[RageWizard]

I was reading that the NFL is thinking about implementing an additional game to the regular season. This game would be an international game. How do you think this game will be implemented in the season?

I think that they should get rid of the bye week and make teams play a international game that is nationally televised during the same time that used to be the bye week, then give an additonal week of rest.

Ex. The patriots would play somebody on week 7 at home then they would play somebody else sometime between week 8 and week 9 not on a Sunday or Monday in a international venue, then play somebody during week 10.

So technically they would miss a weeks game but in reality they would have to play a game with a longer rest before and after the international game.

[The Seer]

I think the whole idea is fuked up. The internationals can watch it on tv. No player wants to put is body through another game to play for someone other than the home crowd.

[pavyracer]

American football will not catch up in the rest of the world just by playing a game once a year out of the US. The kids in high school don't play it so growing up noone really knows anything about it. If NFL wants to expand they should start promoting the game with young kids by offer football clinics in the countries they are interested in expanding and not just throw in the occasional game every year. If you are not an american, football makes as much sense as curling does to americans.

[RageWizard]

I think the whole idea is fuked up. The internationals can watch it on tv. No player wants to put is body through another game to play for someone other than the home crowd.

Dude, it is gonna happen, last year the NFL made way to much dough for it not to happen. Plus the NFL is chomping at the bit to get a more international footprint. They got rid of the NFL Europe because nobody wants to see the NFL minor league in these european and asian countries. They have to replace that experiment with something else to appeal to the soccer loving crowd around the world.
An english dude who works with me just discovered the game and says the reason that he didn't watch before is because of an soccer is king attitude, but upon actually checking it out and getting over the commercials, he can't get enough of it and is asking all kinds of questions about it.

[ShamsWoof10]

American football will not catch up in the rest of the world just by playing a game once a year out of the US. The kids in high school don't play it so growing up noone really knows anything about it. If NFL wants to expand they should start promoting the game with young kids by offer football clinics in the countries they are interested in expanding and not just throw in the occasional game every year. If you are not an american, football makes as much sense as curling does to americans.

I said it before and I"ll say it again... This has long been planned and they are going global in steps... They know what they are doing... It doesn't make sense to you now but it will when it's complete... These other countries do have HS football as a matter of fact they were up at "Ford Field" a couple of years ago competing... The countries I recall being there were "Canada, US, Mexico, Japan, and Germany"... There was more but I can't recall... One of the coaches I coached for in the past was the head coach of the US team...

The NBA wants to develope something called "NBA China"..

[5 star bomb]

Just pull 1 preseason game... the preseason is way too long as it is... 3 weeks is perfect for preseason

[RageWizard]

Just pull 1 preseason game... the preseason is way too long as it is... 3 weeks is perfect for preseason

I agree with the shorter preseason but that doesn't address the travel time and time changes aspects of playing regular season games during the year.

[The Seer]

Just pull 1 preseason game... the preseason is way too long as it is... 3 weeks is perfect for preseason

Preseason is more for talent evaluation. It wouldn't help much. Your stars would still be playing an extra game. I hate how everything is about money. Nobody ever think s they have enough. Football has been over there for a while. I played with guys that played in college in Finland. Plus, some played semi pro there. Also, I know coaches that coach semi pro and small pro leagues there.

[swede96]

Soooo, this is like that game they played in England this season? They want to fly two American football teams over-seas to play for international fans?

[ShamsWoof10]

Cutting pre season by one game isn't an ok idea... They need at least 3 though...

[RageWizard]

Soooo, this is like that game they played in England this season? They want to fly two American football teams over-seas to play for international fans?

Yeah, the NFL will be doing that once or twice a year for a couple of years in the future. I was reading that they want to expand to a 17th international game for each team during the year, and they will be bringing it up for a vote when all of the owners get together.

[swede96]

Yeah...I don't really get why they would do that. It would count towards their record and everything? Sounds like a bad idea to me...but I haven't really read up on it. We've got these guys flying all over the country already...how are they supposed to squeeze in an international flight? Furthermore, I think taking away the bye for it is going to cause a lot of injuries. If they MUST, why not just play one of the 16 games they have already over seas?

[RageWizard]

Yeah...I don't really get why they would do that. It would count towards their record and everything? Sounds like a bad idea to me...but I haven't really read up on it. We've got these guys flying all over the country already...how are they supposed to squeeze in an international flight? Furthermore, I think taking away the bye for it is going to cause a lot of injuries. If they MUST, why not just play one of the 16 games they have already over seas?

Nobody wants to give up a home game.

[swede96]

Fair enough. I know my boyfriend would be PISSED if one of his games was moved to Europe. Season ticket holders all over the country would throw a fit.

So why do it? How are they trying to make money? Are they hoping other countries start football leagues, or do they just want international fans?

P.S. Thank you for not talking to me like I'm an idiot. I'm trying to learn here.

[ShamsWoof10]

Fair enough. I know my boyfriend would be PISSED if one of his games was moved to Europe. Season ticket holders all over the country would throw a fit.

So why do it? How are they trying to make money? Are they hoping other countries start football leagues, or do they just want international fans?

P.S. Thank you for not talking to me like I'm an idiot. I'm trying to learn here.

They want international growth Swede... I believe NE will be targeting China... I had a link from NFL.com about that earlier this fall...

IMO it is a baby step to establishing a GLOBAL NFL so now when someone calls themselves "WORLD CHAMPS" they actually will be...LOL

[RageWizard]

Fair enough. I know my boyfriend would be PISSED if one of his games was moved to Europe. Season ticket holders all over the country would throw a fit.

