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 Frazzled wrote:
yes but you don't have cheerleaders. .

Actually and regretfully a few clubs do and it does appear to be on the rise.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22766638

if they do come they better have deep pockets.

Bleh... don't get me started on how ridiculous Premiership football is. I wouldn't be disappointed if we ditched the entire mess straight out.

I think some folks might be surprised on how many UK fans of the NFL there are. Just look at the ratings on TV for Sky and the fact Channel 4 or five have been able to show a game each week as well during season time due to demand of fans without Subscription TV.

The last two London games have sold out pretty sharpish as well.

My only issue would be the idea for us all to suddenly start following a new team just because its in London. I've been following the Broncos for nearly twenty six years, the only reason I'll be going to London to watch a game will be if they are there.

JWhex wrote:
It will be a great pity awesome for everyone that watches if a game that causes so many life long injuries one of the best games in existence gets a hold around the world.

I only played 2 years in high school and was involved in plays that caused two accidental broken arms (not mine). My best friend basically ruined his knee for life and my friends brother, in a tragic accident during practice was involved in a collision that paralyzed a kid from the neck down.

Now this is in one high school in a small town and I only described injuries around me and my friends. The fething game is monstrous AWESOME!.

Fixed that for you with the orange.

I have played Football and I have played Rugby. Rugby was cool, but you could hit people harder in football because of the padding. There is nothing like making a running back fumble because you hit him so hard. It really gets you fired up!

Would rather see the NFL Focus on getting a team or 2 in Canada.

Wonder if a NFL team would last in Alabama or Mississippi?

College football is king there.

That said been a football fan for just about my entire life. Grew u; in a Eagles and Giants home, came out a Bronco fan.

Most interesting thing about football is, if you think about it, it's just like a war game... with lots of commercials.



It also please me that George RR Martin is a HUGE football fan.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 DeathReaper wrote:

JWhex wrote:
It will be a great pity awesome for everyone that watches if a game that causes so many life long injuries one of the best games in existence gets a hold around the world.

I only played 2 years in high school and was involved in plays that caused two accidental broken arms (not mine). My best friend basically ruined his knee for life and my friends brother, in a tragic accident during practice was involved in a collision that paralyzed a kid from the neck down.

Now this is in one high school in a small town and I only described injuries around me and my friends. The fething game is monstrous AWESOME!.

Fixed that for you with the orange.

I have played Football and I have played Rugby. Rugby was cool, but you could hit people harder in football because of the padding. There is nothing like making a running back fumble because you hit him so hard. It really gets you fired up!

Saw this on TV once, there is a psychology behind football players hitting harder than rugby players because of padding believing they can launch themselves like rockets with little damage to themselves.

Better protected but hit harder.

Once herd a doctor say would see less head ramming if you took away face masks out of fear of busting their faces. Something hockey players seem to embrace and take pleasure in.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:

 gorgon wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:
I can't see it catching on. Not as manly as Rugby, but to masculine for soccer fans.

American football is also an amazingly, stupidly complicated game. It's insane, really. The rules are arcane and the offenses and defenses are even more so. I've been watching the game my whole life and every year I still learn more about it.

I guess you can watch and enjoy it even if you don't understand much of what's going on. Like religion -- you take from it what you want. But I don't think it'll help in a place where soccer and rugby -- two simpler, free-flowing, much more intuitive sports -- rule.

Really? I've never had trouble understanding football. Once you get the basic rules and penalties down and the scoring methods it's pretty simple from there.

I agree. It may seem complex because there is a lot of minor detail in the tactics for different plays, but the core game is pretty easy to understand once you've got the terminology straight.

 purplefood wrote:
There are a surprising number of teams in the UK... and the EU.
Nowhere near the same level as the US but even so.
It's also a surprisingly entertaining game (To watch and play) when you know what the hell is going on.

I shuddered in terror after reading this....a person presumably from the UK who finds NFL to be entertaining!?


Sorry, mate, but even as an American, I'll take Union over American Football any day of the week (speaking of, Ireland is playing USA today!!!)



On Topic: IF the NFL does get a team to London... which conference do they get put into? The AFC would just be hilarious, and the NFC just makes no sense, you'd almost have to entirely restructure the league.

 DeathReaper wrote:

JWhex wrote:
It will be a great pity awesome for everyone that watches if a game that causes so many life long injuries one of the best games in existence gets a hold around the world.

I only played 2 years in high school and was involved in plays that caused two accidental broken arms (not mine). My best friend basically ruined his knee for life and my friends brother, in a tragic accident during practice was involved in a collision that paralyzed a kid from the neck down.

Now this is in one high school in a small town and I only described injuries around me and my friends. The fething game is monstrous AWESOME!.

Fixed that for you with the orange.

I have played Football and I have played Rugby. Rugby was cool, but you could hit people harder just run into people without skilled tackling in football because of the paddinggirly protective suits. There is nothing like making a running back fumble because you hit him so hard just run into him with no skill, like an angry cow. It really gets you fired up! allows you to try and justify taking a break from playing every 5 minutes, unlike rugby where you just get on with it!

