Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

[NKySteeler]

Monday, May 18, 2009
Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Given the team's high profile and the fact the league is looking at adding a second NFL game overseas in 2010, some in the Steelers organization expect the Steelers to be picked for a regular season international game - if not in 2010, then in 2011.

Pittsburgh would lose a home game – something that could be made up if the league goes to a 17- or 18-game scheduled – and would have a big travel week in the middle of its schedule.

As for possible game locations, I would look no farther than the country for which team chairman is this country's ambassador.

The Steelers played the Chicago Bears in Dublin in the 1997 preseason and the game was a rousing success.

© NFL owners will meet this week in Fort Lauderdale and one of the big topics will be a rookie wage scale.

Even veteran players admit the rookie wage scale has gotten out of control. Look for the NFL to come up with something akin to what the NBA does with its rookie and slot the salaries.


[url="http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/"]http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/[/url]

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Rookie slotting system would be terrific.

[stlrz d]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

[Djfan]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

NFL outside of our borders is just stupid. Let's hope they come to their senses before this dumb stunt.

[NKySteeler]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

NFL outside of our borders is just stupid. Let's hope they come to their senses before this dumb stunt.

Couldn't agree more....

I'm not a fan of this action whoever the team is. It's a detriment to the team as far as "off" days go... I don't believe in the whole "jet lag" thing because I do it all the time and it's really not a big deal... But losing the days off to prepare/practice for the game either before or after is what I don't like... Also, the city loses a home game and the revenue from it... THAT is a big deal IMO...

Goodell has a hard-on for European games for whatever reason, but in doing so, he is neglecting/penalizing the fans of that team by losing a home game... I'm all for international diplomacy, but screw them when it comes to this.... They had NFLE and it was a bust... Let them have thier soccer and Manchester United.... Leave the real football where it belongs... Here in the states.

[stlrz d]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Europeans will not embrace American football. Soccer is their game. Always has been and always will be.

[Djfan]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Europeans will not embrace American football. Soccer is their game. Always has been and always will be.

Goodell doesn't care. He has his idea, and the truth be darned.

[stlrz d]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

He'll find out soon enough it's a bad idea.

They think that because hoops is successful overseas that American football will be. It ain't happening.

[snarky]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Europeans will not embrace American football. Soccer is their game. Always has been and always will be.

Don't agree with this. I've seen a number of people on EPL boards who follow the NFL. It's not a majority by any stretch but the interest is there. On the Aston Villa board there is a forum dedicated to the Browns. (Which is a shame because I sorta like Villa).

Whether it is misguided or not, I can't say -- but the NFL is tapped out domestically so if they want to grow their market they need to go overseas.

[stlrz d]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Europeans will not embrace American football. Soccer is their game. Always has been and always will be.

Don't agree with this. I've seen a number of people on EPL boards who follow the NFL. It's not a majority by any stretch but the interest is there. On the Aston Villa board there is a forum dedicated to the Browns. (Which is a shame because I sorta like Villa).

Whether it is misguided or not, I can't say -- but the NFL is tapped out domestically so if they want to grow their market they need to go overseas.

Well I'm 42 and I'll predict that in my lifetime the NFL will not succeed in Europe.

And I disagree that the US market is tapped out. There are parts of the country that follow college ball much more rabidly than they follow pro ball and it's primarily due to them not having NFL teams "close enough" to really get into it.

Goodell eventually wants to put teams in Europe...why not put them here first?

Just to be clear, I'm not a fan of there being more teams anytime soon because it waters down the talent imo, but if there are going to be more teams added then put them in US markets.

[DHSF]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

I think expanding the fan base of the NFL is a good thing. I would be open games being played in other countries if the preseason was reduced by one game and the regular season was increased by one game. Each team would have to play one game in a neutral location each season. I don't think it is fair to take a home game away from a team in order to do it.

[phillyesq]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Ok, I understand the desire to have a popular team play overseas. But why penalize the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh for being the best franchise in the NFL?

Why not take a home game away from somebody like the Vikings, Jags, etc. who have atteendance problems, let them be the "home" team, and let the Steelers play on those terms?

[snarky]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

My guess is that it's far from a penalty to play the overseas game. You get the gate plus probably a fair amount of gear sales.

EDIT: Oh and I meant to say, I'm not convinced the end goal here is to plop a team down in London. But more to just raise interest in the league so that they can sell more games to Sky Sports.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

Ok, I understand the desire to have a popular team play overseas. But why penalize the Steelers and the city of Pittsburgh for being the best franchise in the NFL?

Why not take a home game away from somebody like the Vikings, Jags, etc. who have atteendance problems, let them be the "home" team, and let the Steelers play on those terms?

I understand why the league would want to send the Steelers over there since we are the most popular team in the league (Screw off, Cowboys...America's Team my @$$!) becuase it would drum up more interest, but I don't understand why they stated "Pittsburgh would lose a home game." Don't they normally take the home game away from teams that have trouble selling tickets on a week-to-week basis as opposed to teams that have season ticket waiting lists that are decades long?

[pfelix73]

Re: Steelers expect to cross the pond soon

NFL going overseas is stupid- IMO.

Greed rules.