NFL expansion to 34 teams and beyond

[flamethrower]

Which cities would you want the NFL to expand into.
I have done this thread before. But, I'm not looking for it.
Also the NFL really needs a developmental league. Very few NCAA teams run a pro-style offense. Which means that most quarterbacks coming out of college don't line up under center much. I also did a thread about that. The tough part of that one was finding 32 small cities that would work. I admit that some were reaches. 1 in particular was a reach longer than the Grand Canyon. Also the Raiders are probably gonna be out of Oakland in either 2017, or 2018 at the latest.
Expanding to 33 teams won't work. Expanding to 34 teams does kinda work. But, I feel that London England by itself won't work. You ever been on a flight from Europe to the United States, or Canada. I included Canada because I know that we have Canadians that are board members. It's a 6+hour flight. That's if you fly from New York to Europe. The real sad thing is imagine if a West Coast team has to travel to London, or London to the West Coast. This makes no sense. In fact the only way the NFL expands into London that in my opinion makes any sense. is if the NFL expands into Europe. Is if the NFL expands by 4 teams. London does make sense. Manchester, London, Hamburg, and Berlin as a European division.
US cities that I would like to see the NFL expand into. Birmingham Alabama, Portland Oregon, San Antonio Texas, Louisville Kentucky, and Oklahoma City. I listed 5. But, I know that the NFL won't ever expand past 36 for the next 50 years minimum.

[DarthMonk]

32 was Rozelle's dream. I understand why. I preferred 30.

With 32 and a 16 game schedule, only 6 of 16 games are in division. One could lose all division games and go 10-6.

With 30 teams you get 3 divisions per conference and 5 teams in each division. Then 8 of 16 games are division games and they are more meaningful.

The trouble is it's more difficult to rotate the other 8 games throughout the league in order to guarantee every team plays every other team at least once on a regular basis. Now, that is guaranteed every 3 years in conference and every 4 years out of conference.

I am completely against further expansion. I'd love to see contraction to 30 but I doubt that will happen any time soon. A bad economy could bring it about but an economy that bad would probably mean the league is in trouble.

I would like to see some realignment. With no restrictions (things like Washington and Dallas must be in the same division, etc.) the optimal realignment is the following chart and corresponding map:





In the alignment given in Table 1, no team is more than one time zone from any other team in its division. That is not the case now. The current alignment is based on the following 4 restrictions:

The composition of the AFC and NFC
Dallas and Washington in the same division as each other
Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota in the same division
Buffalo, Miami, the New York Jets, and New England in the same division

Here are the current maps:

NFC


AFC

[DEHog]

You need to update that DM...no more St.Louis

I travel to San Antonio every year (use to live there) and thought it would be a great place but not sure they'll support a new
team because it's Cowboys or nothing down there.

I would like to see some moves, Jacksonville need to moved, you would think another small market team would do well up North (Like G.B) say
maybe in Boise??

[flamethrower]

I actually agree that 30 would be the idea. But, the current commish wants to expand into London England.
The 2 teams that could be deleted are the Jaguars, and Jets.
How I would re-align the NFL. I would do it by total region. No more current AFC vs NFC
I would do it like this.
Eastern Conference and Western Conference
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division Patriots, Giants, Eagles, Redskins, Ravens
Southern Division Panthers, Falcons, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Titans
Northern Division Steelers, Bills, Browns, Bengals, Chiefs
Lakes Division Colts, Bears, Lions, Vikings, Packers
South West Division Cowboys, Texans, Saints, Broncos, Cardinals
Pacific Division Chargers, Rams, Raiders, Seahawks, 49ers

[flamethrower]

You need to update that DM...no more St.Louis

I travel to San Antonio every year (use to live there) and thought it would be a great place but not sure they'll support a new
team because it's Cowboys or nothing down there.

I would like to see some moves, Jacksonville need to moved, you would think another small market team would do well up North (Like G.B) say
maybe in Boise??

Raiders have talked to San Antonio. That is why I included them.
Jacksonville is a flop. Oklahoma City, Saint Louis, Birmingham Alabama, or Louisville would work. Saint Louis was done wrong by the Rams. But, I admit that I am reaching by including Saint Louis. In a former thread. I included Boise Idaho. Someone thought that was a reach. I do agree it was.

[Deadskins]

32 was Rozelle's dream. I understand why. I preferred 30.

With 32 and a 16 game schedule, only 6 of 16 games are in division. One could lose all division games and go 10-6.

With 30 teams you get 3 divisions per conference and 5 teams in each division. Then 8 of 16 games are division games and they are more meaningful.

If they expanded by eight teams then you could keep 4 divisions at 5 teams each and satisfy your goal. But I don't think America could really support eight more teams.

