from him without having to find out the hard way that the NFL will eat him alive

6/1/2007 11:14:47 AM

Quote :

"Wednesday May 30, 9:05 am ET"

6/1/2007 11:15:49 AM

ill watch

6/1/2007 11:16:23 AM

its news to most of TWW

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 11:18 AM. Reason : x]

6/1/2007 11:16:28 AM

he's gonna make millions! following in the footsteps of the ultra-popular and cost-effective Arena Football League, NFL Europe and the XFL...all leagues that clearly MADE money


^i heard about it a couple days ago, but im the shit

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 11:17 AM. Reason : .]

6/1/2007 11:17:06 AM

don't forget the UBER successful USFL

6/1/2007 11:17:32 AM

TA is excited.

Good luck with that Friday night time slot.

6/1/2007 11:31:04 AM

6/1/2007 11:32:07 AM

should open the way for some of the lesser known athletes that didnt get a chance to play in the NFL

but this wont ever work, all teh stars want to go to the NFL where the cash is...having competition just makes it less ideal

6/1/2007 11:34:15 AM

THIS IS THE BIGGEST SPORTS NEWS IN DECADES

get rid of a few bad rules like sudden death ot and clock always running and this could be huge

none of the other leagues tried to actually compete with the nfl. they tried to offer something different. extreme football arena football but this will be regular football. the xfl was owned by a guy about as rich as cuban. just wasn't enough money. the google league will be able to compete financialy.

i hope they play a summer season
i hope raleigh gets a team

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 11:38 AM. Reason : ^cash is here. http://www.google.com. ever been there?]

6/1/2007 11:37:17 AM

what an original and thought provoking idea

6/1/2007 11:38:01 AM

I was the number 1 fan of the Raleigh Skyhawks back in the day.

I bet most of you eggs never even heard of them.

6/1/2007 11:39:18 AM

Quote :

"none of the other leagues tried to actually compete with the nfl"

6/1/2007 11:39:50 AM

they wouldve been better off trying to compete with the nba

-players where whatever they want to the games(will make all the players come)
-penalty box as opposed to technicals- fighting is a 5 minute power play
-41 game regular season
-international rules

6/1/2007 11:46:17 AM

does cuban honestly believe this could make any money in the US

6/1/2007 11:50:58 AM

i wish i could where whatever i want

6/1/2007 11:58:17 AM

BO VICE INVOLVED

6/1/2007 11:58:52 AM

Quote :

"THIS IS THE BIGGEST SPORTS NEWS IN DECADES"

6/1/2007 11:59:24 AM

Quote :

"i hope they play a summer season i hope raleigh gets a team"

Isn't there some other league that is supposed to start next summer that has a team playing at Carter Finley?

6/1/2007 12:25:12 PM

Here's the thing about this league--it's going to be targeting talents that would normally go below the second round in the NFL draft, and they are going after owners like Mark Cuban who have the cash to pay competitive salaries. The hope then is to cash in on the talents that go in the later rounds who turn out to be stars (I think their example was Tom Brady, in the 6th round)

So, if they make a large enough push in the beginning to make the money competitive with the NFL and signing these picks, provided the league exists for more than three years or so, you could see some legitimate NFL type caliber talent emerge. The problem then would be keeping those players in the league instead of bolting for the NFL, but I read somewhere that there are only going to be eight teams to begin with, so hopefully they will all be owned by people making shit tons of money to keep the league afloat.

This isn't an Arena Football/XFL type comparison--this is a league that is out to get the same level of talent as the NFL, and they have the resources to do so. I don't think that you can write this off so quickly, at least until we see who else comes on board.

6/1/2007 4:40:13 PM

Quote :

"I think their example was Tom Brady, in the 6th round"

thats a wonderful example of a player drafted after the 2nd round who turned out to be a star...the problem is, thats pretty much one of the only examples in the entire NFL

Quote :

"The problem then would be keeping those players in the league instead of bolting for the NFL"

Exactly...and what precisely would you do to try and keep the players? I don't think theres anything you could do...kids have dreams of playing in the NFL, not some knockoff league

Quote :

"This isn't an Arena Football/XFL type comparison--this is a league that is out to get the same level of talent as the NFL, and they have the resources to do so. I don't think that you can write this off so quickly, at least until we see who else comes on board. "

I'm gnona write them off right now...and it IS an AFL/XFL type comparison...all leagues are out to get NFL talent, but NO other league but the NFL can do it...it just won't happen

6/1/2007 4:46:28 PM

There are a better things to do in LA or Vegas on a Friday night. Good luck with any Texas teams as well. There is a pretty good reason that the NFL has stayed away from that timeslot.

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 4:49 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2007 4:47:23 PM

This is such an awful idea its not even funny.

The NFL is such a well run league that they could probably dismantle this garbage even if they had naked girls playing Wide Receiver...