You've also been fixed...

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
There are a surprising number of teams in the UK... and the EU.
Nowhere near the same level as the US but even so.
It's also a surprisingly entertaining game (To watch and play) when you know what the hell is going on.

I shuddered in terror after reading this....a person presumably from the UK who finds NFL to be entertaining!?


Sorry, mate, but even as an American, I'll take Union over American Football any day of the week (speaking of, Ireland is playing USA today!!!)

I've been around rugby all my life, i don't mind watching it but learning american football was fascinating.
It's surprisingly complex and simple at the same time...

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

JWhex wrote:
It will be a great pity awesome for everyone that watches if a game that causes so many life long injuries one of the best games in existence gets a hold around the world.

I only played 2 years in high school and was involved in plays that caused two accidental broken arms (not mine). My best friend basically ruined his knee for life and my friends brother, in a tragic accident during practice was involved in a collision that paralyzed a kid from the neck down.

Now this is in one high school in a small town and I only described injuries around me and my friends. The fething game is monstrous AWESOME!.

Fixed that for you with the orange.

I have played Football and I have played Rugby. Rugby was cool, but you could hit people harder just run into people without skilled tackling in football because of the paddinggirly protective suits. There is nothing like making a running back fumble because you hit him so hard just run into him with no skill, like an angry cow. It really gets you fired up! allows you to try and justify taking a break from playing every 5 minutes, unlike rugby where you just get on with it!

You've also been fixed...

\


You think that football players "just run into people without skilled tackling"? you are sorely mistaken. the skill it takes to bring down a 240 pound fullback while he is juking is incredible.

Spoilered some running back videos, these guys make it hard to tackle them...

 DeathReaper wrote:

You think that football players "just run into people without skilled tackling"? you are sorely mistaken. the skill it takes to bring down a 240 pound fullback while he is juking is incredible.

Spoilered some running back videos, these guys make it hard to tackle them...

If you look at what most of those "tackles" are, they would be penalties, and most likely a binning in Rugby... I played 5 years of football, and what I'll say is this:

The skill required to get a proper form tackle in football is similar in nature to a legal tackle in rugby, however there are a few major differences in technique... And the laws of rugby essentially require better tacklers than american football.

For legal tackles yeah but for tackles that work in football it's kinda difficult.

Been to the last 3 NFL games in London and already got my tickets for the two this year, I'm definitely interested to see if we get more games over here.

 Ahtman wrote:
I can't see it catching on. Not as manly as Rugby, but to masculine for soccer fans.

Uh, have you ever met British 'soccer' (football) fans? They are the scum of the earth.




In a good way.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
And I fething love cricket, btw.

 Piston Honda wrote:
Would rather see the NFL Focus on getting a team or 2 in Canada.

Bugger that.

We have our own version of the game here with over a hundred years of Championship football.

efarrer wrote:

 Piston Honda wrote:
Would rather see the NFL Focus on getting a team or 2 in Canada.

Bugger that.

We have our own version of the game here with over a hundred years of Championship football.

Large chunk of the Bills parking lot is filled with Canadians.

Apparently there is a level of interest. Especially since more than a few people in Toronto have been trying to get a team in Toronto for the past decade or more.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 DeathReaper wrote:





You think that football players "just run into people without skilled tackling"? you are sorely mistaken. the skill it takes to bring down a 240 pound fullback while he is juking is incredible.

Spoilered some running back videos, these guys make it hard to tackle them...

Spoiler:

Yup, tackling is a art in itself. When I played in high school I use to participate in the schools summer camp program every year (in addition of getting in shape it gave you credits for gym class). there was an emphasis on tackling in the camp. Every year the freshman coach would play the same "football for dummies" video for freshman.

It featured Jerry Sandusky.

found a clip of it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFW0WCUEOqc

 purplefood wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
There are quite a lot of Unis that play it actually...

Like most of the american sports it seemed mostly to be made up of american students with a smattering of other nationalities. I think the best represented sport for uk nationals is basketball as many schools play it.

Having said that there are a few people i know who are interested in NFL.

Most of the universities I've played against so far are all brits with one or two americans...

What uni are you at; unfortunately Strathclyde only has a flag team but Glasgow, Edinburgh, UWS, Edinburgh Napier and Stirling all have full contact teams at least in Scotland

And the BAFA league has quite a lot of teams

 whembly wrote:
They did make a gak-ton of $$$ when the Rams-Patriot played there...

The TV ratings were off the charts.

But, I can only see one team ever succeeded in UK.

I think the current model is working because it's a splash, one-and-done. It's an anomaly. Something for the curious Brits to go see. A chance for the expat Americans living in the UK to watch NFL in person.

What division and conference do you put them in?

Can they support an 8 game season?

Will the Seatle Seahawks be willing to travel across the US and then across the pond?

Will they have proper cheerleaders?

I dunno. I'm not against it, but will it work?

*yawn*, what about globalizing the NHL (preferably without Bettman at its helm), now thats something I can get behind...

