NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is working on a developmental league.

The NFL has for the longest time watched a lot of their best talent go unnoticed. There are players that may not get the right media attention or get the right breaks in college or be highly graded by the right scouts that don’t see greatness in these kids

The NBA has a second tier league. Major League Baseball has the minors and the NHL has an extensive developmental system in place that grooms such players and gives them a chance to shine.

The stories about the Pro Bowlers that went undrafted are legendary and finally the league is hearing the call and catching up with the rest of the sports world.

If league commissioner Roger Goodell ‘s legacy involves creating a feeder league for the 32 NFL franchises, forget stern discipline and Bounty Gate, his legacy as the G.O.A.T. will revolve around how his administration improved the quality of the game.

His thoughts were recalled in the Minnesota Star Tribune.

“We have talked a great deal about the idea of a developmental league. We actually think that there could be a role for that. Particularly with the changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement — the limited amount of time the younger players have to either be evaluated or develop their own skills — should we have some sort of developmental league?

It is something we will continue to pursue. If we do it, my personal view is it should be defined what the actual objective is. If it is a developmental league, let’s call it a developmental league. Let’s design it as a developmental league. If it is going to be a commercial league that is trying to generate fan interest or generate revenue, we should also be clear of that objective. I think our general view right now is to make it a developmental league.”

Every fan of every team currently has a guy like former Atlanta Falcon DE Jamal Anderson who got the right shot and did all of the wrong things with it.

In the current system, teams can either pick from a very limited pool of practice squad players or hit the street in pursuit of free agents that have not been in a system for some time.

There’s a big difference between staying in shape and getting quality reps.

If Goodell can pull off the feat of creating a true developmental league that will allow teams to work with a complete roster of players that are competing daily and weekly under their system,  a guy like Anderson won’t linger on a roster for years doing just the bare minimum to get by.

The NFL has their own network.  The NFL’s website is a high traffic portal. The NFL has the ability to extend the tentacles of its star-making machine and pound-for-pound truly ensure that the hungriest guys in the country are getting a shot.

Thank you commish.