FXFL To Launch Inaugural Season This Fall With Goal Of Eventual NFL Partnership

The Fall Experimental Football League “plans to launch in October as a developmental league, with no NFL affiliation but with lots of intriguing ideas,” according to Barry Wilner of the AP. The FXFL “will field teams” in the N.Y. and Boston areas, Austin, Portland, Omaha and in Florida. However, “no city has been announced for the Florida franchise.” The teams will “play six games this fall in minor league baseball stadiums, with an emphasis on gaining experience.” The main idea is to “advance the talents of players, coaches, officials and front office executives.” In April, NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent said that a league-affiliated developmental league is something the NFL is “looking into for the future.” FXFL Commissioner Brian Woods said, "Our long-term goal is to establish a partnership with the NFL. … It would give them a way to work with younger players that they don't currently have. We can help them train prospective NFL officials -- in the NBA, every referee entering the league (in recent years) comes from NBA Developmental League.” Wilner noted the NFL is “contemplating eliminating the kicking game, which might take away excitement with no kickoff or punt returns, but add fan enthusiasm for extra points, which would be a required 2-point conversion.” This makes the FXFL’s creation “particularly noteworthy” as a testing ground for proposed rules. The core of FXFL players will be “no more than two years removed from their college careers, with the majority coming from that year's draft class.” Woods said that the FXFL has a “television deal in the works,” but details have not been released. Games will be played on weeknights, mostly Wednesdays, although the league is “considering some Friday night contests in its Northeast locations where high school football is not overwhelmingly popular” (AP, 6/21).