6/1/2007 4:49:33 PM

out of the gates this may claim to compete with the NFL; but if Hambrecht is as smart as i think he is, the so called "competition" with the NFL will just be lip service to generate excitement and a following for the league. if he is who i think he is, the UFL will become an official farm system for the NFL.

6/1/2007 4:54:39 PM

Rod Smith, Priest Holmes, Antonio Gates, Willie Parker, Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo all went undrafted

In addition to Brady, Hasselbeck, Bulger, Houshmandzadeh (and many others) all went 6th or 7th round.


You could field a great team of 6th round or later players, especially if there were a reason to have 4 or 5 qbs on the field at the same time


[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 4:56 PM. Reason : Not supporting the idea of this league or anything, just sayin]

6/1/2007 4:55:44 PM

Inferior football SUCKS.

The only way this would be even semi marketable is if they designated a team as an "acc" team only compromised of players from FSU/State/Maryland/etc another team as a big 12 team, pac 10 etc...

The only reason people like college football is because of the tradition, rivalries, beer, etc

If you put out a product that lacks quality play and has no sense of tradition/rivalry then it will ultimately fail.

6/1/2007 5:32:28 PM

The problem is that instead of being pleasantly surprised when you find a diamond in the rough, you're now basing an entire league off the hopes of finding enough to field good football teams.

Otherwise, you're getting College Football v2.0

6/1/2007 5:38:09 PM

this is basically the NBDL, which nobody cares about if they dont:

- have a local team
- have an interest in seeing one of their former alums play

ALL SPORTS ON ALL LEVELS NEED SUPERSTARS

soccer, football, basketball, baseball, golf, nascar...college...pro...etc

sports like NBDL and this new crap wont have superstars...because the superstars will go to the NFL

6/1/2007 5:41:20 PM

Quote :

"Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Location: Raleigh, NC Stadium: Carter-Finley Stadium (45,000) Owner: George Shinn General Manager: Wayne Thompson Head Coach: Roman Gabriel Division: North American East Seasons:1991 Record 1991 0-10 Overall 0-10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Skyhawks were the laughing stock of the WLAF in 1991, losing all their games. Instead of playing on, the team disbanded after their first season. The league gave the vacant spot to Columbus, Ohio. The futility of the Skyhawks did not harm pro football in the Carolinas; Charlotte is now the home of the Carolina Panthers."

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 5:47 PM. Reason : 2]

6/1/2007 5:47:22 PM

aha i read that earlier and laffed@ FUTILITY

6/1/2007 5:49:24 PM

Quote :

"The only way this would be even semi marketable is if they designated a team as an "acc" team only compromised of players from FSU/State/Maryland/etc another team as a big 12 team, pac 10 etc... "

THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A GREAT IDEA TO GET THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANBASE....PICKUP ALL THE SCRUBS THAT DON'T GET IN THE DRAFT AND MAKE CONFERENCE ALL STAR TEAMS THAT COMPETE.....

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 5:53 PM. Reason : COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS A REGIONAL SPORT]

6/1/2007 5:52:52 PM

^ I'm not cheering for Duke guys, Wake guys, FSU guys, GT guys, and especially UNC guys.

F#%& any part of the ACC that's not NC State.

Quote :

"get rid of a few bad rules like sudden death ot and clock always running and this could be huge"

Do you actually like football?

No Sudden death? The college overtime rule is a dumbass gimmick. Having kickers rotate trying to kick a 50-yarder for the win would be better. Better yet, how about paper, rock, scissors?

The clock not always running when a guy is down inbounds? A football game should be over in 3-3.5 hours, not the length of a cricket match.


I think an NFL2 would work. However, the NFL doesn't want an NFL2 cause that would mean less people watching the NFL.

How this league "could" work.

-Take guys that are good enough straight from high school and also do not want to go to college. (This would be a lot better for a potential NBA competitor cause the skill jump from HS to pro is less in basketball than football.)
-Limit rosters to a size so that the required salary is not outrageous. (40? 45?)
-Cheaper ticket prices.
-Hook up with all FSN regional affiliates.
-Little season crossover with the NFL.
-Set up in cities long spurned by the NFL or would never get an NFL team in their wildest dreams.
-Cannot play in oversized stadiums. 20-30k capacities at best.
-Have to have salaries good enough to get NFL backups. Quarterback position is key to a professional-looking product.

[Edited on June 1, 2007 at 8:43 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2007 8:41:21 PM

The clock always running is a good rule, and the ot rule just needs to be put back the way it was.

