With The First Pick
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Is it time for an NFL D-League?

By Jedidiah Bicker

Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) during the first quarter of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Jerod Evans (4) during the first quarter of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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With College systems being more different from the pro style than ever, is it time for the NFL to look at a minor league option? 

It has been ten years since the NFL finally ended their developmental league program NFL Europe. Previously called The World Football league. NFL Europe started out as a minor league program that extended from Berlin all the way to Sacramento California. Giving teams an outlet to develop players that were picked in the later rounds of the draft.

While also giving bust a second chance. The premise was pretty easy to follow, each team had a certain amount of players they could send to teams, so you would see players from different organizations playing on the same team. Also teams had their own developmental players that were not on a NFL roster, they could use to fill out their depth chart. Players like Brad Johnson, Mark Brunell and even Kurt Warner were signal callers in the league.

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In 2007 with a failing profits and teams struggling to pay players NFL Europe ended. Many fans didn’t really notice, but for those of us that wanted football all year round it was some what of a hit. I can remember watching NFL Europe and charting players I thought would translate to the next level. For the analyst and scouting community it was a great league!

One of the major conversations in the analyst and scouting community last season was that the league lacked elite quarterbacks. Going down the list of this years starters you would have a hard time finding more than twenty guys that are good enough to lead a team to the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl.

With teams airing it out more and more these days, the quarterback position is at an all time premium. Teams can no longer build a team around an elite back and defense like they could fifteen years ago. The last team that did that was the 2001 Ravens and even they could not duplicate it.

Given the new need, an NFL D-League makes sense. I would propose using this league to continue to build teams across borders while also building momentum here in the States. Making a league of about sixteen teams. Eight teams in the US split by east and west. Four teams in Mexico/South America. Four teams in Europe, with possibly two of those teams in Germany, where football is growing.

With the US teams I would try to find a market where their re no pro teams like Little Rock Arkansas or Jackson Mississippi, so they could build a fan base that was not competing. I would also put a veteran quota on each team. Saying each team has to have two ex Pro-Bowlers, so that fans have at least some recognizable players. I would require at least two players from the region, giving area fans some one to watch.

Giving fans an actual NFL product would give them more interest than a arena league would. It also gives NFL teams a look at how their players stack up against upper competition. Another advantage is the coaching aspect. A D-League would allow the NFL to see how coaching prospects preform in a head coach setting.

Moving from a coordinator to a head coach is harder than many realize. Giving teams an outlet to try guys out, would answer a lot of questions they might have about a head coaching candidate.

Lastly getting back to the Quarterbacks. The best quarterback in the league right now is Tom Brady, a developmental quarterback at one time. In the current league teams don’t seem to be willing to wait for a Tom Brady type player any more.

Teams tend to throw a signal caller out for  game or two and make a quick judgment, on whether he “has it”. If I go back in history most of the greatest quarterbacks were guys allowed to sit and watch. Instituting a D-League would allow just that. Giving teams a chance to get a player used to a pro-style system. Also getting a quarterback used to a pro level speed of play.

I’m not sure if the NFL will ever try another D-league. I for one feel like now would be as good a time as any. There are so many good players overlooked in the league today. With a little more time and a little more work those players could be special.

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