Well Krornk there's plans for 2 wembley games this year (49ers @ Rams and Steelers @ Jaguars IIRC)

And Kronk I agree with the other points: and apart from Baltimore no expansion team (If there was to be one in the UK) has won anything attractive which would not draw in a crowd. TBH As long as LA doesn't get another franchise I'll be happy

chaos0xomega wrote:
*yawn*, what about globalizing the NHL (preferably without Bettman at its helm), now thats something I can get behind...

Cross Atlantic games would be horrible. I could see the NFL pulling it off, since the little nancies can only play once a week, but when you've got guys playing 3 games a week on average, it would be pretty rough.

Can someone explain why you can't enjoy Rugby and Football? I would think you could enjoy both, but it seems from the posts that you must only enjoy one or the other.

As to US games/culture moving in, I think The Simpsons said it best...

 kronk wrote:

 whembly wrote:
They did make a gak-ton of $$$ when the Rams-Patriot played there...

The TV ratings were off the charts.

But, I can only see one team ever succeeded in UK.

I think the current model is working because it's a splash, one-and-done. It's an anomaly. Something for the curious Brits to go see. A chance for the expat Americans living in the UK to watch NFL in person.

I'm sure there's some truth in that... but, it was a smashing success, the bean-counters are seeing some serious moolah.

What division and conference do you put them in?

NE

Can they support an 8 game season?

That's the magic question, eh? I remember that they said they can do two four-week blocks in the UK to reduce the traveling

Will the Seatle Seahawks be willing to travel across the US and then across the pond?

feth the Seachickens! (Rams fan here...) Seriously, they should be able to do it...

Will they have proper cheerleaders?

Of course!

I dunno. I'm not against it, but will it work?

 Ahtman wrote:
Can someone explain why you can't enjoy Rugby and Football? I would think you could enjoy both, but it seems from the posts that you must only enjoy one or the other.

As to US games/culture moving in, I think The Simpsons said it best...

Spoiler:

I like both (In addition to European football and Ice Hockey)
IMO they're different sports with similar posts and a similar ball but are no really that close (Although Try and Touchdown should be switched)

I only like American Football (college and NFL), Baseball (MLB, feth college and their metal bats of ping), Soccer (MLS and Premiere cup). That's it. All other sports don't exist unless I'm up at 4 AM and can't sleep.




Edit: Oh, and women's beach volleyball. But that should be an understood, right?

 Ahtman wrote:
Can someone explain why you can't enjoy Rugby and Football? I would think you could enjoy both, but it seems from the posts that you must only enjoy one or the other.

its not that theres some written or unwritten rule that says if you like Union, you cannot possibly like American Football... I however, after picking up Union as a hobby and watching it, just find it more exciting to watch an 80 minute slugfest Rugby match than I do a stop/start, herky-jerky football game.... ESPECIALLY with things like the "Tom Brady Rule" and DBs and any offensive player in the open field are in fact, playing flag football, because any contact made will result in an ejection and fine (hyperbole, but not by very much) The NFL has greatly declined from what I enjoyed watching in my youth, and for more reasons than those above.

While it's not a majority by any stretch most of the guys I know and am friends with, who play or watch rugby, are much more inclined to watch a full match of that than football, and will only care about the NCAA or NFL insofar as to check the scores before work on monday morning.

I wish they didn't have to wear the Lingerie to get attention, but the Lingerie Football League is a lot of fun to watch, and they play just as hard as any male team. Sadly they have to do a gimmick to even get some attention.

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

 purplefood wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
There are quite a lot of Unis that play it actually...

Like most of the american sports it seemed mostly to be made up of american students with a smattering of other nationalities. I think the best represented sport for uk nationals is basketball as many schools play it.

Having said that there are a few people i know who are interested in NFL.

Most of the universities I've played against so far are all brits with one or two americans...

What uni are you at; unfortunately Strathclyde only has a flag team but Glasgow, Edinburgh, UWS, Edinburgh Napier and Stirling all have full contact teams at least in Scotland

And the BAFA league has quite a lot of teams

Bath Spa

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:
Can someone explain why you can't enjoy Rugby and Football? I would think you could enjoy both, but it seems from the posts that you must only enjoy one or the other.

its not that theres some written or unwritten rule that says if you like Union, you cannot possibly like American Football... I however, after picking up Union as a hobby and watching it, just find it more exciting to watch an 80 minute slugfest Rugby match than I do a stop/start, herky-jerky football game.... ESPECIALLY with things like the "Tom Brady Rule" and DBs and any offensive player in the open field are in fact, playing flag football, because any contact made will result in an ejection and fine (hyperbole, but not by very much) The NFL has greatly declined from what I enjoyed watching in my youth, and for more reasons than those above.

While it's not a majority by any stretch most of the guys I know and am friends with, who play or watch rugby, are much more inclined to watch a full match of that than football, and will only care about the NCAA or NFL insofar as to check the scores before work on monday morning.

I'll watch football, Union, league.
I'll also watch NFL if you cut out all the breaks and team changes and get that game down to a reasonable time to watch. (viva highlights)