NFL to play up to 2 games/year outside USA

[skaybaltimore]

I was surprised to see this article in USA Today, and equally surprised to hear very little fan response -- particularly, very little negative fan response. Personally, I think it's a ridiculous idea. It robs both teams of one home game, and it adds additional travel stress (maybe not so much if the games are played in Mexico or Canada, but England and/or Germany are hardly just around the border).

It would be bad enough to see this implemented during the pre-season; but to demand that it be done during the regular season is totally off the wall. I don't know who came up with this brainstorm, but I see nothing but negatives across the board as far as the fans and the players are concerned.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2006-10-24-international-games_x.htm

GO RAVENS!!!

[sailorsam]

:insane: I can see a Chargers game in Mexico, or a Bills game in Toronto, but can u imagine the Jets v Dolphins in Tokyo? Exhibition games, maybe. inevitably somebody is going to lose a playoff spot by one game and point to their multiple travel days to and from Barcelona as the difference in the season.
you're right, Skay, this is STUPID!!!
I don't know if the owners voted on this, but they should limit participants to those owners in favor.

[skaybaltimore]

But even if the travel plans happen to coincide due to the location of the team(s) involved, why should ANY team be forced to give up home field advantage, while others are not? Is Europe really clamoring for US-style football? The last time I looked, SOCCER was still Europe's #1 sport. So where is this even coming from in the first place?

It sounds to me like just another attempt by billionaire owners to force-feed something on a captive audience that might somehow benefit them by this endeavor, at the expense of the fans and the players. If this isn't the greatest LOSE-LOSE proposition I've ever seen, then I'm really missing something here.

GO RAVENS!!!

[ravenwoman]

I think the whole idea is horrible. I can appreciate the whole world wanting a piece of the NFL, but excess travel in any sport diminishes the quality of the game because of travel fatigue.

You don't see the Olympics doing this. They pick one site and the whole world watches on TV.

I thought NFL Europe was suppose to satisfy the football needs of the fans overseas. This whole idea is going to screw up some good teams chances of playing in the playoffs because the schedule will be all screwed up. Look at the Thursday night football experiment. It really messed up the Ravens and caused us to lose.

I hope the players union fights this. I also resent losing a home game and I don't care if its once every 16 years. Home team means Baltimore!!

[skaybaltimore]

Thanks, RW. In terms of it being fought, as far as I understand it, it's already a done deal. Plus, I'd imagine there's some sort of "penalty" clause that will slap fines on coaches who voice anything other than the typical party line of: "Oh, it's a GREAT idea". I already heard one coach -- I can't remember who -- dish up the party line, and I just wanted to puke. What a total crock.

GO RAVENS!!!

[RavensInBrazil]

Whatever you guys say, this only increases the odds that I actually get to watch a game :D

[Mista T]

I think it's a great idea. As long as the Ravens games are played in Munich during Oktoberfest. :beer: Or at the new Wembley Stadium, or Skydome. What a road trip!:thumbup:

See other board members' comments on the original thread (http://www.profootball24x7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1520).

[PurpleRulz]

I hope we are never picked for these games. That is a terrible idea.

[Greg]

The travel won't be a problem if they schedule the bye week accordingly.

[Art-Florida]

I am stunned at the provincialism and downright selfishness displayed so far in this thread.

A few facts:

It is about 300 miles FURTHER to San F rancisco than it is to London.

True, Berlin is 300 miles or so further than S.F. What a horrible tradedy that the fans in Baltimore might have to give up a home game every 48 years, so the folks in Bavaria can get to see Jamal Lewis stutterstep his way for another of his trademark 3 yard runs.

The away game (which you can bet will be richly compensated for) every 16 years might mean the loss of one fun afternoon for about 60,000 Maryland faithful. Meanwhile, they, along with the rest of the planet -18 or 19 MILLION or so - will have to settle for the horrible experience of sitting in their warm rooms in front of a wide-screen while drinking their beverage of choice. What a traumatic ordeal that will be!

