RIP NFL Europe 1991-2007

June 29, 2007 is a tragic day as one of the greatest things since slice bread passed away. After 16 years of poor attendence and lackluster games, NFL Europa has died. The prime suspect in the death is one, Roger Goddell, commisioner of the National Football League. Goddell stated that the cause of death was homicide because the bitch owned him money(NFL lost 30 million a year from it). Now while NFL Europe may seem like a bust it really was a start for many-a-player in getting to the NFL by sharpening their skills. Some include the likes of Kurt Warner, Adam Vinatieri, and Jon Kitna. To know the story of NFL Europe you must go back to 1991 when it was founded as the World League of American Football(WLAF).

The original intention of the league was a world-wide league with teams in London, Barcelona, Frankfort, New York/New Jersey, Montreal, Orlando, Raliegh, Birmingham, San Antonio, and Sacremento. With games in the spring the 1st World Bowl was held on June 6, 1991 on ABC. By the end of the day the London Monarchs were champions defeating Barcelona 21-0. Despite a somewhat successful first season the WLAF struggled in the 2nd season when all of the European teams had a losing record thus hurting the original intent of trying to make American Football popular in Europe and the league ceased operations.

In 1995 the league re-booted without the American teams but with new franchises in Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, and Edinburgh. However, the league was still haunted by problems including with the London Monarchs. In 1997, the league decided to rename the London Monarchs the England Monarchs and have them play in three different cities:London, Birmingham, and Bristol. On the weekend of Super Bowl XXXII it was announced that the WLAF would be renamed NFL Europe, however from there the league began its slow death.
The first big blow was the end of the England Monarchs who folded after the 1998 season. The Monarchs would be replaced by the Berlin Thunder. In 2002 Barcelona was bought by FC Barcelona but would fold a week later. Replacing Barcelona would be yet another German team this time as the Hamburg Sea Devils. With the death of the Scottish Claymores in 2005 the league became down to six teams. However, it managed to draw the highest attendence since 1992, but it didn't stop its critics from refering it as NFL Germany(5/6 of the league was German teams while there was one in Amsterdam thus kinda killing the "Europe" aspect).

In 2006, with the TV Deal with FOX dead, the league was re-branded NFL Europa and games began airing on the NFL Network. On June 23, 2007, World Bowl XV was held Frankfort, Germany as Hamburg defeated Frankfurt 37-28 thus becoming the last NFL Europe champion. Overall in a sense you can say NFL Europe was a success mainly because of the careers it launched. But in a simular sight you can say it failed. But whether you love it or hate it, you must respect what it did even if it made dumb expansions toward the end(nothin but German teams)it tried to bring American Football into Europe in despite it ending I think it helped set a foundation toward globalizing the sport even if it doesn't happen in the next 100 years. For that I thank NFL Europe. So I say goodbye to a league that despite not being successful or even having "quality" games did a good job trying to help the expansion of American Football.