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THE WLAF IS DEAD ... LONG LIVE NFL EUROPE?

The NFL made the long expected decision .... they cancelled the WLAF for a second time. This time however we were given a re-vamp in the form of "NFL Europe". After some consideration, Blunt Views wishes to state our opinion over the change. We don't like it. We don't hate it, but we sure don't like it.

The WLAF wasn't supposed to be the NFL, it was something different - an experimental league all to itself, supposedly with autonomy. When the NFL comes to Europe - damn it I want it to be the NFL. Not a feeder league, not an experimental league. I want to see the Claymores play in the NFL against the NFL, I want to see a Superbowl clash between the Galaxy and the Cowboys, I want to see London (Yes London, not England, howcome it's England Monarchs and not German Fire? Or Dutch Admirals. England should get another team because lets face it London is a different nation all to itself) and Buffalo face the prospect of having to play each other to win the first draft pick (by losing). But NO... Europe has the NFL Europe. Not a division, not a conference but a League called NFL Europe.

You see we failed. Yeah WE failed, that's you and me. We didn't support the NFL you see, we didn't give them as much money as they wanted. We didn't bring our friends. No that's not true at all we didn't fail ... the NFL failed. How many stupid ideas were tried out - suspend the league for 2 years, cut us down to only 6 teams, celebrity kickers. How many other opportunities were missed? The league isn't about making money. Damn it have you SEEN how much the NFL made with the TV deals? How much of that will float over to NFL Europe? We're a league run on a budget with limited resources and ambitions.

Say what you like about Mike Keller (and most people seemed to), he had vision - he believed that the Claymores COULD fill Murrayfield, that they COULD play NFL teams and win. Sure it might take 10 years in Scotland, but if you do it right then it's possible. Frankfurt has the support that Bud Adams would die for.

Constantly the NFL misread the market. They took too long to make moves. They protected themselves and their sport and money and didn't give Britball support at its height when it could well have made football a break-through sport. And here's the problem. Football is expensive. You can't deny it, pads, officials, and stadiums etc. cost. Basketball, soccer, rugby even hockey (not the ice version) and baseball need very little in the way of equipment and what the do have costs effectively little.

So what does that tell you? You have to love the game more than you love your money. Owners aren't like that, football to them is a business. Over in the UK billionaires pour millions into soccer teams trying to make them invincible. In the US? Billionaires buy football teams and try and make them profit machines.

All we ask is for either independence or a level playing field. Let NFL Europe mean what it says ... the NFL playing in Europe, that's Miami, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Denver, Green Bay, Washington, San Francisco and the rest over here playing against OUR teams ... the Claymores, Monarchs, Galaxy, Fire, Dragons and Admirals. Otherwise let the WLAF live as it should do

  1. with enough support and finance to support good ideas
  2. with a bare minimum of 8 teams
  3. with the chance to compete against other leagues on salary (not the NFL)
  4. with the fans being listened to
There was a saying
"No Taxation without Representation"
"No support without consultation"
What we ask for is our voice to count - without which we are forced to face voting with our feet and then no-one wins.

We want the chance to play for real - if you give us the NFL give us the NFL not a new wrapping.

Of course perhaps the NFL is scared, how long till a non-American team will defeat the "World Champions?"

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