[DEHog]

You need to update that DM...no more St.Louis

I travel to San Antonio every year (use to live there) and thought it would be a great place but not sure they'll support a new
team because it's Cowboys or nothing down there.

I would like to see some moves, Jacksonville need to moved, you would think another small market team would do well up North (Like G.B) say
maybe in Boise??

Raiders have talked to San Antonio. That is why I included them.
Jacksonville is a flop. Oklahoma City, Saint Louis, Birmingham Alabama, or Louisville would work. Saint Louis was done wrong by the Rams. But, I admit that I am reaching by including Saint Louis. In a former thread. I included Boise Idaho. Someone thought that was a reach. I do agree it was.

Yea there's a fan base in St. Louis so that makes sense. S.A. is a great town would be interesting to see if they would embrace a football team....What ever team it is they would play second to the Spurs.

[flamethrower]

32 was Rozelle's dream. I understand why. I preferred 30.

With 32 and a 16 game schedule, only 6 of 16 games are in division. One could lose all division games and go 10-6.

With 30 teams you get 3 divisions per conference and 5 teams in each division. Then 8 of 16 games are division games and they are more meaningful.

If they expanded by eight teams then you could keep 4 divisions at 5 teams each and satisfy your goal. But I don't think America could really support eight more teams.

OK. Let's say the NFL expands into Europe with 5 teams at once, and adds just 2 in North America. Let's see. London, Manchester, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg.
You get 3 German teams, and 2 England teams. the 3 American teams would be in my opinion. Oklahoma City, Portland Oregon, and Louisville Kentucky.

[TexasCowboy]

I notice you left out no room for a South American football franchise...convenient,
yet Mexico already has a stadium, that seats well over a hundred thousand fans
all be it soccer fans, (occasional) NFL game, but if you are going to explore the
options for expansion Mexico has to be put into consideration

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Expand? Half of the teams in the league can't find a quarterback now. How thin do they want the talent to be on each roster?

I say contract to 24 teams. At least eight teams barely draw a crowd on game days.

Yes, I know it won't happen. But it should happen.

No one is going to want to agree to a CBA that requires travel to and from Europe every year. I think that's out.

[DarthMonk]

I notice you left out no room for a South American football franchise...convenient,
yet Mexico already has a stadium, ...

[DEHog]

I notice you left out no room for a South American football franchise...convenient,
yet Mexico already has a stadium, ...

DM stop with your grudge against South America!

[Deadskins]

I notice you left out no room for a South American football franchise...convenient,
yet Mexico already has a stadium, ...

DM stop with your grudge against South America!

The Cowpies are already South America's team. Jerruh would have to give up his rights to that market first.

[flamethrower]

South American[/b]
yet Mexico already has a stadium, ...

DM stop with your grudge against South America!

The Cowpies are already South America's team. Jerruh would have to give up his rights to that market first.[/quote]
He won't do that. After all he loves that cocaine, and the price of plastic surgery down there is pennies on the dollar compared to what it costs here.
Anyone should also know that Brazil built a brand new 100,000 seat soccer stadium just for the world cup.

[flamethrower]

OK the quarterback problem could easily be solved if the NFL would invest into a quality developmental league. Just like Major League Baseball, and the NHL have.
No current NFL markets, and use existing facilities. The USFL had the right idea. The NFL should use that time frame. 18 game spring and summer. Championship team gets 5 million dollars reward for it's players to be divided equally.
You need 24 teams. The players who don't get drafted. But would be willing to do this. Get roster spots.
I see 4-6 divisions of 5 teams. 30 teams max. 1st season we'll start small, and go with 20 teams.
Hartford Ct. Patriots, and Bills Use this team
Dover Delaware Jets, and Giants use this team.
Happy Valley Pa. Steelers, and Eagles use this team. Penn State football stadium would be the logical stadium
Richmond Va. Ravens, and Redskins use this team.
Clemson SC. Panthers, and Falcons use this team.
Orlando Florida Dolphins, and Jaguars use this team
Birmingham Alabama Buccaneers use this team
Jackson Miss Saints, and Titans use this team
Canton Ohio Home of the Hall of Fame. Browns and Bengals use this team
South Bend Indiana Bears, and Colts use this team
Madison Wisconsin Packers, and Lions use this team
Boise Idaho Vikings use this team
Portland Oregon Seahawks use this team
Salt Lake City Broncos and Cardinals use this team
Fresno Ca Raiders, and 49ers use this team
San Diego Ca Rams and Chargers use this team Qualcomm stadium
San Antonio Tx Gloryholers use this team. We all know that Jerrah won't help any other team but, himself unless he gets something out of it.
Shreveport La. Texans, and Chiefs use this team.
Well after thinking about it. I am editing this. It's up to 18 teams. Which actually would be plenty.