So why do it? How are they trying to make money? Are they hoping other countries start football leagues, or do they just want international fans?

P.S. Thank you for not talking to me like I'm an idiot. I'm trying to learn here.

Not a problem, remember there is no stupid question just stupid people.

The reason for the international game in my opinion is to make more money. The NFL revenue grow has about maxed out in the U.S. and in order to continue growing the international market must be tapped. This season's London game generated a tremendous amount of buzz and money even with the worst team in football. Can you imagine if they had a game with the Patriots and Colts in Hamburg, Amsterdam, or Toyko.
A more cynical side of me thinks that it might be packback for the international soccer federation's (FIFA) (I know the letters don't add up) stipulation for a North American Soccer league for the World Cup about a decade ago. The soccer league is actually still in the States somehow because just about all americans can't watch soccer and the sport is not suited for american television.

[swede96]

They want international growth Swede... I believe NE will be targeting China... I had a link from NFL.com about that earlier this fall...

IMO it is a baby step to establishing a GLOBAL NFL so now when someone calls themselves "WORLD CHAMPS" they actually will be...LOL

But we already call our Baseball Championships the "World Series"...why not football too?

[Shark79]

Doesnt the NBA do its preseason outside the US? If so , why not let these guys do 1 or 2 off season games Internationally as well?? I think it would be good marketing ... but disagree with doing it during the season.

[Shark79]

Not a problem, remember there is no stupid question just stupid people.

The reason for the international game in my opinion is to make more money. The NFL revenue grow has about maxed out in the U.S. and in order to continue growing the international market must be tapped. This season's London game generated a tremendous amount of buzz and money even with the worst team in football. Can you imagine if they had a game with the Patriots and Colts in Hamburg, Amsterdam, or Toyko.
A more cynical side of me thinks that it might be packback for the international soccer federation's (FIFA) (I know the letters don't add up) stipulation for a North American Soccer league for the World Cup about a decade ago. The soccer league is actually still in the States somehow because just about all americans can't watch soccer and the sport is not suited for american television.

Federacion Internacional de Futbol Asociado

[swede96]

Not a problem, remember there is no stupid question just stupid people.

The reason for the international game in my opinion is to make more money. The NFL revenue grow has about maxed out in the U.S. and in order to continue growing the international market must be tapped. This season's London game generated a tremendous amount of buzz and money even with the worst team in football. Can you imagine if they had a game with the Patriots and Colts in Hamburg, Amsterdam, or Toyko.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to follow a football game if it were being played in Amsterdam.

Duuuude...wait...who has the ball?....huh?....okay where's the scoreboard again?.....f*ck it, I'm goin' to get more nachos...

[swede96]

Doesnt the NBA do its preseason outside the US? If so , why not let these guys do 1 or 2 off season games Internationally as well?? I think it would be good marketing ... but disagree with doing it during the season.

But I want to pre-season games to be at home so I can walk into Gilette in a tiny Pats bikini and try to get on TV!

[RageWizard]

But I want to pre-season games to be at home so I can walk into Gilette in a tiny Pats bikini and try to get on TV!

You can do that when it snows heavily. You will have a better chance of being on the news.

[ShamsWoof10]

But we already call our Baseball Championships the "World Series"...why not football too?

IMO I don't think it's about calling it the "World Series" it's about making it a "World Series"... Once enough interest GLOBALLY is generated by marketing the NFL they will either expand the NFL or move teams there... Why wouldn't they.. they are moving everything else that used to be here out to other countries... This is going to take time though and my guess is about 30 years...

[RageWizard]

Federacion Internacional de Futbol Asociado

Thanks for the clarification.

[swede96]

Yeah, and in the hospital.

I'm actually really looking forward to next season already. I'm much happier in warm weather. I can't WAIT to tailgate outside Gillette and not have to take off my gloves to eat my burger and freeze my ass off when I have to make wee.

[The Seer]

Where would they go next, Mars?.....so they can spark up interest of aliens.

[ShamsWoof10]

Where would they go next, Mars?.....so they can spark up interest of aliens.

They have "money" on Mars..? The Fed. must load up the probes with cash before launching them... Since it's printed out of "thin air" and they are unsure of the atmosphere up there I am assuming they would have to print the "money" here...

[Shark79]

Where would they go next, Mars?.....so they can spark up interest of aliens.

China


And play some skinny chinese ... and then get thrown in jail for killing the whole team.

Just an idea

[pavyracer]

China


And play some skinny chinese ... and then get thrown in jail for killing the whole team.

Just an idea

They can recruit the chinese guy from Rush Hour 3. He was like 7'-6" all muscle.

[BadNina]

I love it when we spread culture throughout the world.

[slacker00]

Just drop one preseason game per team and substitute with one international game per week for 16 weeks of the season.

Are we really ready to go from one international game to 16? That's quite a jump. But, more football to watch is great.

[Shark79]

They can recruit the chinese guy from Rush Hour 3. He was like 7'-6" all muscle.

Jajajajaja ... true ... big guy ... or use Sumo Wrestlers and put the D wit those dude ... were getting somewhere, no?

[imgv94]

3 weeks of preseason- give teams two byes one regular one and one after traveling from out of country.

[Dark Horse]

New commish doesn't get it. The football being played across the oceans is with a round ball. When the ball is not round it is called rugby. Rugby is popular in a few countries, and its fans laugh at all the padding worn in the NFL. This is not the NBA that can tap into a worldwide market of people familiar with the game. In the same way that Americans are not interested in soccer, so the rest of the world doesn't care about football.