The NFL folded its development league in Europe after 16 years on Friday, calling the decision a sound business move that will allow for a stronger international focus on regular-season games outside the United States.
I think it's a very interesting move. On the one hand, the league was losing $30 million a season, and getting the NFL on European television probably will be a better way to market the sport internationally.
On the other hand, NFL Europe had just set a league record for attendance at over 20,000 a game. Those numbers aren't bad, and the sport did look to be catching on to some degree in Germany.
However, having American player play football in Germany isn't what the NFL really wants - they need German players playing football in Germany. It will be interesting to see if they help promote a professional native league.
Another interesting question is whether or not they will bring a developmental league to the United States. The benefits are obvious - having the teams close to home allow your NFL coaches to keep a closer eye on the talent. In fact, I'm convinced if they gave each franchise it's own developmental team, the NFL coaches get pretty hands on and the players would really be able to benefit. Maybe then teams would send some of their brighter prospects rather than just the fringe guys. For example, the Redskins held on to Jordan Palmer and sent Casey Bramlet. It shows that teams felt their players got more out of the minicamps than NFL Europe.
The downside is that the NFL has a working agreement with the CFL, and adding a developmental league in the States is going to draw away from the CFL's pool of talent. The NFL feels it is in the league's best interest that the CFL stay strong, and thus hopefully the sport of football in the Great White North. And they're right, but how do you weigh that against developing your own players?
It is going to be very interesting to see how the NFL handles this on a number of fronts.