Oh woe, of woe, the Canadian division is coming. The south american conference is on the horizon. The northen Europe conference is in the future. Hell, you may even see a team in Beijing some day. (an hour later you want to see another game)

Who WAS that shameless tinkerer who came up with the idea of the forward pass? Heresy!

Football was made to be played with leather helmets.

[skaybaltimore]

I am stunned at the provincialism and downright selfishness displayed so far in this thread.

A few facts:

It is about 300 miles FURTHER to San F rancisco than it is to London.

True, Berlin is 300 miles or so further than S.F. What a horrible tradedy that the fans in Baltimore might have to give up a home game every 48 years, so the folks in Bavaria can get to see Jamal Lewis stutterstep his way for another of his trademark 3 yard runs.

The away game (which you can bet will be richly compensated for) every 16 years might mean the loss of one fun afternoon for about 60,000 Maryland faithful. Meanwhile, they, along with the rest of the planet -18 or 19 MILLION or so - will have to settle for the horrible experience of sitting in their warm rooms in front of a wide-screen while drinking their beverage of choice. What a traumatic ordeal that will be!

Oh woe, of woe, the Canadian division is coming. The south american conference is on the horizon. The northen Europe conference is in the future. Hell, you may even see a team in Beijing some day. (an hour later you want to see another game)

Who WAS that shameless tinkerer who came up with the idea of the forward pass? Heresy!

Football was made to be played with leather helmets.LOL. I have to assume you've descended into major irony here, since in the original thread you seemed to be among the few who actually grasped the NWO bent of this whole "experiment". I, for one, am not quite ready to wake up and smell the Amero-Dollar.

And speaking of the original thread, sorry MistaT -- I guess I didn't do a good enough search before starting this one. If there's any way to merge the two...

GO RAVENS

[PARavensJeff]

I think there have been a couple threads talking about this. That said, the fans can holler & scream, throw a tantrum like a 2 year old, etc, the owners & league don't care. All they care about is $$$$$$$$$$$.

[skaybaltimore]

Well, since several people have mentioned that it only equates to losing 1 home game every 16 years, why even bother in the first place? All it will end up doing is messing up OUR league for no reason whatsoever. If they're so keen on US football in Europe to begin with, then let them start their own leagues, get it to a high level FIRST, then, maybe once they've got that going, have a sort of "super super bowl", with THEIR super bowl winner playing OUR super bowl winner. THAT might actually make sense. This is pure nonsense.

GO RAVENS!!!

[MikeinGlennDale]

I love the idea that the NFL is going worldwide. So you lose a home game. Get a passport and go see a different part of the world if it gets to you that much. It's really not that hard or that expensive. As another poster said, the flight to Europe is not too much worse than the flight to California. I've done both many ... many times. Both flights suck but at the end of the day travelling has it's perks. Bratwurst or Jaegerschnitzel in Germany; Mozarella di Bufala in Italy and don't forget the capacino.

It's selfish to think that only US citizens can play in the NFL. Take a peek at the NBA makeup currently.

The implications reach much farther than the game. Politically, this is a fantastic way to reach out and show that we're about more than just 'shock and awe'.

Before you knee jerk and flame this email. Understand that I'm in a unique position to make this observation. I'm a front line combat vet of Persian Gulf 1 and a former US Paratrooper in the Airborne Field Artillery.



The NFL is strengthened in making this move.

[skaybaltimore]

Baloney. Selfish to think the NFL should only be played in the US? It's ludicrous to think we owe ANYBODY else ANYTHING when it comes to the NFL. If anyone is that interested in watching USA NFL football, let THEM buy the plane tickets and come HERE to watch it, if it's so inexpensive. Otherwise, let Europe develop its own teams FIRST. Then there'd be something to even talk about. As it currently stands, there's nothing to even talk about, IMO.

And whether or not you're a vet is irrelevant to this discussion. We're talking about football, not war or politics. You want sports to serve as some sort of "message", support the Olympics, and leave the NFL out of it.

GO RAVENS!!!

[MikeinGlennDale]

I see your point, enjoy your postings.

The NFL is showing some outreach to people outside of the US by making this decision. I like the decision.