Football May Become An Olympic Sport Says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

It's one thing for the NFL to try to grow its product overseas through games in London and increased marketing, it's another thing to get other countries to play football at the highest levels. American football, that is. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell believes the sport is taking major strides in that area partly in an effort to become an Olympic sport. "We're already taking steps to gain that IOC recognition," Goodell told Mike Florio on the Dan Patrick Show via ProFootballTalk. "We have, I think, 64 countries that are playing American football now, and that's one of the requirements. That's been growing dramatically - I think it was 40 just five years ago." Other countries are playing football, but it will take some time until they play it well. Watching the U.S. face off against any international team other than Canada would be borderline inhumane. The more immediate goal for Goodell is to grow fan interest in the NFL overseas, that is probably the clearest avenue to getting the youth of other countries play our version of football. "Our point is just to keep growing the game," Goodell said. "We're having a tremendous reaction in London and the UK for the game of football, our regular season game over there is sold out again this year, we are seriously contemplating as early as 2013 playing two NFL games next season and I think we'll do that. "It's a response to the tremendous fan reaction and the growth of the game. If we can continue to grow the game there and have the fan reaction that we have, there very well may be a franchise in London."

Source: NFL.com

 

You're a freaking idiot. 1) It'd never happen. 2) If this team of stars you put together couldn't take it any more seriously than they take the pro bowl, then there's a good chance other teams COULD win.

 

So its safe to say the USA can go ahead and add that gold to the medal count.

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I think Goodell is confused. He doesn't know soccer is called football in those other countries.

 

Football is a good 50 years away from being seriously considered for being an Olympic sport. As much as the sport is played overseas, the quality of players, coaching etc. is so far below what is found in America that it would be embarrassing to the sport.

And that goes without mentioning the logistics of playing a full contact tournament within the space of two weeks.

 

Olympic Sport? BAWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Yeeeeeah this is a freaking joke

 

Would be like playing against a junior high team as far as talent would be. There is no way. Or maybe send the Super Bowl Champions to play in the game. But as far as them taking it more serious than the pro bowl, I think they would take it more serious for they would be reping the country. But if other countries could compete I would be all for it. I would watch that game.

 

Me too. It would be like playing Madden on Rookie. Like a lopsided basketball score. lol


Team USA 124
Team Japan 0

 

I would love to see football as an olympic sport. but i dont see much competition from other countries in football tho if its played in the olympics

 

Would like to punch Goodell in the neck...just saying...

 

I'm sure teams would love the chance to have their star players in another country from late July to mid August. Not to mention playing full-go football.

 

If they did do it, it'd probably have to be college players...

 

I'm actually still kind of surprised that basketball is an olympic sport.

 

even if we sent college players that didn't get drafted we would still destroy them I think.

 

Correct on both points there. College players would be necessary and would still dominate an Olympic contest.

 

They already have an international league that is 19 and under

 

Mexico, Canada, Japan...I can't think of any other country where football is played at a competitive level.

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SEC all-stars vs the world.

9ers n lakers on my razr maxx(tapralk)

 

This would almost be as lopsided as if they made war an Olympic sport

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