Rocky Landing Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 And, if so, by how much? How many teams? To where? Europe? Mexico? Just the U.S.? This was brought up in another thread, and I thought it might deserve a thread of its own. Should the league expand? My initial thought is, sure, why not? But, there are plenty of things to consider. As I see it (and I hope others will add to this list) the pros, and cons are as follows: Pros: 1) Longer playoff season! 2) Immediately gives a boost to whichever local economies get a team. 3) There are few downsides to having an NFL team in your city. 4) Helps assure that the Bills never leave Buffalo. 5) Something else for billionaires to spend their money on. 6) More parking lots for people to tailgate in. 7) Potentially moves the NFL back in the direction of local pride, and hometown heroism. Cons: 1) Could more than 32 teams be too many teams? 2) For several years, at least, the newly formed teams would be at a disadvantage. The league would become more lopsided. 3) The overall skill level of the league would be diminished, or diluted. 4) Would lower the percentage of elite players. 5) Too many teams to keep track of. 6) Brett Favre, or Terrell Owens might come out of retirement. 7) What if Paris gets a team? Could there be anything more obnoxious than a French football fan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountryCletus Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 My initial thought is heck no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Nope. If anything there's not enough qb talent already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 NO! 32 teams is plenty. We have the perfect amount of teams divided into the right number of divisions. The 4 team divisions is far better than the original 5 team divisions, because that freed up two games where your not playing the same old division foe again, and you were playing 2 different teams more often. Which to me is a lot more exciting. Also the NFL has tapped most if not all of the major markets, who else out there can properly support an NFL team. And forget the European cities. Expanding the league into Europe is a terrible idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountryCletus Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 NO! 32 teams is plenty. We have the perfect amount of teams divided into the right number of divisions. The 4 team divisions is far better than the original 5 team divisions, because that freed up two games where your not playing the same old division foe again, and you were playing 2 different teams more often. Which to me is a lot more exciting. Also the NFL has tapped most if not all of the major markets, who else out there can properly support an NFL team. And forget the European cities. Expanding the league into Europe is a terrible idea. Completely agree with your last paragraph!! Soccer is so huge over there, American Football would never succeed... Ok- I agree with everything else too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Absolutely not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Landing Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 Just for some perspective-- a map of NFL teams. The Seahawks sure look lonely out there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:NFL_Labelled_Map Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) Just for some perspective-- a map of NFL teams. The Seahawks sure look lonely out there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:NFL_Labelled_Map I don't think that will change anyone's stance. (Insert photo of texans qb depth chart) Edited July 15, 2014 by NoSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Underdog Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I don't know why the NFL seems to be in such a hurry to make changes to the best league in America... Don't expand the playoffs and don't add any expansion teams. I like how we are one of 32 fortunate cities to have a team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris heff Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Yes expansion teams in LA, Toronto and any other city that has ever been mentioned as a place to relocate the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonborn10 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 There are 32 teams and only 5 elite QB's. Another 10 are good. The rest are barely adequate or too soon to tell. If anything the answer is bigger rosters. They should add 3-5 roster spots. This would allow teams to truly develop a couple of players. Prevent situations like the Bills going into the season with just Tuel time as the back-up QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) A 12 team B-League would be a lot of fun. Go back to the original NFL days, to some of the small towns it started in, too. Locations like: Akron-Canton Pro Dogs Muncie Flyers Rock Island Independents Brooklyn Lions Louisville Colonels Providence Steam Roller Kenosha Maroons Los Angeles Buccaneers Add 4 more teams scattered around...and yeah edit: Birmingham, Salt Lake, Kenneweck, WA, Peublo, CO Just for some perspective-- a map of NFL teams. The Seahawks sure look lonely out there. http://en.wikipedia....FL_Labelled_Map There ain't no one living there, in between that Seahawk spot and the other side... Edited July 15, 2014 by jboyst62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Landing Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 I don't think that will change anyone's stance. I don't think it will, either. But, I think it's interesting. I had never bothered to look at the NFL geographically in that way before. I hadn't really considered how isolated the Seahawks are from the rest of the NFL. Honestly, I'm fairly ambivalent to the issue. I think there are several cities that could support a team. I think there's an upside to expanding. And, as I mentioned in another thread, there are ways the league has changed over the decades that I lament. It was once much more of an everyman's blue-collar game. (I think) Maybe I'm just being sentimental. A 12 