The FXFL is here; The D-League for the NFL?

The FXFL is a new league that will be kicking off October 8th, 2014.  They have four teams and four pretty awesome logos and helmets.  The teams are the Brooklyn Bolts, Florida Blacktips, Boston Brawlers, and the Omaha Mammoths. They will play in Big Time Stadiums, and this really looks like a league that NFL Free Agents might want to consider. 

The FXFL is a professional football league, which serves as a developmental platform for players, coaches and referees. Our business model places an emphasis on local marketing, cost containment and the utilization of smaller venues to better engage the fan base.

In 2014, the FXFL’s initial membership will be comprised of four teams playing a six game regular season schedule. Regular season games will be televised and played on weeknights nights to avoid scheduling conflicts with the NFL and collegiate football.

Well here is a little more about the FXFL, and at the bottom find out our opinion on the newest league. 

FXFL STADIUMS

October 8th, 2014

• Brooklyn @ Florida
• Boston @ Omaha

October 15th, 2014

• Boston @ Brooklyn
• Florida @ Omaha

October 24th, 2014

• Florida @ Boston
• Omaha @ Brooklyn

October 29th, 2014

• Omaha @ Florida

October 31st, 2014 

• Brooklyn @ Boston

November 5th, 2014 

• Boston @ Omaha

November 7th, 2014

• Florida @ Brooklyn

November 12th, 2014

• Boston @ Florida
• Brooklyn @ Omaha 

Yesterday, NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot had time to sit down with Commissioner Brian Woods, and ask the question every Agent, Scout and Player wanted to know.  So here are a few things we learned from that conversation.

First off, the FXFL is being ran by Brian Woods.  Brian worked with the New York Jets in the past and ran the Medal of Honor Game last year which focused several NFL prospects. It also drew over 100 NFL scouts to their game.  That is  is the most important part for NFL Agents.

Brian understands what needs to be done, and they have worked very hard to put together this league.  They wanted to focus on former NFL prospects who they feel have the best opportunity to make it to the NFL again.  So if a player was recently released from the 53 man roster they want a player like that because he has a very good shot at making it to the NFL again. Remember they want to be the minor league or D-League so to speak of the NFL.

Players will be paid!!! The players will earn a weekly salary of 1000 dollars if they elect not to have housing. If they elect to have housing then they will receive 900 dollars a week.  That is very cheap considering they have a team in Brooklyn where a closet costs 1500 a month to rent….:)

I wanted to find out more from NFL scouts, So I contacted four NFL scouts that all said the same thing. If they have good football players there NFL scouts will go.  One NFL scout went on to say, if you are an East Coast pro scout, you can take one or two nights out a week and go to the Brooklyn game and watch tons of NFL prospects.  Almost every player on these rosters have NFL experience so far. 

Brian said that next week the FXFL will announce their head coaches but there are already leaks to one of the coaches, and he was a former NFL player. So as you can see, people are backing this D-League so to speak. 

Here is what we feel is the most important for the players.  When you leave college your game film is great. When you attend an NFL camp and you are released or get injured, your college film becomes irrelevant.  Why is that? 

Well let me explain.  First off the guys scouting you in college football are COLLEGE Scouts, when you play a snap in the NFL even if it is a mini camp offer, they College film goes out the window in most cases.  The scouts that will now be looking at you will be PRO scouts for the teams.  So if you have no film, didn’t make any plays, or had limited playing time you are hurting yourself by not going. 

Pro scouts will look at film.  What a better place to get film than the FXFL? If you go to the CFL you have to sign a two year contract.  With the FXFL you are not locked into any long term deal. A matter of fact, last night the Commissioner told me that if an NFL team calls for a work-out, the player will be allowed to leave for that work-out with zero problem, because that is what the league is developed to do.  Another great thing, is every practice and game will be taped. Some will be televised even in local areas. Not at the national level yet, but they could be soon. 

Listen at the end of the day, what do you have to lose?  I think you are crazy if you don’t take a shot at the FXFL.