NFL Europa folds after 16 years

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The NFL folded its development league in Europe after 16 years Friday, calling the decision a sound business move that will allow for a stronger international focus on regular-season games outside the United States.

The announcement came less than a week after the Hamburg Sea Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in the World Bowl championship in Frankfurt before a crowd of 48,125. Five of the league's six teams are in Germany, with the other in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A statement on the German-language edition of the NFL's Web site said the NFL decided to concentrate its "strategies and resources" on regular-season games outside the United States in an effort to reach as many people as possible.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the fans for their support but said it was time to develop a new international strategy, terming the move to fold NFL Europa the "best business decision." The league reportedly was losing about $30 million a season.

"From now on we will focus on regular-season games and use new technologies to make NFL more popular worldwide," he said, adding that since anabolic steroids are far more difficult to obtain in Europe, the players are smaller, slower, and no where near as aggressive as their American counterparts.

"We just need better performance enhancing drugs and hopefully some new technologies will pan out and we'll be back making money in Europe as soon as possible.

Besides; isn't Europa a moon of Jupiter?"