team B-League would be a lot of fun. Go back to the original NFL days, to some of the small towns it started in, too. Locations like: Akron-Canton Pro Dogs Muncie Flyers Rock Island Independents Brooklyn Lions Louisville Colonels Providence Steam Roller Kenosha Maroons Los Angeles Buccaneers Add 4 more teams scattered around...and yeah There ain't no one living there, in between that Seahawk spot and the other side... Good post. Some context to the geographical perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris heff Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 A 12 team B-League would be a lot of fun. Go back to the original NFL days, to some of the small towns it started in, too. Locations like: Akron-Canton Pro Dogs Muncie Flyers Rock Island Independents Brooklyn Lions Louisville Colonels Providence Steam Roller Kenosha Maroons Los Angeles Buccaneers Add 4 more teams scattered around...and yeah edit: Birmingham, Salt Lake, Kenneweck, WA, Peublo, CO There ain't no one living there, in between that Seahawk spot and the other side... You forgot the Tonawanda Kardex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) You forgot the Tonawanda Kardex. There were about 3-4 teams in WNY, depending on how far East you consider Western New York. edit: Buffalo All Americans / Bisons Rochester Jeffersons Tonawanda Kardex Edited July 15, 2014 by jboyst62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I'd rather see an expansion than a move. I don't see why a B Leauge would flop. It'd basically be NFL Europe but here. Only reason it didn't work out is because Europe isn't going to embrace American Football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 A B League that would allow anyone over 18 to play? Then the guys that don't really want to go to college (and therefore don't really go or take joke classes) can pursue their dreams at a lower skill level to start, potentially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Just for some perspective-- a map of NFL teams. The Seahawks sure look lonely out there. http://en.wikipedia....FL_Labelled_Map When the Raiders move to Portland, they won't be so lonely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 A B League that would allow anyone over 18 to play? Then the guys that don't really want to go to college (and therefore don't really go or take joke classes) can pursue their dreams at a lower skill level to start, potentially. That would never work. However, UDFA players, late round draft picks, etc, could develop. And play during the NFL offseason. I love football, and miss it about 2 weeks after the the Super Bowl. I even decide to give Arena Football a chance every year, and regret it. I would watch any team play just to fill that void, but if I could watch a team where there are Bills prospects, I'd even have a rooting interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) A B League that would allow anyone over 18 to play? Then the guys that don't really want to go to college (and therefore don't really go or take joke classes) can pursue their dreams at a lower skill level to start, potentially. If you pursue a B-League contract and are under the age of 20 you cannot enter the NFL until your 21st birthday, or 4 years removed from earning your High School Diploma or GED. The pay would be peanuts, disirregardless, so it's not like a player could go to the B-league and get by until the bigs get'm. Military vets get an extra $5-10k a year. And, teams could sign college players no earlier then Feb-whatever one week after the Super Bowl is... Edited July 15, 2014 by jboyst62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Kids aren't playing football as much as before. That would mean less talent down the road. There won't be enough for 32 teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 They want to expand to Canada, Mexico, and London and I think they will within the next 15 years. And they will play to mostly empty stadiums like what happened when MLB and the NBA tried to infiltrate Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 They want to expand to Canada, Mexico, and London and I think they will within the next 15 years. And they will play to mostly empty stadiums like what happened when MLB and the NBA tried to infiltrate Canada. Exactly. It'll be like Southern NHL teams. But worse. Because Southern hockey teams draw crowds from displaced Northerners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUNCH OF MULARKEY Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) I'm all for expansion in the United States only. This is a huge country and to say that the talent would be diluted significantly if they had 36 teams instead of 32 is hogwash. Just more opportunity for the underdog stories that Americans love. Let Canada and Europe grow their own leagues. If some years down the road their Eurocanuck champion wants to showdown with our Super Bowl winner I'll be watching. Let Los Angeles and Portland have teams so Seattle and the other west teams don't have to travel as much. As long as the Bills are left alone, who cares? Edited July 15, 2014 by BUNCH OF MULARKEY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Guys - the NFL is going to grow, and to think any traditionalists will keep that from happening will not deter this business from going now at 9 Bil to 20 Bil in the next 10 years. Whether we like it or not we'll eventually have teams in Europe, possibly Canada and Mexico. It won't be tomorrow, but it will happen. NFL Europe was an experiment to broaden the sport to Europe. It wasn't to develop the players. Whether we like it or not we'll have a team or teams in Germany and then UK. Germany embraced with NFL Europe more than any other country. That's not my wish, but a business reality. I like the 32 teams as it stands, but can see figuring out a way to grow to 40 someday over 15 years. The owners can also go after Europe TV dollars. At the end of the day, we all just want to keep our Bills in Buffalo, and they'll figure out the rest. I still maintain that will happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountryCletus Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 A 12 team B-League would be a lot of fun. Go back to the original NFL days, to some of the small towns it started in, too. Locations like: Akron-Canton Pro Dogs Muncie Flyers Rock Island Independents Brooklyn Lions Louisville Colonels Providence Steam Roller Kenosha Maroons Los Angeles Buccaneers Add 4 more teams scattered around...and yeah edit: Birmingham, Salt Lake, Kenneweck, WA, Peublo, CO There ain't no one living there, in between that Seahawk spot and the other side... That's a good idea... "There ain't no one living there". That has to be on the TBD top 10 redneck statements!