jdisney
All Pro
Hunker Down!!!
Posts: 881
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Post by jdisney on Jan 29, 2009 19:59:35 GMT -5
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Post by dwilson8181@hotmail.com on Jan 31, 2009 12:20:20 GMT -5
Headlines posted on the NLFL site.
Next Level Football League Press Release 12/01/08
Champions of Washington’s CFL, “Go to the Next Level”! The Ownership of the semi professional-Whatcom County Raiders move forward to operate the only professional football team in Bellingham,Wa. The approved team name and logo is complete as THE BLITZ. Proud owners Tom and Claudia Abbott are imbedded in the Bellingham community as successful and responsible business owners. Tom is aggressive in his objective to put the upper northwest on the map for organized professional football! The NLFL has proudly accepted the BLITZ family as well as all the New Whatcom County Fans for moving up to the NEXT LEVEL! Next Level Football League Press Release 11/15/08
Tacoma, Narrows a path to the Next Level! Tacoma is bridging the gap between college football stars and the NFL and the Canadian football league. Tacoma Ownership is poised to connect the lives of aspiring athletes and fans to see the greatest athletes from the Sound to not just give up there dreams of going to the Next Level after they graduate from college. Owner/Operator Theo Hall has put together an elite team to operate the highest level of professional football in Tacoma. Theo has a dream of going to Seattle to only see former Cobras playing on Quest Field. The NLFL will be happy to buy that ticket!. The Good Luck Cobras!
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Post by debbiefischer on Feb 1, 2009 13:58:06 GMT -5
This in rather interesting as posted above: Headlines posted on the NLFL site.
"Next Level Football League Press Release 12/01/08
Champions of Washington’s CFL, “Go to the Next Level”! The Ownership of the semi professional-Whatcom County Raiders move forward to operate the only professional football team in Bellingham,Wa. The approved team name and logo is complete as THE BLITZ. Proud owners Tom and Claudia Abbott are imbedded in the Bellingham community as successful and responsible business owners. Tom is aggressive in his objective to put the upper northwest on the map for organized professional football! The NLFL has proudly accepted the BLITZ family as well as all the New Whatcom County Fans for moving up to the NEXT LEVEL!"
This is disturbing to me since on the CFL board recently they posted something about how the Whatcom County Raiders were going to be adding athletes from Western Washington University, since they no longer have a football program. What that translates to is that if ANY one from WWU plays for the Whatcom County Raiders even if they don't pay them, he loses his eligibility because he played on a professional team. Beware, don't screw up your college eligibility to play on a team that pays you pennies. Your education is so much more valuable.
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Post by dwilson8181@hotmail.com on Feb 1, 2009 15:31:35 GMT -5
What is also curious to me is if the owner are going to opporate both teams? That could be very costly and time consuming. Also the Tacoma team has the same situation (Cobras, Invaders). This not to say that these things cannot be done, howwever, it sounds like one team or the other could be neglected.
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 2, 2009 0:35:09 GMT -5
so what is pro about this league? from what the website shows and guys who are playign it looks like just another semipro league. wouldnt a real pro league be getting some seniors from the big colleges around?
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dtp24
starter
I'll Take Yo Cookies
Posts: 186
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Post by dtp24 on Feb 4, 2009 13:37:49 GMT -5
no becasue you only get paid like 100 bucks a game
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 4, 2009 13:40:59 GMT -5
thats it? so take home after tax is about $55. at least the medical insurance coverage should be pretty sweet.
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dtp24
starter
I'll Take Yo Cookies
Posts: 186
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Post by dtp24 on Feb 4, 2009 14:03:18 GMT -5
Yeah thats about it ... but thats not worth givin up your college eligibility
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 8, 2009 17:59:18 GMT -5
i checked out a tryout that was going on around the corner from me for players wanting to play in europe and a cobra guy was there trying to recruit players as tehy went inside. he even got kicked out of the building. pretty classless to try and use someone elses tryout to recruit players. is that what the nlfl calls professional?
