Building a Perfect Developmental League for the NFL

As the NFL continues to talk about potential expansion overseas, expanding rosters and overall growth, one thing that is very clear is that it could be in danger of watering down the talent pool too much.

Yes, there are precious few people who can play at the high level required to be an NFL player, especially fresh out of college. However, the wear and tear of life in the League takes its toll on players, and teams are always looking for fresh talents to take their place.

It's hard to find someone once they've missed a chance at playing right out of college, so the talent pool shrinks as time goes on.

The NFL began considering a developmental league again (NFL Europe was the previous attempt) back in October and while there hasn't been much noise since, don't mistake that for lack of interest. It's more a 'I'm busy trying to figure out what to do with New Orleans' thing.

It may be on the back-burner, but we all know that sometimes that's where the League really gets things going.

The bottom line is the owners would like a way to develop young players in the offseason and perhaps spot some talent they missed the first time around who might have otherwise gone off to find new careers not involving pads and helmets.

However, as the aforementioned NFL Europe proves, this isn't a casual, easy task. The NFLE closed because they flat out lost too much money.There's no way the owners do that again.

So the question becomes: How do you put a developmental league together that won't kill ownership's bottom line?

Lucky for everyone, I have some thoughts.

Spring is the Thing

As the above linked article says, the NFL is thinking a developmental league might take place in the spring and I'd go further that it shouldn't happen any other time. Spring is perfect.

The NFL doesn't want to create competition for itself, even on a tiny scale. Even beyond that, it doesn't really want to get in the way of college football either. You may think they don't care but, as the suspension of Terrelle Pryor shows, they very much do care about keeping in the good graces of the NCAA.

So Saturdays and the fall in general are out. Winter is too darn cold, unless they wanted to work only in domes. Possible, but let's assume worst case scenario on that. Summer is a bit too hot and also steps on training camps.

Spring brings relatively temperate weather, no football and fans upset about the no-football part of spring.

While the owners won't be looking for billions, they'll want to make a little money, at least as much as they can to help keep this thing going. You'll get more football fans willing to come out in the spring than any other time of year.

Cost Efficiency

Speaking of money, part of the failing of NFLE/WLAF/all other attempts at another football league, has been the inability to turn a profit.

I'm going to be bold here and suggest owners not go into this looking to add to their billions. They need to look at this as an investment and be willing to spend money on it. The players coming out of it would be the dividends reaped, not actual cash though some of them will earn the teams plenty of that.

If they go into this seeing dollar signs they will be disappointed. If they go into it knowing that it will cost a few million per team, per year and they'll get some experienced players out of it, they'll be happy for the investment.

Smaller stadiums with smaller cost of upkeep. Smaller marketing. Smaller number of teams, smaller rosters. Shorter season.

That doesn't mean the quality or fun has to be small. Just the price tag for ownership.

Also important is this: Being frugal does not mean being cheap. They can't cut corners and do things shoddily. There has to be a worthwhile product. That doesn't have to cost money. It can be inexpensive.

It just can't look cheap.

All for One

In order to have fewer teams, owners will need to work together. As much as fans might flinch, teams will have to find a way to put aside rivalries. It's business so rest assured they can.

Not every team can have a 'minor league' team—it would be too big and require too long a season. Instead, consider one team per division. There won't be enough developmental players for 16 teams, much less 32. So combine squads from within the same divisions onto the same teams.

Sure, that means Pats and Jets living together and may cause mass hysteria. However it again helps cut costs while maximizing the product on the field for fans.

Make it Worth the Fans' Time

As much as I don't want to drag baseball into this, I need to. Have you ever been to a minor league game? It can be a great experience.

For minor league baseball, the fan experience is vital. They directly compete with major league baseball for eyeballs at times, so they have to be smart to get those eyeballs in.

They do this by being the definition of fan-friendly. Silly mascots, goofy promotions, cheap tickets and food, stuff for kids to do when they're bored—minor league baseball is quite literally fun for the whole family.

A developmental football league should mirror this (heck the NFL should think about it. That's a whole other article though.) You want a decent crowd, make it cheap to go to. Fans are getting priced out of football stadiums, so make these games ones any fan can afford. Have fun promotions, good community outreach and give fans as much bang for their buck as they can stand.

If fans are feeling distanced from the NFL, make them know they are loved here. If you do that, they'll remember and when Joey Runningback from the AFC North BengalBrownSteelerRavens makes his debut in the NFL, you'll have fans invested in that player which will make them want to buy his jersey, see his games and so on.

Sure, this league isn't some great money-making venture. It isn't supposed to be. That doesn't mean you can't use it to gain some fans and make a good impression.

I'm no huge baseball fan but if there is one thing the sport does right, it's the fan experience of minor league ball.

Promote the Brand

Sure, in many ways it won't be as interesting as the NFL is. That doesn't mean you ignore the storylines and players.

Today's young unknown at the D-level will be tomorrow's hot story. So use the tools you have (NFLN) to promote guys on the teams. Let us get to know them and get invested in them. The biggest problem with the European League for Americans was it was way too far away. So far that nobody on any sports station talked about it.

This developmental league would have to have a presence on NFLN especially, but also ESPN and other, local networks like New York's SNY brand.

Get the players out there and get them talking because really, these guys will promote themselves. These are the fringe guys, the also-rans, the hard working but not quite elite players. The Rudy's, the Invincibles. Football fans—heck AMERICANS—love the underdog. They love to hear about guys working their tails off for just a shot at a dream that many of us had or still have and will never reach.

Again, this just gets everyone invested in these players and what happens.

Use the Tools You Have

Finally, while players like their offseason, if you want the developmental players to......well develop, you need to give them teachers worth having.

Bring in veteran running backs, Super Bowl winning coaches and anyone else from the NFL to help train these young players. Maybe not every day or every week, but give them the opportunity to learn from guys who will be their peers.

First, it will inspire them. Show them where they could be. Second, it'll make them better. One of the mos striking things I've seen covering the NFL draft the last five years has been seeing prospects absorb what coaches are telling them. We heard for years about Mike Singletary working with defensive players at the Senior Bowl and what a difference it made for them.

Do that, on a much larger scale.

Of course, none of this is going to make a difference if there isn't a commitment on the part of ownership to do this long term. If the NFL were to set this league up, it'd need to do so for the long haul. It's got to plan for that long haul as well—have a two-, five- and 10-year plan.

If they decide they just want to use it for a little side money, then any developmental league they make will just go the way of every other weak attempt before it.

Three downs and a punt.