A much-debated topic for years has resurfaced amidst the lackluster performances from rookies coming out of college and entering into the NFL. One must never assume a rookie can start right away in the NFL, even if they have a cannon arm or legs like a gazelle. Some rookie players have the skills from the beginning, such as J.J. Watt from the Houston Texans, or Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. However, there are players coming out of college that have the talent but just need more time to refine their craft. The question then is how can a rookie player, coming out of the NFL Draft be game ready for a regular NFL season?
To answer this question, it would be incumbent for the NFL to revisit the start-up of a spring league. For example, if we take a look at the success of the minor leagues in the MLB, we have witnessed the production of valuable players being called up to improve game strategies going into the season. The Chicago Cubs have done this three times this year and the results have been outstanding. The Cubs are actually in a wildcard position!
With that being said, this is why the NFL needs a spring league. Just imagine what kind of a quarterback Tim Tebow would have become had he been given the opportunity to correct his throwing mechanics in a spring league prior to entering a regular season NFL game. This type of league would allow rookies and early veterans to perfect their footwork, protect themselves from injuries, increase speed and agility and compete in games that show their improvements.
As it stands now, most of the rookie players that come into the NFL are set up to fail due to their inability to transfer from the college game mentality into the NFL demands. Training camps and minimal regular season practices are not enough to prepare a young player to fine tune their techniques, especially when most practices are geared for starters and secondary players.
Some critics have said that due to the unsuccessful attempt at additional leagues in the USFL and the NFL Europa, this is a bad idea. So what if the USFL lasted only three years? It produced such greats as quarterbacks Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Brian Sipe and Doug Flutie. The NFL Europa lasted 16 years (1991-2007), and out of that league only two NFL stars were produced, quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme. The difference here is that the spring league would not be an additional football league to fill the offseason. The spring league would solely be for the purpose of preparing the rookie player for the high-octane, brutal expectations of the NFL and provide pro-ready substitutes for injured players.
This type of league would be a continuation of the NFL’s veteran combine and supplemental drafts that give players additional opportunities to succeed. It would also be an opportunity for free agent and undrafted rookies to show their talent in a makeshift farm team. Despite the demise of the previous leagues, it could work with the right leadership and vision. Opinions are divided on this subject for the fear of another NFL failure. However, for the amount of money the NFL is paying out to players, it makes sense to make the investment count, just as long as Donald Trump stays out of it.
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