John Elway reconfirmed he remains interested in returning to the NFL as an administrator or team owner, but at least for now his focus is on the Colorado Crush and the Arena Football League.
Speaking at a Monday news conference, Elway said if the opportunity occurred he would love to own an NFL team. But he said his four- year experience as part-owner and CEO of the Crush and his involvement in the arena league has been a valuable experience since retiring from the Broncos after the 1998 season as a two-time Super Bowl winner.
Elway said he is anticipating a promising Arena Football League season because of changes in the schedule and playing rules.
“We’re trying to get the arena league game as close to the NFL as we can,” Elway said. “We want to get this game as ‘watchable’ as we can.”
Elway said the popularity of the indoor league has grown from three in 10 knowing what it is to eight in 10 because of game attendance and TV coverage. However, he noted the league lost its contract with NBC because of low ratings. Elway said a potential deal with ESPN would work out better for the league as well as the cable network.
“ESPN is having so much success with the NFL on Monday nights that it wanted to continue football on Monday nights,” Elway said. “We’ve moved the arena league season back a month. The Super Bowl will be over, and the ArenaBowl is scheduled in July. That gives us a lot more eyes because the NBA and NHL seasons are over.”
The arena league’s 2007 season begins March 4, and the ArenaBowl championship game is July 29.
Elway said two of the more important rule changes involve free substitution and removing offensive and defensive coaches from the field during games.
Elway also said roster limits would remain at 24 even though players no longer will be required to play both ways.
“It was a battle getting the coaches off the field,” he said. “They liked it on the field. They still can signal from the sidelines. That rule was important to me for the look.”
Elway said the league might go to communication devices in the quarterbacks’ helmets, but it wouldn’t happen in time for the 2007 season.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
