The NFL keeps moving forward! As the offseason progresses energetically, I’ll address some questions from our dedicated Bleeding Green Nation readers highlighted in The Feed.
Two_Steps_Back: Instead of having various international cities host games with American teams, should the NFL simply add eight new expansion teams? How would this affect scheduling, quality of players, and playoffs?
That’s an intriguing question with long-lasting implications for the sport.
The NHL has recently grown from 30 to 32 teams, and the NBA is expected to follow suit with possible teams in Seattle and/or Las Vegas. Major League Baseball is also in discussions about expansion. However, a significant jump from 32 to 40 teams in the NFL seems detrimental, potentially worsening the quality of play.
Currently, if you think the quality of Thursday Night Football is suffering, adding more teams could exacerbate this issue. The NFL risks losing the integrity of its product while trying to expand its global reach.
A more feasible approach might be relocating a single team to Europe for testing purposes. The Jaguars, who already play there frequently, would be the ideal candidate, potentially scheduling games between the U.S. and London. However, establishing a stable “home base” in the U.K. would be challenging.
Moreover, the impact of international expansion on players is often overlooked. Historical precedents, like the NBA’s relocation of the Grizzlies from Canada to the U.S., indicate potential player dissatisfaction with international assignments.
