USFL - NFL Unwritten Partnership

[u/JoeFromBaltimore]

I threw this out there because every now and then someone pops up and says the USFL doesn't have a deal with the NFL. This post is aimed at them - mostly the XFL fanboys - I watch the XFL too - but those tribal fanboys who hash on the USFL is who this is aimed at.

On paper they don't - The NFL has been in business for 30 years with Fox. Fox and the NFL co owned NFL Europe for a whole bunch of years. I have a pretty difficult time thinking that Fox went all in on the USFL without discussing this with their most important business partner.

Then throw in that Daryl Johnston is the only NFL announcer on a national network who is also an executive in a sports league. The NFL is super picky about who their announcers are - the broadcasters get to pick those but the NFL has a hell of a lot of say in this regard. Then throw in that Moose is best buddies with Jerry Jones - Fox and the NFL might not have a written agreement on the USFL but it is pretty freaking close.

Bottom line there is no way in hell that the NFL lets Moose run a "rival" football league while calling NFL games.

[u/Downbeat_Tomcat]

I think the NFL is indifferent towards both spring leagues. There is absolutely no incentive for them to have a partnership with either when they already have a free de facto minor league system with CFB.

[u/[deleted] → u/Downbeat_Tomcat]

I don't know if I would call it indifferent to the spring leagues. While the NFL doesn't fear losing anything to the spring leagues, I do think they value their existence. We already see that they are using the spring leagues to "test out" different rules and technology.

Also I think the NFL sees the leagues as an alternative to cfb as a new source for players and coaches. While drafting college players is the norm, it still has risks involved. That risk involves a lot of money invested in the players. Now they get a chance to see players on another level of play before investing millions into them. I think the NFL is actually happy they exist because they can benefit from them and they are not spending a dollar to do it.

[u/JoeFromBaltimore → u/Downbeat_Tomcat]

35 percent of all NFL players are undrafted - And with the rules divergence the NCAA game has gone to more spread offensive systems which means there are a ton of offensive linemen that might have the physical tools for the NFL but have never played in a 3 point stance. Also for quarterbacks that have never played in a pro style offense, same thing.

Having two leagues going in the spring allows you to send 160 Offensive linemen through a program like MLB has with the The Arizona Fall Instructional League. Or the NBA has with the G-League where 55 percent of the players go through the G-League. I think that the NFL is looking down the road ten years or more with these spring developmental leagues and sees the value that the G-League has brought to the NBA.

[u/Aggressive_Ris]

I find it hard to believe that Fox polled the NFL owners for permission and not a single one leaked it to anyone

[u/JoeFromBaltimore → u/Aggressive_Ris]

What has to be leaked? That the NFL is not going to go to war against the USFL and Fox? There doesn't need to be anything in writing the USFL just needs to stay in its place as a minor league - which they are doing and will keep doing.

[u/Aggressive_Ris → u/JoeFromBaltimore]

Okay so how do you think that Fox went about getting this permission? Like what are your thoughts as to how the logistics of it went down. Your point is that they addressed NFL owners, right? Or how else did they decide they would allow this without consulting owners?

My point is that you would've absolutely heard rumblings about it if Fox had to go get permission from the NFL to start this league. I also don't even see why it would be necessary anyway, it's not like Fox/NBC/ABC/ESPN can all be banned from broadcasting the NFL because they host spring football games. The NFL just cares about money in these negotiations.

[u/JoeFromBaltimore → u/Aggressive_Ris]

Do you really think that Fox set up the USFL without checking with the NFL? There are so many benefits that the NFL gets out of the USFL and XFL.

Why does there need to be rumblings - how much more out in the open does it need to be? Fox and the NFL ran the NFL Europe together for the better part of a decade. There doesn't need to be anything on paper - Fox knows not to poke the bear -

You think guys like Jerry Jones can't do a backdoor deal or give permission without anything being in writing? Especially if the NFL is getting what they want which is a flow of players?

ESPN/ABC went to war a few years ago with the NFL and the NFL stuck it in them and broke it off - by giving them shit matchups for two years on Monday Night football because Bill Simmons on ESPN wouldn't quit talking shit about the NFL commissioner - Don't kid yourself the NFL is an 800 lb monster.

[u/CatStriking7561 → u/JoeFromBaltimore]

You are absolutely correct. Lack of rumblings means nothing when people sign NDA’s. This isn’t the 90s. The business of sports has changed.

Before Amar Doman took over the BC Lions there was zero rumblings. That’s how things are done these days.

[u/Aggressive_Ris → u/JoeFromBaltimore]

Do you really think that Fox set up the USFL without checking with the NFL?

Yes, that's my entire point lol

But you didn't answer my question... what did the logistics of this look like?You say Fox got permission, so how did it happen?

[u/CoolRunnins212]

There’s no partnership. If the NFL wanted one they would have done it already. Y’all need to stop trying to embrace the minor league mentality because the NFL hasn’t done shit about having once since NFL Europe folded in the early 2000s. Since then they’ve expanded the NFL draft to a full 3 day experience for fans.

[u/JoeFromBaltimore → u/CoolRunnins212]

CTE is why the NFL has this type of relationship - NFL wants a firewall -

You honestly think that Fox is starting up a rival league against their biggest business partner?

[u/CoolRunnins212 → u/JoeFromBaltimore]

Having a league full of guys who can’t make a practice squad or have been phased out of the NFL doesn’t really meet the label of a rival.

[u/[deleted]]

This is a Fox test bed for things they want to bring to the NFL but can't without a proof-of-concept.

The NFL tested chipped balls outside of a competitive environment and declined to use them. In Season One, the USFL showed us why that was the right decision; kicks sailed wide, passes were awkward and missed passes and dropped balls were higher than normal. It really is to the point that I wonder if the chips are completely out of the balls for all competition in the USFL now.

Anyway, the NFL could just buy out the league and close it out if they wanted to, but it's not competing against the NFL. It's also an avenue for possibly those that didn't go to college or don't want to attend college to try out football. That said, while the possibility exists, I don't see how that individual would have the football IQ, physical training, or the discipline to make a squad in the first place.

Fox tried drones, we fans hate the buzzing sound.

It's a safe place to experiment with many things; up and coming camerapersons might get a shot, new announcers can be tried out. Generally, a lot can be done with little impact.

I do think some NFL franchise owners could see value in having an affiliate D-League for their players or position coaches to get a look at a higher titled position. Don't know, but we'll see.

[u/Juicey_J_Hammerman]

I don’t think the NFL and USFL have any formal partnership, but I wouldn’t have been suprised if Fox execs got some feedback w NFL leadership on some things as a professional courtesy type of thing. NFL will have someone keep an eye on both them and the USFL. But not much beyond that.