La Canfora: NFL to present formal proposals for a developmental league in 2017

[C Mart]

Best news I've read in awhile for the future of the game. Desperately needed!

NFL to present formal proposals for a developmental league in 2017

The league appears to be drawing closer to establishing a developmental arm for young players

By Jason La Canfora

Troy Vincent, the NFL's head of football operations, said his department is prepared to make recommendations for a developmental league or in-season academy after years studying the matter. The league will begin the formal process of meeting with the Competition Committee, coaches and NFLPA after the season. Vincent has long been among those staunchly supporting the need for additional practice and/or games for young NFL players, and also as a means to further develop coaches and referees.

"We are ready to socialize our findings to the respective committees at the Pro Bowl, Senior Bowl and combine," Vincent said.

It has been more than a decade since any sort of discussion regarding a developmental league was held at the Competition Committee level, committee co-chair Rich McKay told me at the last spring meeting. But with the support of numerous owners and prominent coaches the issue has gained significant momentum this year. It was a focal point of Vincent's work -- with him working closely with general managers like John Schneider (Seattle) and Ryan Grigson (Indianapolis) on designing plans -- and it also has been a special project for former longtime coach Tom Coughlin, who joined the league office this year. This project is deeply supported by Hall of Fame coach John Madden, who continues to consult for the league on such matters.

In the past, the issue was not viewed as being on the front burner and was more of a long-term objective than a short-term goal. Vincent's charge has been to put forth proposals he believes owners ultimately would be willing to support financially and otherwise, as a considerable per-team investment may be necessary. This particularly holds true for a spring league that would consist of players likely with three years' or less experience. A venture of that magnitude would also require substantial negotiations with the NFLPA, which has told me it has not met formally with the league about any developmental projects and which has seemed lukewarm, at best, to a spring league.

Vincent also has done exhaustive studies of creating an in-season academy that would train a valuable talent base -- players not under contract who get workouts and jobs through the season -- that would run from final cuts until November. He has consulted with existing academies like IMG and is considering options of having more than one official NFL in-season academy around the country. Vincent declined to comment on specific options he will present to the Competition Committee and coaches, but sources indicated they are both in-season and out-of-season in nature.

"We have some viable potential options that are ready to share with the Competition Committee, the Coaches Subcommittee and with some of our active and former players," Vincent said. "Our goal is to create a platform that addresses the entire football community -- coaches, officials, front office personnel and players -- is essential to the long-term sustainability of our game."

The ongoing thrust to establish a developmental model comes now at a time when NFL ratings are down increasingly in prime time and with fans and media bemoaning the quality of play. The state of quarterback and offensive-line play has been under considerable fire -- those are position groups that benefitted greatly from NFL Europe, it's worth noting -- and NFL officials have long been under scrutiny, with renewed calls for the league to adopt a full-time staff.

Given the overtly positive remarks I've received from owners on down when asking about the need for a developmental league, and the current climate and the amount of time Vincent and his charges have spent on the topic, I would expect some action to be taken on it in 2017, perhaps as soon as the spring meeting. 

Here's a sampling of what I was told at the last spring meeting about a developmental league/academy:

Cowboys owner Stephen Jones: "It is a concept that could check all of those boxes we often talk about -- diversity, officiating, developing coaches, player development, experimenting with rules and technology. It's something we have to start to seriously look at within the Competition Committee and then discuss with the NFLPA. We've reached a point where we really should be looking more at a developmental league, and I really expect that to begin here in the next year or so. We lost a lot of money on the NFL Europe, but there were a lot of things the league did well and for all of those reasons -- coaches, officiating, players, quarterbacks in particular -- it's something we really do need to be looking at and studying. The time might be right to do it."

Steelers owner Art Rooney II: "It's something we have to really look at and address, whether it's a spring league or in some other way. We definitely need to work on developing players, we definitely need to work on developing officials, and it's something we really need to spend some time on, even if it's not necessarily a spring league, but some way to provide more time to develop players."

Saints coach Sean Payton: "I think you're going to see that at some point now. It may be an international spring league, but one in which the club can call on it at any time to infuse a player into their roster midstream, and just as importantly, clubs can call on employees other than players, too. I think the officiating could benefit from it. There are number of things it gives you. Even if it's six or eight (teams) that 32 (NFL teams) are drawing on. With the World League, I don't remember how many teams there were, but a lot of people who were involved in that league -- a lot -- ended up in our league at some point."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh: "John Madden has got me convinced that it would be great for football, young players and coaches, and the officials. It would be great for the game of football. And I kind of think the league wants to do it, it's just a matter of working out the details and we'll see where it goes ... I don't know why it hasn't happened to this point. I think the league wants to do it. There must be something blocking it. There must be some factors that are keeping it from going in that direction, because I've never heard anybody say they don't want to do it

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-to-present-formal-proposals-for-a-developmental-league-in-2017/

[TheMagicRat]

With spread offenses becoming so much more common in college football, a developmental league is necessary for the future of the league.  

[Happy Clouds]

Agree that it would certainly improve the fundamentals, and shorten the learning curve for guys transitioning to the NFL game. Developing officiating is not something I had even considered before. If this would help, it makes it an even better idea.

[CrazyCarl40]

Will the Jets be moved to the developmental league? 

[Il Mostro]

3 minutes ago, CrazyCarl40 said:

Will the Jets be moved to the developmental league? 

Dang!  You beat me to it.  This was the first thing that came to mind -- how it took 4 posts is beyond me.

[joewilly12]

Imagine if they add say 6 games to the season ticket package for the developmental league and not give PSL owners a choice..

[Bugg]

25 minutes ago, CrazyCarl40 said:

Will the Jets be moved to the developmental league? 

