NFLE gone

[SuperHornet]

This was probably coming. However, there is still a requirement, I would think, for player development. I've been wanting a full-blown minor league system, which hasn't existed for years. I'm not even sure every NFL team ever had a minor league team, though I'm fairly certain that the Iggles had one. We could start out with four regional AAA-level leagues. I've devised such a scenario. Most nicknames are based either on old pro teams in those cities or on local college teams. (There is precedent for this; the Cleveland Rams were named after the team at Fordham University.) I've tried to keep as many teams as possible close to their parent clubs, but that wasn't possible in many cases.

I've intentionally made these 8-team leagues divided into two divisions. This allows a split 10-game schedule featuring two games for all in-division teams, one game against each opposite division team. After the schedule is over, there would be a two-week playoff to determine a champion. After week 12, NFL rosters would expand to allow some direct call-ups. Let me know what you think.

Pacific Coast Football League

North Division

Tacoma Eagles (SEA)
Portland Vikings (NYJ)
Sacramento Hornets (SF)
Stockton Tigers (OAK)

South Division

Fresno Bulldogs (STL)
Bakersfield Blaze& (SD)
Laughlin Gamblers% (KC)
Flagstaff Lumberjacks (AZ)

Big Sky Football League

West Division

Boise Smurfs^ (WAS)
Boseman Bobcats (HOU)
Missoula Grizzlies (DAL)
Ogden Wildcats (DEN)

East Division

Salt Lake City Cougars (DET)
Havre Saints (CIN)
Pierre Jackrabbits (BUF)
Duluth Eskimos (MIN)

North Eastern Football League

West Division

Canton Bulldogs (CHI)
Dayton Triangles (CLE)
Hammond (IN) Pros (IND)
Rock Island Independents (GB)

East Division

Providence Steamroller (NE)
Pottsville (PA) Maroons (PIT)
Frankford (PA) Yellow Jackets (PHI)
Portsmouth Spartans (NYG)

South Eastern Football League

West Division

Jackson Rebels (NO)
Mobile Crimson Tide (JAX)
Pensacola Flyboys$ (TB)
Memphis Showboats* (TEN)

East Division

Orlando Thunder+ (MIA)
Albany (GA) Marines@ (ATL)
Charleston Gamecocks (BAL)
Chapel Hill Tar Heels (CAR)

& The Bakersfield Blaze are a California League (Class A) baseball team.
^ An obvious play on Boise State's Smurf Turf.
% Naturally, there is lots of gambling in Laughlin.
$ Pensacola is the birthplace of Naval Aviation.
* The Memphis Showboats were a team in the '80s era USFL.
+ The Orlando Thunder were a member of the original World League of American Football (later NFL Europa).
@ There is a Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany.

 

['68griz]

Please do NOT ever associate anything in Missoula with the Cowboys -- the only team I root against more often is the Yankees.

 

[SuperHornet]

No offense intended, '68. Nobody said that the parent team affiliations, particularly outside of the Chicago-Canton relationship (the Bulldogs moved to Chicago to become the Bears) had to be accepted as is. It's just an idea.

Other than that, are you opposed to this, '68? Do you think Missoula could support a AAA-level football team, regardless of which NFL team it reported to?

 

['68griz]

I, of course, don't really know, but I sort of doubt it. Two reasons: one, here in Missoula, most everything athletic is focused on UM and, two, there already is a RMFL team, the Phoenix, which actually plays some of its games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium -- I've never been to a game (although I probably should have) and I truly don't know anyone who's been either. I'm just not sure the enthusiasm is there for anyone other than the Griz.