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Post by nlflfootball on Feb 10, 2009 2:35:30 GMT -5
Debbie Fisher,
We are with you in regards to your concerns for college students in theory....Unforturnatly you and many other people are not aware of the RULES of the NLFL. We have specific proceedures on contracting college elegible athletes. We are not interested in recruiting athletes to go PRO in place of a college education.
WWU is unique for some atheletes that went to school and received free or reduced schooling and to play ball. However the upperclassmen have little options to play football other then amature (aka semipro) football. To keep there skills up and still get a college education is a plus for some students and to be frank.....the local college. I hope this helps.
DTP I like your comments. This is my advise.
Do not give up college elegibility!!! This is Professional Football for Mid level markets.....Where you will be televised on a sports channel in all types of markets....Seattle...Portland, Eugene, Bellingham etc...Play here and get seen by over 1.2million subscribers...plus more.... Play for the alternatives and get you looks from 50 fans in the stands. In business you negotiate your worth...if you negotiated 100 a game...well that is more than other teams are allowed or would offer you. You are a business play for what you are worth to what ever owner. If your worth that much more that the AFLII or NLFL....then get me some free tickets to watch you at the NFL or CFL I would be happy to go watch ya. If thats not possible and a team wants you...I would reconsider the NLFL...maybe we'll see you in slow motion on COMCAST SPORTSNET diving into the ENDZONE.
Cheers all Karl Hanson
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Post by nlflfootball on Feb 10, 2009 2:56:56 GMT -5
Dwilson,
We are not a League that considers the amature league competition or considers itself a amature league killer. We feel that this league is a better alternative for some of the more experience athletes with out elegibilty. If a group/team associates them selves with a local amature team then they now will have great options for local athletes that do not wish to GO PRO. If a Pro Team owners have something to make money with. With this Professional investment if they feel that they would like to donate moneys they have aquired to amateur sports or teams. How could that be bad? Just like any other business...if you have money to give why not give it to something that you love. If you have any other questions Donny, Please call me. This board is not exactly the best source for good information. I have learned to filter my message response to people that have constructive questions. If anybody has noticed that your not being responded too...well this is directed to you.
Thanks and have a great night.
Karl Hanson
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 10, 2009 3:05:54 GMT -5
"We are not a League that considers the amature league competition or considers itself a amature league killer"
thats bull. then why are these teams out recruiting other semipro teams players instead of signing college seniors? i will make a bold prediction. every nlfl team will be about 75% semipro players from teams in that area killing or damaging the existing amatuer team
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Post by debbiefischer on Feb 10, 2009 11:12:37 GMT -5
"Do not give up college elegibility!!! This is Professional Football for Mid level markets.....Where you will be televised on a sports channel in all types of markets....Seattle...Portland, Eugene, Bellingham etc...Play here and get seen by over 1.2million subscribers...plus more.... Play for the alternatives and get you looks from 50 fans in the stands. In business you negotiate your worth...if you negotiated 100 a game...well that is more than other teams are allowed or would offer you."
First of all, we DON'T have 50 fans in our stands..second of all if you "think" you are going to pull 1.2 million on TV, you are crazy...I'd rather watch Fraiser! Secondly, I saw a flyer this past weekend, wher eyou guys were recruiting Juniors and Seniors out of HIGH SCHOOL! Think a college education is more important than a 100.00 a week football playing job where the ONLY people that will be making money will be the organizers?
So many people give the youth fake promises.... NFL Scouts are in the stands! Former NFL players will be there...big deal what can they do? I can get you a look by a PRO TEAM...NOTHING... Bottom line is, very very few people get into the NFL there is what roughly around 1,700 athletes in the NFL? Out of a population of 305 million in the USA...99.9% come from a major 4 year college. So face it, if you aren't playing in college your chances are pretty much zero of going on to play football where you can make a living. You can't live off 100.00 a week. You have a better chance winning a lottery.
The way you refer to our "semi-pro" makes us sound like we are scum bags. But guess what...Wes and Ron Baines have been doing this for well over 40 years! Both teams ahve kept football alive and have kids go to college from it! We also do wonderful things in our community where we make differences in other peoples lives. There is some longevity here. Also neither of these men make false promises to their guys. Wonder if you will be here in 40 months?