Relegation could be a possibility. YOU ARE OUT!

Seriously though you have enough cut guys when camp ends to staff 8-10 teams, and could easily play a short schedule. Could put them in markets that don't have an NFL team or in minor league parks. 

[drdetroit]

6 minutes ago, Bugg said:

Relegation could be a possibility. YOU ARE OUT!

Seriously though you have enough cut guys when camp ends to staff 8-10 teams, and could easily play a short schedule. Could put them in markets that don't have an NFL team or in minor league parks. 

The market is already oversaturated which is why ratings are down.  College FB already does this for free.  Another bone headed idea from Goodell

[RSJ]

It's something the league needs to figure out how to do. Whether it be a spring league or something of the sorts. I also dont understand why there is no spring 7 on 7 league like the NBA does over the summer. It would be entertaining and add revenue.

[RoadFan]

Then maybe install a promotion/relegation system... it makes for super interesting bad team matchups late in the season.

[Larz]

they specifically highlighted bryce petty during a discussion about this on CBS saying he might be starting now if there was one

mark my words, the first draft pick to blow out a knee will kill this league, especially if it's a QB

[RSJ]

1 minute ago, Larz said:

they specifically highlighted bryce petty during a discussion about this on CBS saying he might be starting now if there was one

mark my words, the first draft pick to blow out a knee will kill this league, especially if it's a QB

That's the thing. Injuries will make it tough to sell to players. Which makes every idea of setting one up difficult. 

[Kevin L]

4 minutes ago, RSJ said:

That's the thing. Injuries will make it tough to sell to players. Which makes every idea of setting one up difficult. 

Good point, but if I was a developmental player, I'd rather be in a D-league than out of the NFL altogether.

[RSJ]

4 minutes ago, Kevin L said:

Good point, but if I was a developmental player, I'd rather be in a D-league than out of the NFL altogether.

I agree and thats a good point too. I think that maybe it needs to be opened up as an option for players and not mandatory. Then you will even see some back ups participate if it was set up so they could. You will find players. There are semi pro teams all over the country. The thing is can you make it watchable and what time of the year do you make it? What cities do you include?

[Kevin L]

5 minutes ago, RSJ said:

I agree and thats a good point too. I think that maybe it needs to be opened up as an option for players and not mandatory. Then you will even see some back ups participate if it was set up so they could. You will find players. There are semi pro teams all over the country. The thing is can you make it watchable and what time of the year do you make it? What cities do you include?

Saw an interesting proposal a few months ago that suggested expanding the practice squad and creating teams along divisional lines. So basically every team in the AFC East would send their practice squads to create a team, and every team in the AFC West would do the same, etc. etc. Then they could do some sort of round robin season.

[T0mShane]

1 hour ago, CrazyCarl40 said:

Will the Jets be moved to the developmental league? 

You know who foresaw this? John Idzik.

[C Mart]

53 minutes ago, drdetroit said:

The market is already oversaturated which is why ratings are down.  College FB already does this for free.  Another bone headed idea from Goodell

Where does the article say it's Goodell's idea?  

Where does it say anything about ratings? 

Colleges do this for free?  How's that working out for the quality of play of NFL games? 

Another boneheaded post from detroit

[Warfish]

Whatever form it takes, I hope it's still played as "teams playing real games", I hope it's televised, and I hope they put a team in Virginia (like Richmond) and call them the Generals and have them wear blue/grey with a crossed sabres logo.

I'd watch and root for that.

/enddumbfantasy

[rex-n-effect]

It's not profitable. That's why it never happens. If people wanted to watch sub-NFL talent play in NFL systems in low scoring games they would just watch Div II games. 

NFL teams have the resources to develop players; they do not choose to do so. Teams could bring in a set of coaches and trainers to develop young players. They don't. 

[joewilly12]

3 hours ago, CrazyCarl40 said:

Will the Jets be moved to the developmental league? 

No they arent good enough. 

[RSJ]

2 hours ago, Kevin L said:

Saw an interesting proposal a few months ago that suggested expanding the practice squad and creating teams along divisional lines. So basically every team in the AFC East would send their practice squads to create a team, and every team in the AFC West would do the same, etc. etc. Then they could do some sort of round robin season.

That would be great. There are a lot of small cities that could/would support these teams.

[August]

Good thing for guys who may usually slip through the cracks to get an opportunity to get some development. This is beyond overdue. 

 

Also let me add that teams should be allowed to protect players on their practice squad from getting poached from other teams. 

[drdetroit]

4 hours ago, C Mart said:

Where does the article say it's Goodell's idea?  

Where does it say anything about ratings? 

Colleges do this for free?  How's that working out for the quality of play of NFL games? 

Another boneheaded post from detroit

If Goodell has anything to do with this which he most likely does it is a bad idea.

 

But hey you know everything.  The quality of play has fallen because the rule changes favor passing it has nothing to do with having a NFL minor league.

[drdetroit]

2 hours ago, rex-n-effect said:

It's not profitable. That's why it never happens.

Bingo

[C Mart]

2 hours ago, drdetroit said:

If Goodell has anything to do with this which he most likely does it is a bad idea.

 

But hey you know everything.  The quality of play has fallen because the rule changes favor passing it has nothing to do with having a NFL minor league.

Quality of play has fallen because they can't practice anymore and rarely can in pads due to the CBA. 

Coaches cant even talk football with their players during the offseason until April/May. 

[Lupz27]

6 hours ago, RSJ said:

That's the thing. Injuries will make it tough to sell to players. Which makes every idea of setting one up difficult. 

You don't send a 1st round pick to the developmental league, you send the guys you plan on Practice Squading so if someone gets hurt it's really not a big deal.