The NFL Has A Crazed International Obsession And Now Roger Goodell Is Talking About Full-Time Teams Abroad

Let me see if I have this straight...

•  We're set for a record NINE International NFL games this year. That includes exporting a very good Divisional Game - 49ers / Rams - to Australia in Week 1. But because the NFL can't play on Friday Nights during the high school and college football seasons (the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 says so, look it up), they have to play that game on Friday morning in Australia and Thursday Night here. 
  
  And oh, because of that, the Seahawks' Banner Night gets pushed back to Wednesday Night. 
  
  
• The NFL has already talked about playing an International Super Bowl.  
  
  
• Patriots owner Robert Kraft said on the radio last season that he believes (hopes) that every NFL team will play at least one International game per season, if and when the NFL goes to an 18-game season. Duh, of course they'll do that. 

Now, we have Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that this is not enough, and we're headed towards a world where we have NFL 'teams' that are based outside of the United States. 

From Mike Florio's Pro Football Talk

“At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA. I have no doubt that this will happen one day,” Goodell told former NFL player Markus Kuhn in interview for German broadcaster RTL/ntv.

Goodell said that once an NFL team is established in a foreign country, its home field could host a Super Bowl.

“There are definitely international cities that could host something like that,” Goodell said of the Super Bowl. “But we would like to see an NFL team in such a city first.”

Giphy Images.

Giphy Images.

Giphy Images.

The NFL's obsession with being an International Sport is nauseating. Every few months, we get Goodell talking about taking the game abroad. 

And like many of you, I don't give a shit if they ever play another International Game. Like, ever. But taking a team to say, Germany, full-time? 

Giphy Images.

I'm sure a prospective NFL player wants to be told they're moving to Europe to play in the NFL. And travel back and forth for games. No issues there. 

There are 32 teams in the NFL. How are we getting this new team? Well, really, teams plural, because the NFL would want a rivalry as part of this new venture. And Goodell did say teams. 

Expansion? Have you SEEN the quarterback play in the NFL? 

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Sorry, Mac, love you in SF, and the Pats screwed you. 

No one is asking for expansion. 

So is there a chance he'll move a current NFL team abroad? Like, the Jags already play a few games a year in London. Are you going to rip that team out of Jacksonville and move them? 

Mike Carlson. Getty Images.

That feels like some bullshit, too. 

Of course you have to consider the logistics of time zones and what time these games would be in the US. Or would they not care since it's an International Team? Sorry, teams, probably. 

Obviously, if it was Toronto or Montreal, it could work. But I don't think Roger is talking about giving our Canadian friends an NFL team. 

The NFL is a cash cow. But it sure feels like they've gotten all the juice they can from us US Football fans, and the league needs new revenue streams. Even if it means uprooting a current team or needlessly expanding the league. 

They'll spin it as growing the game, but it's about money. It's always about money.

The NFL fans I talk to want better Pass Interference and replay rules. They're not asking for more International games. But the Commissioner says full-time NFL teams are coming to an International City near you, and if it means more money, it's probably going to happen.