According to Pro Football Prospectus 2006, from '74-'93 the cointoss winner went 95-93-13. Then the kickoff was moved from the 35 back to the 30, and since then toss winners are 106-70-3

6/1/2007 9:41:09 PM

with 8 teams they could pretty much have an nfl elite. if they can offer higher salaries than the nfl then players will ultimately go where the most money is.

they will probably do some huge tv deal with a network like nbc and have all thier games televised. the marketing on this will be huge im sure since its google and they will have big time owners paying big time competitive salaries.

6/1/2007 11:48:28 PM

College overtime >>> NFL overtime

6/2/2007 12:24:02 AM

wont work


/thread

6/2/2007 6:29:59 AM

^^ college football OT pads the fuck out of your stats. But I do enjoy it.

6/2/2007 10:37:51 AM

Quote :

"if they can offer higher salaries than the nfl then players will ultimately go where the most money is"

I think in the long run the NFL would still offer more. More exposure, advertising and merchandising, established player's union.

When would this new league's season be anyway? I honestly can't think of a time period where they wouldn't be completely screwed. Having it at this point of the year would be competing against NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and MLB all at the same time. Don't see why they'd want to do a summer season, unless they're suicidal.

6/2/2007 12:10:01 PM

The only success this could have is turning into a minor league for the NFL...

History and tradition trumps better rules and in some cases, better money.

6/2/2007 12:21:56 PM

Quote :

"I'm not cheering for Duke guys, Wake guys, FSU guys, GT guys, and especially UNC guys. F#%& any part of the ACC that's not NC State."

HERE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY ACC WILL NEVER BE A SUCCESSFULL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE.....I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT FANS OF THE SEC AND BIG TEN TEAMS WOULD ROOT FOR THEIR OWN ESPECIALLY IF IT MEANT BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE CONFERENCE

Quote :

"-Take guys that are good enough straight from high school and also do not want to go to college. (This would be a lot better for a potential NBA competitor cause the skill jump from HS to pro is less in basketball than football.) -Limit rosters to a size so that the required salary is not outrageous. (40? 45?) -Cheaper ticket prices. -Hook up with all FSN regional affiliates. -Little season crossover with the NFL. -Set up in cities long spurned by the NFL or would never get an NFL team in their wildest dreams. -Cannot play in oversized stadiums. 20-30k capacities at best. -Have to have salaries good enough to get NFL backups. Quarterback position is key to a professional-looking product."

THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THIS WOULD WORK...AND IT WOULD RUIN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

6/4/2007 5:57:27 PM

I dont see how another team , albiet in your conference, winning games and doing well has any impact on the fact that you still suck.

6/4/2007 6:41:15 PM

Quote :

"Take guys that are good enough straight from high school and also do not want to go to college. (This would be a lot better for a potential NBA competitor cause the skill jump from HS to pro is less in basketball"

This wouldn't be a smart idea. Kids coming out of highschool would use the new league as a stepping stone into the NFL instead of college. I mean this way you don't have to take classes and you get paid. Who wouldn't want to do that.

6/4/2007 6:46:35 PM

Quote :

"..I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT FANS OF THE SEC AND BIG TEN TEAMS WOULD ROOT FOR THEIR OWN ESPECIALLY IF IT MEANT BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE CONFERENCE"

I don't know about the Big 10, but thats not the case for the SEC. At least that was my experience when I lived in SEC country.

6/4/2007 6:47:09 PM

Quote :

"HERE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY ACC WILL NEVER BE A SUCCESSFULL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE.....I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT FANS OF THE SEC AND BIG TEN TEAMS WOULD ROOT FOR THEIR OWN ESPECIALLY IF IT MEANT BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE CONFERENCE "

Yeah, I can really see a Michigan fan rooting for tOSU or an Auburn fan rooting for Alabama

6/4/2007 7:10:13 PM

Quote :

"ESPECIALLY IF IT MEANT BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE CONFERENCE"

OUR CONFERENCE'S PLAYERS HAVE BETTER SUCCESS THAN YOURS IN THE NFL REJECT LEAGUE, WE ARE THE BEST

6/4/2007 7:27:10 PM

Quote :

"The only way this would be even semi marketable is if they designated a team as an "acc" team only compromised of players from FSU/State/Maryland/etc another team as a big 12 team, pac 10 etc... The only reason people like college football is because of the tradition, rivalries, beer, etc If you put out a product that lacks quality play and has no sense of tradition/rivalry then it will ultimately fail."

Queue http://allamericanfootballleague.com

6/4/2007 8:05:56 PM

yup

HEY JULIUS HODGE IS HAVING A BETTER NBDL CAREER THAN PITTSNOGGLE, I GUESS THE ACC IS DEFINITELY BETTER IN BASKETBALL THAN THE BIG EAST, HAHA BRAGGING RIGHTS, SUCK IT!

6/4/2007 8:10:04 PM

put slam ball back on tv damnit

6/5/2007 9:06:17 AM

set up the new league

6/5/2007 9:19:16 AM