For a while I've wondered why there's no minor league system for the NFL. Reading this column on The Ringer put that thought back in my head:
https://theringer.com/the-nfl-has-an-age-problem-7068825845e4#.xmj8r38w1
Basically, the NFL has used the NCAA as its de facto minor league system, but that approach has major flaws. The goal of a minor league system is to develop players, but the goal of a big time college football program is to win. Those goals are often at odds with each other. Also, given how much damage playing football at any level does to the human body, these kids are wasting prime football playing years not getting paid anything.
Has the NFL ever looked into a minor league? One big problem would be the numbers. It would be tricky for each NFL team to fill a full 53 man roster for a minor league team. Or maybe they would, if you took away the practice squad and made the minor league team fill the same role. The minor league team and major league team would practice together.
Why isn't this being done?
https://theringer.com/the-nfl-has-an-age-problem-7068825845e4#.xmj8r38w1
Basically, the NFL has used the NCAA as its de facto minor league system, but that approach has major flaws. The goal of a minor league system is to develop players, but the goal of a big time college football program is to win. Those goals are often at odds with each other. Also, given how much damage playing football at any level does to the human body, these kids are wasting prime football playing years not getting paid anything.
Has the NFL ever looked into a minor league? One big problem would be the numbers. It would be tricky for each NFL team to fill a full 53 man roster for a minor league team. Or maybe they would, if you took away the practice squad and made the minor league team fill the same role. The minor league team and major league team would practice together.
Why isn't this being done?