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tim
special teams
Posts: 70
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Post by tim on Feb 10, 2009 11:21:12 GMT -5
Again, we need to take a look at the big picture of what is going on with the NLFL and the "semi-pro" leagues. If a college player goes to the NLFL and loses eligibility then they should have done their research and known that getting paid to play or playing on a team classified as professional will hurt their eligibility.
Recruiting at a combine for another league or tryout for some other football venue is actually common practice for any profession or business. If you were looking for engineers for your company, sure you can recruit at a college for graduates. But, if an engineering convention is in town, you bet they would be there passing out cards and trying to garner interest in their company from other professionals. If there is an event that has a concentration of talent, either athletic or otherwise, you can bet that organizations will be there to expose that talent to their organization. In the business world its called "headhunting" and their is an entire industry built around it. If the guy from the Cobras got kicked out of the building, its probably because he didn't act in a professional manner.
As far as the NLFL being amateur league killers??? Is the NAFL a NWFL killer? Is the CFL a NWFL and NAFL killer? Was the NWFL a EFL killer? Leagues don't die because of other leagues. They die because of their own actions and inabilities to promote and grow themselves. If you don't put out a solid product but there is a demand, someone will come along and put out a better product than you. If the NLFL lives up to their expectations and they succeed it may hurt other leagues, but only because the other leagues didn't produce a product good enough to compete. Starbucks did it, Walmart did it, Microsoft did it, Intel did it, and if you want to think about it The United Way's success took funding from other charities that may have gone under as a result. Find a way to promote your product and make it more desirable than others and you will succeed as well.
Sorry for the rant, but sometimes what I read really hits a nerve with me.
Let Karl and the gang develop their league and move on with it. If you are in a different league and you want to succeed then help your league put out the best product possible. Don't come on a message board and speculate about others. Its not productive.
Good luck Karl and the NLFL and good luck to all the leagues that help the rest of us keep dreaming of getting one more chance at football glory.
Tim
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Post by garciawr9 on Feb 10, 2009 11:24:59 GMT -5
I don't see how the NLFL is any different than any other semi-pro football team around. I see that the NLFL is trying to make moves of trying to be a brand of football that can pay $100.00 - $200.00 a game, but for how long is that gonna last? Look at the Everett Hawks. They went from semi-pro to arena football, and didn't last very long. There is NO guarantee with any football league. The NLFL doesn't even have a legit website. I've seen the one that's been passed around, but honestly, how can you make a claim that it's something to buy into? There isn't any google information on any of the teams. There is no websites set up for any of the teams.
This is another league that sets up a statement like most semi-pro football leagues have been trying to put out there: "We can get you to the next level". Now whether that's college, arena, or whatever the next level is for some. I've seen time and time again where leagues have tried to start up, but haven't really taken off. It's hard to get a league going, it's tough to run a team as well.
So with that being said, I guess I'm more of the "I'll believe it when I see it" era.
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 10, 2009 12:45:05 GMT -5
a pro league recruiting high schoolers? wait until the high school coaches get a hold of that. i think there is a law against agents and illegal contact with athletes on the books. you have to register with the state right before promising them money? this is all built on lies and deceit. since its deemed acceptable to be "headhunters" lets see if the cobras like it if 4-5 other teams send reps to stand outside the soccer center next monday and snare players sight unseen before they go in and tryout.
what else will be discovered when we peek behind the curtain?
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Post by coach1307 on Feb 10, 2009 17:51:10 GMT -5
stay away from the High School athletes!
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Post by nlflfootball on Feb 11, 2009 13:30:53 GMT -5
Thanks to all for the comments. Debbie,
Let me be very clear for you and all of the people that want to be apart of the NLFL.
