Originally posted by tjd808185:Football is an American sport. Deal with it. It's not going to pick up worldwide athletes because it's never going to have the youth movement going over there. It's an expensive sport that requires a large amount of people. It's got about as good of a chance as hockey does in Africa. Austrilian/ European countries also have their version in rugby. There are regional sports. NFL can do their best to get a worldwide audience but as far as picking up international players go that's relatively impossible until they actually start playing the game themselves. You don't just start a sport at 18+ and join the pros. That's a very hard thing to accomplish.
yeah. Have to agree with you. It's a lot like the Jamaican Bob Sled Team kinda odds.But when Aussies or other internationals make it in NFL it is just as newsworthy as as Cool Runnings because of the crazy odds of that journey.
Australia have the most players ever in history on a roster this year and after cut downs could have the most active in a season. That is something to talk about.
You also touch on another interesting thing about the cost of playing and the college system. I am quite certain that there are masses of American kids with talent that can't get to college or afford equipment when they are young. NFL and college scouts can't be everywhere. Correct me if I am wrong about that but in other football codes poor kids with skill have a much better chance of playing pro soccer etc than NFL. Michael Orr's story is one of the many good examples.
So when I hear many say that if you are an athlete that can play ball then come on over and play ball, it's never going to be that simple. That's what makes America and NFL the way it is IMO.
Australia is a rich country per capita and can access the college system easier and are sports mad. Expect to see more of them in the NFL.