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarleyNY Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Nope. If anything there's not enough qb talent already There are 32 teams and only 5 elite QB's. Another 10 are good. The rest are barely adequate or too soon to tell. If anything the answer is bigger rosters. They should add 3-5 roster spots. This would allow teams to truly develop a couple of players. Prevent situations like the Bills going into the season with just Tuel time as the back-up QB. Agree totally on the QBs. I'm not sure how much another few roster spots would help the QB pool, but it sure wouldn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I don't think that will change anyone's stance. (Insert photo of texans qb depth chart) And Vikings QB depth chart, and Titans QB depth chart, and Bills QB depth chart(Sorry guys). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmotionallyUnstable Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 The Boise Potato Farmers,,, I like it. No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloFan68 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I like the ideas of expanding the current roster & creating a developmental sub-league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) I voted no only because the talent is spread waaaaaaay too thin as it is. However the NFL may need to keep expanding just so they don't implode under the weight of their salaries. Edited July 15, 2014 by CodeMonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Considering there are a handful of teams struggling to fill seats, I think expansion is not ideal. If anything, those teams need to be moved around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max997 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 No, and in fact the NFL should eliminate two teams and go back to a league of 30 with 3 divisions of 5 teams in each league this of course will never happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF Bills Fan Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) I think they should expand to LA. It is the only way that the people will really embrace the team. Otherwise they will be looking at a retread that they will support, but not like a totally fresh start. You would need to balance, so I'd say Portland, Austin or Toronto. Edited July 15, 2014 by SF Bills Fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 NO! The demographics don't show where people live that actually have an interest in the NFL. It also misses the fact that pro sports are so expensive now they're, given a choice, families may want to spend their dollars some other way. As example; S California (LA). A lot of people there BUT bull fighting would sell out before any NFL game would. Europe didn't work, Canada has the CFL. Teams complain about flying across the USA too much, so it's not realistic to expand beyond that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) There were about 3-4 teams in WNY, depending on how far East you consider Western New York. edit: Buffalo All Americans / Bisons Rochester Jeffersons Tonawanda Kardex a lot of the people I talk to who live in NYC or there abouts, they call upstate NY anything 15 miles west of the river. upstate to me is North of Syracuse, Western NY is anything west of Syracuse also, isn't it difficult enough to find good to great QB's and such with 32 teams? Edited July 15, 2014 by BillsFan-4-Ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vader Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 There are 32 teams and only 5 elite QB's. Another 10 are good. The rest are barely adequate or too soon to tell. If anything the answer is bigger rosters. They should add 3-5 roster spots. This would allow teams to truly develop a couple of players. Prevent situations like the Bills going into the season with just Tuel time as the back-up QB. Now this makes a lot of sense. While we're at it, how about getting rid of the inactive list? Honestly, what purpose does that list serve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulFuture Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Yes, the NFL should expand. Canada is not a football nation, they are Hockey first and foremost, no reason to waste an expansion into a market that will take more than a generation to garner the proper support to sustain what the NFL is looking for when there are viable markets here in the US. Remember, Canadian public access to athletics is primarily hockey, football is secondary at best. Mexico? Really? No, I'm serious, Really? Who in their right mind would want to open up in that market given the nations turmoil with the drug cartels and it's more than apparent inability to offer any security what so ever to an event like an NFL game given the nations violence combined with it's massive corruption that facilitates that violence at multiple levels. This is a sports eutopians pipe dream at best. Forget it, not going to happen in the long range future let alone short range. There are markets here in the US that can be expanded in to, keep it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
You herd it hear last Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Nope. If anything there's not enough qb talent already but we haven't mined southern finland for young QB talent. Who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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