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My official complaint to the NFL Commissioner tonight about this bogus idea of playing games outside the USA beginning in 2007. Here is the article and then my response.

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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9752443

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As a season ticket holder and fan of the Philadelphia Eagles I'm very upset and in shock that this rookie commissioner Roger Goodell has announced such a ridiculous plan to play NFL Regular Season games outside the USA beginning in 2007. This is an outrage. You have so many problems with the NFL that need to be addressed and the 1st initiative that this Commissioner wants to pursue are regular season games outside the USA? Are you kidding? You have an officiating system that is in shambles with botched calls week in and week out, not to mention the Lombardi trophy being decided by the officials in Feb'06. You have a pending labor dispute on the doorstep of this sport. And finally you have off-field distractions that continue to plague the majority of it's teams. Why in the name of God would Mr. Goodell decide on an idea to play games outside the USA? Well - I think it's the almighty dollar. As a season ticket holder the Eagles I stand to lose money in higher ticket prices because if this idiotic notion that it's good for the game. Ticket prices will rise for all the fans in all the NFL cities. Mr. Goodell needs to address other pressing issues inside his professional organization, not take the sport outside the USA. Stop trying to re-invent the wheel Mr. Goodell. You saw the MLB took a big step ahead tonight ( Tue, 24 Oct ) by announcing a Labor agreement. I think you should focus on that before these gimicks your proposing. And FIX the Officiating in the NFL. We need Full-Time Officials, that are 35-40 years of age max and can sprint as fast as the players. We need officials to held accountable for bad calls - like fines, suspensions and permanent dismissals from the game for bad calls or no calls. Clean up the game here before you send this product to the World Stage:

This idea is good for the 32 owners only, not the millions of fans that pay to see this product.

Mark Bonora, 10+ year season ticket holder of the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Mark Bonora
mbonora@comcast.net

Personally, I don't see a problem with the overseas games, particularly if they can be scheduled near bye weeks to help with the longer travel schedules (Mexico and Canada notwithstanding). If, eventually, it gets to the point where all 32 teams get one game overseas (and that game is scheduled as an Away game), than I see no harm. I can certainly imagine a roadie to London or Amsterdam...

Your other points are dead-on, though, and those other issues should be addressed before this one. Permanent full-time Refs are a no-brainer. The league can certainly afford to pay these guys and they are integral to the game.

I agree with the entirety of your post. The fact that a team will lose a home game means a lot in a 16 game season, but we know where the NFL stands on that. Last year we see the Giants play 9 home games which was beyond reason. Whoever loses the home game, even if it is Arizona, which it was last year, is at an incredible disadvantage not to mention the road team that has to endure a long trip, etc.

***We need Full-Time Officials, that are 35-40 years of age max and can sprint as fast as the players.***


I actually enjoy seeing the old geezers trying to run down the field.

It adds some comic relief to the game

Another thing that is funny is when one of those 60+ refs get rolled over by a 325 lb lineman.

It would be really fun to see a regular season game in Dublin or Rome or some other cool city, but yeah, overall I think the idea sucks.

If only the world would share and export some of its wonderful Football in return. We Americans hunger, nay, CRAVE, more of that delicious, live soccer!

The best match-up for Rome would be Saints-Lions. Nothing like a 2500 year old rivalry.

My opinion is a little biased, since I live in Europe, but I would love to take my team to a real Football game. I'm hoping Notre Dame starts playing every once in a while in Ireland again.

I do agree there are more pressing issues for the NFL. But hiring young, competent officials and dealing the the increasing off-field violence of players aren't "sexy" enough to get headlines.

The best match-up for Rome would be Saints-Lions. Nothing like a 2500 year old rivalry.

One of the best lines ever on the level.

Good show man!

Fagel, you owe me a new keyboard. NTFF.

The security alone must be a nightmare for a game in Europe. Stick to North America.....

The NFL is so far under the radar here, no one would know they were playing. Nobody notices the dozens that come out to support NFLEurope.

It would be like ramping up security for a UEAFA soccer match between Bayern Munchen and FC Kopenhavn held at the Linc.

First on th docket, Dolphins host the Giants. Maybe Tiki retired rather than test English cuisine?

The game is to be played at the refurbished Wembley Stadium, if they get it done in time. It was supposed to be done las April.

How exactly is the league supposed to address the issue that a lot of people who play in it are fucking morons? The NFL's just trying to make itself international. It probably won't be long until you see the first foreign-born (not Canadian) player starting in the NFL.

"The best match-up for Rome would be Saints-Lions. Nothing like a 2500 year old rivalry."


NTFF. One of the few rivalries that I think the Lions have pretty much owned.

Um, let's go Lions.

It probably won't be long until you see the first foreign-born (not Canadian) player starting in the NFL.

Do Christian Okoye, Tamba Hali, and Gary Anderson not count?

IE, check out the 1971 Pro-Bowl MVP.

Born in Fetsund, Norway.

I thought Tony Romo was Mexican, that's why the Cowboys were paying him $5 an hour under the table.

What are the chances Ali Haji-Sheik could be a kicker for the Giants today?

"Um, let's go Lions."

Seth, I thought for sure you be on the other side of this match-up.

Not today.

I should have said "European", even though that wasn't true either, that's what I meant. I also meant somebody who spent most of their life in a foreign country. But either way, um...Dallas sucks?

It's all very relative, isn't it?

I live in London, so this will be a great chance to see some NFL football live.

Pitty (for me) that it's not the Eagles coming over.

Usually in soccer when there's two teams I don't like playing against each other, I root for a draw (with lots of injuries). But there's little possibility of a tie in this game, so it's "Go Dolphins", I guess. Do they have nice cheerleaders?

How will Miami's Cuban fans get to this "home" game? Will their little rafts make it all the way to England?

Anvil, do you have any idea what team is the most popular in England, or do any particular teams have a significantly large following? Do you see people wearing gear with NFL teams' logos?

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