You can not even play in the NLFL until you 19 years of age or above. Not to say that there aren't 19yr old Highschoolers but it is not the norm by percentage. I find it interesting that you stated that I make the Semi-Pro sound bad, unfortunately that is just not true. I agree to disagree with you about the average attendances of semi-pro being very low in comparison. The championship Titans playoff game last year had no more than 20 fans. I know your organization from a distance and have participated in events against you team...You do very well in comparison on attendance however...your efforts are commended. Wes and Ron are patriots in the NW for semipro football and think that they should continue on there goals in the NWFL. We are requesting that owners of NLFL teams to continue there semi-pro teams if they can stomach the costs. If you know of anybody that wants to help finacially to any NLFL owners to continue running semipro in there areas Please let us know.
On another note: If you have a document that shows ANYBODY recruiting highschool athletes and you are against that....please do the children a favor and call me and yell at me over the phone so I can devise a plan to put a halt to who ever is doing this. Not everybody reads this board, therefore its not the best communication devise.
Thanks again, Karl Hanson NLFL 503-348-6599
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Post by coach1307 on Feb 11, 2009 17:48:05 GMT -5
Hey Mr. Hanson Iam just getting on board with this idea of NLFL and I guess my question is why not just start another semi pro team and join one of the leagues that is already up and running ? I do not quite understand why any player would give up their college eligibility for 100 dollars per game if I read it correctly. I guess my question is what makes the NLFL better than the semi pro leagues ?
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mhart
starter
apparent NFL veteran
Posts: 119
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Post by mhart on Feb 11, 2009 18:22:51 GMT -5
coach do you have kids? its when one kid doesnt like playing by the rules at another kids house so he takes his toys and goes home then trys to get the other kids to come play at his house instead of playing at the other kids house who he didnt like playing by his rules with in the first place. but the kid who left has to tell everyone that his xbox games are better and newer to try and get the other kids to come over. until they find out its not his xbox but his older brothers who then takes it away a week later when he moves to college and leaves them all with the old nintendo!
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Post by dwilson8181@hotmail.com on Feb 11, 2009 18:44:14 GMT -5
Come on people let's be honest......how many people actually make the jump from semi-pro to college? If a highschool kid is good enough to play college football they will get recruited. No one in the NLFL is making kids with eligibility do anything against their will (keep in mind they are officially adults at 18). Plus, just because one cannot play football in college does not mean they cannot go to college! You people make it sound like education is secondary to football for these fringe players. The purpose of college is to get an education not to play football. The kids that do make the jump from semi-pro to college are not getting scholarships. All this being said I still have questions about the marketing plan of the NLFL. But I chose to send positive vibes out because I would personally like to see it work (I have no affiliation to the league).
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Post by Rob on Feb 11, 2009 18:56:28 GMT -5
These 18 or 19 year old know that if they receive cash its over for them. Maybe they don't care about college. One nice thing about the NLFL is that they will pay their players legally (I hope). No hidden cash hand shake exchanges with a wink. Maybe all NW teams should go pro.
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Post by justjohn on Feb 11, 2009 19:00:23 GMT -5
Come on people let's be honest......how many people actually make the jump from semi-pro to college? Several from our league every year. Some athletes just aren't ready for college at 18. Plus, just because one cannot play football in college does not mean they cannot go to college! It does for many athletes for financial reasons. All this being said I still have questions about the marketing plan of the NLFL. But I chose to send positive vibes out because I would personally like to see it work (I have no affiliation to the league). I think that goes for most people not affiliated with the NLFL. There's just not yet a lot of information out there it, but just because we don't understand HOW they're going to pull it off doesn't mean that we want them to fail.
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Post by justjohn on Feb 11, 2009 19:05:00 GMT -5
One nice thing about the NLFL is that they will pay their players legally (I hope). No hidden cash hand shake exchanges with a wink. Maybe all NW teams should go pro. Agreed - we have to do something about these uber-rich business people and wealthy government employees from buying championships.
