The United States has team sports competing globally in soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, rugby, but not football. In an Instagram Live video, New England Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown suggested that should change, as he said, via MySportsUpdate:
“I was thinking about it, all the basketball players in the world, all the soccer players in the world, they get love and embrace. Maybe we need a football USA team, so the world could love us because all we get is hate.”
Brown is likely asking for a USA football team to compete as the soccer and basketball ones do, both in world cups and Olympics.
While it's a good idea, it's doubtful that happens for a multitude of reasons. Here are some:
- Football is a contact sport and is arguably the most vicious one played on the planet. NFL players need to rest in the offseason, rather than take more hits; in turn, leading to more injuries.
- The Olympics goes on during late summer. It just so happens that training camp does the same. Coaches don't want their players missing valuable time in practice.
- Playbooks. Football isn't a game one picks up and learns how the team works, that happens over months or even years.
- Football is an American sport. While there are small leagues in other countries, most every player comes from the USA. Would a Moritz Boehringer-led Germany team beat a USA one consisting of All-Pros at every position? No. It would be the furthest thing from competitive.
If Brown wants to play on a world stage, there is another type of football he can play; one that will utilize his quick feet and not force him to wear a helmet.
Or, he can take the route of his teammate, Nate Ebner, and play rugby.
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