Its time has come: The next great innovation in the NFL? How about a developmental football league?
A league for undrafted rookies to fall back on after final NFL roster cuts and to keep in football shape, physically and mentally. A league to develop out-of-work coaches and young referees. A league to experiment with rules changes and technological advancements.
This is one of those ideas that is so obvious that you wonder why it hasn’t been done.
Brian Woods, a sports attorney, believes he has created it.
Coming this fall: Woods, 40, is the founder and creator of the FXFL – the Fall Experimental Football League. So far, there is no affiliation with or cooperation from the NFL. But Woods predicts that will change when the NFL sees the FXFL operate this fall.
“There’s no mystery there needs to be a developmental league,” Woods said. “I think the challenging part is coming up with a business model and design it properly. I’ve spent a lot of time researching this. I’ve looked closely at the NBA Developmental League and at Minor League Baseball. We’ve come a long way in a very short period of time. We’re financially backed and ready to launch this fall.”
Based in New York, Woods said the FXFL will debut in September with teams in six markets – New York, Orlando, Omaha, Portland, Boston and Memphis or San Antonio.
The league itself will own and operate two of the teams, but Woods said the others have financial backing from some “high-profile investors.” Franchise fees were set at $500,000. Team names and owners will be announced within two weeks, Woods said.
“A lot of people are questioning our ability to launch in a short timeframe. Some of our partners are going to be minor league baseball teams. They have an infra-structure in place, good marketing teams, built-in customer base. We’re able to mobilize much quicker than most people think,” Woods said.
“The league is not predicated on TV revenue. But I will tell you I am in very good discussions with some major networks about televising the season. If the NFL were involved, it would be slam dunk. We’re going to have a TV partner wrapped up within two weeks.”
Woods said the FXFL will have six teams playing a six-game schedule from September to November. Games will be Wednesday nights.
Woods believes NFL Europe, while well-intentioned, failed for obvious reasons.
“That was not very cost-effective,” he said. “They played in big venues, and shipped the players out (overseas). I think the best structure is a developmental league that plays in the fall, not in the spring. This again is the benefit – play on weeknights, use a cost-containment model, play in minor league baseball venues.”
Woods said FXFL teams will have rosters of 40 players and coaching staffs will consist of a head coach and six assistants. Players would receive between $1,000 and $1,250 a game, which is more than the Arena Football League rate of about $850.
The league would develop players, coaches and officials and also experiment with innovations the NFL has discussed. “Our long-term goal, obviously, is to have an official recognition from the NFL,” Woods said. “I think everyone sees a need for this.”
I believe this is an excellent idea, and one that is long overdue, I cannot wait for this league to begin play.
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