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Post by Rob on Feb 11, 2009 19:32:32 GMT -5
One nice thing about the NLFL is that they will pay their players legally (I hope). No hidden cash hand shake exchanges with a wink. Maybe all NW teams should go pro. Agreed - we have to do something about these uber-rich business people and wealthy government employees from buying championships. Yes those types of people like Warren Buffet and Barak Obama. And lets not forget the ones that have no money to pay field rental bills but do find the money to shake and wink. I guess this applies to all classes in many leagues and teams. ;D
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Post by debbiefischer on Feb 12, 2009 0:50:05 GMT -5
I was at the titans vs Thunderbolts Championship game. There was more than 20 people. NOt more than what the Vikings pull but way mroe than 20! But you are entitiled to your own dream.
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Post by dwilson8181@hotmail.com on Feb 12, 2009 2:50:28 GMT -5
John,
I agree with you that there are kids that do make the jump from our league to college, however, it is not common. The kids that actually have the talent usually have a goal and do not mess with all the bull$hit of being promised the dream. Not going to school because one cannot play football is an excuse. I am a 34 father of two and I am making it work at the most expensive school in Western Washington(UPS) and I am NOT playing ball nor do I have a job currently. I have had to make serious sacrifices and life has been rough, however, I AM making it work.
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Post by nlflfootball on Feb 12, 2009 13:07:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the correction Debbie...I actually ment the playoff game against the WV Raiders had less than 20 fans. I must say all the people that are commenting on this post are affiliated with the same groups that would not even take an hour out of there time to meet an have a presentation in there local area. Take this as you may....however I have been up and down and across, Oregon and Washington doing demonstrations. These presentations are for informational purposes as well as for educational purposes. As for individuals that want to be lazy , in my opinion, or maybe they have a problem with my sweet smiling face. Instead they would rather make statements based mostly on assumptions. Most / all of the individuals that went to presentations have seen our passion to make football better in our own way. I have no problem with anybody that is passionate about what they love! That includes , Debbie, mhart(aka; mhater, lol, just kidding), Dwilson, John...etc. This is great! I do take note with the delusions of trying to paint a portrait that the NLFL is trying to hurt young men from the opportunity to get a valued education . It would be insulting if it came from the individuals that have actually met Me! However it is a bit disappointing when someone brings a charge that a flyer was made up by the NLFL to recruit Highschoolers and we ask that the information be given to us so we can address it. We actually take time to address major issues and violations. To date, I have not one phone call or evidence other than the message board complaint. Hopefully Debbie will call me so i can address her and my passionate concerns. I talked to Wes months ago on the Phone and he was very kind to me yet decided that a meeting wasn't needed the offer is still open for those interested. Coach 1307: Coach...you question is very common and its a good one. In short.....ITS A HUGE DIFFERENCE...LIVE TELEVISED GAMES WITH COMCASTSPORTSNET AS THE MAJOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NLFL this is one of the items. However there is much more and to post it here would do it no justice. If you are new too this please feel free to call me and/or go to the website and look at the ComcastSportsNet press release. The question you asked should generally be answered in that mannor. www.nlflfootball.com, Thank you all for the comments, Karl Hanson 503-348-6599 khanson@nlflfootball.com
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Post by Rob on Feb 12, 2009 13:46:56 GMT -5
When will your season begin?
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Post by justjohn on Feb 12, 2009 14:12:00 GMT -5
Karl, The website has improved 100 fold since last time I checked it. As skeptical as I am about any new venture at this level, the video makes me excited. It's good to have some verification of the Comcast deal. There's still too much missing information ("coming soon") for a league that kicks off in a few months. Don't be offended by our skepticism. A year ago even most of the NLFL founders probably wouldn't have believed something like that could happen to this level of football. The Everett Hawks didn't even have a TV deal, did they? The Spokane Shock have a huge following in Spokane yet don't have any TV coverage. Is it just me or have you really bulked up? You've gone from a Bernie Kosar clone to a Tim Teebow look-alike. Watkins sure missed he calling. After watching him in the video there's no doubt in my mind that he belongs in Hollywood. I hear they're making a sequel to "Remember the Titans" and Denzel Washington has nothing on him! I must say all the people that are commenting on this post are affiliated with the same groups that would not even take an hour out of there time to meet an have a presentation in there local area. Do we really have to sit through a presentation just to be fans? That sounds a lot like sitting through a presentation for a time-share condo to get a free rental car.
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